West Nine #2
Sarah took the cue and stepped inside, cheering, “What fun! Which seat do I want? Hmm.”
The little girl dared to lean forward and peek inside.
Sarah offered a hand. “We can share a seat. Would you like that?”
A teeny hand reached for Sarah’s…
My trance had ended again, yet I still greatly appreciated what happened next.
With the girls safely sitting in the back, at the open van door, one of the burly dudes told Seb, “We’re relocating the pedophile, but we understand how you feel about him.
We respect your due. Still want in with what comes next? ”
One foot in the van, one still on the ground, Seb observed where his revenge lay, served on a platter for the taking. Then he looked to the little girl. His eyes shifting back to the bearded man, he smirked. “Amazing how fast focus can change.”
As if this dude had just witnessed his own son turn into a man, he quietly said, “It sure is, wise one.”
Just then, a pride not my own bloomed across my chest. I looked around, wishing I had night-vision. Johnny?
Van doors now shut, I stood in silence. Through his side window, Dale gave the men a stare of gratitude and something else that only fathers could comprehend.
Surrounding nods and dedicated stares were their response.
Then Dale drove away.
Finn, Ethan, and I stayed behind. We claimed we did this to drive the Jeep, but we truly wanted answers.
As if sensing what was coming, four tattooed, scary-looking fuckers faced us.
None of them were smiling.
I had planned on drilling them with an abundance of questions; however, their vibe wasn’t screaming, ‘Give me a go. It will totally have a happy ending.’ Their energy read more like, “Now for a lecture, fucking dumbasses.”
Wanting to stand my ground, even if intimidated, I glared. Where’s Johnny?
That earned me a concerning laugh that explained I was in waaaaay over my head.
The man who tackled me gestured to my hand. “Give me that bag.”
I handed him the weapon duffle. “Sorry about punching you.”
His jaw ticked. “I can take a hit.”
My sore knuckles seconded that fact.
Finn attempted a chin lift that resembled more of a highly insecure wobble.
That earned him glares of scrutiny and silent double-dares.
Fucking with these men felt like a death wish come true. That’s probably why Finn surrendered. “You win, but can we at least know if your friend who got hurt is okay? I feel like this is all my fault.”
Any sympathy offered? Not with this crew.
“Sure the fuck is your fault,” said the stranger who spoke as if knowing us for years. “But we ain’t got time to school you, morons.” He thumbed behind him. “We gotta perverted, soon-to-be-dead man in the vehicle and all.”
“Listen up.” Another man handed Finn fifty bucks. “For now, act normal. Go to McDonald’s, clean them out of cheeseburgers, then get your asses home.”
I wanted to say, “I’m not sure buying cheeseburgers is going to fix all this,” but decided to keep my mouth shut.
Ethan tried, “But we want a jab at the pastor, too.”
“Home!” another, equally terrifying man roared.
The three of us leaped inside the Jeep. Ethan said, “Sorry if it smells in here. I think I just shit myself.”
“How do they know we go to McDonald’s all the time?” Trying to get the hell out of there, Finn stalled the Jeep. “Fuck!” He grimaced at the men, all of whom were rolling their eyes at his blunder.
With the Jeep now squealing its tires, he said, “Johnny being who he is now makes a whole lot more sense. I think they’re his people.”
Ethan was holding the dashboard in front of him. “Something is wrong with Sarah. A gun was pointed at her, but she only cares for the little girl. After what she’s been through with her dad?”
I might have an answer for that.
From the back seat, I said, “Now, don’t think I’m crazy, but…” By the time I was done explaining how correct Ethan was, and all I had experienced and seen that evening, our cheeseburgers were devoured, and we were back on the road and almost home.
Ethan and Finn were floored at what I shared.
Finn peered over his shoulder at me. “So, that guy who got shot was Johnny? Is he okay?”
I nodded. “I think so. Maybe he was wearing a bulletproof vest?”
“Johnny saved Sarah?” Ethan stared out the front windshield.
“It’s either that or I’m certified nuts.” I exhaled heavily. What a night. “I need Harmony’s hot chocolate.”
Finn pulled into our driveway. “Finally,” he griped as he opened his door. “Our one chance to be badasses, and we’re running home to Mom.”
When Harmony opened the front door, we did just that, literally running to her.
Under the glow of outside lighting, she handled us slamming into her as we begged for forgiveness. We had broken promises and house rules.
And tried to kill someone.
She held us. “My boys. You can do no wrong in my eyes. And I already have hot chocolate on the stove.”
I hope our whimpers sounded somewhat dignified as she guided us inside, but I’m pretty sure we sounded and appeared as pathetic as we felt.
In the kitchen were Dale, Sebastian, Sarah, Kristen, and the little girl eating ice cream. Already bathed and wearing one of Sarah’s pajamas that drowned her, she was sitting on the island’s countertop, being smiled at as if she were a zoo’s favorite attraction.
Seb scooped more ice cream on to his spoon. “Didn’t I promise it would be delicious?”
With chocolate on the little one’s lips, she almost smiled at him, but Harmony’s kitchen timer went off. This sweet child jumped out of her skin.
Seb stepped closer to her. “We won’t let anything hurt you.”
Sarah quickly showed her the item. “See? You twist this, and then it dings when time is up.”
Harmony passed out hot cups of cocoa to us new arrivals.
Kristen softly ran fingers through the little girl’s damp white hair, identical to Blue’s.
“Boys, this precious angel doesn’t like her name, Hephzibah, but she looooves ice cream.
” Sarah pointed to the open container reading Blue Bell.
“She has chosen the name Bluebell.” With raw emotion eating her alive, she looked up at us.
Now that I knew about that hidden room, I understood why Blue hated her religious name. Nonetheless, what were the chances of these sisters having such similar self-picked names?
With water stars in her eyes, Sarah touched Bluebell’s cheek. “It’s perfect.” Then she went to Ethan and pulled his hand to her chest. “Thank you for getting to me so fast tonight. You saved me.”
His long dark hair covered one of his vivid blue eyes, but the other looked at me. Did he not want to tell her the truth? Was he even allowed to tell her the truth? Was I supposed to have not told who I did?
Just then, the sound of a loud motorcycle rumbled down the street.
Kristen lifted her hand. “That’s for me. I’ll be right back.” She left the kitchen.
Dale watched as Harmony approached with a damp cloth. He told her, “I’m sorry all this happened. You okay?”
“I’m not sorry.” Harmony dabbed his busted knuckles. “I hope you got a strike in for me.”
Dale paled and shook his head as if reliving the whole night. “When I heard a gun fire off, I ran to find our kids.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “I begged God to not take one more.”
Still tending to his wounds, Harmony nodded. “They’re all right. Home safe. And with an added surprise, telling me this was all meant to be.”
“But Sarah was on the ground.” He growled, “And that man—” He looked to Bluebell, then only said, “I blacked out.”
Harmony gazed up at him and took hold of his chin. “You did what a wonderful father does. Hear me?”
She was right. Every punch Dale landed stood for nothing but pure love for his unconventional, blended family.
I was too choked up to say it out loud, but I thought to myself, I love you, too, Dale.
Ice cream and hot chocolates were finished by the time Kristen came back into the kitchen. “Sorry about that. Had to talk to Avenger about what my contact at the precinct advised.” When she noticed Finn grinning, she asked, “What?”
He shrugged. “I happen to be familiar with beard burns.” He gestured to his mouth.
Oh shit!
Except for Bluebell, all heads snapped to Kristen, who, indeed, had red lips and freshly blushed skin due to the rub of coarse facial hair.
A bunch of chuckles and giggles filled the kitchen.
Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, Kristen asked Sarah, “Do you think Bluebell would like to watch some TV?”
Once the girls were in the other room, Kristen playfully flipped off Finn, then told us, “My contact can help falsify reports, as he has in the past to help us, but he advised that no one knows of Bluebell. This little girl has no Social Security number, so she has to be kept out of the system.”
“Ah, shit.” Dale’s eyes drifted shut. “So, the hidden room is truly where she’s been.”
Harmony began to tremble.
Dale wrapped his arms around her, then asked, “Kristen, we’ve leaned on you for so much as of late. What is your advice now?”
After a moment, she answered, “I love my job, and I hate my job. The people I work with are devoted to children but also understand how kids are falling through the cracks because we don’t have enough help.
Our budget is limited, and some higher-ups with no field experience make horrible decisions.
” She exhaled. “One less kid in the system, when having such a home to care for her, I say use our connections. Get her legal-illegal paperwork and save her life.”
Dale peered down at Harmony, who was already peering up at him with pleading eyes. His responding smile was full of so much pride it filled the room. He told Kristen, “Done.”
And our family grew.
Kristen smiled. “Okay, I’ll start working on it first thing in the morning.” She went into the living room, told Bluebell it was wonderful to meet her, then left.
That’s when I realized I never heard the bike drive off. Nor had I seen Kristen’s car in the driveway. I think Finn is on to something. The bike finally roared to life down the street.