Effie & Simon

After that first time Lorelai stayed over, it was a while before Effie asked me to babysit again. Lonnie had insinuated to her that there was something sinister about me doing that, or even being fond of her. Had I been an aunty, there'd have been no problem.

Well. There wouldn't have been that specific problem, but I have no doubt he'd have dreamt up a different one.

Effie made it clear of course she didn't believe I would do something like that. She only went along with it to keep the peace with Lonnie. Things were "rocky, again" apparently. No surprises there.

"Please, Simon," she said. "If I don't do what he says on this, he said he'd... take it further. Really accuse you. Try to get you arrested. How would that look?"

Grudgingly, I had to admit it wouldn't go well at all. It would be hard to shake, even if my name were cleared. I'd always be associated with that allegation, never free of it.

So, then - the babysitting stopped. Effie visited often and brought my niece with her. This turned out to be a positive. I still spent time with Lorelai, but without the strain between my sister and I. Had she continued to take me for granted, dump her baby on me with no notice, and not return for who ever knew how long each time... Well, then our tentative truce would have been sorely tested. This was better. This was how it was supposed to be.

Once, the left side of her face looked puffy and red, as if she'd been slapped. Another time, she was wearing far more makeup than I'd ever seen her wear before. Yet another, she wore a scarf and didn't take it off indoors. It was really quite warm, too. These things worried me, but not one half so much as when she cancelled those visits. I worried that she had injuries that were harder to hide. I stewed in my own impotence. What could I do? The more I begged her to leave him, the more limpet-like she glued her life to his.

Eventually, Effie did ask me to mind Lorelai again. She simply lied to Lonnie about who she left the baby with. This, too, pleased me. I thought he would find out, and their relationship would implode. I was correct of course, but I failed to anticipate back then just how many times they would be drawn back together.

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Lorelai's birthday came and went, and came and went again. The date of the wedding, that came and went, too, but it had been cancelled or postponed, I can't remember which.

Effie pounded on my door early on a chilly Sunday morning, and this time, she didn't have Lorelai in tow. Fear curled its tendrils around my heart, and tugged it downward. What could be wrong? What's he done this time?

"Effie?" I said as I opened the door. "Where is Lorelai? Is she alright?"

But she must have been, because Effie was smiling. Her face shone with happiness and excitement. Have they set another date, I wondered. But no - that had been done a few times by now, it was practically old hat.

"Let me in!" she hissed, hustling past me and making for the kitchen. She spun to face me, leaning against the counter, and gripping it for support. "There's no one else here is there?" she said, her voice lowered.

"No," I said. Who else did she think I might be entertaining at this hour?

"Good," she said, but she still kept her voice down. She didn't say anything else for a moment, beaming, eyes gleaming. Panting a little, even, as if she'd been running.

"What is it?" I said, moving to the cupboard, and opening a fresh pack of coffee.

"Wait," she said, "Where's your phone?"

I gestured with a spoon to where it was plugged in on the counter. I never charged it in my room overnight. Effie yanked open the door to my tiny garden, wrested the phone from the charging port and disappeared with it out to the patio. She came back empty-handed.

"I left mine out there, too," she said. "Can't be too careful."

"What's going on?" I demanded.

"Oh, Simon! We're going to be rich!"

What was she talking about? Lonnie was already repulsively wealthy.

"But it's not just that," she sparkled at me. "It's... oh, Simon, it's something truly wonderful! I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but I just can't keep this to myself, and you're the only one I can trust not to tell."

The silence was broken by the clink of the spoon stirring. I handed her the mug. She took it from me, beaming again.

"Well, you know how he invests in things..." Still, the man's name couldn't be spoken between us, but I knew who she meant. She'd lowered her voice again, almost to a whisper. "He's found something truly exciting. World-changing technology." She blew the steam from the mug and took a sip. I waited for her to go on. She glanced around, as if expecting some eavesdropper to materialise.

Silence yawned again, and there was that sensation in my gut again, a swooping, like fear. Excitement. It was catching. Oh! What was it! Effie, bless her and blast her, truly had a flair for dramatic timing.

"Something... something that will let us travel between worlds."

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Thank you for reading

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