Our Forever Promise

by Mary Wasowski

  “Wrong, yet again. My grandson hates me now because of his father. Gail, my wife. She hates me too. Walker has turned them against me. When you have nothing left, you have nothing to lose. I won’t ask again, Ms. Mitchell. Get. Up!”

  My entire body was shaking and silently begging for Walker to save me. But Riley was now back and knocking on the bedroom door. I had to think quickly to send her a message without Henry knowing what I was doing.

  “Mom! Why is the door locked? Are you in there with Mr. Reed? Oh I love it mom, but you are going to be late for your own wedding. Mom?”

  Before I could see him coming, I was roughly pulled up from where I sat with his gun pressing into my side. He hauled me against the door, nearly avoiding my cheek crashing into it.

  “Answer your daughter now, or I will put a bullet in her head.”

  “I’m here, honey. Sorry.”

  “Um…okay. Can I come in?”

  “Not right now. Can you do me a favor, sweetie?”

  “Anything.”

  “Do you remember what I told you about believing in forever love and dreams coming true?”

  “Come on, mom. This is crazy. Open the door.”

  “Just answer the question. Do you remember?”

  “Yes, mom, of course I do. Your dream is finally coming true today.”

  “Yes. That’s right. Dreams do come true. This is what I’m praying for today. I love you, Taylor.”

  “Mom?”

  “Always and Forever. I love you, Taylor. I love you so much. Now let me finish getting ready on my own. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Mom?” She began to bang on the door while Henry’s gun was still pressed into my side. I was praying Riley would have understood, but she was now pleading with me to open the door. I had to do something before he really became unhinged.

  “Taylor! Leave me be for five fucking minutes. I swear you are a brat sometimes. Take the hint. I want to be alone. Now get the hell out of here!”

  “Shhh, do not make a sound,” he warned as he listened to her footsteps fading away. “Very good Ms. Mitchell, very good. Now, where does this door lead to?”

  “It’s a connecting door to my sitting room, and then another hallway and stairs.”

  “Perfect. Let’s go.”

  “Please, Henry. Don’t do this.”

  He ignored my pleas and dragged me along with him, never removing his gun. I began praying as my tears began to fall. Please Walker. Save us.

  MY MOTHER HAS never called me by my middle name alone. Something was wrong, and she was trying to message me somehow. I took my shoes off and ran in a fast pace for help. I ran as fast as my legs could take me until I found Mr. Reed surrounded by Jackson and my great grandparents. They looked so happy, toasting with champagne.

  “Mr. Reed! Mr. Reed!” I screamed out as if I was in pain. My mother was in danger.

  “Riley, what’s wrong? Is it your mother, or the baby?”

  “Both Mr. Reed. She needs help, something’s wrong. I think she’s in danger.”

  “Danger? Where is she? You must calm down, and tell me everything.”

  “We were talking and laughing, and I left her for only a few minutes, and when I came back to help her dress, the door was locked. I asked mom to let me in, but she refused. She kept calling me Taylor. She has never addressed me by middle name in all of my life, and then she asked me to remember.”

  “Remember what?” he shouted.

  “She told me to remember my dreams of coming true, and how she was hoping hers would come true too.”

  “Motherfucker! Stephen, check the feed surrounding the hallway and the back stairs coming off our bedroom. That’s the only way out from that part of the house. She couldn’t have gone far. Find Reese, Now!”

  I never felt so helpless in all of my life. Where was my mother? Jackson took me in his arms as I wept onto his chest. He quietly soothed me, until Stephen called out from the office.

  “Sir, we have them in site. They are on the north side of the property. Stephen shouted out, as he secured the security teams in place.

  “Who’s with her? Mr. Reed asked as he focused in on the picture before him. Before he could answer, Jackson whispered… “It’s my grandfather. He’s kidnapped your mother.”

  “That fucker is dead!” shouted Mr. Reed.

  “Not if I don’t get to him first,” Thomas joined in.

  “Thomas, I will get Reese back. I swear to you on my life, I will get her back.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “No! Thomas. Please stay here with Lila, Riley, and my son. They need you. And Reese needs me.”

  Mr. Reed and his team fled the house. The guards were armed, and I was afraid for my mother.

  “COME HERE RILEY, follow me.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I have to go. I need you to stay here.”

  “Jackson, it’s too dangerous. Please stay here with me. You saw the video. Your grandfather has a gun, and it was aimed right at my mother. How could he do this?”

  “Riley, I wish I knew, but I have to try to talk with him. He will listen to me.”

  “And how do you know that? The last time you saw him was right before you collapsed, and you were so angry with him.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He will listen to me. I have to try and help both our parents. Stay here, please? I love you, beautiful girl.”

  “I love you too. Please be careful.”

  I knew I couldn’t make it there on foot. The sound of the motorcycle would alert them of my presence. Not that I could drive it anyway with my sight still a little blurry at times. Then I remembered I could take one of the golf carts. They practically steer themselves. I had to get to my grandfather before he did something he couldn’t take back.

  HANG ON BABY, I’m on my way. That fucker better have not harmed one hair on your head.

  “He’s mine when we get to Reese,” I said to Stephen, as we approached the barn and stables that were still under construction. They could be anywhere in there. We had nothing up and running yet, so every inch of ground would have to be searched, and quietly without alerting them of our presence. Stephen began to scan the area with his binoculars. We didn’t have them in sight yet.

  The building that would be the barn consisted of three levels, with only the first floor completed. They wouldn’t be able to get to the top, which worked in our benefit. Stephen secured all points of entry with his men. They were told to stand down until he gave them the signal to take Henry out, if it came to that. I demanded a gun from Stephen, but he refused to give me one, assuring me that he would take the shot. My focus was to get to Reese, and get her out before she or our baby were harmed.

  “Sir, we have movement. It’s an assailant coming down the road on a golf cart. How do you want me to proceed?” his man asked over the walkie.

  “Who is it?” I questioned. Using the binoculars to get a better look, I was horrified to see who it was.

  “Stand down. It’s my son! Stand down!” I commanded through the walkie. “What the hell is he doing? Stephen, we have to get to Jackson before he reaches the barn.”

  “It’s too late, sir. He’s already there.”

  “This can’t be fucking happening. That mad man has Reese, and now he will have my son too? Do we have a clear shot? Can we take him out?”

  “We need to get closer, sir. We don’t even have him on sight yet.” Stephen said.

  “Stephen, I have to do something. I need to get in there.”

  “Sir, you can’t go in there unprotected. I’ll have no visual on you once you’re inside.”

  “Then I’ll take my chances. I have no life without Reese and Jackson.”

  I LEFT WITHOUT my cane, causing me to stumble a few times before reaching the entrance to the barn. My leg was tingling with painful pins and needles. I needed to get to my grandfather before he hurt Reese. I knew I wasn’t alone. I saw my father and his team trying to get closer, and I didn’t miss the terri
fying look my father wore on his face when he realized it was me coming down the path. I had to do something and not let my grandfather cause any more pain to the people I loved.

  “Grandpa, it’s me, Jackson. I’m alone and unarmed. Please come out.” I called out with no response back. I searched several stalls before finding Reese tied, bound, and unconscious. She was bleeding from her head.

  “Reese! Oh my God!” I reached for her, and that’s when I heard him behind me.

  “That’s far enough, Jackson. Do not touch her.” I slowly turned around to see my grandfather aiming a gun right at me. Here was a man that I loved my entire life. He was my hero. A man I respected and looked up to. The same man who cheered me on at my baseball games, took me fishing, and taught me how to ride a horse. The man standing before me is no one I recognize.

  “What are you doing grandpa? Are you going to shoot me?”

  The minute I said the words to him, the realization of the grave situation we were in registered on his face. He immediately put the gun away and began walking toward me. I put my hands up to him and stopped him where he stood.

  “Don’t come any closer, grandpa. You stay back and let me help Reese. What did you do to her?”

  “Nothing she didn’t deserve,” he coldly replied.

  I tried to kneel down beside her, but my leg stopped me.

  “Stand back, Jackson. Do not touch her. I will not say it again.”

  “I’m getting her out of here if I have to drag her myself. I can’t let her die.” I tried again to get to Reese, this time making it to the ground.

  That’s when the first shot was fired.

  “I said…Do. Not. Touch. Her. Get up, Jackson, and move away, now!”

  “No! You’re going to have to shoot me, grandpa. There is no way in hell that I’m leaving her.”

  “This is your father’s fault!” he shouted.

  “It’s all his doing. Don’t you see, Jackson? He’s turned you against me. Your grandmother tried to leave me, and now you hate me too. Here you protect this woman who destroyed your mother. How could you, son? How could you do this to me?”

  “Grandpa, stop this now. You don’t know what you’re saying. Mother died because she was sick, not because of my father or Reese. No one could have predicted what was going to happen to my mother. Please, grandpa, let me help you. I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. I love you.”

  “Liar! You don’t love me, not anymore, not after what I’ve done here today. All I wanted was to scare her, and then she fought me. What was I to do?”

  He rambled on as he became more and more lost in his warped mind. He was pacing back and forth, twiddling the gun in his hand. I checked Reese, and she was still breathing. She had an open wound on her head. I untied her hands and tried to get her to wake before he stopped me again with his gun.

  “I told you not to touch her.”

  “And I told you that I couldn’t do that. I have to get her help. Grandpa, you are surrounded. There is no way out of here. Please give me the gun, and this will end now. Please grandpa, you need help. Let me get you help, and I promise I will not leave you. You have to trust me, please?”

  “I’m sorry son. I love you, Jackson. I always will, but we know what will happen the minute I step outside. Your father promised death would come for me if I ever hurt him again. It’s too late for me, Jackson. My Elizabeth is dead. My Gail is dead. And now my precious grandson? You and I will join them. I love you, Jackson.”

  I love you Riley. I said silently, as I threw myself over Reese’s still body. And that’s when the loud shots rang out.

  WE CHARGED THROUGH the barn and came upon the bloody scene. Henry was dead with a bullet wound to the head. My son was on top of Reese. I didn’t know if he was hit until I reached him.

  “Jackson, are you hurt?” I ran my hands all over his body, but he was okay.

  “I’m fine, dad. It’s Reese, she’s hurt.” My son was crying over her limp body he was still protecting.

  “Stephen, get an ambulance right away!” I screamed out.

  “Reese, baby. Please wake up.” I begged her to open her eyes. I threw my jacket off and used my shirt to wrap her head. She wasn’t shot, but she had a nasty cut and bump on the side of her head. She wasn’t bleeding anywhere else from her body. Her wrists were cut and bruised. I was praying for her and our child’s survival.

  I held her in my arms until the paramedics arrived on the scene. Stephen had to pull me off of Reese. I didn’t want to let her go, but I had to let the paramedics help her. My son and I just took it all in. We held onto the other for support, as Henry’s body was now being placed in a bag. Stephen joined us along with my security team.

  “Who took the shot?” I questioned.

  Stephen gestured over to the railing where Thomas, Reese’s grandfather was being questioned by the police.

  “It was Thomas?” I asked Stephen.

  “Yes, sir, so it seems. Reese’s grandfather is an excellent marksman.”

  I looked over to Jackson, who I knew heard what Stephen said. He would forever have to live with the fact that Reese’s grandfather killed his own. The rational side would help him realize it was self-defense, but what to tell his breaking heart? My son loved his grandfather and would mourn his loss. Not the grandfather he was today, but the man he once was.

  “Sir, she’s ready to be transported,” said the paramedic. I quickly stepped inside the ambulance, leaving Jackson with Stephen. They would follow us out along with Lila and Riley, and the rest of our family.

  Reese was taken immediately upon arriving at the hospital. Dr. Lemay, her ob/gyn was waiting for us in the Emergency Room. Commands were being called out, as I stayed back and watched for the second time, another person I loved being taken away from me. Not this time would I find myself in a chapel, and praying for their survival? I think I used up all my requests when Jackson was fighting for his life. Reese and our child were in God’s hands, and all I could do is silently pray once more for fate not to be so cruel again.

  One by one, I was joined by our friends and family who loved Reese. Freddy was being comforted by Fabrizio and Marsha. He was crying out loud for Reese. Lila and Thomas were in the chapel, and Riley was with Jackson. He sat quietly with Riley in his arms. He wasn’t crying, or showing any emotion, we were just numb. After Thomas was questioned by the police, he was free to come to the hospital. No charges would be filed, clearing him of any wrongdoing. He did what he had to do to protect Reese. It was also confirmed that Gail was dead. She had been shot and left for dead for several days before her body was recovered today. A note was left by the bedside table, and it simply read:

  Gail was an extraordinary woman who survived breast cancer and the loss of her only child. She didn’t deserve one day of pain. In the end, the man she loved and stood by every day through her marriage took her life. He was a gutless coward in the end. She was with Elizabeth now in heaven. I recited a silent prayer for Gail, and continued to wait for news on Reese.

  Thomas and Lila rejoined me in the waiting room.

  “She’s going to make it Walker. Do not give up on your faith now.” Lila said as she hugged me. I prayed she was right.

  “She’s a Mitchell. Mitchell’s come from a strong Irish line. The sun will shine on my granddaughter. Lila is right. Do not give up on your faith, and do not give up on Reese.” He slapped my back and then pulled me into a strong hug. I promised I would never give up on her, and again waited for news.

  Dr. Lemay, along with another doctor, updated us on Reese’s condition.

  “Mr. Reed, this is Dr. Sloan, a neurologist here on staff.” I said hello and hoped they would both be telling me good news.

  “Mr. Reed, your wife has a contusion to the left side of her brain, along with a cut that required five stitches. She has a concussion, but thankfully no fractures or bleeds. We have performed both a CT scan and MRI, confirming my diagnosis. She hasn’t regained consciousness yet, but we are hopeful she will
wake soon. I know it doesn’t look like it now, but she was very lucky. The outcome could have been much worse.”

  “And the baby?” I barely got out the words. Dr. Lemay quickly answered my question.

  “She’s stable with a steady heartbeat. We will wait for Reese to wake, and then I will perform more tests. She will need to stay for a few days so both she and the baby can be monitored. Just to err on the side of caution.”

  “That’s fine with me. Can I see her?”

  “Yes you may. Give us a few minutes to get her settled in her room, and then my nurse will come out and get you.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Lemay, for saving both of them.”

  I hugged Reese’s doctor taking her by surprise, but I didn’t care. Reese and our daughter would be okay.

  I knew once I was in there, I would never leave, not without Reese walking out with me. I let Lila, Thomas, Riley, and the rest of our friends and family visit with Reese, before I camped out by her bedside. My mother stayed behind and held my hand while I waited. She mourned and cried for Gail.

  “Why, Walker? How did it ever come to this?”

  My mother wanted answers, and hell, so did I. I never imagined someone having that much hatred for me that they would succumb to doing something so horrifying.

  “I wish I knew, mother. I was supposed to be married by now, but the love of my life is recovering from a vicious attack.”

  “She’s strong, and so is your daughter. They will both be fine.”

  “Thank you.”

  I gave her a hug and a chaste kiss to her cheek. Jackson and Riley approached me.

  “Dad, I’m going to take Riley home. We’re exhausted. I just can’t be here knowing my grandfather is dead in the morgue.”

  “For you son, I am so very sorry.”

  “I know, dad. This wasn’t your fault. Somewhere along the way, grandpa lost himself. The man that hurt Reese and my grandma is not the same man I shall remember. I can’t hate him, dad. Please understand.”

  “I do, son. More than you know. Take Riley home and please, get some rest. How’s your head? Any headaches? How’s your leg?”