A Neat Mess

18.The Quiet Rift

After being ravaged by Jenna, Lucille needed a few days off, so Ben suggested they visit his parents, who lived five hours drive north by the beach. They adored Jenna, and she loved them. Sam needed a break too, and Ben planned to join them for the weekend.

Mervin lifted Jenna and exclaimed, "Oh my god! You're getting so heavy; I might not be able to lift you next time!" Jenna, playing with Grandpa's beard, replied, "I'm not getting bigger, you're just getting older." 

Mervin set her down and warmly hugged Sam, kissing her on the cheek. Jenna spotted Granny waiting on the porch and ran over, joining her to walk inside.

As Mervin helped Sam unload the car, he said, "It was a good idea to come here, darling. Make yourself at home and don't worry about a thing. Ben couldn't make it?"

Sam replied, "No, he had a client to look after and couldn't leave on short notice."

Mervin offered, "Let me put your suitcase in your room. Jenna can have the room next to ours."

"But I thought she should sleep with me so I can keep an eye on—" Sam began.

Mervin cut her off, "That's just crazy talk, my dear. She's perfectly fine. Schools these days take everything too seriously."

Once everything was settled in the rooms, they joined Jenna in the living room. She was cautiously approaching Banjo, Mervin's cat, who lay lazily in the sun. Sam watched, curious, remembering how Lucille had mentioned Jenna's tendency to kick dogs when no one was looking. But Jenna gently stroked the back of the cat's neck, whispering something in its ear.

Mervin, also watching, turned to Sam and remarked, "She looks like any other kid to me." Sam chuckled, wondering if all the recent drama was real or just a series of coincidences. 

Sam joined Grandma Sue in the kitchen, staying close enough to keep an eye on Jenna.

"You know, since all these stories started, I've had a thought but didn't want to interfere. Maybe you should keep an eye on that babysitter."

"Lucille? They love each other. Sure, they have their moments, but we trust her. She's kind, smart, responsible, and she's working to pay for college."

"A college girl, huh? I hear so much about drugs kids using these days that they don't even won't know what they have done the day after."

Sam's in-laws were lovely, but their lives were too simple, so they clung to every conspiracy they heard. Sam, too preoccupied with her own concerns, decided not to argue. "She's gone for now, so we'll see if that makes a difference," she replied.

"Does she have a boyfriend? He could be a bad influence."

"Not that I know of but I'm sure she wouldn't bring anyone over," Sam answered, though a flicker of doubt crossed her mind. Why hadn't Lucille ever had a serious relationship?

Sue's voice snapped Sam out of her thoughts. "You're lost in deep thought, sweetheart. I hope you're not worried that she and Ben have something going on, are you?"

"What? No! Not at all," Sam quickly replied. But now, the thought crept in—Lucille was staying elsewhere, and Ben was home alone.

"Good, darling. Some women might get paranoid with a gorgeous twenty-year-old in the house, but I'm glad you're not one of them."

Mervin walked into the kitchen, interrupting the conversation. "Okay, enough with the crazy talk! Who wants to catch some sun before it's gone?" Sam assumed he had overheard the discussion from the living room and was there to rescue her. 

"How's the water for swimming today?" Sam asked.

"Oh, not today—unless you don't mind bluebottles," Mervin said.

"What's a bluebottle, Grandpa?" Jenna asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Oh, you don't know what a bluebottle is? They're a kind of jellyfish—very poisonous and dangerous. If you can race me to the beach, I might be able to show you one."

They both sprinted toward the back door. Sam took a moment to change into her beach dress, savouring the feeling of sand beneath her feet as she walked along the shore. 

Mervin was showing Jenna which part of the bluebottle was safe to touch and how to bury them under the sand. Jenna was having a blast, her curiosity about the creatures fuelling an endless stream of questions: "Why do they have poison? How much does it hurt if they sting you? Have they ever bitten you? What happens if I pop their heads?"

"Jenna, stop tiring Grandpa with your questions."

"It's okay, darling. We're having a great time together," Mervin replied, trying to catch his breath. For his age, he was remarkably fit, but keeping up with Jenna was no easy feat. "So, tell me about sharks, Grandpa. Have you seen any here?"

"Yes, once, but not here. You don't have to worry about sharks; they never come this way." They resumed their chase along the shore, their laughter fading into the distance. Now it was just Sam, the sound of the ocean, and the voices in her head. She tried to focus on her book, The Blind Owl, but her scattered mind made it impossible. Why was everything so complicated—her life, not just the book?

After dinner, Mervin was the one to tuck Jenna into bed and read her stories. He adored spending time with her, and Jenna worshipped him in return. It didn't take long before he returned to the living room.

"I think running on the beach wore her out; she passed out quickly. Just out of curiosity, though, what's the story about that Persian King who eats humans' brains?"

"He doesn't eat humans' brains—uh, did she ask you to tell her the story again?" Sam was livid.

Sam tried to recall the story that Jenna had become obsessed with. After Lucille's explanation, Sam had grown curious and looked it up online.

"It's an ancient Persian tale. King Zahhak was once a kind and just ruler, deeply loved by his people. But Satan, displeased with this goodness, appeared to Zahhak in the guise of a chef and prepared sumptuous meals for him. Before this, the Persians were vegetarians, but Satan introduced Zahhak to the taste of meat and blood, gradually corrupting his nature. Enchanted by the flavor, Zahhak wished to reward the chef, but Satan only requested a kiss on the king's shoulders. That night, Zahhak fell gravely ill with a high fever, and by morning, he discovered that snakes had begun to grow from the spots where Satan had kissed him. The doctors were baffled, unable to cure him and fearful that removing the snakes might harm the king since they seemed to be part of him. Then, Satan appeared once more—this time as a doctor—and declared that the only way to prevent the snakes from causing harm was to feed them two human brains each day."

Sam could see the looks on their faces and realised they were right to be concerned. She tried to explain, "It's a very deep and symbolic story about the corrupting influence of power and tyranny. It shows how unchecked ambition can lead to one's downfall, while emphasising the importance of justice and the inevitability of fate. Consuming brains symbolises preventing people from thinking, but eventually, they wake up. A blacksmith who has lost sixteen children starts a revolution..."

Sue interrupted, "That sounds like a very profound story, but where did she hear it? It doesn't seem like a children's book."

Sam knew she would regret it, " Remember I mentioned that Lucille is a mythology student?"

Sue raised her eyebrows. "She's been telling Jenna a few stories from ancient cultures, but Jenna got obsessed with this one and kept asking us to repeat it. I forbade it once I became aware, but I think she took her chances with Mervin, knowing how much he loves her."

Mervin calmly said, "She knows it! I think you need to get some rest too; you look exhausted. How about a nice warm bath before sleep? I'll run the water for you."

It was a brilliant idea and a timely rescue from having to continue this irritating conversation with Sue. Sam didn't want to defend herself against insinuations that her young, attractive nanny, who was possibly having an affair with her husband, was torturing her daughter right under her nose. Maybe they were in on it together! At least Sue had a theory—Sam had nothing. She tried to sink into the hot water and relax, but if only she could.

Maybe this trip was a bad idea after all.