Fusion (29 page)

“You mean like Victoria Justice and Nina Dobrev?”

“Exactly!”

Ella looked at the picture again. “I kinda like her hair. Can we try that sometime?”

“Yes, of course. Now, shall I hang onto these and maybe leave them somewhere Celia won’t get suspicious?”

Ella put her arms around her mom. “Thanks. And I guess I’m grounded?”

Olivia laughed. “We’ll talk about that when we get home.”

“Arizona’s going to be grounded as well, isn’t she?”

She nodded, though right now Arizona needed much more than just grounding. Olivia was still reeling from Kellan’s call. Trust Arizona to get him to do her dirty work. She’d had to rebook the tickets for the following day. The kids had better be on that flight.

“How are my favorite girls?” Rupert said, appearing out of the blue.

“Daddy!” Ella rushed at him as he bent down and scooped her up.

“Rupe!” Olivia smiled as he drew her in for a group hug.

“And where is my other favorite girl?” he asked, looking around.

“In New Jersey,” Ella volunteered, throwing him a knowing look. “She’s in so much trouble.”

“Ollie?” Rupert raised an eyebrow.

Olivia threw up her hands. “What can I say? She took off with Kellan and Ariele. They should be on their way to the airport soon. They’ll be back in the morning.”

“What are they doing in New Jersey?”

“As far as I know, they were on a reconnaissance mission with Ariele, but I have an awful feeling that there’s more to it.” She cast a sideways glance at Ella, knowing that Rupert would understand that she’d update him later. She needed to talk to him about so many things. “How long can you stay?”

“Not long, but I can bring Arizona home before I go.”

It was tempting, but with her suspicions about what the time travelling was doing—producing doppelgangers—she wanted to keep that to the minimum. Plus, the kids would be home in the morning anyway. “It’s okay, but thanks. And remember, Arizona isn’t alone. Kellan and Ariele are with her. Let them fly back. I’ll deal with them when they get here. But for now, can we talk?”

“Of course.” He put Ella down. “Hey, we need big people talk time. Go read for a while? I’ll come and find you before I have to leave.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “Can I jump into the pool?”

“Only if Glenda or Celia is out there. Make sure to ask them first,” Olivia said before Ella ran off. She took Rupert’s hand and led him to the bedroom. As soon as she closed the door, he gathered her in his arms and pulled her close.

“I have missed you,” he said, his voice husky against her neck.

She stood up on her tiptoes to reach his lips and kissed him. “Me, too. How have you been? Is everything okay now? Can we go back home?”

“No, not yet.” He lifted strands of her hair and tucked them back behind her ear.

“Rupe, how are
you
?”

“I’ve been busy wandering from one place to the other, trying to get to meetings all over the world. I am bushed.” He pulled her close again and rested his cheek on her head.

“Come and lay down for a bit while we talk,” Olivia suggested.

“Good idea, but don’t let me fall asleep.”

“I won’t.” She pulled him over to the bed and pushed him down on it.

“It’s like that, is it?” He chuckled.

“Too right.”

~

He’d fallen asleep after all, and Olivia couldn’t bear to wake him, so she let him sleep for a while, waking him up with a gentle kiss.

“Mmm. How long did I sleep?”

“Not long, just ten minutes or so.”

“Good. I have to go soon.” He turned over on his side and kissed her cheek. “You wanted to talk? Or was that just a ruse to get me into bed?”

“Surely I don’t need to trick you for that?”

“Never. So, what’s up, apart from our very naughty daughter?”

“I don’t know what to do with her.” She sighed. “Rupe, did you know that we have doppelgangers? I mean, apart from Dillard?”

“No...”

“We do.” She told him what she’d learned from Celia.

He rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. She let him take his time absorbing what she’d said, lying back in the crook of his arm. By Celia’s account, there was just one of Rupert. That provided Olivia with some measure of relief.

“There are two of you? Of Ella?” he asked quietly. “What about Arizona?”

“Yes. Celia said that Arizona—the other one—is in New Jersey with Dillard. There doesn’t seem to be another Harry.”

Rupert sat up and leaned forward, raking his hair back with his fingers. “I need to see this for myself.”

Olivia touched his arm. “Is that a good idea? Somehow, I feel we should just leave it be, not interfere in what’s already done.”

He got up and paced the room. “I am going to have to think about this. I need to go, but I hate leaving you with all this to deal with on your own.”

“Can you tell me anything about what’s going on? Are you in danger? When can we go home?”

He sat back down and put his arm around her. “I could tell you what’s going on, but I know you’re not ready to hear all this just now. You have enough to deal with. Let me take care of it, and I’ll explain everything once we’re all back home. There is chaos and danger around, but I will be okay. Don’t worry about me.”

“I do.”

“I know, but I’ll be fine, I promise. Now, I can secure Mountain View so that you can go home in the next few days. You’ll have to remain in Mountain View, though, but that’s better than hanging out here, right?”

“Yes! But what do you mean,
secure
?”

“Again, you’re just going to have to trust me on that.”

“Oh, you mean by having the Wanderers watch us? That wasn’t foolproof.”

“Not exactly. But what I have in mind will be.”

Olivia shook her head. “I really don’t like this covert stuff, especially when the kids are involved.” She shifted and stood up. “But I’ll go home when you tell me it’s safe. Will you come back to do that yourself or send someone?”

“I don’t know just yet, but I want to do it myself.”

“Dad?” Harry opened the door.

“Hey!” Rupert said, bearhugging his son.

“Ella said you were here.”

“I was just about to come find you. How have you been?”

“Good. Bored sitting around and doing nothing. I was thinking… can I go with you?”

“Harry! No!” Olivia gasped. “I thought we’d discussed this, and you were going to stay and complete college.”

“Mom, it’s okay.” Harry smiled. “I’d just like to help if I can. Then I’ll go back to college. That’s if Dad doesn’t need me to stay and keep an eye on stuff here.”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea, Harry,” Rupert said. “Ollie, you are fine here at Celia’s, and I will move you back home in the next day or two. Meanwhile, Harry can hang out with his old man if he wants and learn the family business, so to speak.”

“He’s not going to go wandering by himself or anything?”

Rupert laughed. “You have my word.”

“And you’ll keep him safe. I know that.”

Soon after Rupert and Harry left to find Ella, Olivia took out the pictures of Ella’s doppelganger and looked at them again, wishing that she could feel what was in the other Ella’s heart. Was she happy? Did she have everything she needed? Was there anything she could do to make this Ella’s life better? Should she? Olivia needed to know more about the doppelgangers. She went to find Celia, stopping first at her den. There were no signs of Celia, but Olivia lingered, picking up the photo album from the coffee table and flicking through the pages. She found a few more pictures of Ella and scrutinized them. It was impossible to tell from the pictures how the other Ella really was on the inside.

Olivia finally found Celia sitting by the baby grand piano in the living room accompanying Ella as she sang. Olivia sat down and watched them, wondering if the other Ella was musical as well or whether this was something Ella had picked up from Rupert.

“Did Dad stop by?” she asked Ella when she was finished.

“He did! Dad said he wanted to hear me sing, so I did a little show for him.”

“You sound wonderful, honey.” She turned to Celia. “And you play as beautifully as ever.”

“Why, thank you.” Celia got up and bowed. “Drink?”

“And a chat?” She looked across at Ella. “It’s bedtime. Go get ready, and I’ll come and tuck you in soon.”

“Can I watch TV until you do? You always take so long when you have these chats.” She rolled her eyes.

“Cheeky Charlie. Yes, you
may
.”

“Shall we go down to the den? All the best wine is down there.” Celia smiled.

“I’m curious about the pictures you showed me the other night,” Olivia said once they were comfortable, each with a glass of Bordeaux in hand.

“I bet.” Celia smiled. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything, I guess. Do you have any more photographs?”

Celia got up and rummaged through the drawers of her side table, bringing out another photo album. She handed it to Olivia and sat down next to her, watching her face.

Olivia ran her fingers over the leatherbound album, suddenly wary of what she was about to see. Would looking at these pictures impact her life?

“You know, you don’t have to look at them.” Celia put her hand over Olivia’s. “I had such a hard time believing that you weren’t just
the other
Olivia playing a trick on me that I went to visit her yesterday when you were at Universal. It is spooky how the choices you made haven’t changed you physically in any way down to your haircut and the clothes you wear. The only really noticeable difference is that you have a certain serenity that she doesn’t. She is very driven by her work and looking after Ella at the expense of herself.”

“Is she happy?” Olivia asked, finding it strange to refer to the other Olivia as a different person entirely, but that’s who she was, somehow.

“I think so. She certainly shows no signs of being sad, but then it’s hard to read what’s in someone else’s heart.”

“Does she ever talk about Rupert?”

“Not to me, and I never ask. I feel he may occupy the same space in her that Sarah does in me. Some memories are best left to settle, especially when the tiniest trigger can cause the most explosive emotional upheaval. Olivia has built up her walls over many years, and I am the last person who wants to tear them down.”

Olivia nodded. She knew about walls. She’d shared her doppelganger’s wall for years, keeping herself shielded from hurt. Rupert had carefully and gently, brick by brick, taken it apart until she was able to walk out and let him be her emotional wall.

“Mom!” Ella ran into the den. “I’ve been looking for you all over the place. You left your phone upstairs, and Kellan’s been calling again and again. I answered it. He wants you to call him back right away.” Ella held out the phone.

Olivia called him back immediately. “Kellan?”

“Dr. Darley.” He hesitated. “Arizona is missing.”

K
ellan’s eyes were blazing as David and I walked through the apartment door. “Where have you two been? I’ve driven all over the place looking for you. Your mom is on her way here.”

“Why?” I asked.

“You’ve been gone for hours! I had to call her, Arizona. We’ve been worried sick.”

“Speak for yourself, Kellan. I told you she was fine—I mean, duh! She was with David. You’re such a worrywart.” Ariele grinned. “Still, guys, one of you should have called us. It was pretty annoying having to wait here, especially with Kell getting all hysterical.”

“STFU, Ariele.” His face broke into a smile.

“See, I made you grin,” she said, sounding satisfied. “Now, tell us where the hell you were,” she barked at me.

I told them.

“OMG, Arizona, what the heck?” Ariele said. “Nothing’s ever…
I just went shopping and forgot the time
… with you. Is it?”

“Look, I have to go,” David said. “I’m already late and will have to use
that
excuse, Ariele.” He smiled. “Is Dr. Darley airborne, yet?”

Kellan glanced at his watch. “No, but she will be soon.”

“Why don’t you call and let her know that Arizona is back and then head home?”

Kellan nodded and got his phone out of his pocket.

David turned to me and put his hands on my shoulders leaning in so he was inches from my face. “And you, Poppet. Stay out of trouble, will you? I can only handle one of you at a time.”

“I’m the two-for-one deal if you ever change your mind,” I joked.

“Funny monkey,” he said softly and kissed my forehead. He turned to Kellan, who’d just turned off his phone. “You got her, right?”

“Always. Good to see you, David. And thanks for everything.”

Once David was gone, Kellan tapped on his watch. “We’ve got to go as well. I reached your mom just in time. Let’s head to the airport. She’ll have tickets waiting for us.”

Once we were in the cab on our way to Newark, I closed my eyes, resting my head against Kellan’s shoulder. Not because I was tired—I wasn’t—but because I really wanted some time to think through what had happened without being bombarded by the millions of questions both Ariele and Kell had for me. I would answer those on the long flight back to California. First, I needed to come to grips with the images of rotting body parts, blood, and shredded flesh that kept flashing through my mind. Who or what could have caused that? Did someone bomb the rink? Wouldn’t that have damaged the building as well? I shuddered.