Ties

by Praise Adewale

  She pointed it to him “You leave me choice less”

  He watched her straight eyed-fearless as she held the gun to his face. H heard a gunshot and then saw his mother on the floor, wounded on the leg-did she shoot herself?

  He stared eye wide at Steve who stood behind her with the gun pointed to her

  “Good thing I texted you, I couldn’t have handled this myself” He dipped the gun back into his pockets

  Jason was eye wide; he looked at his mother who held tightly to her wounded leg

  He took the gun from her side “Why did you do this?”

  “It had to be done; she could have done the same to you”

  He let out his breath in confusion “Who are you?”

  “Steve” He chuckled “I used to be a henchman to your mother until now”

  “And who is this guy?” He pointed at the almost lifeless body

  “Mr. Adams”

  Jason stopped as sweat broke out on his skin; he gazed around feeling paralyzed hands and feet. “Adams?” He asked in a croaky voice

  “Yeah, Adams south”

  “Take him to a hospital not in this town, take a flight or whatever” He glanced at his mother “And call the cops”

  “She’s wounded”

  “Just do as you’re told and keep the press away”

  17

  “Ma’am” A nurse barged into Karen’s office while she tried to clear some files off her desk

  “Why’re you looking so worked out, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s an emergency; a man was brought in this afternoon” She swallowed “A gunshot victim”

  “Can’t you nurses handle that?”

  “I don’t think so; he was actually transferred from a hospital in Philadelphia”

  She dropped the files “Really?”

  “The wound is quite deep and the doctors at Philly said he was brought too late, he has lost a ton of blood”

  She stood up and grabbed her coat and instruments “Is it really that bad?”

  “I really think you should come now”

  “Where’s he?”

  “The ICU”

  Jason grabbed Steve by the lapel of his jacket pulling him aside in the hospital

  “Steve, are you out of your mind, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “You said to take him to a hospital not in Vegas so what’s wrong with what I’m doing?”

  “Everything’s wrong, just go in there…”

  “Look, the hospital in Philadelphia is…I don’t know but this is like the best hospital in this town”

  “This is his daughter’s”

  “I know that, okay?” He freed himself

  “Just go in there and have that man taken to another hospital” Jason said, seething

  “I can’t do that”

  “There are tons of hospitals in New York, Steve”

  “He doesn’t have much time left; any moment wasted is a risk on that man’s life”

  He clenched a fist “Why did you do this? How do you want her to bear the shock?”

  He placed a hand on his shoulders “You should at least go and see things for yourself”

  “If this causes any problem, it’s all on you”

  “I think we’re doing the right thing”

  “Where’s Jasmine?”

  “The cops got her, she has a record”

  There was noise at the entrance of the hospital; the press hovered around the gate with cameras already flickering

  Jason turned to Steve “You need to fix this.”

  ____________

  Karen froze, horror stricken-hands and feet turned cold. Her eyes lost their flash as she gritted her teeth, seething. Staring blankly at the man laying helplessly on the hospital bed, eyes shut with blood stained arm, she didn’t care about the nurses with a puzzled look on their faces obviously trying to draw back her attention to dying man.

  She eased herself out of the room blinking back hard choking tears which she knew wouldn’t take long before it’ll burst out. Leaning on the wall in the hall, she could hear the nurses talk in low confused voices, she almost let out a loud wail before someone placed a hand on her shoulders-she looked up

  “Why’re you doing this, Karen?” Jason asked in a husky voice.

  She swallowed a lump in her throat. She didn’t expect anyone to understand-not even him.

  “Just put whatever he’s done to you in the past and…”

  She shook her head, voice unsteady “It isn’t that easy Jason”

  “This isn’t a time to remember all his wrongs, put all that away and save his life”

  “He doesn’t deserve it”

  He could feel her pain as his eyes held hers “No one deserves anything Karen”

  She swallowed even harder, almost gulping down her throat “It’s complicated” Her dewy eyes narrowed “I really don’t know”

  “Don’t you think death is too big a punishment for him?”

  She winced; her lips quivered “I don’t want him dead, I don’t”

  “Then go in there Karen and save your father’s life” He spoke gravely, looking down into her eyes

  She looked away as tears sprang to her eyes “There’s still a bullet, he needs a surgery”

  “Can you handle it?”

  “I guess”

  He let her cry on his shoulders-she began to feel an unusual calmness. Drawing away, he held her at arm’s length “It’s not like he has that much time”

  Letting a nervous sigh, she wiped her eyes giving a curt nod and went in with the briefest hesitation

  The days that followed were the same, her father responded slowly after the surgery, his eyes still shut. The nurses had figured out who the wounded man was to her and kept their distance. She dressed his wounds daily

  She had just finished putting a bandage on his arm and turned to leave when he called in a shaky voice

  “Karen”

  She stoppedand tucked a stray strand of hair behind an ear, not looking back

  “Karen, that’s you right?”

  “Good thing you’re revived” She said drily with her back still turned to him

  “You have every reason to be mad at me and I know that”

  She straightened

  “Karen I know…I know I’ve hurt you and your mother, I’ve been really selfish and I understand now, I know…”

  She gave an apathetic laugh, facing him “No you don’t understand, you know nothing, how could you know? You think you do but you don’t”

  He was visibly shaken “Karen, I’m really sorry, I really do not know what got into me”

  “And it had to bring a bullet wound to bring you back to your senses” She laughed derisively “You don’t know nothing”

  “I can make amends Karen” He shuddered

  She sighed audibly “Where were you when we needed you?” She raised her voice amidst tears “Where were you when mom was ill and now you think you can always crawl back to us and we’ll be willing to forgive?”

  “I’m deeply sorry”

  “You had to be in a bad condition to remember your role as a husband and…father” She wiped her eyes “I’m sorry, it doesn’t walk that way, dad”

  There was a long silence as she tried to simmer down, her intense eyes pierced into his “Look, let’s not drag our family issues into this, I’m just here to do my Job”

  “Karen”

  “You need rest”

  She almost bumped into Jason at the doorpost, he looked grim

  “I know how you feel”

  She locked the door behind her “There’s nothing new, it’s always how I’ve felt”

  He gave a knowing smile “Seeing you like this only reminds me of nine years ago”

  She looked away “Pent-up emotions tend to burst out, don’t they?”

  “Always” He held out a drink to her “For a damsel in distress”

  She took it and they walked together to the lawn “I was wondering, d
id you bring him here?”

  “Not particularly”

  “But do you have any idea about how he got shot?”

  “Hmm. few minutes ago you were acting like you didn’t care about him”

  She went silent and sipped from the drink she still held in her hands

  “How’s your mom?” She glanced at him “You went to see her, right?”

  “Oh, yeah, she’s um…doing fine, I guess”

  She tossed him an unsatisfied look “What’s up with you? You seem worried”

  “It’s nothing; I just got a lot on my mind, that’s all”

  She smiled and gulped down the rest of her drink

  “What? Did I sound creepy?” He asked

  “Not at all, I would’ve asked you what it was bothering you but my hands are so full that I can’t lift someone else’s burden” She looked at him “Now, I’m the one sounding creepy, right?”

  “You wouldn’t if you didn’t try to confuse me”

  They laughed and in the next moment, there was an uncomfortable hush within them-short and discomforting. They watched a black sedan race through the hospital gate-the driver made to open the passenger’s door but it was yanked open before he got there

  A young looking woman on a brown wool jacket with a pale red lipstick came out of the car, looking death frightened.

  “My mother” Karen mumbled, standing.

  Jason also stood “I guess I have to get going” He said before walking toward his arm

  Her mother walked briskly to her, clutching closely to her purse-expression tight

  “Karen, where is your father, I heard, oh my, where…”

  “Mom, relax, he’s better…let me take you there”

  “What happened to him, how did that happen?”

  “I think he’s in a better position to explain”

  He opened his slowly when they walked in-her mother gasped; hands in her mouth, Karen leaned on a wall, arms crossed-unbothered

  “What happened to you? how did this ever happen?”

  “It’s a really long story” He coughed throatily “I didn’t plan for any of this to happen”

  “Oh my, how did you get involved in all of this? Who did this to you?”

  “Jasmine” He muttered weakly

  “Jasmine”

  “Jasmine Blackwell”

  Karen almost staggered from where she stood; her eyes narrowed “Blackwell?”

  “She was the one behind everything from the stealing of the company’s money to this gunshot injury; I don’t know…Steve warned me”

  Karen gave a sly look “Was anyone there when this happened?”

  “Only Steve but he has nothing to do with this”

  Karen moved closer now “Where is this Jasmine, now?”

  “I don’t know, I have no idea how I even got here” He drawled

  Her mother shuddered “Oh my, look at you”

  Karen heaved a nervous sigh; her head ached with plenty of thoughts going on in her head

  “All I’m asking from you two is your forgiveness, I know neglecting my duty as a husband” He glanced at Karen “And a father was a selfish thing to do but I’m ready to take up my responsibility if you would let me”

  Karen let out a halfhearted laugh “You left yourself didn’t you? After everything you’re here blabbering some nonsense about… ”

  “Karen, stop now” Her mother cautioned

  “And what does a dead beat dad even know about bearing his responsibility? Look we’re doing fine without you” She shrugged “Really fine, we don’t need any of your money which you…don’t even have anymore”

  “That is an unkind thing to say, Karen. How can you talk to your father that way” Her mother retorted, displeased

  “I don’t care, he broke the bottle and I’m not helping to pick up the pieces”

  Her mother rested her head on a fist-confused

  “I know I’ve lost money hand over fist, but I really want us back as family”

  Karen eyes narrowed, her face lit up and turned dark again

  “What are you saying, Albert?” Her mother asked softly

  He held her fist “I want us back as a family, please?”

  Karen’s face softened, she glanced at her father, feeling uneasy “I…”

  He interrupted quietly “I need your forgiveness”

  “I never really had anything against you Albert” Her face were tear-stained as she enclosed herself in his stretched arms

  Karen pursed her lip, expression grim as she watched them-Uncomfortably.

  He struggled to sit up “Karen?”

  She hesitated and then a light smile played about her lips “Probationary”

  They laughed heartily, she walked towards her father and hugged him “I’ve missed you dad” Her eyes were almost dewy

  “What’s the medical reason for that because I’ve never stopped missing you even for a teeny tiny second?”

  They laughed again and then a very comfortable silence settled between them.

  She spotted him as he came down from a black convertible beside the bridge-A light grin on his face

  “Seriously Karen, there are pubs and bars open all over town” He took a casual glance around “Why bring me to an abandoned bridge?”

  Ignoring the sarcasm, she leaned on the parapet-expressionless

  “What’s up?”

  No answer came-A moist wind blew across their faces

  “How’s your dad doing?” He studied her face “What’s wrong?”

  She turned to face him “How long? How long did you think it will take before I find out?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Casting him a sardonic look, she laughed drily “Don’t stand there and act like you don’t know what I’m talking about”

  He laughed curtly-confused “Really, I don’t, what’s the problem?”

  “Your mother was behind everything, wasn’t she?”

  He padded to the opposite side of the bridge, not uttering a word

  “You knew about this didn’t you, so asking about my father and acting like you care was just some show”

  He wriggled his hands into pockets “It’s complicated, Karen”

  “Of course it is complicated; your mother robbed my father of his money and tried to kill him” She laughed coldly “How more complicated can that be?”

  He was staring at her straight eyed in silence

  “But that isn’t the point Jason, What I want to know is where your mother is, where is she?”

  He looked grimly at her while leaning on the parapet, legs crossed “Karen”

  She stopped him “I know right? It’s hard to say you’ve tucked your mother safely somewhere who of course is a criminal”

  “I thought you knew me a little more than this Karen”

  “Yes I thought I knew you but…but it’s all sham Jason and to think you weren’t shady…like your mother” She spluttered with gay abandon, the last part almost in a whisper.

  “I’m not that shallow”

  “Don’t try to sweeten the pill, how can you ever think of…”

  “She’s been jailed” He spread his arms, shaking his head. He seemed more disappointed than annoyed

  Her mouth dropped, brows arched as she stared at him. He seemed deeply hurt. She swallowed hard suddenly wishing the bridge would crumble and swallow her up-just her

  “How do you think I can ever do such a thing, I had her jailed because I’m not shady”

  She cleaved to the parapet-her heartbeat increased twice than normal as he walked slowly to her

  “What did you expect me to do? Tell the whole world that my mother was on an attempted mission to kill your father?”

  “Jason” She swallowed a lump in her throat and called in a voice that didn’t sound like hers-hoarse and guilt filled

  “I didn’t know how to tell you because I couldn’t bear to see you get hurt” He looked down into her eyes with deep emotions she could see but c
ouldn’t explain

  The cool breeze blew some hair off her back, her eyes were almost moist “I’m so sorry Jason, I’m really sorry”

  He moved closer and shoved gently a lock of hair that fell to her face “I don’t know, it’s really complicated with all this happening right now but I do love you Karen, I really do…I’m in love with you”

  She swallowed yet another imaginary lump “You know I would say the same for you over and over again Jason”

  He laughed and she felt calm-the type she never knew existed

  She lost herself in the bliss growing inside of her; she felt the world spinning and sweeping her off her feet as Jason took the closest step toward her. Hands on her waist, he cuddled her close to himself and kissed her, she reciprocated. The air that blew while it lingered was warm and caressing.

  18

  Her mother was brewing tea in the kitchen while she lay on the sofa; her dad was sitting on an easy chair reading a news paper

  “It’s a good thing you responded quickly to treatment; I was scared you’d be bedridden”

  He laughed gravely “I would’ve, good thing that bitch didn’t shoot me on the leg, but my arm…”

  “You’ll be able to move it in a couple of weeks, speaking of her, she’s been jailed”

  “She has to, dumb fool couldn’t get away this time” He chuckled “And I saw a young man come around you twice in the hospital, you two seemed pretty close”

  “Oh. I wanted to tell you dad, he’s um…”

  “”He’s what?” He smiled “Boyfriend?”

  “Not particularly” She heaved a nervous sigh “it’s complicated”

  “Why?”

  “I can’t even start explaining, it’s really, I don’t know”

  “Who is he?” He suspected what was amidst

  “Jason, actually, Jason Blackwell”

  His expression turned sour “Blackwell?”

  “Yeah dad, I know it’s a little complicated” She winced

  “What are you saying right now Karen? Is he actually the son of whom I’m thinking?”

  She nodded affirmatively “Yes, he is”

  “You got to be kidding” Stamp his feet on the floor, he leaned forward “If I haven’t told you before, Jasmine Blackwell…his mother is actually the cause of this mess I’m in right now”