Jordan didn't like to keep secrets from her husband, but this one she wanted to. She knew how David would react if he knew she contacted Jacob to find out where Julia was in hiding.
It killed her that she had no idea where her oldest daughter and her family were, or who they were with, if anyone. After a lifetime of being constantly separated and then reunited with Julia, only to be separated again for some reason (moves, marriage, job requirements and the like), Jordan Draiman was sick to death of the stealth that Julia's life took on. She'd always chide herself, reminding her that Julia was an adult with a family of her own. But when you give birth to a child, you expect to raise that child to adulthood, and because of the Occupation and her imprisonment, Jordan had been separated from her child. She didn't even meet Julia until she was seven or eight years old, and had been with another family since she was two weeks old. Julia didn't get to live with Jordan until she was thirteen, and by seventeen, Julia was married.
So without David's knowledge, Jordan contacted the only person who might be able to find out where Julia was.
Julia's father.
"Jacob, I can't stand not knowing anymore," Jordan had told him; "Can you find out whereabouts Julia is? I don't even need to know where exactly. I just want to know that Julia and the children are okay."
"Julia is supposed to be in hiding, Jordan," Jacob had told her; "It's for her safety and the safety of the children. Why are you so paranoid?"
"I'm NOT paranoid, Jacob!" Jordan said. "You know the history of Julia's life as well as I do. I don't want to get that call from Nik saying that something's happened to her or one of the kids and I didn't get to say goodbye. I haven't spoken to any of them since they were spirited out of here in August. I'm her mother, dammit, and I want to know she's okay, that the children are okay."
Jordan could hear Jacob sighing on the other end of the line, just like he did when they were together a lifetime ago. Before Julia was born. When they were protesting the forced takeover of the country together. God, Jordan thought, was it really thirty-five years ago that we did all that?
"I'll see what I can find out for you, Jordan," Jacob finally said; "I'm kind of curious myself. Does David know you're asking me this?"
"No, and you're not going to tell him, either," said Jordan. "This is something I want for my own piece of mind. I've already got a sick daughter to worry about; I don't want to have to worry about Julia as well. I know she can take care of herself."
Jacob recognized that Jordan seemed to be more nervous as she grew older. Especially about Julia. He understood where she was coming from because he didn't get to raise his oldest child, either. He watched as the San Marcos raised her and the three boys she considered her brothers, not being able to tell her he was her father. Back in the days when he was known as Morbus the Sickness.
"Give me some time, Jordan," Jacob said; "I'll have to use some clout to get what I'm after, but I'll have something for you. I just don't know when."
"Whatever you can find out for me is greatly appreciated, Jacob," said Jordan. "I have to go. One of the boys is looking for me. I hope to hear from you soon."
"I'll do my best, Jordan," Jacob said before Jordan ended the call.
Jacob found the information Jordan was looking for, but he held on to it. Jordan didn't need to know that Julia had been shot protecting her youngest child; that she was living with a man who offered to help her when her life was threatened; that the man had a terminal illness. All he planned to tell Jordan is that Julia and her children were fine, and they were safe.
"Can I leave now, Mr. DeWitt?" asked Krysta. All she wanted was to get out of the man's office.
"I'll let you know when you can leave, Krysta," DeWitt said; "We still have more to discuss."
She didn't like the sound of that, but since she really had no say in the matter, she waited for what was sure to come- that he knew she spoke to Jeremiah Donovan.
But, he surprised her. It wasn't about her meeting with Donovan. It was worse than that.
"Tell me about your affair with Eric Hope, Krysta," said DeWitt. "Is that why you're so interested in reuniting him with Kathryn, because you're sleeping with a man old enough to be your father?"
"Oh, like you're not doing the same with Kathryn?" Krysta shot back. "Pot, meet Kettle."
"Alexandra, I expected more from you than that," DeWitt said.
"Please don't call me that," Krysta said; "I haven't been Alexandra in over ten years."
"Does Hope know your real name?"
"Yes, he does," Krysta said; "But he calls me Krysta because I've asked him to."
"How nice," DeWitt said; "All I want is for Kathryn to get well. I'll let her decide whether she wants to return to me and our girls. She should see her father, even if it's only to find out what kind of man he is."
"She misses him," said Krysta; "Chastity was the dominant alter when Kathryn's mother died, so she didn't get to say goodbye. Don't deny her the chance to get to know her father again."
"I don't intend to, Krysta. I could never keep her from her family. She also has an older daughter and a brother, too. She should reconnect with them, so she can realize she has three little girls who miss her," DeWitt said. "I'll even stay out of the way while this is going on. But, you and I need to come to an understanding, Krysta."
"About what?" Krysta asked. He was going to blackmail her. She was certain of it.
"You stay with the Movement and not defect like I've heard you've been planning to," DeWitt said; "Or else I'll make your relationship with Eric Hope public."
"We're both adults, Mr. DeWitt," Krysta said; "I'm not afraid of you exposing a relationship between two consenting adults."
"You leave the Movement, Krysta, and I'll make Eric Hope's life a living hell. I can and do have the power to have him disbarred," DeWitt said.
"You're bluffing."
"You think so?" asked DeWitt; "I have a cousin who is a prominent judge in this county. One word to him and Eric Hope's legal career is over."
"What in the fucking hell did Eric ever do to you?" asked Krysta, now completely pissed off.
"He plays for the wrong side, my dear," DeWitt said.
"Oh, so because he doesn't believe in the cause, he's on the 'wrong' side?"
"Exactly, Krysta, given who his mother was," DeWitt said. "Do we have a deal?"
"No, we do not," Krysta said; "That's blackmail."
"Yeah it is, Krysta," said DeWitt; "My game, my rules. And you will follow them. You really have no choice."
Wanna bet, asshole, Krysta thought.
"You're just using Kathryn as a pawn, aren't you? You don't love her. If you did, you wouldn't threaten her father and his livelihood. I'm not saying that because of my relationship with him, I'm saying it because to me, it appears to be true." With that, Krysta turned and walked to the door of DeWitt's office.
"That's not true!" DeWitt said; "I love Kathryn and want the best for her. I could never use her in the way you've said!"
Krysta turned around to see a completely different man. DeWitt was emotional, and looked shocked that anyone would suggest that he was only using Kathryn to get back at her father. "I love her. I miss her. Our girls miss her. I only want her to get well and come home to us. I want Chastity to go away for good, just like you do. I need Kathryn; don't you understand? She saved me with her love, with her understanding; she gave me three beautiful daughters who miss her..."
"And if she came home, a whole person, you'd leave the Movement?" asked Krysta.
"She means more to me than a second Occupation," DeWitt said; "I want a normal life with her and our girls. I'll marry her if that's what she wants. I've wanted to for years, but Chastity kept getting in the way."
"You're a fucking millionaire! How 'normal' a life could you really have?" asked Krysta.
"The kind every father wants for his family," DeWitt said; "The kind where my girls can grow up to be whatever they want to be."
"Then leave Eric alone," said Krysta; "He wants Kathryn to get well, too."
DeWitt looked at Krysta. Please, God, let her understand how much I need Kathryn, he thought.
II
DeWitt went home later, long after Krysta Banks left his office, to see his girls. To do the things fathers did for their children.
He was not the best father the first time around. His sons had little to do with him since leaving home. The older son, Chris, didn't want his father's money. He just wanted to be left alone to be his own man. To that end, he changed his name.
The younger son, Charles, lived in another country with his foreign born wife. Somewhere where no one heard the name Christian DeWitt and thought about how wealthy he was.
Neither son knew that they had three half sisters. DeWitt wanted to do better as a father. Kathryn understood this, even at eighteen years old. He told her he loved her, wanted to protect her, didn't want to see her sell herself anymore. Within a year, their oldest daughter Helene was born. The first time he held his little girl, DeWitt was a changed man.
Nineteen months later, another little girl, Erin. Then nearly six years after Erin, a third little girl, Elizabeth, who was called Lili. DeWitt was a happy man. He had three beautiful girls, their mother, and life was content. Then Chastity started making more and more frequent appearances, terrorizing the girls to the point that DeWitt asked her to leave.
DeWitt hated to be apart from his daughters, so he worked at home. When he took meetings, however, he went to his office downtown.
He came home and the girls were doing their homework. Helene was helping Lili with her math, and Erin was writing a book report.
DeWitt put down his briefcase and hung his suit jacket on the back of a chair and sat at the table.
"How was school today, ladies?" he asked his daughters. Each of the girls had their chance to tell their father about their day and answer any questions he might have had about what went on at school.
After all the girls had their say, Helene said,
"Dad, I have ballet rehearsal at four. Christy's mother is coming to pick me up. Is that okay?"
"That's fine, Helene," her father said; "You'll be back at six as usual?"
"Yes, sir."
"Dinner should be ready by then," DeWitt said; "I'm cooking tonight. Any objections?"
"Are you making tacos?" asked Erin; "I like your tacos, Dad."
"No, not tonight," DeWitt said; "I thought we might have pot pies. I've already made the crust and put them in pans. All I have to do is put in the veggies and meat."
"Daddy," Lili said; "You have to cook them, too."
DeWitt laughed; "Yes, Lili, I'll cook them too."
A car horn sounded outside and DeWitt said, "Helene, there's your ride. Have a good time at ballet, princess."
"I will, Dad, thanks!" the twelve year old said as she grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
"You two," he said to his two other daughters, "need to finish up the homework and do chores. Erin, you're in charge of cleaning the bathroom and the laundry room; Lili, there are towels waiting to be folded. That's your job today."
"Yes, sir," the girls said together.
"I'll be in my office if you need me, okay?"
"Okay, Dad," Erin said.
DeWitt went to his home office at the far end of the hallway. Once inside, he closed the door and thought about his meeting with Krysta Banks.
In some ways, the woman pissed him off with her defiance; but at the same time, she was right about a lot of things. Especially about Kathryn.
"Kathryn, baby I miss you so," he said aloud to the family portrait that sat on one corner of his desk. It had been taken when Lili was three, the last time that Kathryn was present. Soon after, Chastity came back full force.
"I want us to be a family again, but that can't happen until Chastity goes away for good. You need to come back before Lili forgets you. She just wants a mommy like every other little girl has."
He got up and looked out the window. All his wealth, all his power... it meant nothing if Kathryn wasn't there. My beautiful, sweet, troubled Kathryn Marie, he thought, I want you to be mine forever. I hope you haven't forgotten how much I love you and how much the girls miss you. All I want in this life is you. I hope after all this is done, that you still want me, too.
Christmas was a week away, and Jeremiah decided that he wouldn't not do anymore work on the American Republic Movement story until after the new year.
What he was finding out was that Krysta Banks was telling the truth. Christian DeWitt did have three young daughters with a woman named "Kathryn" (and not "Katherine" as he had put in his notes during his interview with Krysta Banks). Kathryn had been suffering from mental problems for most of their relationship, but DeWitt seemingly had the patience to deal with them. Jeremiah thought it was because DeWitt was a father that he wanted Kathryn to get well. But about three years before, DeWitt asked Kathryn to leave their home.
It was the reason that shocked Jeremiah.
Kathryn's mental illness was Disassociative Personality Disorder, as Krysta had told him. Jeremiah knew that meant Kathryn has more than one personality, and the reason Christian DeWitt asked Kathryn to leave was that one of those other personalities literally took over Kathryn's body.
That personality had a name that Jeremiah was very familiar with.
Chastity Edwards.
So, then, Jeremiah thought, who is Kathryn? She's the person who suffers from this malady, but who is she? And where was she?
Krysta had given Jeremiah a clue, and though he had that information in his notes, he missed it on several occasions.
He put the name "Kathryn DeWitt" into a search engine, but got nothing. It was when he entered Chastity Edwards' name that he struck gold.
A name change application dated August of 2021 showed that a woman named Kathryn Marie Hope wanted to change her name to Chastity Edwards.
Jeremiah put "Kathryn Marie Hope" into the search engine and got something he wasn't expecting.
Kathryn Marie Hope was the granddaughter of the former Occupational President for Life Sarah Kathryn Hope. The daughter of Sarah Kathryn's only child; her son Eric Hope and his wife, the former Helene Thatcher.
"Holy Mother of God!" Jeremiah gasped under his breath; "DeWitt knows all this!"
So who did DeWitt have his children with; Kathryn or Chastity?
He concluded for the time being that Chastity was the alternate personality, but that Kathryn was present during her relationship with DeWitt. When Chastity became more and more present, to the point of Kathryn not even being there, DeWitt asked Chastity to leave, and yet, allowed her to be in charge of A.R.M.
Jeremiah realized that he could not breathe a word of this to anyone; not even Jasmine.
There were more pressing items in Jeremiah's life at present. One of them was Christmas. Another one he wasn't even aware of yet, but it would involve A.R.M.
And one of his nephews.
A normal man would be touched by the strength of another man's family bond. Clayton Pollard was not by any stretch of the imagination a "normal" man.
He had left home at sixteen to "find himself". He had a high school education, a lot of money, firearms training and raging teenage hormones.
What he found instead was drugs, sex, whores, and an anti-government movement with no clear leader. Clayton wanted to be the leader, but that position was filled by an older man who had more money than God and a desire to overthrow the current form of government that had recently regained power.
Instead, a woman whose sexual appetites rivaled his own was named as the leader of the Movement several years after he joined. Clayton hated her on sight. But he still wanted to fuck her brains out.
He took on the role of chief assassin, and suggested that the three main Resistance assassins be eliminated to make achieving their goal easier.
The leader liked that plan, but she wanted to do it her way. Clayton was impatient and wanted to take care of them now, and not when the bitch in charge decided it was time.
It was this impatience that led Clayton to steal a car and purposely run down a teenage boy on a bicycle. The boy was supposed to die, but didn't. It was a warning to one of "The Triad" to back off from stopping the Movement's plans.
None of The Triad listened, and were soon recruited by the CIA to stop the Movement. Clayton was pissed off enough to start following the sister of the teenage boy he tried to kill, and assign others to harrass other family members, including a single mother of four and a celebrated journalist.
Clayton Pollard didn't care about Nik San Marco's family, nor the families of Julia Summers or Jeremiah Donovan. At least Summers was out of their hair for a while, Pollard thought. But I'll get her when she returns to her home from where she's hiding.
Pollard didn't know that he'd never get that chance. It was his impatience that screwed him every time (though he never realized this), and it would be his impatience that would end his life at the business end of a powerful sniper rifle.
He sat and stalked the San Marco family, unaware that his life would end before the year was out.
III
John Draiman went to pick up his sister and her boyfriend at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. His family was looking forward to meeting James Duncan, Kimber's boyfriend. John himself would size him up. Even though he was the youngest of David and Jordan Draiman's children, he could see through phony people within moments of meeting them. It was a trait he inherited from his father. Sam was the practical one; John was the suspicious one.
He waited at the appropriate gate for Kimber and James to come though past the inspection area. John constantly looked at his watch, a habit he realized was born of nervousness. The watch was a gift to him from his parents for his and Sam's recent eighteenth birthdays. Sam received an identical watch; identical until one turned it over to read the inscriptions on the back. John's read: "To JMD on the occasion of your 18th birthday 23 November 2034".
Seeing his sister and a man who looked to be in his mid twenties, John waved furiously to get Kimber's attention. Kimber looked up and saw John standing a few hundred yards away.
"Jamey, there's my brother, John," Kimber said, pointing discretely in the general direction of where John stood.
After spotting him, Jamey said, "He came alone? I thought your whole family would be here to meet the 'new guy'."
"Dad tries not come to places like this because he's still easily recognizable," Kimber said; "The rest of the family is at the house waiting. Mom will have snacks prepared; Dad will have a bottle of wine. He doesn't drink much any more, but occasionally, like Christmas and Hanukkah, he'll get out the good stuff."
They had reached where John was standing, and Kimber gave her little brother a hug. "Johnny! How are you?"
"Good, sis," he replied; "Mom's all excited to meet James, as is Dad. Maybe Dad more!" Looking at Jamey, John said, "You must be James." John held out his hand to Jamey, who shook it firmly.
"John Draiman," Kimber said, "James Duncan. Jamey, this is my youngest brother John."
"Pleasure's all mine, John," Jamey said; "Kimber talks of you and your family with fondness. It's nice that you're all so close."
"We're just like every other family," John said; "People seem to forget that."
"Until you see the house," Kimber said, laughing. "Johnny, Jamey's seen pictures, but he has no idea how big it really is!"
"Mom used to get lost in it after we moved in," John said to Jamey; "Dad had it rebuilt after the Occupation with the original floorplan. He thought he'd have to draw up a map just so Mom could get around!"
"I don't even remember that!" Kimber said; "We were only little kids when we moved in there."
"Dad loves to tell stories," John said; "You'll find that out when you meet him."
"We should go get our stuff," Kimber said to Jamey; "It's still about a thirty minute drive after we get out of here."
As the three went off to the baggage claim area, John thought, Kimber's going to freak out when Niki tells she really does need a bone marrow transplant. We'll see how Jamey Duncan reacts to that!
Reagan National was a busy place during the holiday season, and this was no exception. Everyone who lived in Natasha Vincent's house were all leaving on the same day to different locations: Danica to Maine to spend time with her family; Sandrina and Alex were headed to Chicago; and Natasha, the twins, and Darren Dixon were headed to Denver to spend their holiday in Vail, skiing.
Danica's flight to Manchester, New Hampshire, left first. She gave everyone a hug as she headed off to the inspection area to be screened. "Call me when you get there, Danica!" called Sandrina.
"I will, Sandy! Promise!" Danica called back. Then she was gone.
Natasha and her group were leaving next. Then, Sandrina and Alex would be there alone for three hours while they waited for their flight to Chicago. Last minute booking prevented them from being on the same flight as Natasha, who would change planes in Chicago with Darren and her kids.
After everyone was on their planes, Sandrina and Alex sat in one of the many uncomfortable chairs in the common area of the airport. She laid her head on Alex's shoulder and sighed.
"What the matter, Sandy?" asked Alex.
"Tired, I guess," she said; "That and the long wait for our flight. Danica will probably get home before we even leave here!"
"We'll be on our way soon, darlin', I promise," Alex said, over exaggerating his Southern drawl. His normal speaking voice had enough of an accent to tell others where he was generally from. He grew up in Manteo, North Carolina, not far from the Virginia border. His mother was from Virgina, his father from Georgia. When his grandmother passed away several years before, his parents inherited the Manteo house she lived in.
Sandrina giggled at his imitation. "You sound silly, Alex," she said; "I like your voice better."
He kissed her hair and said, "I'm glad, Sandy. I worked hard to sound as neutral as possible."
They enjoyed the silence between them, then Sandrina's phone rang.
"Damn, she get there already?" said Sandrina as she fished the phone out of her coat pocket. Looking at the display, it wasn't Danica who was calling. It was her mother.
"Hello, Mom," Sandrina said.
"Are you at the airport?" KateLynn asked.
"Yes, we've been here a while. Everyone left long before our flight. Why?" asked Sandrina.
"Danny lost the info with your flight number on it," said KateLynn. "So I'm calling to get flight number so Dad and Matt can come pick you two up."
"When did Matt get there?" asked Sandrina, surprised; "Did Lisa come with him?"
"They've been here about three days, Sandy," her mother said; "We're just waiting for you and..."
"Alex, Mom," said Sandrina, laughing. "His name is Alex."
"Alex," KateLynn said; "We're waiting for the two of you to arrive."
"Plane leaves at four our time, and arrives at four-thirty your time," said Sandrina. "It's two-thirty now."
"Okay," KateLynn said; "I've gotten it written down, and I'm handing it to your dad as we speak. We'll see you at five-ish, then?"
"Something like that," said Sandrina. "O'Hare no doubt will be packed."
"I'll see about having snacks, then," KateLynn told her daughter; "Maybe I'll send Dad out to the store before he heads to the airport."
Sandrina told her mother that would be fine, and that she and Alex would see her soon. She then ended the call.
"Mama worried about her girl, Sandy?" asked Alex.
"My mother has worried about me since the day I was born," Sandrina said; "I was a month early, and so Mom thinks that her job is to worry endlessly about me."
"A premature baby will do that to a mother," Alex said. "My little sister was two months early, and my mother freaks whenever Sarah gets a cold."
"This is the sister who is 15?" asked Sandrina.
"No, the 15 year old is Amber; Sarah is a year younger than you are."
"Ahh," Sandrina said; "Then there's your brother who's older, right? Damien?"
"Yes, Damien is 23."
Sandrina said nothing. She really liked Alex, and loved learning about his family. She couldn't wait to meet them in person.
But now, they had a flight to take to meet her family. She didn't know that Alex would get more of an education from this trip to Chicago than either of them had planned.
Julia loved the tree that Jack and the kids had gone to cut down on a neighboring ranch. They all decorated it while Julia "supervised". Even Tripod got into the act. He had learned that there were certain decorations that he could help with, and handed them to whomever was closest.
It was times like this that Julia wished that she had brought her family's cat, Lady Marmalade, with them. Had they left from Chicago instead of Austin, the cat would have come with them.
Bet she's having a great time living with Kimber, Julia thought; Not!
When the family returned to Chicago, they would be greeted by one extremely pissed off feline. Jaime will have Marm back to her old self in no time, Julia thought; I hope.
She wondered what her parents were doing down in Austin for the holidays; how Niki was doing with her treatments; what Niki's boyfriend was like. Julia wondered about Nik and Jeremiah and their families, too. I feel so out of the loop here, she thought; but I guess it has to be this way for now.
Still she was glad to be with Jack and her children.
Julia didn't realize she had drifted off to sleep until Tripod jumped in her lap-- or in as much of Julia's lap the yellow lab could get onto. He barked at her as if to say, wake up, Jules! You're supposed to be supervising this tree decorating thing!
"Huh?" she said.
"Tripod," Jack said; "why did you wake Julia up, boy?"
"It's okay, Jack," Julia said; "I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep."
"I was going to carry you to the bedroom so you could rest," Jack said, turning his head and coughing into his sleeve.
"I think you need to take it easy, Jack," Julia said. She hated that he felt that he had to be strong for her. The kids knew he was sick, so why was he still acting like he was hiding something?
"Maybe I do, Julia," he said; "But after the tree is done."
"We can finish it up if you need to rest, Jack," Miri said. "I can put Rachel on my shoulders so she can put the angel on top."
Julia looked at her oldest and youngest daughters. Miri was so tall and thin; she reminded Julia of Jacob's sister Miranda. But she also took a lot from Jack's side as well. The way she carried herself, her smile, her dark brown hair were all Jack's contributions to her makeup.
Compared to Rachel, who was small for her age. She was built like Julia, but favored Ryan's side strongly. Sometimes she looked like Ryan, and at times Julia could see both the Terranovas and the Rossmans in her.
Zach and Jaime, however, favored Ryan strongly. Julia could see a lot of Ryan's father in Zach, right down to his build; the long legs and broad shoulders. Zach would be taller than Ryan was at six-foot-three.
Jaime looked like Ryan's mother Regina (aka Gramma Rusty), even to the vibrant red hair that she shared with her brother and sister. Julia suspected that Jaime's love of animals came from Rusty as well. Especially horses.
"Okay, Miri," Jack said now, breaking Julia's thoughts; "Your mom and I will go rest like a couple of old horses."
"Hey!" Julia said playfully; "Who you calling an old horse there, Mister?"
Jack laughed, then coughed. He then said; "Okay, maybe it's just me. Once you're able to get back to training and being active, you'll feel better."
"I hope so," Julia said as she followed Jack back to the bedroom.
She was asleep again in seconds, or so it seemed to Jack.
He looked at her sleep, as he had many times before. But this time, he realized that this time next year, he wouldn't be there.
"Please forgive me, Julia," he whispered to her as she slept. "Please forgive me for having to die. If I were younger, healthier... maybe we could have a great life together out of hiding. But I'll take what I can get. You're the only reason I'm still alive..."
He then lay down next to her and stared at the ceiling to keep the tears at bay.
IV
Eric's office phone rang and he went to take the call. He knew it wasn't Krysta, because she never called him at work. He asked her not to unless she need legal representation right away.
"Eric Hope," he said into the receiver.
"Mr. Hope this is Cameron Chang."
"Good morning, Ms. Chang," Eric said; "What can I do for you today?"
"Kathryn wants to see you, and I think it's a good time to do so," Cameron said. "I'm going to be releasing her from the clinic for the holidays."
"That's great!" Eric said; "But she goes back after the new year?"
"That's the plan right now," Cameron said. "Would you be adverse to having her visit?"
"Not at all, Ms. Chang," said Eric. "Kelly will be here this afternoon. I'll let her know what the plan is."
"Kathryn is kind of nervous to meet Kelly," said Cameron.
"I've explained to Kelly what I've learned about Kathryn's condition, and she's willing to give her mother a chance," Eric said.
"That's good," said Cameron; "At least there will be no hostility on Kelly's part."
"Kelly has had several weeks to get used to the idea of meeting her mother," Eric said; "I'd be lying if I said she wasn't nervous as well."
Cameron gave Eric information about Kathryn's treatment, and what Kathryn's hesitancies were. "Kathryn will be thrilled to learn you're coming to see her," Cameron said.
"When would you like me to visit?" asked Eric; "Kelly's plane is due at 5pm, so if I'm going to see her today, then it probably should be in the next couple of hours."
"I think I can arrange that, Mr. Hope," Cameron said; "Come by the clinic around 11:30. A receptionist will bring you to my office."
"I'll be there," Eric said.
After a little more conversation, Eric ended the call.
If the truth were to be told, Eric Hope was nervous as well. He hadn't seen his daughter since she was sixteen, and then she was not herself. She was, as she later named herself, Chastity.
"Kathryn," Cameron said as she walked into Kathryn's room; "I just spoke with your father, and he will be here to see you today. Kelly is coming home for the holidays and you may see her later."
"Cameron, is it okay to be a little nervous?" asked Kathryn.
"Yes, Kathryn, it's normal to feel that way," Cameron said; "Chastity took over a large portion of your life during the time you gave birth to Kelly."
"What about Christian? When can I see him?"
"I don't know, Kathryn," Cameron said; "I haven't been able to reach him at his office."
"I miss him, Cameron," said Kathryn sadly. "I hope he still wants to have a life with me. It's all kind of fuzzy."
"He's old enough to be your father," Cameron said; "Is that what you were looking for when you met him? A father figure?"
"I was looking for someone who wouldn't hurt me anymore," Kathryn said. "He took care of me. We fell in love. We had children together. He's a good father, Cameron."
"I'll know more when I get a chance to speak with him," Cameron said; "I'll try again while your father is here visiting."
Kathryn nodded. She wanted to see her little girls again and explain what happened. They probably aren't little girls anymore, she thought; at least Helene and Erin aren't. They're eleven and twelve now. Lili is... is six?
She thought about Christian and what he meant to her. He loved her. She loved him. She realized that she had been Chastity far too long. What if he doesn't want me anymore? she fretted. I haven't been a very good mother or partner. I don't know what I'd do if Christian sent me away for good.
Kathryn had nothing to worry about. She wasn't aware that Christian was still taking care of her, and wanted nothing more than for her to come home.
For now, Kathryn prepared for the visit from her father.
Frankly she was scared to death. Not of her father, but of the possibility that Chastity wasn't really gone.
Sandrina and Alex finally boarded their flight and arrived in Chicago with no additional delays. Waiting at the entrance to the concourse was her father and older brother.
"You're finally here!" Matt said as he hugged her. Nik was shaking hands with Alex.
"Why everyone had to leave today I have no idea," Sandrina said; "But I'm finally home. Come, Matty, meet Alex."
Sandrina introduced Matt to Alex, then hugged her father.
"What do you think of Alex, Dad?" she asked him.
"So far, he's a nice young man, Sandy," Nik said. "Have you met his family yet?"
"Mom asked me that on the phone, and no, I haven't yet," said Sandrina. "We hope to take a trip to North Carolina during spring break."
"It's good to have him here," said Nik. "Now let's get your shit and get home. Mom has goodies."
Sandrina playfully patted Nik stomach, saying, "Watch the 'goodies', pater dear, or you won't have those washboard abs every man your age wishes he had!"
"Oh, your mother is very well aware of that," Nik said; "It's more veggies and fruit these days than baklava."
Sandrina laughed, and Nik looked at her. He still remembered the baby girl who arrived a month early and needed a tube up her nose to help her lungs develope. What a beautiful young woman she's become, he thought. Maybe I'll be walking her down the aisle with this Alex fellow sooner than I think.
Meanwhile, the ultimate showdown was brewing. Nik would learn just how tough he and his family really were. Especially his oldest son.
"David?"
"Yes, Jord?"
"I have to tell you something," Jordan said as she and David lay in bed the night the Kimber and Jamey arrived.
"What is it, baby?" asked David.
"I'm trying to find out where Julia and the kids are," Jordan began; "I asked Jacob to help me."
David turned over and looked at Jordan in the darkness of their bedroom, thinking, whatever possessed her to do that?
"Why Jordan?" he asked; "Julia's in hiding to protect herself and her kids. Why do you need to know that?"
"Because of all my children, David, she's the one I worry about the most," Jordan said.
"Jord, Julia's 34 years old," David said; "She's handled tough times, cranky babies, and an unpredictible life. Wherever she is, she's no doubt safe. She's not a pushover for anyone trying to harm her or her children. Why do you worry so much about her? Our daughter has cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant from her sister and brother. If there was anything we needed to know about Julia, we'll be informed."
"I know David," said Jordan with a sigh; "I know she's okay, but I still worry about her. She's the one I didn't get to raise until she was twelve."
David knew that fact had always bothered Jordan; that she didn't get to raise her own child. She felt like less of a mother because of it, even though she and David had four children of their own she did get to raise.
He took Jordan into his arms. "Baby, I know you still have those nagging thoughts, and I don't mean to come across as uncaring or unfeeling, but you have to let Julia do her thing. When it's safe for her to go home, she'll come home. I know you want to have this normal life, but Jord, you and I have never been quote-unquote normal. Not in the sense of being just another older couple with children and grandchildren. You saw Jamey's reaction when he walked into the house. We're definitely not normal folks."
"I should call Jacob and tell him to forget it," Jordan said.
"Don't do that, Jord," said David. "I'm kind of curious now about what he finds out. If anyone on this planet can find Julia, it'd be Jacob. I'm sure if it was Niki or Kimber, I'd move heaven and earth to find out."
"You're such a dad!" Jordan joked.
"Damn right," David said; "And Jacob is, too. Maybe more so than I am. No one denies Morbus anything. Not if they want to live to tell the tale, that is."
Pollard watched the San Marco house as Nik and Matt brought Sandrina and her friend home.
It's too bad that kid is going to get caught in the crossfire, thought Pollard. But I can't concern myself with that. Nik San Marco and his family are my enemies, and they must be eliminated. And if there's anyone else there who doesn't need to be, too bad.
The San Marco family had four days left to live as far as Pollard was concerned. Then they'd feel his anger and his hate.
Until he was staring into the barrel of a high powered sniper rifle, daring the man on the other end to pull the trigger.
No comments:
Post a Comment