Starfall

Chapter 11 - Litium 90

The sun had risen high in the sky by the time Pacifica knocked on the door of the mystery shack. Pacifica waited for someone to answer the door. When she had debarked from her limo the brilliant late morning sunlight had flickered on her face warmly as the sounds of the birds and summer insects reached her ears. The distinct smell of grass and pine reached Pacifica's nose as her eyes, despite the protection her pink sunglasses offered, adjusted to the light. Her eyes stopped hurting and began to focus better on the parking lot of the Mystery Shack.

She forced herself not to be impatient. Instead, she inspected her nails making sure she had enameled them perfectly if for no other reason than to occupy her mind. Pacifica looked prim and proper in her short-sleeved white blouse, her hair wrapped up in a tight on top of her head as it was pinned down with a large sterling silver hoop and pin hair barrette that boasted a large aquamarine turquoise stone that shone vibrantly against the arcing loops of the sterling silver and the bright blonde of her hair as the sunlight shone radiantly off of it.

Pacifica saw some movement by the window as part of the blinds moved behind the glass thatched window. She saw Ford checking the door obliquely from the window. Sometimes Dipper's great-uncle seemed a little jumpy, but given Dipper told her he had spent years in other perilous dimensions she could understand how he would default to a state of paranoid vigilance. Still, her made her uneasy at times.

The blonde Northwest heiress stood there looking unsure of how to stand while her hands twitched behind her back self-consciously. She was good friends with Mabel and Dipper was easy to be around, but Ford Pines and Stan Pines were still somewhat unfamiliar to her. Pacifica's instincts always treated an unknown as a potential hostile deep in the back of her mind.

The door opened as Ford Pines answered the door cordially, "Miss Northwest, do come in, I just made a fresh pot of coffee. The twins are still asleep, and as it is almost ten o'clock, I figured maybe you might have better luck rousing them than Stanley has. After yesterday I told him to let them sleep in."

Pacifica relaxed and smiled. Despite her instincts, she found Ford to be charming for an older man. It was only partially because of his rugged good looks, but if she had to peg it down to something comprehensible perhaps it was his commanding confidence and a will to do whatever it took to protect his family. Something about that just drew admiration and respect from Pacifica.

There was a candid sincerity to Ford's personality that was so refreshing from the jaded psychological barbwire coiled trenches that were the emotional state of her family. She held her cards close to her chest with them and had mastered how to bluff and not crack under immense scrutiny and pressure. She had learned to protect herself and hide her emotions at all costs. With the Pines twins...she could be herself...for the first time in a long time.

Pacifica could smell the coffee and see the table was set for one plate. Apparently, Ford was having a late breakfast including some toast with Mabel's homemade blackberry jam. Ford had put down his research notes and toast to answer the door.

Pacifica cleared her throat and spoke up. "Should I knock on their door before I just barge in?" Ford grinned. "I don't think a magnitude seven earthquake would rouse those two this morning." Pacifica smiled as she entered the small kitchen and living room abutment. Ford reached over to the counter grabbed a coffee mug and said, "Can I serve you a cup of coffee?" Pacifica, while she wanted coffee, wanted to see what the twins looked like while they were asleep more. She bet they were adorable.

Pacifica shook her head and said, "Thank you, Mr. Pines. I will head up and see if I can't wake the twins." Mr. Pines nodded respectfully. "Tell them Mabel will have to make breakfast if the two want anything this late in the morning. I will be downstairs in the lab. Good day, Miss Northwest." And with that, he headed for the gift shop and rounded the corner out of sight. Pacifica took the stairs to get to the twins' room. The ancient boards creaked and swayed vociferously under her feet despite her small size.