by Beth Rinyu
I didn’t want to hurt Francesca’s feelings, but hearing her referred to as my mother seemed like a dishonor to my mother’s memory. This was all so new to me, and I was trying desperately to tread lightly so no one would get their feelings hurt. “Yes, I was raised in New Jersey by two loving, caring, and doting parents. I could honestly say, I had the best childhood.”
“That must make you feel good to hear that she had such a happy life.” The reporter turned her attention back to Francesca.
“It really does. I will be forever grateful to her mother and father for stepping in when I couldn’t.” I was relieved to hear Francesca refer to them as my mother and father. In doing so, she reassured me that she respected how I was feeling on the matter.
“So, Stephanie. You never got to meet Thomas Cavlan, the man who was your biological father.”
“No. I witnessed him take his life in the ocean, but at that point I had no idea who he was.”
“Oh my goodness, how awful for you to have had to watch that happen. You must’ve felt helpless.” The reporter shook her head.
“I did. It was really sad to think that someone was so distraught with their life that they’d take such drastic measures.”
“If he were still alive, would you be as open to meeting him as you were with Francesca?”
“I would have. It was just a tragic situation all around. What he did was forgivable, and I think he gained the forgiveness he sought from Francesca before he took his life.” I looked at Francesca, hoping I didn’t overstep my boundaries by assuming how she was feeling. The confident nod of her head assured me I hadn’t. “What his brother did…that was and always will be unforgivable. I just can’t thank this woman sitting beside me enough for enduring everything she went through, then having the strength and courage to give her child away to have the life she knew she couldn’t provide.” Francesca squeezed my hand and I knew if I looked her way, the wall that was holding back my tears would come down.
“So tell me why you’ve been the catalyst for helping Francesca finally speak out about what had happened to her so many years ago?” the reporter asked.
I hated being put on the spot, and I was certain I was going to sound like a bumbling idiot with my reply. Just say whatever is in your heart. No one can ever fault you for that. My mother’s voice played in my head so clearly as if she were sitting right beside me. That was advice she’d always give me whenever I’d get in a fight with one of my friends and would want to make amends. Then later down the road when Jack and I would get in a spat after we first got married.
“Well, I don’t think I’d say I was the catalyst for her doing this. I’d like to think of myself as being more of a support system. When this happened to her, she was just a child. A child who should’ve been able to go to her parents for help, instead of being banished someplace far away to give birth all alone, and then give that child away. I’m not saying that if she hadn’t been raped that same outcome wouldn’t have happened, but maybe if she hadn’t, she could’ve at least known she had the man she loved on her side, and maybe she wouldn’t have felt so alone. What Dominick Cavlan did to her should’ve never happened to any woman, and his lack of respect and regard for females just continued as he moved up the political ladder. His actions have caused not only his victims pain and suffering, but also the family of his victims. He deserves to be held accountable for what he’s done, and most of all he needs to be stopped from ever doing this to anyone else.” I took a deep breath, hoping I made sense.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Stephanie.” The reporter gazed at me thoughtfully. “I want to thank you, ladies, for speaking exclusively with us and sharing something so personal. I wish you both the best of luck with your healing and coming together as a family.”
“Thank you,” Francesca and I both said in unison. It felt as if a fifty-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders when the bright lights switched off and chaos stirred about in the room once again.
“That was really great.” Robin leaned over and shook both our hands. “Thank you again.” She smiled before getting pulled away in another direction by one of her staff.
“You two should take your show on the road.” Ken ambled over with his hands in his pockets, grinning from ear to ear.
“We’ll see about that once the word gets out and the shit starts hitting the fan,” Francesca remarked.
“Yeah, well, you already know he’s going to try and deny it or at least give his twisted version of it, but something tells me that the mention of the letter from his brother may have given you the upper hand.” Ken raised an eyebrow before continuing. “I’m sure the last thing he wants is for that to become public—for the world to see his brother’s dying wish.”
Part of me wondered if Francesca would take that next step and reveal something so personal to prove her point if need be, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to find out. She wasn’t doing this for fame or fortune, she was doing this to finally get the justice she’d been denied for so long. My only wish at that moment was that she would achieve it even if it was in a smaller dose than she truly deserved.
Chapter 35
SINCE MY FLIGHT was leaving super early the next morning, Ken and I opted to go out for a late afternoon drink instead of an evening one. It was refreshing to be able to talk to someone of the opposite sex like a true friend. I was at total ease in his company as we each sipped on a glass of merlot. There was no doubt he was attractive, but that attraction level didn’t go beyond friendship. Judging by his comfort level with me, I surmised he was feeling the same way. It was as if we were just two people in need of a sounding board that we found in each other.
He was fifty-one years old and only six months post-divorce. It was evident he still had strong feelings for his ex-wife. I could relate so well to that. The only difference being, my pitiful self was eight years after the fact and still stuck in a tug-of-war with my feelings for Jack. He had shared with me that he didn’t want the divorce. His wife sprang it on him out of nowhere after the last of his three boys headed off to college.
I wondered if his decision to take the job in New York was just to run away from it all and try and forget what he was feeling. Whatever the case, I admired him for making a fresh start so quickly. Maybe if I had done the same eight years ago, I wouldn’t still be living in the same home Jack and I shared as a married couple, and I wouldn’t be thinking about him at that very moment. My phone dinged from my purse with a text message. When I pulled it out, it was as if Jack was in sync with my thoughts.
Jack: Just wanted to say you did really great. Proud of you.
I stared at his text for some time before it finally occurred to me it was a little after 3:30 here, which meant it was after 6:30 on the East Coast. The nightly news had aired—the word was out, and our interview or at least a clip of it was shown to millions of people.
“Is everything okay?” Ken asked.
“The interview…it’s after six on the East Coast,” I stammered.
“Oh, shit! That’s right!” Ken reached in his pocket and grabbed his phone. “It’s all over the Internet,” he said as he scrolled away. Taking another sip of my wine to try and settle my nerves, I took a deep breath, just as my phone dinged once again.
Kara: So proud of you, Mom! Love you so, so much!!
Her text message momentarily took away any apprehension I was having over the whole situation. I immediately texted her back.
Me: Love you too! Be home tomorrow afternoon. I’ll text you when I get home.
“So what now?” I asked, turning my attention back to Ken, who was still paying close attention to his phone.
“I think I better get you back to Francesca’s. I’m sure now that it’s out, her place is going to be swarming with reporters.”
“Oh, jeez!” I threw my head back and huffed.
“Hey, you’re famous.” Ken smirked.
“Do you think he’ll respond at all to the allegations?” I asked.
“Well, that depends.”
“On?”
“How he’s advised. I’m sure his legal team is going to tell him to deny it and try and make it look like another false accusation, like the last one, but given the fact that she has such damning evidence. The letter from his brother, and the letter he saved and gave back to her when she first told him about it. It could be pretty damaging for him if he doesn’t play his cards right. Do I think he’ll come out and confess—never. But I think this is going to really shake things up for him. The Cavlans are a very powerful political family, so it’s really hard to tell which way it will go.” He pulled out his wallet and placed some cash down on the bar before continuing.
“Please allow me to at least pay for my drink.”
“Not a chance. Maybe we could meet up someday when I’m on your side of the country and you could get me back.”
“You got a deal.” I smiled, wondering how his wife could’ve just walked away from such a great guy. Then I reminded myself I was only hearing one side of the story and had no idea what went on in their marriage. I was certain women who didn’t know the whole story between Jack and me had more than likely thought the same thing about me while being charmed by Jack over the past few years.
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Francesca’s cul-de-sac was lined with news vans, like hawks getting ready to swoop down on their prey. “Okay, when we get out of the car, just keep walking. Don’t answer any of their questions. I’ll do the talking,” Ken advised when we pulled into Francesca’s driveway.
“Fine by me.”
Francesca’s front door was about twenty feet away, but it felt more like twenty miles. When I stepped out of the car, I was rushed by at least a dozen reporters as they ascended from their vans. My name was being called over and over again from every direction. Ken rushed to my side, gently placing his hand on the small of my back and guiding me up the porch. Once I was ushered safely into the house, I ran to the bay window in the living room and watched as he stood on the porch, fielding some of their questions.
“Oh my God, this is crazy!” Francesca said, standing beside me.
“Just a little, but hopefully it will die down soon.”
Ken knocked on the door and Francesca stood behind it, opening it just enough to let him in. The relentless calls of the reporters could still be heard just before she slammed the door shut once Ken was safely inside. “Okay. I’m not going to lie, this will probably keep up until he makes a statement,” Ken advised. “They’re not supposed to be on your property, and I just advised them of that. If they do come on your property, you can have them arrested for trespassing,” he continued.
“Somehow I don’t think they care about trespassing laws,” Francesca replied.
“It’s not going to be forever.” Ken tried to reassure her. “When you go out, enter your car in the garage, and when you come home, do exit he same way. Trust me, once the next big story breaks, you’ll be a thing of the past.”
I felt awful for her. I was leaving in the morning and getting away from it all, but she was going to have to deal with this for quite a while.
“You can always fly home with me and hide out until it dies down,” I suggested.
“Oh, how I wish I could, but I have a few clients who have hair appointments this week. Believe me, those women could be more aggressive than those reporters at the prospect of me canceling on them.” I was happy to see that she was able to make light of the situation with a little joke.
“Again, if they come into your place of business, call the police,” Ken chimed in.
“Will do.” Francesca sighed as her phone began to ring. She ran off to answer it, leaving me alone with Ken.
“Thanks so much for everything. I really enjoyed getting to know you,” I said.
“Same here. I wish I were in a different place with my feelings over my marriage.”
“Please. Let’s not go there. It’s been eight years for me, and I’m still not over it,” I admitted. “I know, pretty pathetic.”
“No.” He shook his head. “It just proves that when you love someone, you love them with everything you have, and no amount of time could take that love away. I don’t find that pathetic at all. In fact, I find it quite admirable.”
“Well, thanks. That means a lot, considering that I sometimes feel like I have the word sucker written on my forehead when it comes to him.”
“I feel your pain.” He shook his head and flashed me a sympathetic smile.
“Good luck with your move and the new job. If you want to hit me up to show you around the city, Francesca and Jennifer have my number.” I knew I’d probably never hear from him again, and I was perfectly okay with that.
“I think you got that wrong,” he remarked.
“Got what wrong?” I asked.
“I think it’s your ex who should have sucker written on his forehead for letting someone as great as you slip away.”
My cheeks heated over his compliment. “That’s funny because I was thinking the same thing about you and your ex.” I managed a smile.
“Goodbye, Stephanie.” He leaned over, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek, then walked out the door, restoring my faith that maybe there were a few good men left out there.
Chapter 36
RELIEF WASHED OVER me as I stepped off the plane. As if a 5:15 a.m. flight wasn’t bad enough, the kid sitting behind me kicking my seat for nearly the entire five hours of it took it to a whole new level. It amazed me how his mother just sat there the entire time, allowing him to do it. That was until the older woman sitting beside me finally turned around and said something once he began to shift his strikes upon her seat.
As I ambled through the airport, I dug around my purse for my phone. I needed to text Francesca. Her last words when she had dropped me off at the airport were to text her the moment I landed to let her know I had arrived safely. It was odd to me because once my mother passed away, I thought I had lost the one person who would worry incessantly about my well-being. Now that Francesca came along, it seemed as if I had found that once again in her. When I took my phone off airplane mode, I found two texts from Kara asking me to call her ASAP and one from Francesca asking me to call Kara the moment I had landed. I sat down on the bench, with my heart beating at a rapid speed as I pulled up Kara’s name in my favorites. I had given Kara Francesca’s number in case of emergency, and knowing she had contacted her when she couldn’t get a hold of me had my guard up.
“Mom,” Kara answered immediately, and I could tell right away she’d been crying.
“Kara, what’s going on?” I asked. Terrified to hear her reply.
“Dad…” She let out a loud sob, and my heart sank.
“Kara!” I called. “What happened?” I was frantic, needing her to pull it together to finish getting the words out.
“Ms. McGuire?” Ian’s voice came through the other end of the phone as Kara’s crying continued in the background.
“Ian, what’s going on?”
“There was a shooting earlier.” I felt all the blood drain from my face. “At a bust that went down. Agent McGuire was shot.” Ian’s voice was grim and defeated.
“Is-is he okay?” I closed my eyes and clutched tightly to my phone, praying he’d say he was.
“He’s in surgery right now.” I nodded, needing to pull it together for Kara even though my heart was breaking as well. Ian gave me all the details of which hospital they were at and where to meet them. I was so thankful he was there with Kara when I couldn’t be. I sprinted through the airport and into the parking area. My hands were trembling when I got into my car and gripped the steering wheel. I took a deep, cleansing breath, trying to ease my nerves just enough so I could drive. “Please let him be okay. Please,” I whispered, allowing the tears to finally expel from my eyes like a river.
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Kara was sitting with her eyes closed and her head resting on Ian’s shoulder when I entered the waiting area of the hos
pital. “She just fell asleep,” Ian whispered.
“Any more news?” I whispered back, taking a seat beside him.
“No.” Ian’s face was pale and worn.
“What happened?”
“We had been working on this case for a while now. It ties in with one that Agent McGuire worked on years ago.” I cinched my eyebrows in confusion. “I can get in a lot of trouble if anyone finds out I’m telling you this.” Ian dropped his voice even lower.
“I promise, I won’t say a word.”
He nodded and continued. “There was this case involving the Antonaci family from years ago. The father passed away in prison, this past November.”
My heart dropped at the mention of that last name. It was the case Jack headed up that led to the arrest of the father, thus in turn causing his son to take his revenge on our unborn child, Kara, and me. All of the evidence was there to arrest the son for what he’d done, but he ended up hiring some hotshot lawyer who’d gotten him off on a technicality.
Jack never got over it. I also believed the son never got over his hatred for Jack for locking his father up. Then it dawned on me, what Ian had just said, the father had passed away in November. The same time of the drowning and when the pictures of Kara and me were found. It was all making sense now as to why Jack was so uptight after that. I was certain he had thought it may have been connected to this case. One that had haunted him for most of his career.
“Guy continued the family business of racketeering on multiple levels. He was using his construction business as a front. He more recently expanded his business to human trafficking,” Ian explained.
“Oh God.” I shuddered in disgust.
“He was being watched by the agency, but everything he was doing was so under the radar, it was hard to move in. We thought we had him on Christmas Day, and it turned out to be a no go.”
I suddenly remembered how Jack had gotten called into work on Christmas and the apprehension that seemed to follow him as he left. “So, it didn’t pan out on Christmas?”
