Book Three: Part 7 - Varied Evil - Chapter 5

The Baker-Manning Home – 5:12 p.m.

111 Homestead Lane

“Another slice?”

“Oh please, no, Baker. I don’t think I can eat another bite. The food was delicious, and as tempting as it is; if I ate one more slice of that enchilada pie, I would burst into a billion pieces!”

Ed looked at Baker, smiled, and nodded his head.

Baker stood and cleared off the table, throwing away all the paper and containers, as Stevie wrapped what was left over and put it in the fridge. Baker then walked into her bedroom to get something.

“Ellie, let’s go sit on the porch for a bit.”

“Okay.”

“Not okay,” came Ed’s voice.

“Huh? Why not?”

“This is why not.”

There stood Baker, between the kitchen and the dining room, holding a cake filled with candles. She walked to the table and set it down.

Sixteen candles, and it read: Happy Birthday, Stevie.

Stevie grinned.

“Hey, in case you forgot, my birthday was in January.”

“How could I forget? Remember, I was there when you showed up.”

“Okay-okay-okay, I give. What’s this about anyway?”

“Simple,” said ed. “We had plans for you to see the Super Bowl, and because of what happened, that went poof. So, today, we are doing a re-celebration of sorts. So, make another wish, and blow out your candles.”

Stevie’s eyes looked at Ed, then to his mom, who only smiled as she sat next to Ed. Then he looked at Ellie and shrugged his shoulders. Ellie reached out, grabbed his left hand, nodded, as if to say, “Make a wish.”

He did. And with a power like a harsh wind, he blew out the candles in one fierce rush of air. Applause filled the kitchen.

“Now, you need to follow me.”

Ed stood with Baker by his side and were closely followed by Stevie and Ellie.

They were headed for the garage.

When all four were inside, Stevie’s eyes were as big as saucer cups. There, parked next to Ed’s Volvo, sat a Mustang GT 5.0.

As Stevie walked all around the car, peering inside, he could hear Ed’s voice.

“You have a 6-speed manual transmission. You also have a voice-activated navigational and entertainment system. Bucket seats with a 12-way adjustable setting, and a steering wheel with a mounted Bluetooth. The entertainment system, so I was told, can store up to ten gigs worth of music, and you have eight speakers for quality sound.

“The dash is modular activated. When you’re low on gas, water, oil; or if the door is unlocked, seat-belt unfastened, it will tell you. Comes with a spare, the same size as you see now, and they are cast-aluminum.

“Under the hood, you have a V-8 engine, electric fuel injection. The max on this 412 horsepower at 6,500 r.p.m.’s, but we trust you well enough to never take it to the max to begin with. Interior is black leather.

“It can go 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, and a quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds. Of which we know you wouldn’t try that anyway.

“Beyond that, this baby has all the bells and whistles one could ask for. We shopped around for a car that would fit your spirit, and that’s why we settled on the Mustang.

“But the kid in me took it a step further. I had it repainted. It was red, like your mother’s Hummer, but I thought how totally cool you would look driving to school with it looking like this.”

The top, from front to back were painted a scarlet color, while the sides were painted almost the color of a morning fog. Top that off with a blending of scarlet and gray flames mixed in that gave it a dramatically impressive look. The Mustang almost had that 1950’s hot-rod look.

“Here’s the keys,” Ed said, catching Stevie’s attention as he threw them in the air. Stevie grabbed them without missing a beat with his left hand. His other hand had Ellie’s in it.

“Did you know about this, too,” he asked her.

“No. This is a beautiful car, Stevie.”

Stevie let go of her hand and walked over to Ed.

“This is far better than a Super Bowl, Ed. I will never forget this. Thank you very much.” He stuck out his right hand, and Ed clasped it into his own. Then Stevie pulled himself against Ed.

“I mean it, Ed. I won’t ever forget.”

Then he turned toward Baker.

“Mom, what can I say, except I love you, and thanks a lot for this.” He opened up his arms and hugged her.

“Stevie, just promise me you will always drive carefully.”

“You know I will, mom. Heck, it wouldn’t look good if Lieutenant Baker’s son was pulled over for speeding.”

“This is true.”

“Say, mom, speaking of driving; can I take Ellie for a little spin? I promise I won’t be gone very long.”

“Just be careful out there. That’s all I—we ask of you.”

“And I’ll make sure he’s careful,” added Ellie. “Besides, he can take me home. Thanks again for inviting me over. It’s been fun. Bye!”

And just that quick, they were both in the car, buckled, in, garage door opened, and they were backing out onto the street, making a beeline for who knew where.

Baker stood next to Ed watching the Mustang until it was gone from sight.

“Ed, do you think he’ll ever grow out of the hugging stage with me?”

“I doubt it, Jan. That’s something you instilled in him a long time ago, and I seriously doubt he’ll stop.”

“I hope you’re right. He’s growing into a man, but he’s still my baby. We came so close to losing him. I don’t think I could take something like that happening again. I want him to bury me; not the other way around.”

Ed looked at her and said, “What’s all this talk about?”

“Ed, we almost died. As a family. The next time Freddy comes back, and trust me, he will; the next time could very well be our last. And if that happens, I don’t want Stevie even remotely close. I want him to grow up and have a good life. Married or not.”

Ed held her with his good arm and kissed the top of her head.

“First things first. You and I are going to live until we can count all the wrinkles on our ass. Second, if anyone buries you, it’ll be me. Stevie can stand alongside me. But, I suspect you’ll live forever, any damn way.”

Baker laughed a little.

“What makes you say that?”

“You are just too damn stubborn to die.”

“Stubborn? I am not!”

“Are too.”

“Am not!”

Ed might have an almost useless arm at this point, but his legs worked perfectly as he ran from the edge of the garage back into the house, doing his best to stay away from the swinging arms of Baker.

Both were laughing like little kids.