PART III - Chapter 27: ABSOLUTELY

 

 

Chapter 27

Absolutely
(Ó 2010)

Gerard’s Café. It also had not changed. Its quaint setting with about twenty tables, twenty-five if need be. The walls were wallpapered with a Victorian era pattern of raised burgundy velvet with gold trim; the same décor matched the furniture, which give the impression of being turn of the century. The bar was of dark mahogany with a large mirror on the back wall which took almost three quarters the width of the bar. It was framed with a gold wooden carving of the Victorian era. The bar was also in the dark red and gold colors of the decor. At the base of the huge mirror in the center was a piano, where every night Suzanne would play soft contemporary music, adding to the tranquil ambiance.

Similar to the hotel, the son of the founder of the restaurant now operated the business. He, like the restaurant, was named after his father, Chef Gerard Qudrou II. Furthermore, also akin to the hotel, Chef Qudrou II was teaching his art of fine cuisine to his son and daughter, who were in the process of becoming master chefs themselves.

Logan sat at what was some time ago, his and Lily’s favorite table. He and she would dine there at least once a week for dinner, and other times for the breakfasts and brunches that Gerard’s was famous for. It was now just 6:00 PM on that same day. Logan had left the hotel that morning to pay a visit to Gerard the senior, who even now assists his son with the business. It was an emotional reunion, for like most everyone else who knew her, Gerard was very fond of Lily, and took her tragic death very arduously. After their reunion, Logan asked Gerard Sr. if he knew of the family that now lived in his former home. Gerard told him that he did know of them, that they did patronize the café once in awhile. He then asked Gerard to set aside the table for him and the couple, for he was going to invite them to be his guests for dinner that evening and that he wanted only the best because he had a special proposal for them.

Gerard and his son told Logan that they would be more than happy to serve them all. So afterwards, Logan immediately went to visit Mrs. Pinchot at his former home.

When Logan arrived at the home, he first felt hesitant as he came to the gate. However, he then opened it and made his way to the front door where, just as he was about to press the doorbell, the door swung briskly open and standing there was Barbette Pinchot. Logan introduced himself to her and told her who he was. She first looked somewhat apprehensive, however as soon as she knew who he was, she smiled, shook his hand and invited him in.

Logan visited her for almost half an hour, she let him look about the house and as he did, she felt his emotions. They were going from happy to sad as he viewed the rooms of his former home. Logan then gave the invitation to dinner at Gerard’s and she was very excited with it. He told her that he would like to discuss something with them and he would do so at dinner that evening. He informed her that he even had arranged to have Michelle Casignole come and baby sit their son at his expense. She then phoned Lauren and told him of Logan’s visit and invitation, which he cheerfully accepted.

The waiter came to the table, carrying a single cocktail on a tray. A Grey Goose Vodka martini, “desert dry” as Logan put it, with three olives. “Your cocktail sir.” The waiter said as he placed the drink in front of him.

“Thank you very much.”

“I know of your guests’ sir and I shall seat them with you as soon as they arrive.”

“Thank you again.”

The waiter nodded, smiled and then returned to the bar. Logan brought the cocktail to his lips and he sipped from it. The cold smooth taste of the vodka filled his mouth; he held it there for a few seconds and then swallowed. It did not take long for him to feel the warmth of the vodka to begin to radiate through his body. He was only a social drinker, and he would not indulge that much even on those occasions. Today was different, today … he was home, and if things would work right, he would then be home totally. He then looked down to himself and gave himself another quick inspection of his appearance. Navy blue suit, white shirt and red tie. It was the first time that he had dressed for a dinner that was not for business reasons in over seven years. However when he thought of it further, he realized that this was going to be a business proposition that he was going to tender to the Pinchot’s.

He thought of the other propositions that he put into place that morning at the cemetery. He had the caretaker find any records of those who may have reserved the gravesites that were around Lily’s. He was going to offer those who had a nice sum to purchase the plots around hers and even purchase other plots for them in that cemetery or in others of their choice.

He then was given the name of a man who designed and created monuments. He contacted him and made arrangements to meet with him and have the simple stone marker on Lily’s grave up scaled with one that would be suited for what Logan believed she deserves. 

He began to go over in his head the future propositions and financial dealings that he would be making in the near future. He thought to himself that this strategy was far different from the one that he was planning on the evening before he left Chicago. And, with that realization, he felt relieved. That part of his life was now over and behind him, or so he hoped anyway. He was putting his life back together, and all he wanted to do now was to live in peace. He believed he paid a heavy price, even more of a price than any of the men he targeted.

“Your guests are here Mr. Morrow.” The waiter’s announcement brought Logan out of his thoughts. He looked up and standing at his table with the waiter were Barbette and Lauren Pinchot. Logan stood up and stepped to the side of the table. “Thank you very much.” He said to the waiter. The waiter then gave a slight bow with his head and stepped back. Logan reached out his hand to Barbette and took hers, “It’s so nice to see you again Mrs. Pinchot,” He then faced her husband and extended his hand to him, “Hello, I’m Logan Morrow, and I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“Thank you, Lauren Pinchot, very pleased to make you acquaintance.”

“Please sit down.” Logan said, “Would you like something to drink? A cocktail perhaps? Mrs. Pinchot?”

“Please, call me Barbette, yes I would like a white wine please.”

“Very well, and for you sir?” The waiter asked.

“Is that a martini?” Lauren asked Logan.

“Yes it is.”

“I’ll have the same as Mr. Morrow then.”

Very well then,” the waiter answered, “I’ll return shortly.” He then turned and made his way to the bar.

“Please sit, make yourselves comfortable, and please, call me Logan.” He said to his guests.

“And I’m Lauren.” Mr. Pinchot said.

They all took their seats and made themselves comfortable, then Logan looked to Lauren and said, “I feel that I must apologize to you for disturbing you last night.”

“You disturbed me … how is that?” Lauren asked.

“Apparently I frightened your wife last night when I arrived here.” Logan answered, “I came off of the train and I stopped at the front gate of your home and she saw me there looking up at the house and she woke you. I’m sorry, it’s just that I have been gone for so long and that I just had to see the house before I did anything else.”

“Oh, so that was you.” Lauren exclaimed. He then turned to his wife and said, “You see my dear, a totally rational explanation.”

“Please Lauren.” Barbette said pleadingly.

“No, no my dear, this again proves my point.”

Logan was perplexed by what he was witnessing and asked, “What point is that Lauren?”

“Oh excuse us Logan,” Lauren said, “It is just…well… you see my lovely wife here, she believes herself to be somewhat of a clairvoyant, ‘spiritual’ as she would say. She believes that there are such things as ghosts and spirits and such.”

“Please, Lauren.” she said, and then looked down to the table top in embarrassment.

“Last night she woke me from a perfect sound sleep,” Lauren continued, “when she saw you, well the way she described you, you sounded as if you were one of her ‘shadow ghosts’ as she calls them.”

“Oh I see.” Logan answered, he saw that Mrs. Pinchot was truly uncomfortable with her husband speaking of her on this matter that she felt was personal.

“Alas, I do dearly love this woman; however I am a total non-believer in her nonsense. I think that you Logan, of all people can understand that, can you?”

“Me? Of all people?”

“Oh, I do not mean that in an offending way, it is that I do know of your history somewhat sir, that you were once a Legionnaire, and a police officer.” Lauren began to explain, “You had to deal with logic and common sense. My apologies if I did offend.”

“No, don’t worry; I’m not offended in any way.” Logan said, “I understand your right to feel the way you do on such matters. It’s just that I understand Mrs. Pinchot’s position on the matter just as well.” Barbette then lifted her eyes to Logan when he said that.

“You understand Barbettes viewpoint?” Lauren said with surprise. “Do you believe in ghosts, spirits and things ‘supernatural’ Logan?”

“Absolutely.” Logan answered directly.

“Really? That amazes me somewhat that someone of your background could believe in such things. May I ask you something a bit more personal?”

“Yes, you may.”

“Do you believe in God then?”

“With every fiber of my being.” Logan answered. “You see Lauren, I come from a very spiritual people, I’m from America originally, and my people believe that there are spirits to and for everything. We have so for thousands of years.”

Lauren then asked, “Your people? Back in America? Who are your ‘people’ Logan?”

“I am from the Lakota Sioux; my mother was Lakota as well as my grandmother. My grandmother was married to a white man from the ‘green grasses across the big water’, as they would call Ireland. My grandmother was Catholic, as my grandfather, and my mother was baptized as one. However, we all combined the two beliefs of Catholicism and of the Lakota, which made my spiritual beliefs even stronger.”

Barbette, who as history would show, would usually by this time be starting to cringe because she believed that her husband would start to begin to argue about his staunch non beliefs, was now surprised when he said to Logan in a undisturbed tone, “Really, how fascinating.”

Just then the waiter came with the cocktails for the Pinchot’s. Logan then raised his glass to them and said, “Here’s to a new friendship.”

Before they touched glasses, Barbette added, “And here is to your welcome home.” They then touched glasses and took a drink.

“So, you do consider yourself a spiritual man then Logan?” Barbette asked.

“Yes, even beyond that, I am a firm believer in God, angels, spirits and dreams.” Logan said.

“You’ll have to excuse my husband then, he is a confirmed atheist.” She said smiling looking at Lauren with a slight expression of victory on her face.

“I can understand that also.”

“You can?” Lauren asked, “”How so?”

“You are probably a man who sees the world with its good and bad, especially the bad. You probably pay more attention to all the bad than all the good.” Logan answered, “Especially with all media coverage these days, in the papers and with twenty-four hour news service, and now those news services from the rest of the world broadcasting into our homes with cable and satellite feeds. Bad news and bad people saturate us, because that’s what sells on the news. They have a saying, ‘if it bleeds … it leads’. They will cover genocide for an hour, and close the segment with an extreme short story of an act of kindness. I can understand your doubts.”

“But that’s my point Logan, you must have yourself witnessed these bad things done by bad people in your lifetime.” Lauren said, “You had to have been in those situations, plus what happened to your wife. I certainly would have doubts just with that alone.”

“Lauren. Please, Mr. Morrow is our host.” Barbette said firmly.

“Oh, I am sorry Mr. Morrow.” Lauren said, “I did not mean to bring your late wife into this. Please forgive me.”

"Once again, no offense taken.” Logan said, “I can understand your doubt … because of that …incident.” Logan said, “Here, let me tell you a story - - -

- - - “it was when I was in Zaire. I was involved with the rescue mission in Kolwezi. I was in a squad of about six men and we were just on the outskirts of Kolwezi. To say everything was tense is an understatement. We knew that the Kantangans were all around and we could smell the smoke coming from Kolwezi, plus the smoke was mixed in with the stench of other things that were there.

“We came up and this small group of houses there in the outskirts, they were reduced down to stone and brick rubble. We all were quiet; we approached these now piles of stone with caution. We were communicating with each other mostly with hand signals. I was taking one step at a time. I would take a step, then look around and listen, then take another step. The tension was so thick in the air that you could cut it with a knife.

“Then suddenly I heard a loud bang come from my right and a split second afterwards I felt a stinging pain in my upper right leg. I look down and I saw five little holes in my trouser leg, and tiny billows of smoke were coming from each hole. Now everything that happened after this began to move in slow motion and it felt like there was no sound anywhere as if I were in a dream state. I looked down at my leg and I just thought, ‘what the hell happened there?’ I had this feeling that this was strange, this isn’t supposed to happen. Then I saw as each hole on my trouser began to turn crimson red and spread outward from each hole. Again I said to myself ’this isn’t supposed to happen’.

“I then looked to the direction from which the bang came … and there I saw him. He must have been eleven years old, twelve at the most. He was the most beautiful little boy that I had ever seen. His skin was as black as midnight and his teeth and eyes where as white as the mountain snow. He was wearing a Kantangan uniform. He was smiling at me, he had a twelve gauge pump shotgun in his hands with smoke billowing too from its barrel, and he was looking up at me smiling. The boy just shot at me, hit me in the leg, and he was smiling at me like he wanted to be my friend or something.

“So… I just smiled back at him; I even gave him a little wave. Then, like I said, still in slow motion, I saw as he pumped the shotgun and put another round in the chamber, all the time smiling at me. He then began to raise the gun at me again and began to take aim at me, all the time smiling at me. It then dawned on me that this beautiful little boy now intended to kill me, and again I thought, this isn’t suppose to happen. I then though came to the realization quite quickly that this indeed was going to happen and I began to raise my weapon back to respond. I knew that I responded to late though and I then anticipated for the feeling of taking on the full brunt of the blast from this boy’s shotgun, when all of a sudden I heard a loud burst of gunfire go off from behind me.

“I then saw that boy disappear in a cloud of white dust mixed with red mist. Then I heard the deep cockney English accent of my Sergeant-Chef say, and excuse my language, he said, ‘Little bastard, almost took out me best goalkeeper!’, that was Sergeant-Chef Quentin Travis, and he just cut that boy in half with his machine gun. He grabbed me by the shoulder and said, ’Look alive there Morrow, I need you in the nets when we get out of all this shit. If you get killed on me I’m going to very pissed off at you, you hear me?’

“Sergeant-Chef Travis was a football fanatic from London, he had a team back at Camp Raffalli in Corsica and I was his goalkeeper. And no, even if I were dead I did not want to face the wrath of Sergeant-Chef Travis so I made sure that I would not be killed there in Zaire.

“He then made me sit on the stone ruble while he tended to the wounds on my leg, five small puncture wounds from the boys shotgun. However, where I sat was now just ten feet from what remained of that boy. He lay there, I was fixated on him, I did not even feel it when the Sergeant-cChef dug out each pellet with his field knife then cleaned and dressed my wounds. That boy was just lying there on his back his hands up on either side of his head. He looked like he was just sleeping peacefully,” - - -

 

- - - “and that’s when I realized that there was indeed a God.” Logan said.

“How could something that horrible confirm your belief in God?” Lauren asked.

“Because I believe that for everything there is an opposite.” Logan answered, “If there is an up, there is a down, if there is a day, there is a night. However, and most of all if there is good, there is evil. Think about it, there is a natural order to everything, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, I would have to agree with that, it is logical.”

“You know that there is gravity, correct?”

“Yes.”

“But you can’t see gravity can you? Nevertheless, it is there. Where does that force come from? How does something as inanimate as a stone have the power to attract? There is a hidden power there, you can’t see it, but you accept it.”

“Yes, I understand, and I know where you are going with this”

“Let me continue,” Logan said, “look at ourselves; we know how the human body functions. How the heart pumps blood, the brain functions that make us think ‘logically’ let us say and retain memory, how the stomach breaks down food and takes the energy from it and uses it to function and heal ourselves. However there is one thing that medical science can never find.”

“What is that?” Barbette asked.

“I’ll answer that with a question,” Logan answered to her, “where is our battery? Where is the source of energy that makes all of this function?” He said while he pointed to his body and made a circular motion. “What makes this; and I’ll use some American slang here, what make this ‘meat suit’ move?”

Lauren then said, “You believe that it is your soul, right?”

“Precisely.” Logan answered. “I believe that the soul is the power that makes us ‘alive’, shall we say. That the soul is the source of that energy. Rather, it is that energy, and energy is power, and I believe that it was Einstein who said that energy is infinite, it goes on forever.”

“But what has this to do with the boy and your belief in God?” Lauren said.

“Children are naturally good people. They are not judgmental and if you see, they will play with anyone in their age group no matter what their differences are.” Logan said. “There he was this beautiful boy; the closest thing to violence that he should have ever known should have been on a rugby pitch. However, there he was pointing a weapon at me, he shot me in fact, and he was going to kill me. What turns a child into something like that? To make him stop wanting to play games and to kill someone he does not even know?”

Barbette answered, “Evil.”

“That is correct.” Logan agreed, “And just like gravity, just like our soul, evil is a power. Some call it persuasion, some call it brainwashing, but there is still a power involved here. There is a source to power of all evil, just as there is a source to all good. You keep using the word ‘logical’, Lauren.”

“Yes.”

“Well, there is also the word, ‘illogical’. In addition, I have used the word ‘natural’, well there is also the word ‘supernatural’. Look around you at the universe, why are all the planets and moons round like balls? Why is everything moving in circular orbits and motions? Because circles, like energy, are infinite, you can go round and round on one, and never stop. Look at all the power and energy that surrounds us, something, a higher power had to create this, and still has to control this. Man creates new and wonderful and not so wonderful things all the time. We had to get that power of creation from somewhere. There has to be a higher power that keeps the natural order, well … natural.”

There was a pause in the conversation, and then Lauren said, “I have never had anyone put this subject in quite the same perception as you have. However, I must say that I am still a confirmed atheist and don’t think that this could change my way of thinking.”

“Oh, I’m not here to convert you in any way Lauren, believe me.” Logan said humorously, “The only way you can be converted in that prospect is for something that will drastically change your mind.”

Lauren then laughed also and asked, “And what would it take for me to believe in God?”

“Well,” Logan said smiling, “There is a saying among soldiers and those of us who have fought in battle.”

Barbette then asked, “And what is that?”

“That ‘there is no such thing as an atheist is a fire fight’.”

Lauren and Barbette laughed at his saying just as the waiter returned. The waiter asked, “Shall I bring the menus Mr. Morrow?”

”Let’s have another round of cocktails first.”

“Very well sir.” The waiter said and went to the bar to make the order.

“Well then Lauren,” Logan said, “let us just say that we cordially agree to disagree on this subject then shall we?”

“Let us then.”

Barbette then added, “I must compliment you Logan, you are the first to debate my husband on this subject without it becoming heated.”

“May I not be the last then.” Logan said. “However let me get right to the point of why I asked you and your husband to meet me here tonight. It concerns your home.”

“Our home?” Lauren asked.

“Yes, as you know my late wife and I lived there for four years.” Logan said solemnly, “She loved that house, she fell in love with that house the day she saw it. I saw it in her eyes when she brought me there the first time. I knew that buying that little house would make her happy, so I never even debated the subject with her; I just purchased it for her. She loved living there as well as here in this village. She is buried here just up the road at the cemetery. She loved everything here and everybody, this was truly her home. After … well after what happened, I could not live there anymore. I was deeply saddened and depressed. I just left.”

Barbette then said, “I know, I can feel the sadness in that house.”

“You can?” Logan asked.

“Yes, I felt sadness there ever since we moved in. There is a presence in that house. I can feel a deep sadness, a loneliness, a feeling of longing. Some nights I would wake and feel the sadness and some days I could feel it. It was so sad sometimes that I would even cry. Last night though, last night it was different. An overwhelming feeling of joy awaked me. That feeling of joy was drawing me to the window. When I got to the window and looked out from it, I saw you standing there.”

Lauren looked at his wife and this time he did not question her. He then looked over to Logan who closed his eyes and nodded slightly.

“I brought you both here tonight to present to you a proposition.” Logan then said, “I would like to know if the both of you would be willing to sell your home back to me. I am willing to pay not only a good market price, but I am also offering to pay you an extra cash bonus on the side. Plus I will pay all your moving expenses, along with any lodging expenses that you may incur as you move from one place to the next.”

Lauren and Barbette looked to each other in surprise. Lauren then asked, “You want to buy our home?’

“Yes, yes I do.” Logan said, “You see, after … after it happened I was very distraught. Everything around me reminded me of Lillian, I saw her in everything also. I was angry, depressed and deeply distressed. I thought that if I could just get away, then I would be able to put it all behind me and find someway to live with it. I had this job offer from the Bank of Paris some months before, so I took it. They told me that I would be going back to the United States to oversee the security of the branch there. I thought that if I could go far, far away, that I could be able to live with it. However, I discovered that no matter how far I would have gone, I could never, ever forget my Lillian. She is as much a part deceased as well as alive. The love she has for me is still there, I can feel it. And I must confess that I still love her as much now as I did when she was here.” Logan looked downed at the table for a second, wiped his eyes, swallowed hard, then looked back to the Pinchot’s, “So, a little less than two weeks ago, I just up and ran back here as fast as I did the night I left here. In addition, all I want now is to have everything back that she and I had. It has been over seven years now, and my love for her remains the same. I cannot get rid myself of that no matter how far I run or how hard I try. So, I am doing what I have always done when it came to Lillian, I’m just going to surrender to her.”

Lauren and Barbette both wore solemn expressions on their faces. Barbette appeared as she were about to cry. There was another silent pause, when Lauren asked. “I’m sorry to bring this up now, but you said that there would be a cash bonus if we decide to do this.”

“Yes, there will be.”

“May I ask, how much would this bonus be?”

Logan then reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket and retrieved from it his pen and pad of paper. He wrote down a number on the top sheet, tore it off, folded it and handed it to Lauren. Lauren then opened it up to see the number, when he did so he did a double take to Logan and then showed the number to his wife, who in turn gave Logan a wide-eyed look of surprise.

Logan then said, “I know that you work for the French government. However, this bonus would be as I said be in cash, and the knowledge of this transaction would only be between the three of us. Madame de le Republique need not to have to know anything, unless you both would want to report it to her of course.”

Barbette and Lauren again looked to each other with emotions that were a mixture of both confusion and elation. Barbette then said, “Oh, Mr. Morrow, you must understand that this is all a bit of an overwhelming surprise.”

“Yes, I understand completely.”

“Would you mind if my husband and I could think about this and discuss it for a day or so?”

“No, no I don’t mind at all, please by all means do so.” Logan said, and then he motioned for the waiter. “Well that is my proposal of my intentions. Now, you both go ahead and think the matter over. In the meantime, the business portion of the evening is officially closed then. Let’s have dinner now shall we? And please, feel free to order anything that appeals to you.”