They didn’t know it at the time, but all of the Lakes children have their mother’s intuition. They knew something had gone wrong. Although they were in different spaces, they were in sync, they were in the same state of mind.

“Larry?”

Alex wasn’t going to just sit around and wait. She had a feeling deep in her gut, swarming around, causing great anxiety.  The forest was uncharacteristically quiet…

“LARRY?”

She called to him but the only response was her echo.  As she half walked, half ran deeper and deeper into the woods, she started to think that perhaps Larry had lost track of time while stopping to fish along the hiking trail.  Maybe when she left, he arrived.  Alex had searched the woods for at least an hour, laughing at herself as she pictured Larry sitting at home wondering where she was.

She turned around to take a different path just in case when it hit.  The excruciating pain in her stomach.  Hundreds of knives slashing away indiscriminately, destroying her abdomen.  She gasped.  The intensity this time was worse.  She could feel it coming up.  It burned her throat.

The contents of her stomach splashed against the forest floor.  Thick, yellow stomach acid, standing out against the deep greens and browns of the earth she knelt on, speckled with bright red blood.

Alex woke from her nap a bit groggy and off balance.  She figured a shower and coffee would shake her up. As the coffee brewed, she felt a bit guilty for abstaining from the hiking trip with Larry.  She sipped slowly, worried about the pain in her stomach although it had gone away.  She had an herbal remedy for it and would commit to taking it daily as a proactive solution.  As her mind figured out a potential cure, she had already finished her coffee, washed dishes, prepared dinner and swept the porch.

As she leaned the broom against the wall, she became winded and sat down.  Suddenly it hit her: It was dark now, late evening…

Her husband had not returned.

Eggs Benedict… One of Larry’s favorites.

After the first bite, Alex felt as if she had been hit head on by a semi truck, followed by the sensation of one hundred katanas slicing her stomach to pieces.  She grimaced in pain. A whimper left her lips as she slowly placed her fork on the table.

“Alexandria?  Are you okay sweetheart?

Alex, not being the one to have anyone worry about her, bent the truth.

“I’m just fine Lawrence Lloyd Lakes.  You know I can’t really eat like I used to.”

“Hmmmm”

Larry wasn’t so sure about his wife’s response.  The two had planned to go hiking today but Alex knew she couldn’t.

“Baby, are you 100% sure you don’t want to come?  I’ll carry you on my back, you ain’t too old for a piggy back ride Mrs. Lakes!”

Alex laughed through the awful pain still throbbing in her abdomen.

“Go ahead now! Catch some butterflies for me, this cabin needs some creatures. I’m just gonna lay down a bit.  Hurry up back okay?  I love you Lawrence.”

“Love you back sweet cheeks.”

As Larry walked further and further out of view, Alex limped to the bathroom, hunched over in excruciating pain.  She opened a bottle of Simpto Bismol and chugged it. From there, she lay down, hoping she would sleep it off…

All settled in and unpacked.  Alex still had it in the kitchen; making Monte Cristos which Larry loved.  And Larry?  He still had it in the tent…

“You do realize they’re going to be living in the middle of fucking nowhere right?”

Lyric was unable to wrap her head around her parents moving to the Falls.  She didn’t want them isolated if something were to happen.

“Yes, Lyric, I am aware. What you have to know is that this is their decision.  Daddy built that cabin for just the two of them and you know how much they love it out there”

“Fuck all that.”

Lyric had already had a few beers before the waitress delivered the hard liquor.  She had taken after her father’s love of beer, however, she took it a bit too far.  A fact that Koi had realized years ago.  Tonight, Koi needed the buzz too.

“Someone needs to move up there Koi, I’ll go.  There is nothing here for me anyway.”

“Do something with your life Lyric, mom and dad will be fine. You know mom, she’s always prepared for things.  We’ll call, we’ll visit, everything will be fine.”

And with that, Koi paid the tab, but before leaving, they stared into the ocean.  Silence that seemed like hours.

“I’m scared Koi.”

“I am too baby girl.  I am too.”

“Funniest thing, Lyric called crying last night.  Apparently she thinks her siblings are looking to push us into an early grave Larry.”

“Well, they’ve been pushing us into an early grave since they were born.  What’s the big deal now?”

Alex and Larry spent the morning joking about their children’s fears.  They found it sweet that they were even discussing it.  They care.  Truth is, Alex and Larry had planned for this years ago and not much has changed to their will since.  Except, of course, for the addition of a few new grandchildren.  They are prepared financially and spiritually yet not so much emotionally.  The reality of them not having one another at some point left them speechless as they finished their breakfast.

“Are those veggie burgers Lawrence?”

“Does your ass still look good in those yoga pants?”

“Damn right!”

“There’s your answer love.”

Growing Pains…

It wasn’t one of those easy conversations to have with your siblings.  Necessary, but not easy.  This month the sisters brought in LJ to their outing, they would need his input in order to come to a consensus.  Lauren broke the silence…

“Listen y’all, I know no one really wants to talk about this but we’ve gotten to the age where we really need to start thinking about mom and dad. Like.. you know, planning for…. stuff.”

Lyric and LJ weren’t ready for that, letting out a mutual sigh. Lyric started on the first of what would be three very strong drinks.

Being the oldest meant Lauren would hold the brunt of responsibility when its time to plan for their parent’s passing.  She’d already spoken to Koi about this previously and couldn’t handle the burden which is what brought them all together today.  Koi chimes in to support her sister….

“Listen, you guys.  This isn’t going to be easy.  With Leo and his wife gone, they are by themselves in that big ass house.   They’ve been talking about moving into that house in the mountains daddy built….”

Lyric finishes her drink and grabs what is left in the bottle…. Koi continues.

“They aren’t going to live forever.  We need a plan.  I’m sure momma is smart enough to have a will, but we need to be asking them these questions and find out what….”

Lyric can’t take it anymore and completely snaps

“You cold, callous, savage BITCH!  My momma and daddy ain’t goin’ nowhere!  You’re trying to push them into the grave so you can get your hands on their money!”

LJ tries to calm her down, but Lyric combined with liquor and her daddy’s passed down anger trait are not to be calmed.  As Koi is about to snap back, Lauren taps her foot under the table.  LJ has always been closer to Lyric (aside from them being twins) and sides with her.

“She has a point.  I’m not ready for this at all.”

“I know LJ, I understand.  I’ll get Lyric.  You guys get back home, its late.”

As Lauren runs off to get her sister, LJ lights a cigarette and walks off.  Koi is left alone, not as she expected, trying to process her parents inevitable exit from this world.