Jodi Ann

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Weeks past, they turned into months, the black Mercedes stayed. The family continued life as if nothing had happened. Held together by the strong hand of their mother they were unable to discuss closure regarding their lost family member nor gather any intelligence about what happened to him.

  Jodi became bitter and began to blame her husband, it appeared he had deserted them after being so close, he was a few steps away then this shattering experience. She began to depose him in the press, she thought it may bring him to the surface, she was right, again she got her way.

  One fine morning whilst eating breakfast with Lola in her kitchen, Jodi froze and listened looking into space, she smiled, Lola looked positively puzzled. “Mum, are you okay?”

  Lola became aware of the aggressive rumble then a deafening roar as smoke filled the street spreading the distinctive aroma of burnt rubber through the open windows in the morning air. Jodi rushed to the bay window but the fire breathing monster had gone, “Thank god,” she muttered. Lola came and stood beside her peering inquisitively out the window, the smoke began to clear, the spotless red Mustang rumbled to a halt below them on the return run after turning round in the cul de sac at the end of the street. It again left it’s burnt rubber trade mark on the roadway and vanished in a flash.

  “Bloody kids,” remarked Lola.

  Jodi had concentrated on recognising the driver, he was no kid but her husband. Jodi held Lola tight chins over each others shoulder. “Yes, bloody kids.” She let her daughter go and with a refreshed glow sat back down at the kitchen table and continued her breakfast.

  Lola walked back to her seat but stood looking sideways at her mother. “Mum, have you got a boyfriend.” Lola folded her arms and tapped the ball of one foot on the floor. “Okay, come on mum, its that member of parliament Graham Billet isn’t it, you should be ashamed of yourself, does the man really have to carry on like that to impress you. God give me strength, my mum and a married man going through a mid to late life crisis.”

  Jodi looked daggers at her daughter. “Not so much of the late thank you, how about you feed your face and finish breakfast to shut you up.”

  “You are sixty mum, where did a prune like Billet get a car like that, I can’t believe he’s that cool.”

  “Lola! Drop it please.”

  “Somewhere I have a father that jumps from aircraft and maintains the separation of powers and you link up with a prune like Billet.”

  Jodi shot to her feet and snapped at her daughter. “Where did you hear that?”

  Lola got what she wanted, the answer to a baited question. “So it is true, my dad is really someone and he was driving that car wasn’t he.” Jodi sat down taking no notice of her sibling. Lola sat down next to her mother with a look of determination. “My dad is not exactly the failing disinterested arse hole you make him out to be is he, he was the one that broke my boyfriends arm when he found out he was dealing heroin in the final year of high school, am I right?”

  Jodi looked down and barked aggressively. “Lola.”

  “The payments for our university fees, the payment for my house, the payment for Anthony and Roberts’s business and homes, they originated from a place called Foulness Island in Essex England.”

  Jodi continued to resist, she looked daggers at her daughter. “I will not ask how you know such things, I am shocked you would probe into private files, I did not bring up an untrustworthy thief.”

  “Anthony and Robert told me, they found the information by accident, of course you brought us up well.” She got closer to her mother standing over her, her mother looked down and away resisting eye contact. Lola growled. “My dad is not a security guard in London named John, my dad is John Stanton isn’t he.”

  “Lola, enough.”

  Lola screamed at the top of her voice standing over her mother. “He’s not a security guard, my dad is John Stanton MI6 operative isn’t he!!”

  Jodi shot to her feet locking eyes with her daughter screaming back at her with tears running down her cheeks. ”Yes he is!!” They stood looking at each other, the atmosphere over a few seconds settled, they regained focus as tears sprung from the corners of Lola’s eyes, a gesture of relief from her heart. Jodi took her daughter in her arms holding her tight as she sobbed uncontrollably. She whispered in her daughter’s ear, “Yes, your father is John Stanton, and you should be very proud of him, he’s come home. Let’s hope he feels as welcome and loves us as much as I love him.”

  Lola spoke between bought of sobbing uncontrollably. “Anthony and Robert gave me books to read he wrote, I was never to tell you.” She regained composure wiping her nose and eyes on a table napkin, they sat down at the table holding each other. “They gave me stories to read about John Stanton, ruthless assassin for the British government, keeper of the separation of powers. Why was without him as a child, why do you write terrible things about this man in the press. Please mum I’m so lost about this.”

  Jodi took control. “Never tell your brothers you know your father is the John Stanton of MI6, the walls have ears.”

  “You told me he was a clerk working for the army as he failed the medical for regular service and became a security guard. Luke was just like my dad wasn't he, he looks just like the few pictures I have seen of my dad when he was Luke's age.”

  Jodi smiled and helped her daughter dry her face and arrange her hair. “If you consult records kept by the British army that is what you’ll find. Your dad beyond those records is a man with no identity or record, he doesn’t exist. That’s why he’s still alive, you can’t kill someone who doesn’t exist, nor can you find him, he finds you. He’s found us, soon he’ll come home, or I sincerely hope he does. Please Lola, this is the last we ever speak of it. We should not speak of Luke either, like your father he didn’t exist. He will live in our hearts and minds, to me that is enough for even the biggest of kings turns to dust and blows in the same wind. It’s what Luke achieved and stood for that warms our hearts. Your father works very hard and money has never been a problem for us, but money cannot buy principals and wisdom, that’s why those whom are rich, evil and misguided have none. Your father is the pinnacle of principals and wisdom and I love him for who he is, when you get to know your father you will find he is more than a myth or a book.”