by Dynah Zale
At that moment Belinda descended the stairs. She looked radiant in a black and silver form-fitting gown that shimmered every time she moved.
“Bye, Dean.” She walked over and kissed the baby’s fingers.
“Don’t you cause your grandparents any problems tonight.”
“You two get out of here.” Judge West shooed them out the door. “Enjoy yourself and don’t you two worry about the boy.”
His son opened the door and led the way to the limousine waiting by the curb.
After the limousine safely pulled away from the curb West held his grandson up to face him. “Dean, you’re going to be a lawyer just like your father and I, but you’re going to be better.”
Judge West’s wife, Martha, interrupted their private conversation, “Ernie, don’t put expectations on my grandson. He could be an athlete, an engineer or better yet a billionaire.”
“You’re right about that. He’s a West; he could be whatever he put his mind to,” Judge West replied.
“Honey, why don’t you take the baby out on the back patio while I make a few glasses of fresh lemonade?”
“Okay.” He walked out on the patio and relaxed in his usual lounge chair. Then he heard the phone ring.
“Ernie!” Martha released a loud high-pitched cry. “Ernie!”
He could hear trouble in the way she shouted. He jumped up and raced in the house.
A look of horror covered Martha’s face. Her right hand covered her mouth and she used her left hand to hold the phone out to him. When he took the phone she took Dean in her arms.
He listened a moment before he said, “I’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone and rushed out the door. As he pulled out of their driveway, he could hear Martha yell.
“Ernie, I love you.”
When Judge West arrived on the scene, police cars, ambulances, detectives and the media surrounded the limousine that his son and daughter-in-law left in. He stopped his car and ran to the scene.
“Judge West.” A detective stopped him. “We need to prepare you—”
Judge West slapped the young detective’s arm away from him. When he ran over to the limo the first thing he saw was the limo driver with a gunshot straight to the temple.
West’s eyes doubled in size. “What happened here?” West screamed. “Somebody needs to tell me exactly what is going on.”
Another police officer, this time a sergeant, came over and pulled West over to the side.
“Apparently, this limo that carried your son and daughter-in-law was ambushed by unknown assailants, who apparently fled the scene, and we have no witnesses. Whoever shot the driver is responsible for the kidnapping of your son and his wife.”
“Kidnapped?” Judge West was in shock.
“Yes, they were not killed. We know they were in the car because their identification was left behind. Do you know who would do this?”
Tears welled up in the corner of West’s eyes.
“Sir, I don’t think that your son and his wife were the intended target.”
The judge spun his head in the sergeant’s direction.
“We called the charity event, and this limousine was reserved for you and your wife. I think that whoever raided this car was expecting to find you, and when they found your son and his wife, they took them as hostages. Right now our number one priority is to find your son and his wife.”
Days passed. The police placed a wire tap on Judge West’s phone, and their house was under twenty-four-hour watch by the police, but they heard nothing from the kidnappers. No ransom. No bodies. Nothing. Judge West went into work every day with nothing on his mind except finding who was responsible for the abduction of his grandson’s parents.
Two weeks after their disappearance, the identity of the kidnappers were revealed. Judge West sat in his chambers reviewing cases when he came across a plain manila envelope that he hadn’t seen before. He opened it up, and inside were pictures of his son and daughter-in-law blindfolded, their hands tied behind their back. They looked scared, and he could plainly see they were badly beaten. Scrawled on top of the photo were the words: HELP HAINSWORTH OR THEY DIE.
Judge West shifted through the file folders until he came across Darden’s file. He was already familiar with the contents of his file. Creighton Hainsworth, a doctor who volunteered his time at the free clinic in one of the poorest sections of the city, had injected over two hundred and thirty babies with HIV. During the trial, Hainsworth showed no remorse for his actions, and when he got on the stand, he blatantly admitted he would do it all over again if he had the chance.
This was a high-profile case that had received national media coverage. The city was in an uproar over it. West was expected to give the doctor the maximum sentence allowed by law, but was confronted with giving him the minimum sentence of eighteen months in jail. If he did anything different than the maximum, every African American and Latino civil rights advocate in the city was ready to storm his office.
West stared at the picture of his son for over an hour. In his heart he knew who was responsible for their disappearance. This was a group of people he was very familiar with. He knew because he used to be one of them. The brotherhood was a powerful organization, and he knew what they could and could not do. He wasn’t sure before, but he now knew they were trying to blackmail him into releasing one of their own.
Finally, it was time for him to announce Hainsworth’s fate. For the first time in his career, West was still unsure of what would happen to the guilty. He sat down and looked out at the crowd of people. The courtroom was full. West rubbed his temples then began to speak.
“Mr. Hainsworth, would you please stand?”
Hainsworth stood to his feet.
“You have been found guilty of a heinous crime that has crippled an entire generation of children.” Judge West paused and took a small sip from his glass. He stared out at the families of each victim then looked at the doctor. Just the mere sight of him made the judge sick. “On behalf of the state of Pennsylvania I am sentencing you to”—He looked out at the families of the victims—“two years in a state correctional facility.”
The families gasped and cried out in anger.
West abruptly left the courtroom and rushed back to his chambers. He grabbed his things and told his secretary he had an emergency at home.
When he barged through his front door, he found his wife and grandson sitting in the living room watching television.
“Martha, I know who’s responsible for the kidnapping.”
“Who?”
At that moment, the nightly news interrupted the program they were watching. The news correspondent reported, “This just in, a few hours ago a fisherman discovered two torched bodies floating in the Chesapeake Bay. Speculation suggests that these could be the bodies of Judge West’s missing son and daughter-in-law.”
Martha screamed out. “No!”
The judge hugged his wife as she grieved her only child’s death.
“I had a feeling they were already dead.”
He pushed her away from him and looked her in the eye. “It’s the brotherhood.”
“Nooooo!” Martha cried. “Not my babies.”
“Martha, we have to go. We have to pack our things and leave town.”
Martha rushed over to the phone. “Call the police, Ernie. You have to tell the police what you know. They have to pay for what they did to our children.”
Ernie walked over and took the receiver out of her hand and placed it back in the phone cradle. “I can’t do that.”
With her eyes she asked why.
“Our first priority is to take care of the baby. If we point the fingers at anyone in that organization, they will kill us and Dean.”
Martha wept in Ernie’s arms because she knew he was right.
Suddenly West woke up from out of his sleep. He looked around at his surroundings. It was still dark outside. “Martha,” he said out loud, “you were right. I should have turned them in when I had th
e chance.”
Chapter 11
The following morning Olivia rose to her feet at six AM to meet Dean at the dock. Darkness filled the cabin, making it nearly impossible for her to see. She blindly moved around the room, allowing the furniture to guide her to the bathroom. She closed the bathroom door before turning on any lights. She didn’t want to wake anyone.
Olivia quickly undressed and slipped underneath the showerhead. This morning was her time to spend alone with Dean, and if one of the girls woke up she was scared they would insist on tagging along.
“Mission accomplished,” Olivia sang after she gently pulled the cabin door closed. She was finally free.
When she reached the dock she was surprised to see such a huge crowd of people gathered that early in the morning to go canoeing. Every face she saw was foreign to her, until she spotted Dean talking with a girl.
Olivia quickly sized up the girl and considered her foe, not friend. Her perfect size six fit snug in those pink Daisy Duke shorts, showing off her long, shapely legs, and she batted her fake eyelashes in Dean’s face.
Jealously pumped through Olivia’s veins. Her first thought was to step directly between the two, but the Holy Spirit kept her in control. If she overreacted, it would only make her look like a fool. So she stood back and watched Dean.
Olivia watched as the girl playfully hit Dean on his shoulder then whispered something in his ear. Whatever she said must have been funny because Dean’s smile was so wide, she could count every tooth in his mouth.
The girl then took off her T-shirt to reveal double-D cups stuffed into a bikini top that was no bigger than her hand.
Olivia wished she could crawl into Dean’s mind and read his thoughts. Was he turned on by her sex appeal? Did he want to sleep with her? Olivia couldn’t tolerate watching them any longer. She rushed over, snuck up behind Dean and tapped him on the shoulder.
When he turned around it was apparent by the joyous expression on his face how happy he was to see her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her like his life depended on it.
The girl had to clear her throat a few times to bring Dean’s attention back to her. He introduced Olivia to his new friend, and when they shook hands Olivia could hear Danyelle’s words ring in her ears.
“If you don’t satisfy him, somebody else will.”
The girl politely made small talk with Olivia until she could no longer tolerate the public displays of affection between the couple. She excused herself from their company.
“How long were you going to stand over there watching us before you came over?” Dean busted her.
“You saw me?” She was surprised. “I didn’t want to intrude. It looked like you were enjoying her company.”
“You know I wasn’t interested in her.” He laughed at her jealousy. “Come on, let’s get going before the line gets too long.”
They stood in line for over twenty minutes before it was their turn to climb into the tiny boat for two. Olivia got in first and scooted to the front of the canoe, while Dean sat behind her. Together they stroked the water with paddles.
By the time they reached the middle of the lake, Dean filled Olivia in on the guys he shared a cabin with. “Livie, one guy snored so loud, I didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get any rest. I know how tired you were.”
“It’s all right.” He grabbed Olivia around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
She sat between his legs and laid her head on his chest.
“But as long as you’re in my arms, I’m fully energized.”
“Good, because you seemed so distant yesterday. I was worried.”
“Baby, I’m sorry. I’ve just a lot on my mind lately,” he said.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“It’s not that important to intrude on our time together.” He hugged her tighter.
The two sank deep into their own thoughts. Dean’s mind was on his grandfather, and Olivia agonized over her relationship with Dean.
The conversation she’d had with the girls on the hike haunted her. To remain celibate until her wedding night was important to her. It scared her to think she could lose Dean to another woman over something as simple as sex.
Olivia prayed most of the night. In her heart she could hear God’s voice telling her to sit still and do nothing, but it made her nervous when she saw girls, like the one Dean was talking to earlier, flirting with him. If she waited any longer, she could end up losing Dean and be left with the similar regrets Val now carried around with her. She couldn’t allow the same fate to befall her. So she chose to take Val’s advice, even if it was against God’s will.
Dean’s stomach growled. “Baby, I told you we should have stopped at the cafeteria before coming out here. My stomach is screaming, ‘Feed me.’”
“Dean”—Olivia took a deep breath—“Do you miss having sex?”
Dean’s mouth dropped wide open. He was speechless. It took him a moment to respond to her question. “I wouldn’t say I miss it. I haven’t thought about it much.”
“Why haven’t you asked me to go to bed with you?”
Dean’s face turned red from embarrassment. “Why are you asking me these questions? We’ve talked about this already. Bryce’s father hurt you, and I would never push you into doing something you don’t want to do. I can wait until after we’re married.”
“I know what I said, but if you want to do it, I will. For you, I will.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t do anything just for me. If we . . . were to do anything, then that would be a decision we would make together.”
“Okay.” Olivia sighed and relaxed.
A few minutes passed before Dean suggested, “Why don’t we get married?”
“What did you say?” Olivia spun around to face him and was blinded by the diamond ring he held in his hand.
“Olivia, will you marry me?”
The huge marquise diamond sparkled under the morning light. Olivia opened her mouth, but the words slid back down her throat. She tried, but her tonsils still failed her.
He gave her a peculiar look as he waited for a response.
“Dean, this comes as a total surprise.” With unsteady hands she gently took the ring from his fingers.
“This is what you want? Isn’t it?” Dean asked. “Olivia, we planned this. The time has come for us to get married.”
Olivia admired the ring for a moment.
“Please say yes.” He placed the ring on her finger. “Look at how beautiful it fits on your finger. This ring was made to be worn by you.” He kissed the back of her hands. “If you say yes, I want us to get married as soon as possible. Let’s say, next week.”
“Next week?” she sounded alarmed. “Why so soon?”
He took her hand in his and sat up on the bed next to her. “I love you, and I don’t want to wait any longer to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Olivia could feel God’s favor pouring down on them. She looked up to the sky. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screamed. Then she stood up in the canoe to give him a hug.
“No, Olivia,” Dean warned, but it was too late.
The canoe tipped over, and they fell over into the water. The lifeguard’s whistle blew, and everyone watched as the two kissed in the middle of the lake.
After Dean and Olivia were rescued, they returned to their cabins to change clothes before catching up with their friends in the cafeteria. Olivia was so excited. She couldn’t wait to show off her engagement ring and start on the wedding plans, but despite her happiness, she asked Dean to keep their engagement a secret from the others.
Val was still upset and very sensitive over Julian. Olivia wanted to break the news to her in private, so it wouldn’t be so upsetting.
“How was the canoe ride?” Danyelle questioned the couple as they approached the table with their trays full of food.
“Fine.” Olivia’s tone was full of cheer, and it didn’t go unnoticed by the girls. “Can
you pass me the salt, please?”
Val reached across the table and handed her the salt shaker. Val, Tressie and Danyelle simultaneously turned their head to look at Dean.
He could feel their questioning eyes bearing down on him, but he refused to look up. He was scared to say anything. He couldn’t risk Olivia getting mad at him and calling off the engagement.
“Good morning, members of First Nazareth.” Colin took a seat next to Dean. “I signed us up for the men’s fishing exhibition this afternoon,” he told his friend then smiled brightly, wondering why everyone at the table was so quiet. He pounded out a happy beat on the tabletop. When he looked up and caught Danyelle staring at him, he winked his eye at her, and she quickly turned away.
Danyelle looked down and refused to lift her head.
Olivia asked her a question and she answered by talking to the tabletop.
Tressie was used to Danyelle acting odd, but just a few minutes ago she was the loudest one at the table. Suddenly she was reserved. “Are you all right? You’re awfully quiet.”
Danyelle shrugged her shoulders and played with her food. “I’m fine.” Tired of picking over watery eggs, she got up and took her tray to the trashcan.
Colin’s eyes followed her. “Man, are you ready to catch some fish? I brought my golden rod. I love fishing. As a kid the boys and girls club used to take us all the time and—”
Dean stopped him with his hand. “Colin, what’s up with you this morning? I’ve adjusted to your upbeat personality, but this morning you act like you’ve drank twelve cups of coffee.”
Colin ignored Dean’s questions. The reason he was so happy was because he was in love. “Are you ready? Throw that stuff away.” Colin referred to Dean’s plate full of food. “Save that appetite for all the fish we’re going to catch out on the water.”
Dean stood to his feet. “Ladies, we’ll see you later.” He and Colin left together.
