"Leonard Speaking"
'Leonard Thinking'
Hofstadter Residence, New Jersey
Dr. Beverly Hofstadter sipped her tea as she waited for the food to be cooked. As a well known psychiatrist and neuroscientist, she had never had the time to cook at home. Coupled with her divorce and her children having lives of their own, she would have been quite a lonely woman. Yet, Beverly preferred this life. She got to live in an empty home without worrying about other people. Since her divorce, she had started to invite her eldest daughter and youngest son's family for soirées.
Beverly's eyes moved away from the research paper she was reading, acknowledging the presence of her daughter, tending to her youngest son, Richard. She looked at the small child with an unreadable expression.
Beverly remarked, "You know, there are many ways to make your deal with a child who is too busy."
Jane, a spitting image of her mother, answered, "While I would have loved to utilize the signaling theory, Richard is a bit too young."
Beverly recollected a memory, "I started Leonard on this stage, maybe that was what influenced his needy behaviour. This does require further study."
Jane scoffed at that. From a young age, she saw Leonard as a pest, always fussing when it was not needed. Since her mother started her experiment, he started to act even more needy, developing a people pleasing personality. Frankly, she found it utterly repulsive.
With soft footsteps, Michael came into the room, reading something from his phone. Beverly looked at him and asked, "I seem to recall, he was stuck in a court case. Michael, have you heard about it?"
Michael shook his head, before looking at Beverly, "I don't have time for that. Robert Axelrod is about to have some big troubles with the law. Last I heard, they even lost a lot of capital due to other, larger hedge funds in New York. If I get to take on this case, my career will leap further."
Michael's wife, Erika, appeared at the doorway, interrupting the conversation, and said gently, "Dinner is ready."
Beverly folded the corner of the research paper before setting it aside with care. She rose without urgency and walked towards the dining room. Jane lifted Richard into her arms and followed. Michael slipped his phone into his pocket, still mentally occupied elsewhere.
The dining table had already been set by the maid. The cutlery was aligned with geometric precision. Steam rose lazily from the dishes. The smell was familiar — recipes Beverly had standardized years ago for nutritional balance rather than taste.
Beverly noted, almost absently, "Consistency in the environment promotes emotional stability in children."
Erika beamed, "Do give me more tips about it."
Jane did not respond. She kept her eyes on the plate. Michael began serving himself.
The room was plunged into an awkward silence. Beverly ate meticulously, and the only talk allowed at the table was intellectual talk. Jane was an intellectual, but she was averse to the constant need to create learning environments like her mother. She had always asserted that everything had a time and a place. The only sound in the room was the faint clink of cutlery against porcelain.
Michael nursed a glass of wine as he ate. If there was something he was thankful to Leonard for, it was getting his mother used to alcohol. Previously, alcohol was strictly forbidden, but ever since Beverly came back from Pasadena, she had developed an odd liking for the stuff.
As the family ate, a knock sounded at the door. No one reacted immediately. While visitors were not uncommon, considering Beverly's high status in the scientific world, people don't knock at such an hour.
Neil, Jane's eldest child, curious and unburdened by context, stood up from the table, gently folding the napkin as he said, "Don't get up, I'll get it."
Beverly continued cutting her chicken, frowning at the texture, "Do remind whoever is at the door, to wipe their feet, or use the emergency indoor slippers placed near the door." she said.
Neil walked to the gate, his footsteps echoing slightly in the corridor. He looked through the peephole, spying deep red hair. Attaching the chain to the door, he opened it cautiously. Standing on the other side was a young red-haired woman. Her face bore signs of youth, with clear light skin, and blue eyes. The eyes held shrewdness as the owner observed Neil carefully.
The woman spoke, "Hello little one; is this the house of Dr. Beverly Hofstadter?"
The kid nodded, "Grandma is inside? Who are you, Miss?"
The woman smiled sweetly, "I have some documents for her, may I come in?"
Neil removed the chain and let her in. The two walked through the corridor to the dining room, where Beverly and the rest of the family were sitting for their dinner.
Ellie entered the dining room with hesitant politeness. She offered a small, professional smile.
"I'm sorry to intrude during dinner, Dr. Hofstadter. My name is Ellie Olsen. I work for Dr. Leonard Hofstadter."
Beverly placed her wine glass down, before staring at Ellie with scrutiny. Jane looked up at her with interest, while Michael's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing why she could have come to their home.
Ellie continued, "Normally, Dr. Hofstadter would have delivered it himself, but unfortunately, he was not allowed to. He asked me to deliver this in his stead."
She placed an white envelope on the dining table, the paper made a small rustle as it was placed on the polished wooden table.
Beverly dabbed her lips with a napkin, before asking, "Who is it for?"
Ellie gave a hesitant smile, "It is for you, Ma'am."
Beverly gave her a narrow look, before picking the envelope up. She quickly looked at Neil, "Get me my letter opener."
Neil ran to her study, his feet falling on the polished hardwood floor in soft, rhythmic thuds. In a few minutes, he returned with a small, silver letter opener. Taking the opener from his hands, Beverly picked up the envelope, her thin fingers carefully opening the envelope, before taking out the contents. Her eyes moved across the contents with clinical detachment that slowly faltered.
"A legal notice?" she said, more to herself than anyone else.
Jane leaned forward, her eyes glittering with interest. She would never have imagined Leonard to go so far. Michael stopped eating entirely. He quickly got up from his seat, taking the letter from his mother. His eyes scanned through the document, before his voice echoed, "A defamation suit. This will never hold up in court. I will fight it easily.
Ellie shrugged, before speaking , "I am just a secretary. Dr. Hofstadter wanted me to deliver this promptly. He thought it would be… appropriate… that you receive from me, rather than a bailiff"
Beverly's expression hardened. "This is absurd. Where is he?"
Ellie hesitated, "Well, as far as I know, he lives in Washington DC. But you may find him in Manhattan right now. I can give you the address if you want."
Beverly rose from her chair, briskly walking towards the door. Suddenly, she turned to Michael, "Bring your car keys."
Jane asked, with a start, "You're going to him now?"
"Yes," Beverly replied. "Leonard is a needy child, but he is also a scientist. He understands how reputational damage can taint someone's prospects. Moreover, he has sent me a defamation case notice. He is clearly experiencing an emotional episode. This needs to be managed before it escalates any further."
Michael nodded, following his mother, taking his keys from a small bowl placed near the door. He turned to his wife, "Don't worry. It will be sorted out quickly. Leonard listens to mother after all."
Erika did not say anything, just gave her husband a goodbye kiss. As the mother and son left, Erika sighed with resignation.
Jane turned to Erika curiously, "That doesn't sound promising."
Erika spoke, "It isn't. Normally, if it is just a tantrum or a minor issue, family members file cases on emotional distress grounds. Leonard filed a defamation suit. It means that the case is more about professional grounds. Such disputes rarely end well for the family."
Jane asked, "So, this case could hurt my mother's career."
Erike remarked, "Maybe, but I am certain that this family will never be the same again."
The road stretched ahead in long, silent lines.
Michael's hands remained steady on the steering wheel. Beverly sat in the passenger's seat, with a calm air about her. Her mind, however, was occupied.
For the first time in years, Beverly was considering Leonard's state of mind. At his birth, she had dismissed him as a failure. Over the years, she had experimented on him, creating a series of parenting books based on his experiences and her studies regarding child behaviour. As a control subject, Leonard had proved his usefulness, allowing Beverly to gain great insights about childcare.
Every insight she gleaned was used to cultivate Michael as a person. He grew up as a strong, independent individual, who was vastly more successful than Leonard. She remembered Leonard at six, sitting at this same dining table, trying too hard to make conversation. She remembered ignoring it. Whenever Michael talked, she gave him her full attention.
She tried to recall any recent events that might have caused him to behave in such a way. Unfortunately, she was no longer involved in her son's life. Except for that one relationship advice she gave him about a year ago. Leonard had never shared anything with her since.
She remembered writing notes afterwards, always drawing inferences. She always believed that Leonard and Michael were constants, not variables in her life. Yet today, Leonard had behaved like a variable. For once in her life, Beverly Hofstadter was left stumped by her son.
According to Ellie's address, the two arrived at The Dolphin, a hotel at Lexington Avenue. Beverly led Michael to the front desk, calmly asking the receptionist, "Good evening dear, we are looking for a Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I was told he was currently staying here."
The receptionist ignored the slightly patronizing tone, and asked, "May I ask, why do you want to know? After all, The Dolphin prides itself on our customer's privacy."
Michael answered, "We are his family members. I am Michael Hofstadter, his younger brother. Can you tell us where he is?"
The receptionist smiled, "Sure sir."
She checked on her computer, quickly finding the room, "Dr. Hofstadter is staying in Room 1408. Should I inform him that you are on your way?"
Michael spoke, "That won't be necessary. It will not take long."
The two quickly walked to the elevator and pressed the key to the fourteenth floor. While the hotel had been modernized quite a bit, the elevator was slower than some of the newer hotels. The two reached the 14th floor in two minutes. With long, purposeful steps, they arrived at 1408, knocking on the door thrice.
Leonard opened the door, wearing a black t-shirt and baggy black pants. He looked ready to go to bed. When he saw the two, he did not look surprised at all.
Beverly, however, was surprised. Leonard was completely different from what she expected. Gone were the glasses, the thin body and the short height. While his face still bore resemblance to the Leonard they knew, this Leonard was about an inch taller than Michael, with a strong, muscular body and intense hazel eyes. Beverly looked at Michael, to see a similar, if a more exaggerated look of surprise.
"Mother," he said calmly.
Beverly quickly caught herself and stepped inside without an invitation. Michael followed suit, walking inside and sitting on the couch in the suite.
Leonard spoke sarcastically, "Why don't you come in, make yourselves comfortable?"
Beverly scoffed, "Oh, spare me this sarcasm. It is unbecoming of you. I want to know just one thing."
"What is this?" she demanded, holding up the papers.
Leonard closed the door quietly. He looked at Beverly as if he was looking at an idiot. The look displeased her greatly. After all, she prided herself on her intelligence.
Leonard answered, "It is a legal notice, I thought you would know what they look like, considering you have a lawyer as a son, and a judge as a daughter-in-law."
Beverly spoke in a flat tone, tinged with anger, "You're taking me to court?"
Leonard calmly replied, "Of course. I thought I made myself clear, when I sent you this through my personal secretary.
Beverly's voice rose, "Why would you do that? I am your mother!"
Leonard's face did not change. He spoke, "Are you though?"
Beverly stopped short at that. Michael seemed to get his voice back, "What do you mean, Leonard. Of course she is our mother. And you have hurt her a great deal by trying to file a lawsuit against her."
Leonard laughed at that, his laughter ringing in the room. He stopped, occasional giggles escaping him, "Michael, being a lawyer is a waste of your abilities. You should have been a politician. My lawsuit is not a case for you, is it? It's a scandal."
Turning towards Beverly, Leonard spoke, "Besides, I am applying one of the few things she ever taught me."
Beverly froze.
Leonard continued, "From a young age, I have always seen you put science above everything. Family, responsibility, love, they have never factored in your life equation. I just took a page out of your own book. Now, our relationship will not stop me. "
Silence filled the room.
Leonard stepped aside, opening the room. He said, "She was already disqualified as a mother. The act of monetizing my experience has disqualified her as a psychiatrist in my eyes. Now, she is nothing to me."
The word 'nothing' seemed to echo in Beverly's ears. Michael, sensing her change, gently guided her out of the room. Before leaving, Michael gravely declared, "We will fight this Leonard."
Leonard smiled at Michael, though the smile only seemed to unnerve him further. He spoke, "I am waiting for it Michael. You were safe because you were family. Now, it won't stop me. Though you should meet the last man who fought against me. I am sure the talk will be quite insightful."
With that, Leonard shut the door in their faces. The two were left alone in the corridor, looking strangely at each other.
AN: Another chapter completed. With this, we move closer to the final chapter of the 2nd Arc. Stay tuned for more.
AN2: I wish to thank all my patrons for their continued support and I welcome my new patrons. I will try to bring more stories to you.
Support me on Patreon at patreon.com/SparksNFlames for advanced chapters.