by Beth Rinyu
Me: Call me when you get a chance. I found out a lot of information that you need to know about.
Within a minute my phone rang, and Jack’s name flashed across the screen.
“How’d it go?” he asked after I answered.
“Actually, really good. She’s a very nice person. Do you have a few minutes to talk?” I was in such a haze when I’d gotten home, I’d forgotten I had let Max outside, only being reminded when he began scratching on the back slider.
“Yeah. What’s up?” he asked as I got up to open the door and let Max inside. I paced around the entire lower level of my house with Max on my heels while I filled Jack in on the details of my meeting with Francesca. He eagerly listened, asking questions every now and then, seeming just as shocked as I was by the entire story. “Wow,” he whispered into the phone. I finally took a seat back in the kitchen where I started out.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought when she told me. It was so sad and tragic, and the way he ended it all.” I left out the part about the letter he had left me. I knew the investigator side of Jack would want me to open it immediately, and I wasn’t ready for that just yet.
“Okay, so I think she needs to inform the police department handling the drowning and let them know the circumstances, so they could close out the case.”
“The locket,” I whispered. It suddenly dawned on me that the locket Francesca had carried around with her all this time, the one that was meant for me, was being held as evidence. That was another tidbit I failed to mention to Jack.
“What?” Jack inquired.
“The locket that was found on the beach. Francesca bought that when she was pregnant with me. She had named me Annie. When she found it at a flea market, she thought it was fate.” I smiled into the phone. “She carried it around with her for good luck, then gave it to him for luck in finding me. I guess it worked.”
“Oh,” he muttered, not seeming to care about the sentiment behind it. “Well, they’ll more than likely return it once they close everything out. That’s why she has to let them know.” I hated when he got like this—all textbook FBI agent. Even when we were married, he’d slip into that mode, finding it difficult to switch back to who he was at home.
“Yeah, well, I’ll let her know that. I’m sorry to have bothered you. I just wanted to let you know what was happening right away since you’ve invested a lot of your time into this.”
“I appreciate that, and I really didn’t mind at all.” A small hint of Jack the human being was coming through the phone as his voice softened. As glad as I was to have the mystery finally solved, I was also a little saddened as well. Jack and I had gotten closer because of this. We were able to talk and rediscover one another again. I was hoping we wouldn’t lose sight of that and go back to our old ways just because this was over. Yes, we had also slept together because of this, but we were both adults who could manage to put that behind us.
“What about the rape?” His voice changed back into interrogation mode.
“What about it?”
“His brother raped her. He’s been accused again of rape, and is a strong contender for President of the United States. She could really provide some damning evidence against him.”
“Well, that has nothing to do with me. That’s something she needs to want to do, and something no one could force her into.”
“Maybe you should try and give her a push to do it.”
Was he for real? Had he not heard any of the heartfelt story I had just spewed to him over the past twenty minutes and how Francesca was affected by it all? What in the world would make him think she’d want to put herself through the wringer forty-eight years later by reliving it?
“I’m not going to push anyone into revisiting something like that if they don’t want to.”
“Steph, a woman has claimed to have been raped by this man, and he’s trying to make her out to be a liar. Maybe if your moth—” He stopped himself short of calling her my mother. “If she came forward, it might help this woman’s case.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of this woman that he more than likely did rape. I feel horrible for her, but that doesn’t mean someone else needs to open old wounds that took so long to heal either.”
“This woman was the same age as Kara when he did that to her.”
“Jack, don’t you dare coerce me into trying to convince her to do this by making it personal,” I shouted. “And Francesca was only seventeen when he did it to her…who was there to help her?” I added. “Look, I’m not going to get in an argument with you over this. I gave you the information I needed to give you, now I have to get going. It’s been an emotional day.”
We said our goodbyes, hanging up the phone like we had so many times before this whole thing began—distant, irritated, and isolated.
“Well, I guess that was nice while it lasted,” I whispered to Max as he stared up at me, and I patted him on the head. I was amazed by how quickly Jack and I could go from hot to cold.
“Mom!” Kara called from the front door, preventing me from having any more discouraging thoughts about Jack and me.
“I’m in here!” I shouted.
She rushed into the kitchen and placed the bags she was struggling with on the counter, giving her overburdened arms a rest. “Well…how’d it go?” Her blue eyes widened as she unzipped her coat and removed her gloves.
“It was actually…very nice.” I smiled. “I know you want to know everything, and I plan on telling you it all, but I could really use a nap right now.”
“Okay.” She flashed me a sympathetic smile.
I stood up and brushed the side of her cheek with my lips. “I was actually thinking about inviting Pop over for dinner, so I can tell him everything that’s been going on.”
“Oh, that would be great. I’m cooking!” She motioned to the bags she had placed on the counter.
“Wow! Are you feeling okay?” I teased.
“I just know you’ve had a lot going on, so I wanted to do something special for you.”
“Thanks, Kara.” I leaned down and kissed her again.
“I’ll call Pop and invite him over. I’ll pick him up if he wants. I know he doesn’t really like driving in the dark anymore.”
“That would be wonderful.” I meant it when I had told Francesca I was truly blessed to have Kara. She was the most important person in my life, and I had been thankful every day since that accident, that I was spared from losing her as well.
I went upstairs and changed into my sweats. Lying down, I pulled the throw at the bottom of my bed over me and closed my eyes. The scent of Jack’s familiar cologne still lingered on the pillow next to me, triggering me to inexplicably break down in tears. I hated that it had still felt so normal being in his arms last night. I hated that when Francesca asked me if I still loved him, what I really wanted to say was that I was still in love with him. So many years together, so many years apart, and so many things in between. Was I allowing all of that to govern my emotions or was I just mentally drained and not even knowing what I was really feeling? I grabbed the pillow lying beside me and hugged it tightly, allowing the tears to flow upon it as I thought back to that day in the hospital. The day my life and my marriage changed forever.
Every part of my body ached when my eyes peeled open to the brightness overhead. It took a few moments to figure out I was in the hospital, but had no recollection of how I had gotten there. I focused on Jack, who was sitting beside my bed. His familiar face looked almost as foreign as the place I was in. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot, and it looked as if he hadn’t shaved in days. “Kara.” I didn’t even recognize my own voice; it was hoarse and low.
“She’s fine,” Jack whispered, his eyes glassing over a little at the mention of her name.
“There was an accident,” I murmured, suddenly remembering the circumstances that led me here. “I-I…”
Jack grabbed my hand and pushed my hair away from my face. “Just relax, Steph.”
I lowered m
y other hand to my belly, needing to feel the familiar bump I loved to cradle, the one that provided me with a sense of comfort—it was gone. “The baby. Where is he?” I tried to sit up, but the pain I was in wouldn’t allow it. “Where is he?” I asked again with my gruff voice growing louder.
“They had to do an emergency C-section.” Jack’s voice wavered.
“Go tell the nurse I want to see him. Tell them I’m awake, and I want to hold my son.”
Jack was silent. His blue eyes gazed deep into mine, struggling to get the words out. “H-he didn’t make it, Stephanie.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Please tell me it’s not true.”
The dam of tears Jack had been trying desperately to hold back had broken, and when the first one dripped on my hand, I knew he wasn’t lying. It was the first time in all our years together that I’d seen him cry. His body shook and the tears rolled down his face, and all I could think in that moment was that he did this to us. His career that he worshipped so much killed our unborn son. I wasn’t sure what hurt worse, the pain of losing my baby or not knowing if I’d ever be able to forgive the man I loved because of it.
Chapter 27
AFTER KARA’S DELICIOUS chicken stir-fry dinner, I sat her and my father down in the living room to fill them in on everything. I had to start from the very top for my father, who wasn’t even aware that Francesca had contacted me. He seemed almost as stunned as I was by it all, as he sat there trying to take it all in.
“So you weren’t the brother’s child?” Kara asked.
“No, she was pregnant with me before he did that to her.”
“And he got away with it all these years?” Kara’s voice was laced with repulsion.
I nodded and exhaled forcefully. “Anyway, I told her I wanted to keep in touch, and that I’d like both of you to meet her.” Kara smiled at the suggestion while my father seemed a little uncomfortable with the mention of it. “Dad, this changes nothing.” I reassured him. “I made it very clear to her that she made the right decision putting me up for adoption by giving me the best parents ever.”
“I don’t know, Stephy.” My father shook his head. “Why after all of these years is she wanting to meet you?”
“Dad, I told you. She didn’t have the means to do it herself, and the opportunity was given to her, so she took it.” I knew I could tell him a million times that no one would ever replace him or my mother, but he’d still have doubts. I was pretty certain I’d be feeling the same way if I were in his situation. But the fact of the matter was, I wanted to maintain a relationship with Francesca, and I wanted her to meet the wonderful man who raised me.
“Well, if that’s what you want, then fine. I’d be willing to meet her,” he grumbled.
“Thanks, Dad.” I leaned over and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“Dad isn’t planning on stopping by tonight, is he?” Kara asked, looking up from her phone.
“Not that I’m aware of.” Relief washed over her face as she dropped her gaze back to her phone and began to hit the buttons. “Why? What’s going on?” I asked.
“Well, I invited a new friend over for dessert, and I wanted you to meet him before Dad does.”
“Okay.” I cinched my eyebrows in confusion. “You do know if this friend turns out to be something more, Dad’s going to have to eventually meet him?”
“Oh boy, I do!” She sighed heavily as if that was the last thing she wanted to happen.
“Kara, what’s going on?” I asked just as the doorbell rang and Kara sprang from the chair to answer it. I shrugged as my father and I exchanged confused glances.
Within a few seconds Kara reappeared back in the living room with a tall, nicely built guy who looked to be around her age. “Mom and Pop, this is Ian.”
Ian? I had heard that name mentioned before, but couldn’t remember who he was.
“Oh, hello, Ian, it’s so nice to meet you.”
He gently reached for my hand, then shook my father’s a little more firmly.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” He ran his hand through his thick wavy ginger colored hair and then down the razor stubble on his face. It was evident that his nerves were getting the best of him, then it finally dawned on me why. He was the agent Jack had following Kara.
A broad smile broke out on my face as I tried to mask the inner turmoil I was feeling over the whole situation. Jack wouldn’t be too happy to find out about this. More importantly, what if he and Kara did become serious? Would she live her life like I had, being second to a career and putting herself and her family in danger because of it? Now I was just getting way too ahead of myself.
“So, did you two meet at school?” I asked, feigning naivety. They both looked at each other, trying to come up with an answer.
“Yes, we—” Kara started.
“I was actually the agent your husband…I mean, ex-husband had following Kara.” Ian interrupted. At least he was honest and didn’t make Kara do the explaining.
“Oh.” I nodded and forced a smile.
“It really was funny, Mom. At first I hated the idea that Dad had someone following me, so I was…a bitch,” Kara admitted. “But once I got to know Ian, he was really cool.”
“Oh.” I nodded once again with the same stupid faux smile on my face.
“Looks like she’s taking after her mother, falling for someone in the FBI,” my dad chimed in.
“Pop!” Kara scolded my father with her eyes for indicating that she may be falling for this guy.
I let out a nervous laugh. “No, Dad. Jack and I were together long before he ever became an FBI agent.” Truth was if I had met Jack once he was settled in his career, I may have not been so apt to seek out a relationship with him, knowing the time and danger the job entailed.
“Well, maybe Kara’s falling for someone who reminds her of her dad, then.”
“Pop!” Kara exclaimed through clenched teeth. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered to Ian.
“Maybe if you had done the same, you’d be married to a doctor,” my father added, taking a swipe at Jack.
“You can’t help who you fall for, Dad.”
“No, I guess you can’t,” he muttered.
“So, Ian, how long have you been working for the agency?” I asked.
“Just about a year, ma’am.” Ma’am? Either this guy was a major suck-up or maybe he actually did have some manners, a stark difference from Kara’s boyfriends in the past. “I served in the Marines right out of high school for four years and started some online college courses during that time. When I got out, I finished up the two years I had left for my bachelor’s degree, and I was lucky enough to land this job right after.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
Kara widened her eyes at me, and I mirrored her reaction back at her.
“I’ll be twenty-five in March.”
I nodded. Kara would be twenty-two in May, so that was a little over three years age difference between the two of them—not too bad. He was everything a mother could ask for in a boyfriend for her daughter: polite, well-spoken, with his life pretty much on track, and an added bonus—handsome. I should have been ready to pick out wedding dresses with her, but I saw so much of Jack and me from all those years ago in the two of them, and it scared me. Not to mention, Jack would probably have a fit when he found out. “You work with Jack?” I asked.
“Actually, he’s my boss.”
“Not really…” Kara began.
“Yeah, he is, Kara.”
I liked that he was upfront and respected Jack enough to be a little nervous about dating his daughter. “Well, that’s something you guys are going to have to talk to your dad about. But I’m very happy to meet you, Ian.”
The apprehension that was plastered over his face when he first walked in seemed to fade once he realized I was okay with it. Not that I really was, but like I had told my father, you can’t help who you fall for. If Kara eventually did end up taking th
ings further with him, then I’d support their relationship. Jack was a different story, but the two of them would have to face that on their own.
Over dessert I learned a little more about Ian and his family. I also noticed the spark in Kara’s eyes when she looked at him. My mother’s intuition had told me that he was either going to be the first guy to break my daughter’s heart or the first one she’d fall in love with. Whatever the case, I’d be there for her, supporting her all the way. I finished cleaning up the kitchen while Kara and Ian drove my father home, and was just about to head upstairs to bed when Kara returned.
“Ian said to tell you good night. He has to be up early for work tomorrow.”
“Oh. Wow, seems weird that you’re mentioning a guy you’re interested in and work in the same sentence.”
“Very funny, Mom!” Kara rolled her eyes. “So, what did you think of him?” She leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms, waiting eagerly for my reply.
“I think he’s a really nice guy.” A broad smile stretched across her face. “But…”
“Really, Mom?” She pouted.
I held up my finger for her to let me finish. “Just hear me out. I’m not going to tell you who you can or cannot date. You’re an adult, and I trust your judgment. I just want you to know the career he’s chosen may be a little hard if you were to pursue this relationship and take things further in the future.”
“You mean like get married? Geeze, Mom, I’ve known him for less than a month.”
“I know that, Kara, but sometimes people fall hard for one another fast, and I just want you to know what you’re in store for if you do.” I finished drying the pan on the stove and placed it in the cabinet.
“Well, I don’t get it. Dad was always there for me, and you. I mean, I’m pretty sure I know what led to your divorce. How did that have anything to do with his job?” Kara knew very little about the circumstances of the demise of Jack’s and my marriage. She was old enough and smart enough to pick up on the fact that there was another woman involved. She didn’t speak to Jack for a few weeks after she found out, but eventually got over it. What she didn’t know was about the circumstances that had caused us to lose her brother. She was far too young when it all happened. She knew there was a baby, there was an accident, and that baby went to heaven to live.
