by Mel LeBrun
“Hi,” Jessica said with a smile.
“Hi.” Tatiana smiled back.
“Are you hungry?” Jessica asked. “Would you like to get some ice cream?”
Tatiana smiled bashfully and nodded yes.
Michael looked up at the social worker and smiled. The social worker smiled back. The first meet was going well. If things continued that way, Tatiana would become a new addition to the Cailen family.
SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT, Meier became global news. One by one his political contacts in more than twenty countries began falling like dominos. The scandals remained headline news for months to follow with every news agency in the world capitalizing on the sensational story. With multiple charges pending in a multitude of countries, he was the most wanted man on Earth. After weeks in hiding, Meier was arrested in Panama. Every country involved fought for extradition rights. Since he was a citizen of Germany, they were given first dibs. With all the charges brought against him, he would never be a free man again. The world was better for it.
Chapter 38
Eight months had passed since their ordeal with Meier's organization. The sun was coming up and Jessica was at the stove cooking pancakes. Michael came up behind her and kissed her neck.
“How did you sleep?” he asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Better,” she answered.
He leaned on the counter next to her and looked at her. “Maybe you should talk to someone about it? A professional.”
“It's not every day I get shot, Michael. There's bound to be some after effects.”
Michael chuckled. “You're preaching to the choir.”
She sighed and gave in to a smile. “You're right, I'm sorry.”
“I'll go with you, if you want.”
She took a deep breath. “I'll think about it.”
He kissed her cheek. “You know I'm going to keep hounding you.”
“How is Josh holding up?” she asked, hoping to change the subject. “Wedding is only two months away.”
Michael chuckled. “He's freaking out. I think he'd re-enlist if he thought it would get him out of it.”
She shook her head. “I'm glad you weren't like that.”
He smiled at her. “I couldn't let you get away.” He stared, admiring her beauty as she stood at the stove cooking breakfast. “I invited Lance over to watch the game Sunday,” he said, breaking his gaze.
“That'll be nice. We haven't seen him in a while. You talk to Tim lately?”
“Yeah, he's good. They're considering him for Director.”
“Wow, that's great. I hope he gets it.”
“Mmm. Be careful what you wish for,” he said ominously before walking to the family room with his coffee to watch the news.
As Jessica moved the cooked pancakes to a plate and poured some more batter on the pan, her mind began to wander. She only had a few months left to contact her mother as she had promised to do. She kept putting it off but wouldn't be able to much longer. She didn't think her father would go through with turning her in to the authorities for hacking. Not after everything that happened. But she didn't want to go back on her word, even if the man she made the promise to was worthless in her eyes. She wondered what her mother's reaction would be.
“Mommy?”
Brought back to reality, she turned to Tatiana standing next to her in the kitchen. Still in her pajamas and clutching an oversized purple teddy bear she rubbed her eyes.
“Yes, sweetie.” Jessica smiled at her.
“Are the pancakes ready?”
“I have some ready now and these will be done in just a minute. Are you hungry?”
Tatiana nodded and yawned.
“Daddy is in the family room watching the news. Can you go get him and tell him to come eat breakfast?”
She smiled and nodded and sleepily walked to the family room to get Michael. As Jessica watched her walk away she reflected on how she would feel if Tatiana came back to her after years of being missing. She realized joy would be the only feeling she could possibly have if that happened.
Michael entered the kitchen carrying Tatiana who had her arms around his neck and was resting her head on his shoulder. He placed her in a chair and then retrieved plates and silverware for everyone.
“Ana, you want orange juice?” he asked her in Russian.
“Yes, please,” she answered in Russian.
Jessica put the last of the pancakes on the platter and moved it to the table.
“I'll be right back,” Jessica said. “Go ahead and start without me.”
“Okay,” said Michael. “But you know how she eats.” He gestured to Tatiana. “There might not be anything left,” he said with a grin.
Tatiana giggled and squirmed in her chair.
Jessica smiled and kissed her on the head. “Don't worry, I can always make more.”
Jessica walked quietly into their bedroom and opened her nightstand. She pulled out a piece of paper and held it in her hands. She stared down at the number and took a deep breath. Picking up the phone on the nightstand, she entered the number and then held the phone to her ear. Her hands began to tremble as it rang. She was about to hang up when a woman answered the phone.
“Hello?” the woman said.
Jessica recognized the voice immediately. She couldn't speak. She wanted to but nothing would come out.
“Hello?” the woman said again.
“Mom?” Jessica said with a tremble in her voice as tears streamed down her face.
“Who is this?” the woman asked.
“It's me, Mom. It's Jessica.”
There was no response. It was quiet and Jessica wondered at first if her mother had hung up. But then she heard the unmistakable sound of crying.
“Jessica?” her mom said in disbelief.
“It's me, mom.”
“Oh my God,” her mom cried. “Where are you?”
Jessica wiped away the tears that were steadily increasing. “I'm in Massachusetts. I have a family.” Jessica finally broke down herself.
All her mother could do was cry. She was overwhelmed to learn that her daughter was still alive and that she was speaking to her.
“I'd like to come see you, if that's all right,” Jessica said.
Her mother could barely breathe she was sobbing so hard. She dreamed of this moment but had lost all hope of it ever happening. She was beside herself with elation and relief at finding her daughter was alive and well.
“Please.” Her mother could barely choke out the words. “Please come.”
“Okay.” Jessica grabbed some tissues and dried her eyes. “Do you want to meet my family too?”
“Yes. I would love to meet your family.”
“Okay,” Jessica said. “I have to go now.”
Jessica could barely keep it together and her mother had lost that ability ten seconds into the conversation.
“I'll call you tomorrow,” Jessica assured her.
“I love you,” her mother said.
“I love you too, Mom.”
Jessica hung up the phone and burst into tears. She buried her face in her pillow, sobbing loudly. She hadn't noticed Michael in the doorway listening to her conversation. He sat next to her and pulled her into his arms.
“Shhh.” He gently rocked her. “It's okay.” He stroked her hair and kissed her head. “I knew you were getting ready to do that.” He squeezed her tight. “I'll buy the tickets tomorrow.”
Tatiana quietly entered the room clutching her giant teddy bear. “Why is Mommy crying?” she asked Michael in Russian.
Michael looked back at her. “She's just sad,” he answered in English.
Michael gestured for her to come to him. She walked over and stood in front of them.
“Why are you sad?” she asked.
Jessica wiped the tears away and tried to give her a reassuring smile. “I just miss my mom. That's all, sweetie.”
Jessica held her arms out and Tatiana opened hers in response. Jessica pulled he
r up into her lap and hugged her.
“Can't you go visit her?” Tatiana asked.
“That's what we were just talking about doing,” Michael answered. “Would you like to come with us?”
The huge grin that formed on her face was Michael's answer.
Michael and Jessica smiled at her and then at each other. Michael wrapped his arms around his two girls and kissed them both on the head.
“I've got the two most important things in my life in my arms right now,” he said as he held them tightly. “Now would either of them like to go to the beach today?”
“Me!” Tatiana nearly blew their eardrums.
Jessica chuckled and then smiled at Michael. “I think that's a great idea.”
Michael patted Tatiana on the head. “Okay, munchkin. Go get ready.”
Tatiana ran off to get changed.
Michael looked at Jessica. “Do you want to invite Kev and the girls?”
“I was just thinking that,” she replied. “I'll call him now.”
She picked up the phone next to her and began to dial. Michael's phone on the dresser began to ring. She paused to see who was calling him.
Michael walked over and picked up his phone. The number showed as private.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Hello, Michael.”
Michael recognized the man's voice immediately. “Hello Jeff,” he replied as he gave Jessica a look.
She stood up, surprised and concerned that her father was calling.
“How did you get this number?” Michael asked.
“I have my ways, Michael,” Jeff said.
“Why are you calling?”
“Right to the point, I see.”
“I'm not in the mood to chat.” Michael made no attempt to hide the irritation in his voice.
“I hear you have a new addition to the family.”
“And how would you know that?”
“I think you know the answer to that, Michael.”
“I guess some of your contacts survived the fallout with Meier.”
“Not all politicians are perverts. There are many other vices.”
“Why do I get the feeling you're involved in all of them?”
Jeff snickered. “Are you a man of your word, Michael?”
“You know I am.”
“Then how is my granddaughter?”
Michael took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. When he agreed to Jeff's terms he wasn't imagining he would have a child so quickly. He didn't want to keep Jeff updated on his family yet that is what he agreed to.
“She's doing fine,” he replied. “Though I find it disturbing you're even asking since she was being sold by your organization.”
“I had nothing to do with that.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Michael said angrily.
“How is my daughter?” Jeff tried to turn the conversation in a different direction.
“She's fine.”
“I know physically she has recovered. How is she emotionally?”
Michael sighed loudly. “Look, I'm not comfortable with this conversation. If there's nothing more, I have somewhere to be.”
“Fine, Michael. Next time I don't hear from you though, I won't be making a phone call. I'll be making a visit. And don't forget about my other condition. She's running out of time to see her mother.”
Michael ended the call without saying anything more and shook his head.
“What did he want?” Jessica asked.
“What he asked for back at his house,” Michael replied.
“We're never going to be free of him, are we?”
Michael took a deep breath. “I don't know, Jess. He is super connected.” He looked at her. “Maybe it's not such a bad thing.”
Jessica shook her head. “I'm not going to let him ruin my day. I'm going to call Kevin now.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah, let's get going.”
THE END
About The Author
A Connecticut native, Mel LeBrun's love for writing began in her early teens. After being laid off from work, she found herself with a lot of time on her hands and decided to use that time to finally bring to life a story and characters that had lived in her imagination for years.
She chose to self-publish to be able to focus on her writing and not have to deal with the time consuming and energy-sapping corporate world of the publishing industry. By self-publishing she can quickly get her work in the hands of readers and then get back to what she loves, writing. When she's not writing, Mel likes to get away from it all in the great outdoors.
Connect With Mel LeBrun Online
Facebook
Twitter