“He hasn’t called in days; aren’t you worried?”
“…no, it’s Simon. He does that. We probably won’t see him for years.”
“But… doesn’t he want to–”
“Hahaha, what, raise a BABY? Are you fucking kidding me, Linz?”
“…but…”
“You’re so cute when you’re naive. C’mere. He needs a change and more
milk, and you lost the coin toss.”
“I hate you.”
“And love me too.”
“Yeah, yeah–oh, AUGH, what are you FEEDING him?”
* * *
Beep!
“This is the tenth voicemail I’m leaving you. Last was number nine,
without an answer. Did you toss your phone? You still have MY numbers.
Fucking call me. Asshole. I want to know what you’re up to.”
* * *
“I got the file. Where did you get this? There are pieces in here that
are… familiar. I don’t like it. Why do you want me to fuck with the
clock, of all things? Jesus, Simon. Would you just call me back for
fucking once?”
* * *
“It’s your turn.”
“I know.”
“When do they start sleeping through the night?”
“Right around the time you’re ready to drown them in the tub.”
“…so that would be now?”
“We can hope.”
“Rub his belly. He likes that best.”
“‘Kay.”
…
“Hey there, mister man — what’s all the fuss? It’s not a diaper. And
you just ate. Gas? Hmm? Nope… just want a hug? Shhh, c’mon. Shhh,
you’re fine. I’m right here. It’s all right, shhh. C’mon, sweetheart.
C’mon, Daddy–” … “Daddy’s here. It’s all right. I’ve got you.
That’s it… that’s it. That’s my boy, shhhh. There we go.”
* * *
“How’s she doing?”
“Stable.”
“Getting anywhere.”
“Not really.”
“…think you will?”
“Don’t know.”
“…you wanna get paid?”
“Listen, man, there’s only so much we can do. This tech is more
advanced than any of us have seen. By.. by decades. There’s
lifetimes of research here. We weren’t even aware that some of this
could be DONE!”
“Don’t want to hear it. Want to see results. If you can’t, you tell
me, and you tell me now. I set you up for your troubles, and you keep
your mouth shut. You get pissy with me, I kill you and your whole
family so I know you can keep a secret.”
“…we’ll try again.”
“Good.”
* * *
“Hi. Technically, I’m sure they’re watching the house, but since I can
jaunt here and back again, I figure we’re kind of safe. He’s doing
okay. Getting huge. Making noises and faces. Smiling. Laughing. He’s
got the sweetest smile — reminds me of you. Wish I’d known you
better. Wish I’d known to get you out of there, sooner. I’m so sorry,
Jeannine. I wish I knew I could be forgiven for something like this. I
hope… wherever you are, that you finally have some kind of peace.”
* * *
“What do you MEAN she flatlined again?”
“Sir, we can’t keep her like this any longer, it–”
“Then wake her the fuck up! Right now!”
“Yes, but–”
“Wake her. Right now. And if you can’t get some kind of handle on
this, you fucking admit it, or I’ll just send your head to your
sixteen year old, in a corsage box, in time for the goddamned prom .
Got it?”
“…yessir.”
“GO.”
* * *
“HE SAID DADDY!”
“He *said* “Daaaaaaaaaaaar?””
“That’s DADDY! He said DADDY!”
“…no. He said ‘Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaar?'”
“Daddy!”
“Daaaaaaaar?”
“C’mon buddy, say it again. Say it again!”
“…”
“Daddy!”
“…”
“Daddy!”
“…”
“See, Lor, he’s just not…”
“Dih!”
“That’s it! Daddy! DAAAAH DEEEE.”
“You’re a gibbering idiot.”
“You’ll cry if he calls me Daddy and never says it to you.”
“…”
“You will!”
“I will not.”
“You *so* will.”
“…”
“Hah.”
“I hate you.”
“C’mon, Connor. Say Daddy! Say Daddy!”
“Dih!”
“He’s so close!”
“Daddy!”
“Dih!”
“Hey guys.”
“Dih!”
“Hey Allen.”
“What are you doing?
“Connor’s about to say ‘Daddy!'”
“Dih!”
“See?”
“…oh, uh. No.”
“Dih!”
“Whaddya mean ‘no’? He’s saying Dih, right there! That’s almost Daddy!”
“Dih!”
“See?”
“Yeah, no, see… ‘Dih’ is the teddy bear.”
“What?”
“Dih!”
“Here, little guy, here you go–”
“Dih! Dihdihdihdihdihdihdihdihdihdihdihdih–”
“Aw, don’t look so sad, Lor, I didn’t mean to ruin it, I just… if he
doesn’t get it, he cries. I hate it when he cries.”
“I’m not mad.”
“You’re so mad.”
“…I’m mad.”
“…I’m sorry?”
“It’s okay — I know he’ll actually talk at some point. Daddy can’t be
too far off. Right, little guy? You know who I am, right, huh?”
“LOR!”
“…” “…” “…”
“…Did he just–” “Did he–” “Wowdidhejust–”
“Lllooooooooooooooooor…”
“He did!”
