Jake's Return

by Liana Laverentz

  As usual, Dillenger took his sweet time removing his gold money clip from his trouser pocket and peeling off one of more hundreds than Jake cared to think about. Dillenger smiled as he handed it over. “I think this will cover it."

  Jake gritted his teeth. Since one of Feeney's errands was the bank, Jake had just turned over the roll of bills he usually had in his pocket. All he had left were a few fives and a couple tens. “I'll have to get change.” He turned and headed for the cash register.

  "Oh, that's handy,” Dillenger said, and followed Jake into the office. Once there, Dillenger looked the place over as if he already owned it, and didn't care for the sight of his cousin from the wrong side of the tracks on his property. He smiled another insincere smile and helped himself to a bottle of Dr. Pepper from an old time drink cooler while Jake made change at the equally antique cash register. Dillenger watched him like a hawk, and Jake had to suppress a laugh. Did Dillenger really think he'd slip a twenty in his pocket without someone there to look over his shoulder? Jake made sure to take out an extra dollar for the pop.

  "Holy shit,” Dillenger said suddenly.

  Jake looked up to see an enormous black funnel cloud bearing down on the town. He slammed the cash register shut and hurdled the counter, shoving Dillenger's change into his midsection as he ran past him. Ignoring Dillenger's startled, “Hey!” Jake bolted for the door, and Rebecca's library.

  Dillenger followed him outside, still swearing in amazed disbelief. He stopped halfway to his car, Dr. Pepper in hand, and gaped at the churning sky.

  "For God's sake, Dillenger,” Jake shouted from the street, “Get out of the open!"

  Dillenger seemed to come to, and disappeared into one of the service bays. Jake figured if he had any brains, he'd hide in the employee restroom at the back of the garage. Meanwhile, Jake struggled to reach the library, two blocks away. If Rebecca didn't know what was coming down, she'd need help.

  The wind howled like a banshee around him, the force of it slamming him into a telephone pole shoulder first. His shirt ripped as he pulled away from the pole and street debris flew like confetti as he blindly fought his way up the block. A bicycle rack crashed through a storefront across the street. Hail the size of golf balls pelted his head, shoulders and back. By the time he reached the library, Jake felt like a freight train was at his heels. He forced the front door open against the wind and dived inside the building just as a deafening explosion broke loose behind him. Rolling to his feet, he stood there and panted as if he'd run a three-minute mile. A dozen strangers stared back at him in a state of general shock. Rebecca stood ashen-faced before a seated circle of children.

  "Move!” He bellowed. “Away from the bookcases! Under the tables! Now!"

  Everyone scrambled for cover. Jake hurdled tables and chairs to reached Rebecca's side in seconds. Scooping up a child with each arm, he deposited them under the nearest of half a dozen tables. “Becca! We need to get these kids under cover!"

  She grabbed two of the smallest children. The older ones seemed to catch on and suddenly the floor crawled with shrieking pre-schoolers. Unearthly lightning flashed continually as Jake and Rebecca herded the children to safety. Yellow, blue, green, purple—the sky erupted in a lethal kaleidoscope of color as Jake snagged the stragglers. One boy broke free and bolted for the bookcases just as the south windows blew out with a thunderous crash.

  Jake swore and tackled the sobbing boy, coming down hard. Pain ripped through his left shoulder as he hauled the now screaming kid under the nearest table. The bookcases toppled like dominoes, crushing anything in between. Adults screamed, children howled. Wind and rain and glass swept through the library with an unholy vengeance. The north window shattered as what looked like the town Christmas tree flew into it from a block away.

  It was over as quickly as it had begun. After several excruciatingly long minutes, Jake lifted his head to the sound of eerie silence inside the library, a steady downpour outside. People cowered everywhere, imprisoned by shock and deadly shards of glass. The boy beneath him was still.

  "Jake?"

  "I'm all right, Becca. How about you?” He looked over to where she sat beneath a table, her arms filled with shell-shocked children. Her hair was half down, her pantyhose shredded and legs bleeding. “You all right?"

  "I think so. Jake. The children."

  He eased to his feet. His legs felt like marshmallows. His right hip and left shoulder burned. The boy he'd thrown himself on top of moaned and stirred. Other children began crying for their mamas. Warner was one of the few towns in the country where children were considered safe. Everyone knew Rebecca ran a tight ship, so most mothers were comfortable using her weekly story hour to run errands. Jake looked around. Apparently today no mothers were there. Yet. He had no doubt those who could, would arrive soon. He looked at the boy. Hey, buddy. You all right?"

  "My arm. It hurts."

  Jake did a quick field exam. “It's probably broken, but we won't know for sure until the medics come. Anything else hurt?"

  "No."

  "What's your name?"

  "Bryan Modano."

  Modano? Mimi's kid? Or maybe her brother's. “Can you sit up, Bryan?"

  "I think so."

  Jake helped the boy sit up. “You still okay?"

  "Yeah. Just scared."

  Jake smiled. “So was I Bryan, so was I. But you're gonna be okay now. We all are.” He looked around and saw most of the painted cinderblock wall that led to the restrooms had remained intact. “I'm going to carry you over to that yellow wall by the restrooms, okay?"

  He lifted the boy into his arms, then turned to Rebecca. “Sit tight. When I get back, we'll move the rest of you away from this glass. I'll carry the kids over. We can wait for the rescue crews by the back door."

  One of Rebecca's clerks—the short, pudgy one who'd gone white that first day he'd come to find Rebecca—was already making her way toward the restrooms. “I'll wait here and keep the children quiet."

  "Thank you, Eunice,” Rebecca said, and rose to her feet. Jake watched her stand and look down at the blood on her legs, and the blue suit that matched her eyes. “It looks like we'll need to do some first aid. Eunice, would you see if the water in the restrooms is still running? Is everyone else all right?” she called out to the room in general. No one answered in the negative. “Good,” she said, and continued organizing things, speaking to people by name.

  Impressed as hell, Jake made his way over to the painted cinderblock hall and settled Bryan against the bright yellow wall. The other adults started moving toward each other, while Jake kept his focus on Rebecca and the children. He lifted the first whimpering toddler from Rebecca's arms and carried the little girl to where Eunice waited with a first-aid kit. He was surprised by how trustingly the child wrapped her short, chubby arms around his neck, how warm and sturdy she felt in his arms, how protective she made him feel, simply by being there. It was the first time he'd had anything to do with children, and he felt more than awkward, but somehow he managed, talking, soothing, occasionally even smiling and stroking a small head of cornsilk-soft hair.

  A few minutes later, they had all ten children lined up against the wall. Some mouthed lollipops Eunice had found, some looked at picture books, but most watched every move Jake made with big, big eyes. He smiled back at them, threw a wink or two their way, then looked around for Rebecca. Like the trooper she was, she'd picked her way across the deadly sea of glass and debris to join the children on her own. There was no doubt in his mind that these children felt completely safe in Rebecca's care.

  He spotted her as she left the restroom with a little girl, looking calm and in control. A quick scan of the wrecked library confirmed his work there was done. “Rebecca. I've got to get back to Feeney's."

  "Wait, Jake. You're bleeding."

  "I am?” No wonder the kids were staring at him. He looked at his ripped shirt and shoulder. It hurt like a SOB, but ... “I'll be okay."

  "Maybe you should wait
for the rescue team."

  "Nah. You guys need them more than me. Besides..."

  "I need you to look for Katie, Jake."

  "Katie?” Jake's stomach sank to his toes. “Katie?” he repeated, suddenly feeling both winded and stupid. He'd been so wrapped up with the kids, he hadn't spared a thought for his own child. Guilt engulfed him, making him feel like a complete failure as a father. Here Rebecca must've been going out of her mind with worry while she'd forced herself to stay focused on making sure everyone in the library was safe. “Where is she?"

  "I have no idea. Aunt Martha was watching her, but they could be anywhere. That's why I need you to find her. Make sure they're okay. They stopped by this morning and were on their way home when the storm hit, but ... but...” Her eyes suddenly filled with tears, and he realized she was starting to lose it. “Oh, God, Jake, if anything's happened to them..."

  "Shhhh,” he heard himself soothing as he reached out to her for the first time that day. As he brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen free of her loose bun, Jake battled a sudden need to pull her close and never let her go. “I'm sure she's fine. Everything's going to be all right.” He'd see to it. If he had to scour the entire town on foot, he'd see to it.

  "But what if she's not, Jake? What if she needs me?"

  Me, not us. Jake realized what she'd said about the same time he realized he was stroking Rebecca's hair. He pulled his hand back and focused on beating back his own churning emotions. Fear for Katie, hurt that Rebecca would cut him out like that, guilt that she even felt the need to, and regret for all the mistakes he'd made with her. “Jake?"

  "I'll find her, Rebecca. I'll find her and bring her to you."

  She seemed to sag in relief. “Thank you,” she breathed. “I need to know she's okay, but I can't ... I can't leave here right now."

  "I understand. I'm on my way."

  He turned as the first rescue crew arrived, on their heels the first frantic mother, sobbing her children's names. With something fast approaching awe, Jake watched Rebecca step back and pull herself together, squelch her equally desperate fear for her own daughter, and turn to reassure the wild-eyed woman that her children were alive and well.

  It was true. It was also a miracle, Jake thought, as he scanned the shattered remains of what had less than thirty minutes before been a beautiful building. For the most part, the children seemed to have suffered only minor cuts and bruises. Bryan's broken arm appeared to be the only exception.

  He was on his way out the door when he overheard someone call Rebecca's name. He turned back in time to hear a medic telling her Katie had been taken to the hospital.

  "I recognized her lying on a gurney in the hall. I don't know what's wrong with her but I thought you'd want to know."

  Jake stilled as he watched Rebecca take the news like a body blow.

  "You want a ride to the hospital?” the medic asked her.

  "I ... can't. I can't go right now,” he heard her say in a high, strained voice that told him she wished with all her heart she could go. “Jake?” His heart stopped as she looked around uncertainly, no doubt sure he'd already left. Her expression of relief when she spotted him moving toward her barely had time to register before she called out to him, “Jake! Katie's at the hospital. Can you go?"

  He pulled up short and swallowed. Hard. “Of course."

  * * * *

  Forty minutes later, Jake strode through the halls of the community hospital, determined to search every last room in the place if he had to. Between fighting off frantic relatives and fielding non-stop calls, the admitting personnel had been too busy to help him find Katie. They probably wouldn't have let him see her anyway, not in the shape he was in. He ignored the startled looks and offended stares he caught as he poked his head in each room. He was on a mission and didn't care who he upset.

  He found her on the third floor, at the end of the hall. “Katie?"

  She looked up from her bed and saw him in the doorway, and broke into the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. His legs went weak and he nearly fell to his knees in relief and gratitude on the spot.

  "Jake! You're okay! I'm so glad. Where's Mom?” She looked past him hopefully, then back at him uncertainly. “Isn't she with you?"

  "She's ... she's at the library,” he said, trying his best to stay upright as he stepped into the room. “Taking care of things there.” He watched her budding fear shift into confusion. “She's fine. She asked me to come and make sure you were okay."

  If she was disappointed, she hid it well. “You'll never believe what happened. I got hit on the head when a tree limb smacked into me. I was in the front yard, trying to make it back to the apartment. It knocked me out and I've got a con ... concussion, but the doctor said I should be fine."

  "Where's your Aunt Martha?” He looked around, as if she might materialize at any moment.

  "She left as soon as she knew I was going to be all right, to go to the Red Cross office. She said she wanted to help."

  That fit right in with what Jake remembered about Rebecca's aunt. Always first in line to help those in need. “I guess I should get back to your mom, then. Let her know you're okay."

  "Oh.” Katie looked crestfallen.

  Jake stepped forward in concern. “What's the matter?"

  "Nothing. I just ... I just really don't want to be alone right now."

  His heart melted. “I understand, Peanut,” he said, and came the rest of the way into the room. “I'll stay as long as you want me to. Just let me see if I can find a way to get a message to your mother."

  "Omigod, Jake, you're bleeding."

  Surreptitiously he latched onto the side railing of Katie's bed for support and struggled for a smile. “I know.” His back and legs suddenly hurt like a sonofagun. Not to mention his hip and shoulder. “I probably got cut. There was glass all over the library. I just need to clean up a bit."

  "The bathroom's over there,” she pointed out helpfully, clearly not at all certain he was telling the truth.

  "Thanks. I think."

  "Jake?” He turned to see Rebecca standing in the doorway, and wondered how she'd gotten there so fast. Then again, someone probably would have told her right away where Katie was. She looked as dirty and disheveled as before, but as beautiful as ever. All he could think about was how relieved he was that all of them were alive and together. Suddenly he wondered why she was frowning so hard. “Are you all right?"

  "Fine. Maybe a little tired, but...” A wave of warmth and dizziness washed over him.

  "More like exhausted. Maybe you should sit down."

  "Did everyone get out of the library all right?"

  She stepped into the room, her eyes soft with unexpected pride. “Yes, they did. Thanks to you."

  His grip on the bed railing tightened. “I didn't do anything. You're the one who—"

  "Jake? Are you...? Jake!"

  The last thing he heard before everything went black was Katie's scream, and Rebecca shouting for a doctor.

  * * * *

  Jake awoke to find himself lying on his stomach on a hard, sterile-smelling bed. His thighs and back felt like they were on fire. His right hip and left shoulder throbbed. He tried to move and groaned immediately.

  "Welcome back."

  "Rebecca?” Jake turned his head to find a nicely curved hip at eye level. She stood beside the bed, which he realized in embarrassment was the hospital bed next to Katie's. His daughter looked over at him from her bed, her expression an odd mixture of hope and worry.

  "You okay, Jake?” she asked.

  "Yeah. I'm fine. Just give me a minute.” He moved a leg. Jesus, where were his clothes?

  Rebecca was still wearing her bloody cornflower blue suit, so he couldn't have been out that long. What the hell happened to him? He tried to roll over, but couldn't quite get his limbs to cooperate.

  "I wouldn't try that just yet if I were you,” he heard Rebecca say as a fresh surge of pain swirled through his body. “You had about two
dozen shards of glass embedded in your backside,” she added, her voice noticeably neutral, “and you bruised your left shoulder, probably when you tackled Bryan."

  Jake thought he remembered something about hitting a telephone pole, too, but his brain didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders yet. “Where are my clothes?"

  "What's left of them is in the closet. They cut your shirt off, but I managed to stop them before they did the same to your pants."

  "Thanks. What happened?"

  "You passed out. Since the bed was vacant, they just pulled the curtain around you and treated you here."

  How humiliating. “So when can I get out of here?"

  "Any time you're ready to have me look you over and pronounce you good to go, Mr. Donovan,” a pleasant female voice offered from the doorway. “We need your bed now that you're awake."

  At that, Jake gritted his teeth and forced himself to push up, roll over and sit up, the pain be damned. Smiling her approval and appreciation, a young, pretty blonde doctor moved to the foot of his bed. She picked up his chart, and offered Rebecca a more apologetic smile. “Katie's, too, I'm afraid. You're free to take her home, Ms. Reed. Just follow my instructions regarding the concussion and she should be fine."

  Twenty minutes later Jake had his torn and bloody jeans back on and was being discharged over Rebecca's protests that he needed more time to recover his equilibrium. Since Rebecca's car was still at the library, and neither of the town's two taxis were available, the three of them had no choice but to head for home on foot. Within minutes, though, town council member Matthew Hannan, whose two young daughters had been in the library that afternoon, stopped to offer them a ride.

  "The girls are fine,” he said when Rebecca asked. “I took them home and came back with the four-wheeler to help with rescue efforts."

  The trip seemed to take forever, the town a tortured landscape of naked tree trunks, twisted metal, and scattered debris. Occasionally they got out of the car to help blocked motorists move obstacles the storm had swept into the still-wet streets. Jake kept an eye out for Rebecca, and Rebecca kept a worried eye on Jake, but knew doing his share was as important to him as doing hers was to her. Both of them insisted Katie stay in the car.