All characters are 18 years old or older. Thomas is heading home to spend time with family and friends. He had acquired some of the information he needs to identify dangerous antiques but there is more to be gathered. He has learned the true nature of his relationship with the man he had called Grandpa all his life. It was time to confront his mother and clear the air between them. Thomas has brought his half-sister Lily as well as a reborn Taoist Sorcerer which inhabits the body of tortoiseshell cat.
Homecoming:
The closing of the taxi door alerted my family that I was home. I had my luggage in one hand and the cat carrier in the other. The Sorcerer Cat wasn't in it of course. The moment we had gotten off the plane he refused to remain inside. The cat was perched on my shoulders allowing me to carry him inside. The driver was removing Lily's luggage from the trunk of the cab when the front door opened and my mother stepped out. I was thrilled to be home after being away for so long. Mom moved to help Lily carry her luggage inside and began chatting her up.
"You are family," Mom said. "Don't worry about getting along with everyone."
"You are too kind," Lily said in perfect English and I spun on her.
"Now hold the hell on," I snapped. "You've been speaking Cantonese this entire time. You decide now is the time you speak English."
"I knew you spoke Cantonese," Lily said smiling. "So, I stuck with it. I am sorry Shifu."
"Shifu?" Mom asked raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"It means Master," Lily explained. "Ooh, what a lovely home you have."
"You broke her early huh," Mom laughed as Lily's bags were taken up to the master bedroom.
We reached my room and Violet was in the process of changing the bedsheets. I asked her why she just now had gotten around to changing them. She told me that now that I was home my scent would be all over the house again. I let her continue and introduced Lily as the asshole cat launched itself into the air. It landed on the bed and Violet patiently shooed it away but every time she placed a sheet or blanket on the bed the cat was there. Instead of getting upset Violet just giggled and treated it like a game. Lily helped Violet out with the bed and the two hit it off instantly. Of all my siblings, they were the closest in age as well as personality. I still wasn't sure about Lily staying here. She had begged me not to leave her behind and her mother was eager for her to meet the rest of her family. I relented under the mountain of guilt they heaped upon me.
I set out my clean clothes and took my dirty ones and placed them in the hamper. The smell of coffee pulled me downstairs to the kitchen where my mother waited. It was time to talk things over face to face. I had learned the shocking truth that I was in fact Thomas Blackstone Junior. I wasn't just his namesake but his son. I sat down as mom poured a shot of Irish crème into her coffee. I had known that she had fucked him but I hadn't thought she'd have a kid by him. I began to wonder what connection Keisha played in all of this. Mom broke the silence and explained everything she knew. I was his heir and pride and joy. She sipped her coffee and continued with all the women he had impregnated over the years. I was his only son. I was one of the few that didn't have a mental defect. She brought up Keisha's homicidal tendencies. There were others that had to be taken care of. A portion of my legacy was dedicated to the treatment and attention of the others, the poor souls that he had sired.
"He was so damned determined to have a golden child." She said her lips thin from the strain as she grimaced.
"Lily brought that up," I added. "She let me read the numerous letters he had written. Her mother had printed off the emails he had sent just prior to his death. He was really losing it."
"You were on the road. You didn't see his spiral into madness. He had gone off a week before he died. He just disappeared and dropped off the face of the Earth. I have spent the last few months tracking his movements. The information is in your office whenever you are ready. I suggest you unwind and spend some time home before you go out hunting ghosts. What's so fucking funny?"
"I..." I said and started laughing again.
"Have you told her yet?" The Sorcerer Cat asked as it leapt onto the kitchen table.
"Christ!" Mom screeched as she backed away from the table.
"Apparently not," the cat said looking at me. "Woman of the house, I am hungry."
"Thomas... why is the cat talking?" She said ignoring the cat.
"Mom, this is Lao Fong and he was a Taoist Sorcerer about six hundred years ago. There was an accident and he has been reborn in the body of a cat. It's a long story and I'm not up to it right now."
"Well, if you aren't up to the task," the asshole cat said as he cleared his throat. "I am Lao Fong the Great..."
"Shit, I forgot to go by the store and get him cat food," I said interrupting his speech.
"Surely, I will starve," the cat yowled.
"KITTY," Violet called out from behind me. "Naughty kitty, let's get you some food."
Violet pulled out a food and water dish she had gotten for the asshole cat when she learned of him. She filled the water dish and then opened a small puck shaped can of wet food. She petted him as he ate. Mom glared at the Sorcerer Cat and tried to assimilate the fact that an ancient Chinese magician would be living under her roof. Violet showed the cat where his litter box was and he dutifully took a shit and covered it like any other feline. Mom stormed off before we had the chance to finish our conversation. I understood her reaction all too well. The cat or should I say the dirty old man inside the cat had a strong voyeuristic streak. I would warn mom as soon as I could.
I moved the spell books into my office and found the cat curled up on the desk's surface. It was going to be one of those relationships. I had never had a pet before and I hadn't formed any kind of like or dislike for cats or dogs. I could tell that this was going to take some getting used to. I was tired from the flight and informed the cat that I was heading up to get some sleep. Lily was already under the covers and asleep. I stripped down and joined her. I had barely gotten comfortable when I felt the asshole cat hop onto the bed. I opened one eye to see what he was up to. He seemed satisfied with the foot of the bed for now. I closed my eyes and I felt a weight lift. I was home. I was safe. So much craziness had occurred while I was overseas. I had been constantly moving or in motion of one kind or another to be able to really relax. Now that I was home I felt the icy tendrils wrap around me and the first tears came.
"I knew it," Lily said as she held me. "It was just a matter of time. I got you."
The torrent of emotions was overwhelming. I clung to her the way a drowning man does a piece of driftwood. The things that man had done. The man I had called grandfather for most of my life was in fact my biological father. I pushed through every thought and every emotion attached to him. The sad truth is that most of my memories were good ones. He had been there when my mom's husband wasn't available. The sudden surge of rage overwhelmed me when I thought of what I would have done if he had been alive when I discovered the truth. I clenched my fingers and felt Lily wince in pain. I let go and turned away.
"It's alright Shifu," she said her voice low and soft. "I understand. I can't imagine what you are going through."
"I should go. I should just pack up and get the hell out while I still can."
"Where would you go?" The cat asked its luminescent eyes fixed on me. "Do you really want to squander your gifts? Do you want your family to suffer? They would worry like hell about you."
I pulled away from Lily and the anger remained but this time it was directed inward. I was being selfish and I surrendered to what I felt was my fate. My life was far more complicated and I just couldn't go off and travel all the time. I had a family to take care of and damn it I would. I leaned over and kissed Lily's forehead. The cat bristled and stood up. Its ears were perked and then assumed an aggressive posture. I got to my feet and began dressing. I was heading downstairs when I saw a small gathering by the front door. My sister Tiffany was standing next to a man I didn't recognize while Violet kept her distance from him. I cleared my throat as I walked down the stairs. Everyone looked up at me and I saw Violet smile in relief while Tiffany seemed happy and yet uncertain. I heard Lily join me on the stairs as I approached the bottom of the steps.
"You're home," Tiffany said and began moving to me when the young man grabbed her arm.
