The Weirdness Of It All

Brenda plans a strange window and Daniel leans on Brenda's platonic side.

Daniel paid a "semi - surprise" visit to Brenda at the Blundon House. She "surprised" him with a sexy costume consisting of a corset, stockings, garters, and a sheer top. They hadn't enjoyed mutual pleasures in what seemed like a lifetime to her. But Daniel was in one of his rare " this is all about me and my work" moods, and Brenda was lucky to get a quick kiss. No retreating to the bedroom, the living room couch would have to do.

Caitlin, Henry, and Mo were staying in Laurel for the night with Uncle Dean, and Aunt Milly. He had left the phone off the hook in case Caitlin called to check on him. Just to be sure that the coast was clear, he'd phoned her in Laurel to make sure she had arrived safely. He heard Henry babbling in the background, and felt better about not being able to join them. Henry was a happy baby for the most part, and when he wasn't, Daniel suspected Caitlin of being abusive.

Detective Daniel Alexander was now hired to do an undercover job for a Jeweler who suspected an employee of theft. He took a set of front teeth from a container in his pocket, and placed it over his "perfect smile" for Brenda to see. She scowled, and he proceeded to muss his hair into disarray. A pair of tortoise shell eyeglasses completed the "look" for his new adventure. He couldn't reveal the exact location of the shop, but he said the job would pay well. All he had to do was to go buy a ring, and see if the clerk rang up the sale on the cash register. He had to "reek of alcohol" and act "stupid." Brenda laughed.

He rinsed the fake teeth in the kitchen sink, placed them in a container, then into his pocket with the glasses. Brenda wanted to talk to him about her new windows. Saint Paddy's day would not be celebrated with anything but green banners, ribbons, and a silly leprechaun. 

Her "Ides Of March" window would depict a big aluminum knife 6 feet tall being stabbed by a pointed headed"Julius Caesar" mannequin held up by 4 other mannequins. Daniel found it "bizarre" and continued whining about all of the things that were wrong in his marriage. Brenda thought about Farleigh, and nodded when Daniel repeated the "new house" idea that Caitlin insisted would work. When he mentioned Caitlin's monthly psychotic moods, and drinking, Brenda envisioned Farleigh's tongue in her mouth.

But with any mention of Caitlin's abuse toward Henry, ( however cleverly "mommie" tried to disguise it under "playing,") Brenda thought only of the day Daniel could be rid of this monster. She wasn't fond of children, but Daniel was the best father she had ever met next to her dashing Military dad.

So, Daniel didn't spend the night, and Brenda only got 2 kisses. The Blundon's were awfully quiet lately, and the mannequins hadn't been wandering around the hallways. Brenda often wrote that off to the "house settling" when she was preoccupied with making money, and dealing with daily life. But on other nights, she knew "absolutely" that the mannequins had lives, much like the dearly departed.

With her outfit tucked into a drawer, "Miss Grayson" turned in for the night, and focused on the trains that went by. Farleigh would be returning from time to time when his moods allowed it. He loved Edwina the way she loved Mr. Blundon. But unlike Mr. Blundon with Brenda, Edwina rarely got in touch with Farleigh, and it was upsetting him more than he was willing to share with anyone, at least for the time being.

CJ Marks