by Sadie Black
“Sir, I have Dwight Noble on the line. He’s stressed that it’s urgent, would you like me to put him through?” Rachel intrudes on my thoughts over my intercom. I snap the lid shut on the jewelry box and slip it into my desk drawer.
“Yes, certainly.” I wait the line to flash on my phone and pick it up, wondering what my lawyer wants.
“Bradley? I’m glad I caught you. I can never be sure with the hours you keep.” Dwight sounds frazzled, which is completely unlike him.
“One of the perks of being the boss, I guess. Everything alright?”
“Have you heard from the police yet?”
So, no, every thing’s not alright. “The police? About what? Is Brooklyn ok?” My heart starts thumping blood to my ears as I begin to imagine the worst.
“No, no, I’m talking about Eileen. She’s gone missing, there’s been no sign of her at her group program and her parole officer says it looks like she split her apartment. Has she tried to contact you in anyway?”
“Missing? No, she hasn’t called. We haven’t spoken in months.”
“Called, texted, e-mailed, Christ even if she’s sent you a smoke signal you’ve gotta get in touch with the Florida PD. Her checking out like this is a serious offense, it violates every term of her conditional sentencing. I mean, she’s really screwed that one up. No judge is going to keep her out of prison now. The jail diversion program was her one freebie and now she’s burned it up.”
I run my fingers over my temples trying to think of what could’ve possibly possessed her to do something so stupid. Possessed her. The words send a chill down my spine as I recall her conversations about Satan and Moses. One thing is certain, if Eileen is missing in her state, someone could get hurt. Most likely, Eileen. “I haven’t heard from her at all, if I even catch a whisper I’ll contact the police. I would guess that she’s on some kind of bender, it wouldn’t surprise me if she rolls into her parole officer’s office with a hang-over and a sob story in a few days.”
“Well, it better be one hell of a story because I’m pretty sure she’s just cinched her fate. She’ll be serving time now, the courts don’t take too kindly to having their good will thrown back in their faces.” Dwight chirps matter-of-factly.
“Ok, well thanks for getting a hold of me. Let me know when any new information surfaces, and I’ll do the same.”
“I’ll be sure to do that, oh and Bradley, just be cautious. From all accounts, Eileen is a very unstable woman and there’s no telling what she might do.”
I can’t disagree with him given that there’s a YouTube video with over nine million hits proving his case. However, the only person I think Eileen is really in danger of harming is herself. “Thank you, Dwight. I’ll keep that in mind if she contacts me.” I hang up the phone and run my hand through my hair. Why would she throw away her second chance like that? It just doesn’t make any sense, but then again, not many things do make sense with Eileen. Sighing, I feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me, beating against me like a tide pounding a rock into sand. Why Eileen? Why would you do something so stupid?
Chapter Ten
Bradley
“My goodness, come in! Come in! You don’t need to knock, just walk right in here.” Brianna’s mother emphatically waves us through her front door.
“Thank you for having us over, Mrs. Hendricks.” I hand her a bouquet of wild flowers and her eyes grow wide.
“Well, would you look at that, Henry. What a gentleman, bringing flowers. You’ve got a keeper there, Brianna.” She smiles.
“I know,” Brianna answers her distractedly. Brooklyn is clinging to her skirt in an attempt to hide from the unfamiliar faces and it’s nearly knocking Brianna over.
“Very nice.” Pastor Henry flits his eyes over the newspaper he’s reading. He hasn’t bothered to move from the couch to greet us. I have a feeling this isn’t going to go well.
“You can call me Evelyn, by the way Bradley. There’s no need to be so formal with family.” We follow her lead into the living room and take seats in the scattered, retro chairs around the room. Brooklyn practically claws her way up into Brianna’s lap which actually warms my heart to see, despite the fact that she’s doing it out of fear. “I hope you like ham, Bradley,” Evelyn announces nervously. “It’s Brianna’s favorite so I made it up for her. I figure there’s nothing like a home cooked meal when you’re pregnant, right?” Her eyes dart over to Brianna, but she’s preoccupied with Brooklyn.
“Yeah, sounds good, Mama.” She answers flatly.
“I don’t like strangers!” Brooklyn pouts, hiding her face against Brianna’s chest.
“That’s ok, you can just look at me if you want.” Brianna answers her kindly, softly stroking her bouncy brown curls. “I’ll tell you what, how about we play ‘eye spy’? Does that sound like fun? I’ll start, ok? I spy with my little eye something that is brown.”
“Everything is brown!” Brooklyn looks around the room exasperated. I stifle my laughter, but she’s right. This house definitely had it’s heyday in the seventies with the brown on brown decor.
Brianna’s father finally decides to acknowledge that we’re sitting in the room by neatly folding up the paper and laying it next to him on the end table. “Henry, why don’t you chat with Bradley while I go put these lovely flowers in some water and check on the ham,” Evelyn directs her husband. From the pinched look on his velvety face, I can tell that he is only following orders to keep the peace.
“So, Bradley, did you grow up in New York?” Henry asks me half-heartedly. His eyes can barely stay on my face long enough for me to answer, instead being pulled back to his daughter and Brooklyn playing together across the room.
“No, sir. I was born and raised in Florida. I only moved to the city a few years ago for my job.” I feel like I could’ve told him that I’m an ex-convict and I’d get the same distracted nod of the head I’m getting now. Clearly, his attention is being divided between me and the tender scene unfolding between Brianna and Brooklyn. I’d have to say that they’re winning, and rightly so.
“Ah, Florida, huh? So, I take it you aren’t a Giants fan then?” He finally zones back in on me, a small smile beginning to twitch at the corners of his lips.
“Be careful,” Brianna interrupts, “it’s a trap. Dad thinks that Sundays are for two things, God and football.”
“Is that right?” I glance over at her and give her a wink. “Well then it’s a shame that he’s stuck with two of the worst teams in the NFL here in New York.”
“Oh, I’m sorry but how many championships have the Jacksonville Jaguars taken, young man?” Henry sits up a little straighter on the couch and leans in toward me.
“Now you’ve done it,” Brianna groans loudly. “Come on, Brooklyn, let’s go see if we can help Mama in the kitchen.” She carries my niece out on her hip, giving me a smile on her way out the door.
“Ok, you’ve got me with the Jaguars.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “But you’re forgetting that we still have two more teams who dominate the league.”
“Dominate the league? Son, have you even watched a football game? Are we talking about the same sport?” He ribs me. “You know what, I know from experience that there’s no sense that can be talked into a fan, so I’m gonna let this one go.” His eyes twinkle.
“Well, I appreciate that, sir. I wouldn’t want to insult a man’s team when he’s about to feed me,” I smile.
“Call me Henry, young man. Save the ‘sirs’ for the man who cuts your paycheck.” He leans back and rubs his eyes like he just woke up for a long afternoon nap. “Although, in your case, I suppose you’re that man. Aren’t you?”
“No, sir. I mean, Henry. I have more bosses than anyone who works for me, believe me. I have to answer to the shareholders, and let me tell you, they’re not easy to please.”
“I imagine you’re right about that. I have to admit, I’m not up on all that wall street stuff.” Henry rubs his hands down the legs of his black slacks. “You know, Br
adley,” he clears his throat loudly and runs his hand down the back of his hair, “I can see you’re a good kid. I’m sorry about the last time we met, I know I lost my temper there, and it didn’t make for a very good first impression.” He stares past me to the collection of family photos that are hanging on the wall.
“I appreciate that, Henry. However, if I’m honest, I really think it’s Brianna who deserves your apology more than me. If you don’t mind me saying, you were awfully hard on her.”
Henry nods, but doesn’t respond. He just keeps looking at the photos of his family in a less complicated time. An era where Brianna and her sister still dressed up for Halloween and where Henry had less of a belly and more hair.
Th-wap! “Waaahhhhh!” I jump to my feet as Brooklyn’s cries fill the house.
“What happened?” I scurry into the kitchen to see a chair knocked over and Brianna crouched down beside Brooklyn on the floor. With a scraped knee, Brooklyn is wailing like an ambulance as Brianna scoops her up and carries her over to the dining room table, sitting her in one of the seats.
“It’s just a little ouchie, it’s going to be ok. I’ll get you all fixed up here in no time.” Brianna soothes her, as Brooklyn sniffles.
“Oh my goodness, this is my fault. She wanted to watch me at the counter so I pulled a chair over here for her. I should’ve known better.” Evelyn twists her hands up in the dishcloth she’s holding.
“Don’t worry about it, kids fall. She’ll be fine,” I reassure her, but it doesn’t look like it’s working.
“Mama, stop fretting and get a band-aid, please.” Brianna directs her mother. “Would you like to help me be a doctor and put a band-aid on your knee, Brooklyn?”
Still not entirely convinced that this isn’t a life-threatening emergency, Brooklyn sniffles a yes. As soon as Evelyn returns with a box of band-aids, her eyes light up and her tears evaporate. “Stickers?” She asks gleefully, quickly forgetting the small cut on her knee.
“Sort of, you’ve used these before. Remember?” Brianna quickly wipes down the injured knee with a clean cloth and pulls a band-aid from the box. Once she has it securely fastened to one side of the scrape she looks up at Brooklyn. “Oh, this is a big job for one person. Do you think you can help me attach this on the other side?” Guiding Brooklyn’s hand to the sticky side, they flatten the band-aid down over her knee.
“I all better now!” Brooklyn smiles with tears still drying on her cheeks. It’s amazing how children can have such big, conflicting emotions within seconds.
Brianna looks up to see that she has an audience. Her parents and I are all watching from the doorway as she patches up the minor injury and saves the day. Brooklyn suddenly realizes that she’s the center of attention and jumps down off the seat, ready to impress. “Wanna see me dance?” She doesn’t wait for a response, bouncing around in a circle with her arms shaking.
“Wow, now those are some moves.” Evelyn relaxes a little and enjoys watching the toddler put on a show. I look over at Henry, but his attention is firmly fixed to his daughter. His eyes have softened as he wordlessly watches her. “Ok, well this wasn’t how I wanted to start our dinner,” Evelyn points in the direction of the band-aids. “However, the food is ready, if everyone wants to dig in.”
“I sit with Brianna!” My niece exclaims, stopping dead in her tracks and clinging back onto Brianna’s leg.
“Sure, you can help me cut up my ham. I need a big girl to help me out.” Brianna smiles.
“I a big girl.” Brooklyn puffs her chest out proudly.
Taking our seats around the table, everyone passes the food around until all the plates are full. I pick up my fork and knife to dig in and the family stares at me in disbelief. “Bradley, we’re going to say grace.” Brianna hisses at me, bowing her head over her folded hands. Brooklyn follows her example and hangs her head over too, squeezing her eyes shut tight.
I drop my cutlery and look down and Henry begins, “Lord, I would like to thank you for this food that we are blessed to eat while others struggle to fill their belly. We are thankful for your grace and hope that we can share your example here on earth. Heavenly father, I would like to especially thank you tonight for bringing my daughter home to me, and with her a beautiful family of her own. Thank you for giving us, for giving me,” his voice cracks, “the opportunity to seek salvation and share our love. Amen.”
“Amen.” We mumble into our hands. I peer over at Brianna, her eyes are misty as she watches her father across the other end of the table.
“I bet you’re going to have a little girl,” Evelyn intrudes on the moment, cutting her ham up into tiny chunks. “Wouldn’t that be funny, Henry? Let me tell you,” she changes her focus to me, “you’re gonna have your hands full if you have another girl. Won’t they Henry? Two teen girls is a lot to handle.” She smiles before popping a piece of ham into her mouth.
“They’re gonna do just fine,” Henry answers. “Brianna, you’re going to make a great mother,” he tells her softly. Brianna’s eyes tear up as she listens to her father. “I’ve seen you with this little one today,” he points his fork in Brooklyn’s direction, “and if you ask me, you’re already doing a fine job.”
“Thank you, Dad.” Brianna smiles. I feel like I can actually see the weight of the world slide off her shoulders as she straightens up in her seat. As everyone at the table focuses on digging into the delicious meal, I still can’t pry my eyes off of Brianna. Her father is right, she’s going to make a great mother. A great mother, and a perfect wife.
Chapter Eleven
Brianna
What a perfect day, I watch as Bradley and my father laugh together across the picnic table. My mother is completely immersed in reading a Dr. Seuss book to Brooklyn on the grass. When Bradley insisted that we meet with my family today, I had no idea what to expect. He refused to share any of his plans with me, telling me that the details were a secret. I’m not sure why it had to be such a mystery. I’m not complaining, this lunch in Central Park has been lovely. However, spending time with the entire family like this is hardly a covert mission.
“I’m just going to take a little stroll with your father, we won’t be long.” Bradley’s fingertips graze against my round belly. I arch my back and push my newly popped bump out proudly. It took almost six months to finally look pregnant and now I’m soaking up every second.
“You two are going for a walk? Now?” My mother interrupts, looking over at Dad with her eyebrow cocked. “Henry, it’s starting to cloud in and we still have to pack up the car,” she nods at the remnants of our family lunch strewn around.
I gaze up at the sky and see the fat, gray clouds that she’s referring to hovering around the bright blue sky we’ve been enjoying all afternoon. We haven’t been alone, of course. On a gorgeous day like we were having it seems like all of Manhattan crams themselves into Central Park to catch a few rays. From the group yoga session we witnessed earlier across the field, to the hipster moms all pushing expensive strollers, it’s been a perfect day for people watching. Although, with Brooklyn dancing and singing, it’s been hard for any of us to watch anything but her joyful face.
“Don’t worry, Mama, I’ll help you get this all tidied up. It won’t take long.” I reassure her. “Just make sure you guys don’t take too long, she’s right, you can see rain is on it’s way and I don’t want to get caught in a downpour.” I look at Bradley and my father. It’s nice to see them get along so well now. Since we went to dinner at their house nearly a month ago, family gatherings are becoming a regular routine.
“We’ll be back in a jiffy,” my father rests his hand on my mother’s shoulder gently. “The boy wants to ask me something and I think it’s only right that I hear him out,” he looks into her eyes and they share a smile. I hope that Bradley and I still look at each other like that forty years from now.
As the men disappear down the path together, I look over at Brooklyn. “Do you wanna play ponies?” She looks up at me with her brown eyes h
opefully. I swear, you can never play ponies enough with this girl. I’m pretty sure I could turn into a pony and she would still demand more.
“Sure, you grab them out of your backpack over there,” I point to the little Dora the Explorer bag tucked under the table. “I’ve just gotta go use the washroom, but when I get back we’ll play. Ok?” Brooklyn’s eyes sparkle with excitement as she lunges under the table to retrieve her toys. “Mama, can you keep your eye on her for a couple minutes? This baby is kicking at my bladder again,” I hold my hand on my swollen baby bump.
“I’ll do you one better, I won’t just keep my eye on you,” she talks to Brooklyn. “I’ll play ponies with you until Brianna gets back. How does that sound?”
“Yay!” Brooklyn enthusiastically approves of my mother’s plan.
Making my way to the public washroom down the hill, the clouds seem to be rolling in quicker now. Just as my hand reaches the door I feel the first light sprinkles of rain mist against my face. Great, those guys better hurry up. Hopefully Mama just takes Brooklyn to the car. The water just reminds me of how uncomfortable my full bladder feels so I hurry inside to relieve myself.