The Perfect Clone (5 page)

Richard didn’t have the stereotypical physicality that most scientists and professors had. At 6’2, he was built like a professional wrestler and had the fashion sense of a
GQ
model. His outward appearance fooled the majority of people who unknowingly underestimated his brilliance.

“Richard!” Laura threw herself against his broad chest, allowing him to wrap her up in a bear hug and swing her around. A greeting they’d grown accustomed to over the years. Some things never changed no matter how long you were apart or how old you were.

“I’m glad you could make it. It seems like ages since I saw you. How have you been? Where have you been? What have you been up to?”

“Slow down baby girl. There’s plenty of time for that. I came to see the old man.”

Laura slipped back from the familiar embrace. Looking up at the man she‘d secretly loved since forever, she tried to find the words to explain her father’s latest diagnosis.

A strong understanding hand landed squarely on her shoulder. Gently squeezing, Richard turned and walked into the living room. Maneuvering a chair directly in front of the older man, Richard took a seat and clasped his friend on the shoulder. “Hello, old friend.”

“Who in the hell let you in?” Her father’s playful recognition of Richard, when he had forgotten her just moments ago, cut like a knife.

“Some pretty lady that claims to be your daughter.”

Laura covered her mouth, blinking back tears as her dad laughed aloud. Her father hadn’t laughed like that since the disease had taken hold.

“I’ve told her not to let strangers in the house,” and with that, her father leaned forward and embraced his friend.

Laura stole glances at the two men whenever possible as she played hostess to the guests. Their conversation seemed to flow without problems, agitation, or lag.

As the hour grew late and the last guest was leaving, save Richard, Laura and Roger started cleaning up.

Fortunately, she had served the guests on Chinaware, so dishwashing was left to a minimum as the caterers scooped up their personal belongings and left. With trash bag in hand, Roger made quick work of the plastic ware and carried the garbage out to the curb.

Her father’s big yawn followed by a suggestive cough promptly set the in-house nurse reverently into action. She helped Laura’s father from his chair. After a long hand shake, coupled with a few firm pats on the back, Richard and her father said their goodnights.

Laura awkwardly approached her father and placed a kiss on his cheek. His empty stare put her on the defensive. Holding back tears yet again, she wished him goodnight.

As the nurse shuffled her ward toward his ground floor bedroom, he abruptly stopped and turned. “Good night, Laura. Your mother would have been proud. It was a wonderful party.”

A strangled cry almost escaped. Laura blinked back a new round of tears and watched her father walk to his room.

Wrapping hands around the back of her shoulders, Roger supported her until she found her balance. “You said that the doctor told you, that it’s hit and miss at this stage.”

“I know, but it doesn’t make things easier. Thanks for being such a good friend, Roger. I couldn’t have managed without you.”

“It was my pleasure.”

After seeing Roger out, Laura hurried to the living room, to visit with Richard. “Can I talk you into a sleep over? I don’t know about you, but I’m beat.”

“Is my same room still available?”

“For you…always,” Laura teased as she ran upstairs to make a quick once over of the room. She wanted to ensure everything was in order. Remembering that Richard liked extra pillows, she went to the linen closet in the hall to grab a few. Closing the door, she let out a yelp and landed a hard slap against Richard’s chest. “I hate it when you sneak up on me like that!”

“I know. I had to get one in for old time’s sake. It’s been too long Laura.”

“Yes it has, good to have you back.”

“Since tomorrow is Saturday, I insist that we spend it together playing catch up. There’s something I’d like to get your opinion on.”

“I‘d love to spend the day with my second most favorite guy in the world, and I have plenty of opinions to share.” Laura shoved the pillows hard into Richard’s chest. “And just for the record, the next time you creep up on me, I’ll nail your butt. And I promise you, it’ll feel the same regardless of which of the thirty-seven languages you’re thinking in.”

“I know thirty-eight now, Ms. Smarty Pants.”

With a quick turn of the head, Laura padded down the carpeted hall to her old room. The rugged sound of Richard’s laughter filled her ears.

************************

Dr. Hamstein was determined to let go of his emotional pain. He’d spent the last two weeks in deep contemplation over a major professional opportunity that had presented itself.

Acknowledging the time, but having made his decision, Igor sat on the corner of his desk and picked up the phone. He knew that his call would be accepted regardless of the late hour.

“Yes?” The deep male voice on the other end of the line was professional.

“When do we start?” Once Igor had made a decision, he wasn’t one to waste time with small talk.

The man on the other end didn’t hesitate. “I’ll have my private jet ready at the terminal one week from today, assuming that gives you ample time to tie up any loose ends you might have?”

Igor was enticed by the urgency and no nonsense manner in which this man conducted business. “That will be more than enough time.”

“Excellent, I’ll have my attorney at your office Monday morning to hash out the details.” The connection ended abruptly as the other caller hung up.

Returning the phone to its cradle Igor stared at it and thought about the new direction his life was about to take.

Chapter 5

A small sand crab scampered across a discarded flip flop in its rush to escape an unseen predator. Throwing her head back in amusement, the sweet sound of Sarah’s laughter carried on the chilly night breeze. Captivated by the busy workings of nature‘s need to survive, she eyed the crustacean as it scuttled across the sand and disappeared beneath a nearby piece of discarded driftwood.

The waves coming in on high tide stroked the beach with outstretched fingers, lapping hungrily against the expanded shore’s surface. The ocean sprayed upward, signaling its approval, as it swallowed up the delicacies of objects usually outside of its reach. Sarah listened to the melodic rhythm of the water as it pounded against its prey.

The full moon beamed its radiance onto the water below, reflecting in ecstasy against its choppy surface. The bright light illuminated the wave crests, creating the illusion of a phosphorus lined paradise.

Gazing up at the constellations, Sarah inhaled the salty air, allowing it to fill her lungs. This used to be her haven, now it was a place of remembrance. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she recalled happier times.

Following the death of her mom and dad, her older brother Josh had taken on the role of father, mother, and best friend. Thanks to the careful planning of their parents, the life insurance and savings that they’d left behind, had allowed Josh and Sarah to keep the family home. Their will had given Josh legal custody of Sarah. She had been the tender age of sixteen when they had died. Josh had just turned twenty.

Regardless of his youth, Josh had accepted his guardianship role with the courage and resolve of a mature adult. Sarah hadn’t lacked for anything. Josh had provided her not only with the material things she’d needed during her adolescent years, but he had provided strong emotional support as well. His constant presence, attention to detail, and appropriate situational intensity, had not left room for Sarah to try self-parenting. He was always home when she got out of school and he never left her alone at night. Even with all his resilient dedication to raising her right, she had never once felt suffocated by his steady guidance. Besides, she’d had plenty of freedoms. She’d just known better than to take advantage of them.

Josh seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He always knew everything she’d thought about doing, before she’d actually gotten around to doing them. She’d been certain that he’d had friends watching over her who reported back to him. Sarah thought it was sweet, even if her handful of friends had hated it. Needless to say, after Josh took over as parent, her so called friends had scattered like flies. At sixteen and seventeen her classmates had been eager to discover the party scene. The last thing they‘d wanted was Sarah’s big brother dampening their style.

At first it had bothered her that he’d stayed involved in her personal life, but after a few of her friends ended up pregnant or with DWIs, Sarah was more than grateful for Josh’s interference.

After graduating from high school, Josh had insisted that his baby sister use the remaining life insurance funds to attend the local college. She had tried to reason with him, but he’d remained insistent. Sarah had known how much was left of the remaining funds, so she never would have asked to use them for her personal gain. They had too much money to receive financial aid, but too little to pay for college and keep them afloat. It seemed selfish to use up all the money on her education.

“It’s what mom and dad would have wanted. Please do this for me. It’s important that you go.” That had been the first and only time that Josh had ever mentioned mom and dad since their double funerals, so she’d known how critical it was to him that she fulfill his wish.

Before Josh had made his wishes known, Sarah had just assumed that she’d be unable to attend college. Her plan had been to work her way into management at the seafood restaurant she’d been waitressing at for the last year. Though she’d never told him, Sarah had been relieved that he’d insisted she go.

That was Josh, always putting his kid sister first. Without much arguing, Sarah had eagerly become a student at the local college and devoted herself to her studies. She had been determined not to let her brother down.

Positive that his kid sister was on the fast track to adulthood, Josh had finally let loose. He followed his own path; straight to the surf and hanging out with his ‘buds’.

Having fought their way through the hard times, Sarah was happy to see Josh finally enjoying himself. With the struggle safely behind them, they’d comfortably settled into their new life as scholarly sister and surfer brother. She’d felt more indebted to him than he could ever know.

Sarah had often thought that life had been unfair to her older brother, and sometimes felt guilty for being the reason he’d lost so many years of young adulthood. Three years of his youth had been stripped away in the blink of an eye. Josh, however, had never complained. He’d enjoyed every minute of every day, unlike anyone else she’d ever known. He’d lived in every moment.

Sarah had never realized just how much Josh had loved living on the ocean, until she was in college and his responsibility load had lightened. Everything about beach life suited his personality.

People were instantly charmed by Josh’s lackadaisical ways and quick laughter. Easy going, witty, and occasionally flippant; Josh was everything that she would never be. Other than the occasional home repair, there was nothing Josh took seriously.

Once her sophomore year of college was well underway and he noticed how self-reliant Sarah had become, Josh left his full time day job. He started jumping from one menial job to the next, keeping a job just long enough to save up the cash to support his carefree beach life style for a few months. Then he’d quit and spend his days and nights swimming, surfing, and camping out. Josh never worried about where the next meal would come from. But during that time of self-discovery, a day had never passed that he didn’t stop by the house to exchange stories over a morning cup of brew.

Mornings became Sarah’s favorite time of day. She always had breakfast and a fresh pot of coffee waiting for her brother.  He’d come bouncing in with the newspaper in one hand and a backpack filled with dirty clothes in the other. He’d drop off his dirty clothes during breakfast. She’d wash them after her classes and have them waiting the next morning. Their routine was comfortable. Secure.

During one of his regular overnighters on the beach, his new found buddies had teased him. They’d labeled him a bum and joked around that he’d never grow up or be able to handle real responsibilities. They’d bet him a twelve pack of beer that he couldn’t keep the same job for a year. Josh had upped the ante to include a fifth of Jack Daniels, then accepted the challenge with zealous fervor. Not being one to back down from a bet, Josh had joined the Marine Corp. Sarah had been livid when he’d enlisted. Over the course of several weeks, she’d come to terms with it, assuming it was just another passing fancy. He’d serve his time and be done.

While Josh was away at boot camp, he had written every chance he’d gotten. He always asked about her studies and checked to make sure that she had everything she needed. On more than one occasion, Sarah had jokingly accused her sibling of having empty nest syndrome, because of the serious way he tended to dote on her.

To pass the time while Josh was away, Sarah had submerged herself even deeper into her studies. She continued to make a full pot of coffee with her breakfast every morning. Sometimes she’d even caught herself pulling two cups down from the cupboard. She’d never found the nerve to tell him that she came home after class every day and sat by the phone, waiting for him to call. Those thirteen weeks of boot camp had been the longest weeks of her life.