Chapter 13
Oren, Sir Oren
Piper stood on the lawn of the Collins Foster Home and watched the kids as they played basketball with Nick. It had been a long time since they had been married and since the home had experienced a cyber theft of $36,000. She reflected on the incident and on Chase, still wondering whether he was somehow involved. Something told her Oren was involved. Something told her Oren was Sir Oren. Perhaps that is why they never caught the thief or thieves, despite a long investigation that involved many experts.
“Disgusting,” she mumbled. “Completely disgusting.”
Chase’s life had not been easy since the crime, which Piper felt was perhaps God’s way of punishing him. His baby with Cherie was a stillborn, which caused Chase and Cherie much grief and sorrow. The only good thing to come from the incident was that it inspired Chase and Cherie to do something positive. They continued volunteering at the Collins’ Foster Home after they completed the required eighty hours. Piper saw them every so often on Saturdays when she and Nick were there.
“Hey Piper. Nick,” a male voice called out from the parking lot as Chase and Cherie walked up wearing big smiles. “What’s the good word?”
“Hey Chase and Cherie. Good seeing you,” Nick called back.
Piper waited for them to come closer before saying anything. They looked happy, as if their lives had taken a turn for the better.
“How’s it going?” She asked.
“We have some good news,” Cherie said. “Nick, come here.”
Nick stepped off the basketball courts and walked over to where they all stood. Using the side of his sleeve, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was dripping in sweat on that hot summer day. Drenched. “Love good news.”
Chase grabbed Cherie’s hand and they looked at one another and smiled. They then turned to Piper and Nick. “We’re going to have a baby. We’ve been trying for a while now. Cherie is two months pregnant.”
“Wow! Congratulations,” Nick said. “High five.” He held up his hand and gave Chase and Cherie high fives.
“Yeah, that’s great,” Piper added, avoiding direct eye contact. She and Nick had been trying to conceive since their wedding night with no success. Years were passing by too quickly and nothing was working. Her fertility doctor had determined that both she and Nick were fertile, so she couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t getting pregnant.
Look at them.
“Do you know if you’ll be having a girl or boy?” She asked with a slight smile. It was all she could muster and she hoped they didn’t notice it wasn’t real.
“No. Not yet. We haven’t decided if we should find out. Last time…” Cherie said before trailing off. She looked downward at the ground and slumped a little. “Hopefully this time…”
Tears came to Piper’s eyes as she recalled Cherie’s stillborn baby. So much pain. Hopefully this time God would bless them with a healthy baby. “No need to elaborate, Cherie. We know. We’ll pray for your happy, healthy baby. We’ll say lots of prayers.”
“Thanks Piper,” Cherie said as she wiped her eyes. “Well, happy now.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Chase added. “It’s too bad prayers are never answered, though. Well, we’ll see you later. We’re going to head in to get our assignments. I feel like playing a little basketball.”
Chase and Cherie walked towards the front door of the home. Piper wondered whether to say something. Something had been bugging her and she needed to get it out. Chase needed to know about this particular something.
“Chase,” Piper called out.
“Yeah,” he said as he and Cherie turned back around.
Piper grabbed Nick’s hand and headed towards Chase and Cherie.
“Are you still hanging out with Oren?”
“Yeah, why?”
Nick looked at Piper with a very solemn expression as he raised his eyebrows. She mulled over the way she would share what she knew about Oren. Or what she thought she knew about Oren. He was in Chase’s life for only one reason, which was to drag him into hell. No matter that she disagreed with Chase about God. She knew that hell wasn’t where he deserved to be. He was a good husband to Cherie and a good volunteer at the home. And he was going to be a good father to his son or daughter.
“Well, I haven’t met Oren, but from everything you’ve told me, he’s probably not the best person for you to hang around.”
“I agree with you Piper,” Cherie stammered. “The guy gives me the creeps. Chase, I don’t know why you hang out with him. He’s bad news. Glad you had the courage to say something Piper.”
“Oh, c’mon. He’s fun. That’s what matters. I don’t take the guy too seriously. You can’t. His views on some things are demented.”
“Like what?”
“Like World War II. He always says the wrong side won. Now, who could say something like that and be serious? I think he just likes to mess with people.”
“He’s messing with you,” Nick said. “I have to agree with your wife and Piper. You should avoid him.”
“Maybe. Or maybe not. I’m telling you, he’s a lot of fun. We took his plane to Vegas a few weeks ago and had more fun than I’ve had in a long time! Bank-rolled me and I ended up winning $25,000 playing Texas Hold ‘em and Roulette. Not too shabby, huh?” Chase nodded his head in the affirmative as he waited for someone to agree with him.
“Not bad at all. I’d love to win twenty-five grand,” Piper said. “But I don’t want to sell my soul to the devil to do it.”
“What do you mean by that?” Chase asked.
“Ask him for his views on Satan.”
“He’s an atheist, Piper. He doesn’t believe in God or Satan.”
“I know Oren said he doesn’t believe in God, but I’ll bet he hasn’t told you that he doesn’t believe in Satan. Just ask him. Seriously.”
“Why do you care so much about Oren? You’ve never met him, right? So it seems kind of strange that you’re giving me advice on him, as if you know him. Do you know something you’re not saying?”
“Does he ever go by Sir Oren?”
“Sure. Oren, Sir Oren. He likes titles.”
“Suffice it to say that I know more than I can say. Please ditch the guy. Please.”
“Funny you would know that he calls himself Sir Oren sometimes. Actually, that’s a little weird. I’ll think about it Piper.”
“Thanks Chase. That’s all I’m asking. Think about it. And don’t forget to ask him for his views on Satan.”
“I’ll do that next time I see him. Well, we better start our work. See you.”
Chase and Cherie turned around and headed into the front door of the home. Piper watched them as they left, wondering whether Chase would stop hanging out with Oren. Probably not. The demons were persistent.
Piper’s thoughts returned to her own infertility. Everyone around her was having babies and she was struggling to have one. She had been to three baby showers for coworkers over the past six months. Feigning happiness was getting more and more difficult, especially because her friends and family were always asking her if or when she and Nick were going to have kids, as if they could simply pick a date.
Her dad wanted more grandkids. She loved her dad, but she didn’t see him as often as she liked since he had moved four hours away to the other coast of Florida. The next time she would see him would be on Thanksgiving. She looked forward to seeing him, though she didn’t look forward to the questions about kids.
She thought about her dad and the way he had changed since the passing of his mom. Once a frequent in the church, he had slipped away. The actions of some of the priests bothered him. Piper wondered whether he would ever return. It didn’t seem likely given his new South Florida surroundings.