Lorraine’s tears couldn’t resist racing down her reddened cheeks, past her cramping smile. “It sounds great when you say it, Ashe.”
Griffin smiled even wider, his eyes tearing up. “I really do love you so much.” He leaned over and kissed her, a gentle touch of his lips against hers the beginning of a beautiful chapter in the story of their lives together.
THE END
PART 2
Chapter 1
Bam bam bam! The gun kicked back hard in Lorraine Phoenix’s hand, her arm rigid, one eye squinting. Bam bam!
It was as if that terrible day in Denver had never ended, even three years later. The screaming crowd running for their lives, cops closing in from every angle, Lorraine felt as if she was reliving it all in excruciating detail.
She was braced with nervous anticipation, muscles clenched with terrible expectation of those hot lead bullets digging into her skin, tearing through her organs. A terrible man’s last, best hope for some twisted kind of happiness.
But, so far she’d managed to survive, as she had before, even if it had been touch and go, her grip on life fast slipping away. But, the paramedics had been quick, just a few seconds ahead of their grim adversary.
Lorraine had to wonder, Will I be as lucky this time?
The visions had haunted her during sleep and while awake, inspiring lessons in how to shoot and hours of practice. Lorraine’s senses were swimming, her mind’s eye blurred with fleeing pedestrians, armed assassins, friends and loved ones in the direct line of fire, police sirens leaking in from the distance.
And she wasn’t the only one who came armed and ready. Bam bam bam bam! A man, not three feet to her left, pumped a series of shots in a tight cluster, the shots echoing amid the others.
Even Ashe was compelled to join the fray. Lorraine couldn’t see him, as she couldn’t afford to take her eyes off her hideous target, which was still upright and staring straight at her. But she could feel her stepson there, she could hear his gunshots amid the others, the .22-calibre shots just a bit softer than the .36 in her own hands.
Bam bam bam!
I hope he’s okay, Lorraine silently said to herself, but one glance back gave her every reason to be confident, secure, at least for the moment.
Griffin’s here, she knew, and that meant everything. His steely blue eyes were fixed on the subjects of his family’s shots, observing the sureness of their aim, silently assessing.
Bam bam click click click.
She was out of bullets.
Bam click click click.
Ashe stepped back, raising his own handgun to point harmlessly upward.
Lorraine and Ashe both reached for the electric switch which pulled their paper silhouette targets across the shooting range back to their booths. She didn’t remove her earphones but she did pull up her goggles to get a better look at the target.
Her shots were not well clustered, only a few hit the silhouette, one in the head and two in the chest.
She gave Griffin a look and a shrug, which said to him, Wouldn’t three be enough?
Griffin answered with a sad shake of his head. Ashe stepped around from the other side of the partition with his own target, which he offered to Griffin, who shared it with Lorraine. A tight cluster of shots, all grouped around the heart, was a perfect example of effective fire.
Griffin smiled and wrapped his arm around his son’s shoulder for a squeeze and a tap. Ashe could only shrug at Lorraine with a look that said, Maybe I was just lucky?
Lorraine couldn’t withhold an amused huff as Griffin fit two fresh silhouettes into the metal clips, she and Ashe reloaded for another round.
The chargrilled burger at the Spotted Pig was one of Lorraine’s favorite things, and it had become Ashe’s favorite place to go. The burger’s bun was crossed with grill marks, bleu cheese dripping over the side to add a tangy, exotic flavor to the rich, juicy beef.
Lorraine washed it down with a tangy, delicious lemonade, just sweet enough to be brisk and refreshing.
“Ashe,” she said, “you really can shoot. Are you sure you boys haven’t been doing this all your lives?”
Ashe shook his head, his blond hair and blue eyes and increasingly mature face made him look like a twelve-year-old version of his father. “Luckily, we haven’t had to.”
Griffin’s smile was replaced with an authoritarian air. “Ashe, are you being rude?”
“No, Dad, no,” Ashe said, his voice looping and innocent. “I just mean, we’re only doing it now. That’s the truth.” He turned to Lorraine. “I didn’t mean that, y’know, it was your fault or anything, nothing like that!”
“It’s okay,” she said with an easy smile, “I know what you mean, it’s fine.” Griffin nodded and softened his air, having done his parental duty. Griffin took a big bite of his burger as Lorraine went on, “I guess it’s just a natural talent. And Ashe, you have so many of those; the writing, now you’re going to get into acting … ”
Ashe had to shrug, “I dunno about that,” he said, and Lorraine knew instantly to back off. He’d made tremendous progress in the previous three years and Lorraine didn't want to push him and undo any of the good work they’d all done as a family. But Ashe surprised her with, “I thought about directing something instead, a play for school maybe.”
“That is a brilliant idea,” Lorraine said, glancing at Griffin for an approving nod. “Wow, writing and directing a play, I wish I’d done that when I was your age.”
“You could do it now if you like,” Griffin said.
Lorraine had to release a surprised little chuckle. “Me? Oh no … ”
Ashe cocked his head, “Why not? You know all about storytelling from all the books you’ve read. And you’re not afraid to get up in front of a crowd. Hey, maybe you could be an actor in my play!”
Griffin looked on with an amused half-smile, happily waiting for her answer.
Lorraine stammered and Griffin stepped in with, “Good opportunity to lead by example,” he said, teasing her.
“It’s not that,” Lorraine said, “I’m not … afraid, obviously, but … I think a school play should be cast with students or at least faculty.” Griffin and Ashe shared a glance and a shrug; they knew they’d been beat. And she went on to say, “Anyway, I had another project I wanted to talk to you about now that the library system is in good shape.”
Griffin nodded, chewing and swallowing a bite of his burger. “What’d you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure what we’d call it, but, I’m thinking of some learning centers in lower income areas. The public schools, in general, are pretty terrible. You said so yourself when we first met, remember?”
Griffin said, “They’re like prisons.”
“Right, exactly. And I don’t think there’s much we can do about that, the whole school board system is pretty corrupt, bureaucratic at best. They’d soak up any donations and nothing would get done.”
“I’ve already donated and it didn’t do a damn thing.”
“Right. And in the mean time, they’re cutting every teacher they can and every program except for sports. But if we could establish, like, free-clinics for education, y’know? Only open after school hours so it doesn't encourage truancy, volunteer or student teachers, or we can staff them with tutors. It would give kids a place to go during those dangerous hours after school, keep ‘em off the streets and maybe even give them the education they deserve.”
Griffin gives it some silent consideration, chewing slowly and glancing at Ashe. “What do you think, son?”
Ashe nodded, “I think it’s a great idea. But … what about crime? Wouldn’t gangs come around? Would it be safe?”
“Armed guard at each facility should keep the bad elements away. That could be budgeted, it’s not a big deal. I think the big challenge would be real estate. This is New York — ” Griffin replies.
“But there are unused buildings all over town, especially in some of those bad areas. We could pick up an old brownstone on some crap
py block somewhere. You’re in real estate, Griffin, this is right up your alley.”
Griffin sighed, wiping his lips with his white cloth napkin and sipping his own glass of lemonade. “Let me see what I’ve got lying around.”
Lorraine’s brows arched up into her pale, freckled forehead. “Lying around? You’ve got real estate in New York just … lying around?”
“Tell you the truth,” Griffin said, “I’m really not sure. But we’re about to find out.”
Chapter 2
Lorraine, Griffin, and Ashe got back to their Fifth Avenue Penthouse around midday, eager to see baby Kayla. The adorable little toddler waddled toward Lorraine as they stepped out of the private elevator, her little arms outstretched. Lorraine scooped up Kayla, who was growing her own clutch of red hair and spun her around to the child’s delight, cackling and laughing until Lorraine pulled her close for a tight, loving embrace.
Griffin crossed the room to Jeremy Bush, wearing his usual warm and friendly smile. “She behave, Jer?”
“Like an angel, Grif, just like an angel.”
Griffin and Jeremy turned to share the sight of Lorraine holding Kayla, Ashe cooing and smiling at his baby sister. “Yeah,” Griffin muttered, “an angel.”
Lorraine sniffed and winced. “This little angel’s carrying around a load of sulphur.”
Jeremy was quick to react, crossing the room and reaching for the child. “I’ll take care of that.”
“It’s okay,” Lorraine said with a smile, “I want to. Join me?”
Jeremy stood for a split second with a worried expression on his face that Lorraine thought she understood. But he quickly replaced it with a smile and said, “Sounds great.”
Lorraine carried Kayla down the hall to her nursery and laid her down on the dressing table. Jeremy fished out a fresh diaper, his brown hair hanging over his face.
“So, Jer, how’s everything going?” Lorraine said.
“It’s great, Lo’, just great. I love working here, being around you, looking after the kids. It’s … I’m just so grateful.”
“So are we, Jer. You’re great with the kids, Ashe is doing great and we know we can trust you. Believe me, it’s been as great for us as it is for you.”
Jeremy nodded, but a nervous silence passed while Lorraine handed him Kayla’s soiled diaper. “You’re not … firing me, Lo’?”
“No, Jeremy, no, of course not. How could you imagine such a thing?”
“Well, I … y’know, you’re doing the diapers now … ”
“Yeah, now. I’m not gonna keep doing ‘em! But I love the time I spend with Kayla and I love the time you spend with her, too.” Jeremy smiled and sighed, relieved. But Lorraine added, “But you don’t have to spend all your time with the kids, either, Jer. We want you to have a life, too.”
“Are you kidding? My life rocks, Lo’ … thanks to you. Really, I’ve never been happier.”
Lorraine tried to smile but it wasn’t easy. She took the clean diaper from Jeremy and wrapped it around Kayla, taping it shut. “Jeremy, I’ve known you for about four years now. You were my first friend in New York and you’re still my best friend … except Griffin, obviously.”
“Obviously,” Jeremy said.
“So, I hope you won’t mind if I say … you don’t seem that happy to me, Jer. I know you're comfortable here and that this is a good situation for you, for us all. But that’s more like being contented, y’know? Before all this, before I met Griffin, you were the one encouraging me to get out more, to meet new people — ”
“And I was right.”
“And you still are, Jeremy. But now it’s time to take your own advice. Get out there a bit, go socialize, mingle. You used to go out every night, Jeremy.”
“I have responsibilities now, Lo’, the kids need me bright and early, I can’t be partying all night. That scene, the dance clubs and the drinks, you remember the trouble that got us into, the trouble it got you into.”
“I do, Jeremy, I do remember. And now I want you to remember; remember what a shut-in I became, I want you to remember the lonely life that was waiting for me if I hadn’t followed your advice, taken a chance, let go of the past.”
Jeremy smiled, eyes misty, hand gently stroking little Kayla’s face. “I do remember, and I love you for caring so much about me, Lo’. You’re really a good friend. But it’s not about that, I’m not afraid.”
“Even after what happened at the library, even after watching me get shot, almost killed?”
“No,” Jeremy said, too fast and too loud, then softening his tone to add, “it’s not that, it’s just … I feel like I’ve matured, that’s all. That whole scene, it’s just not for me, not anymore.”
Lorraine smiled softly, tapping Jeremy’s shoulder. “Okay, Jer, well, if you ever feel like getting out a bit, not to a dance club but, y’know, but maybe a museum or whatever, I think you should. You need or want any additional time off, it’s yours anytime.”
Jeremy leaned forward, his forehead gently bumping Lorraine’s, Kayla shrieking in toddler delight.
Lorraine’s parents were small on her laptop monitor, peering at her from the Skype window. Sally Devonshire sat with a martini glass in one hand, brows forever unimpressed. She’d been so proud to be a grandmother, but her joy had passed and her usual sense of disapproval had returned.
“Glad you guys enjoyed your trip,” Lorraine said. “Four months is a long time.”
“It was too generous, dear,” Sally said. “You need that money for your children.”
“How was Europe?”
“It was great, what a trip. I mean, vacation,” Larry said.
“It’s nice to have you back, Daddy,”
Sally glanced at Larry but Larry ignored her. “I’m a grandfather after all … I’ve got responsibles now.”
Lorraine repeated, “Responsibles?”
Sally rested her head in her hand. “He’s into some Canadian TV show now about this drunken idiot who mispronounces everything.”
“Your mother’s great, isn’t she? But you know what they say, ‘Beauty’s in the eye when you hold her.’”
Lorraine sat stunned at her computer, trying to conceal her astonishment. “Anyway, I think I’m going to be doing some work with Griffin coming up,” she said, “I’m very excited about it.”
Sally took a sip of her martini. “You really think that’s a good idea, dear? Remember the last time you worked together?”
“We had your granddaughter.”
“Before that, dear, the shooting? You almost died!”
Lorraine waved her off. “That was a one-time thing, stupid Donal and his obsession with me, his anger at Griffin. But, he’s behind bars, Mom, we won’t ever have to worry about him again.”
“What about that sex maniac?” Sally asked. “Lord knows where he is now.”
“It’s been over a year, Mom. Griffin’s right, he’s hiding away somewhere. A guy like that, who knows if he’s even still alive. Believe me, Mom, one thing I’ve learned is that you can’t live in fear, that’s no kind of life at all. You gotta get out there, take a shot. That’s the only way to get anything accomplished. And you can see for yourself what the rewards are.”
Her parents shared a glance, then looked back at their own computer monitor. “What about the kids, dear? Shouldn’t you really be taking care of Kayla?”
“Jeremy’s great with both kids, Mom. Ashe is almost thirteen, Kayla’s on her feet. It’s time to get out there, do something. You worked while I was young.”
“And maybe I shouldn’t have, dear. Maybe if I had, we’d be ... closer, happier?”
Being closer wouldn’t necessarily make me any happier, Lorraine wanted to say, but of course she didn’t.
Redirecting the subject, Lorraine said, “And it’s really a great idea, I’m telling you.”
“It’s not that free school thing, is it?”
“Learning centers, Mom, and yes, it is. What doesn’t sound good about that?”
“Why, nothing at all, dear.” Sally took another sip. “I’m just saying, and I know this from years of dealing with Section 8, HUD housing, some people don’t want to be helped. They don’t want a leg up. They want a free ride.”
“No, Mom, I’m not going to listen to another one of your rants — ”
“What, rants? And it’s not a race thing, dear, it’s not. It’s the lower classes of any race or color. You start off wanting to help them, then all they do is take, take, take. Eventually, they turn on you, Lorraine, you mark my words; they turn on you.”
Chapter 3
The next Monday morning, Lorraine found herself sitting next to Griffin, who sat at the head of a long, conference table in the Phoenix Enterprises’ offices. Lorraine sat at his right side, a power move on Griffin’s part that seemed lost on nobody in the room, not even her. He was making a statement about his commitment to her, about her place in that room, in his business, in his life.
And that place was not to be questioned. But, as Lorraine watched the various board members trade silent glances, she realized that it was merely not to be questioned openly. Behind closed doors, it would be another matter entirely.
Griffin got up and paced around the room, introducing the various board members and their functions, but to commit it all to memory was more than Lorraine could expect of herself. Some of them made stronger impressions than others.
“And this is Ki Fong,” Griffin said, arriving behind a stern-faced young Asian man, whom Lorraine took by his name to be Chinese. “Head of development, new projects.”
“Sounds like you’re the man I’ll be working with,” Lorraine said.
“Normally, yes,” Griffin said. “But in this case, I’m going to have you work directly with Ms. Gallagher. You’ve met Jeannie, of course.”
“Of course,” Lorraine said, “I wish you’d come to the parties more often. Though, I guess we’ve been having less of them since Kayla’s come around.”
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