Jane smiles to himself when he sees the vehicle pulling out of the curb side parking spot, just a few yards down from where he wants to be.
"Must be my lucky day."
He guides the car into the vacated lot. He switches off the engine and the heat from the sun suffocates the cool air in the car immediately the air condition ceases. Austin's in the grips of the third week of a heat wave, where the temperatures hit a hundred or above by the mid-afternoon. It's ten thirty in the morning so it's at a more manageable eighty-nine. Manageable for him, anyway, for Lisbon, in her six month of pregnancy, the heat's unbearable. Which is why he's downtown this morning running errands, rather than finishing off the odd jobs required at the cabin.
Both of them have grown to appreciate the beautiful place which is their own. Lisbon, initially, felt it too far away to commute into work, but the place eventually worked it's magic on her and she informed him, one Monday morning, after spending the weekend helping him put in the kitchen units, not to make his way back to Austin at the end of the day, and that she would bring some supplies, this was their home, she found she hated leaving it and looked forward to the weekends when she woke up to the sounds of the ducks on the pond and could wander outside with her morning coffee and enjoy the patterns the sunlight made through the trees.
He smiled as he recalled how he'd dropped the hammer he was holding and rushed to her side and laid his hand on her forehead, inquiring after her health. When she insisted she was fine and brushed his hand away, he'd leant over and asked 'paperweight' what she, or he, had done to his wife? Where was his smog loving city girl he'd fallen in love with? She'd stood with her hands on her hips and declared she could put the place up for sale instead.
He'd turned serious and asked if she was sure? What about the late night/early morning call outs, the rush hour traffic? She'd replied that in the early hours traffic was light and she could make it in half an hour, and that this place was worth the hour drive during rush hour. He's asked if she was sure once more, and when she nodded, he'd kissed her deeply, told her he loved her. They both looked at their new home together, where they would bring up their child. He knew life couldn't get any better.
He opens the door and steps out of the car. The heat smothers him like an unwelcome blanket, he can feel beads of sweat immediately form on his brow. He turns towards the sun buts it's partly obscured by the spire on top of a skyscraper, the rays thrust out like tentacles across the sky, almost blinding him with their intensity. He immediately turns away and blinks at the spots blurring his vision. He digs in to his pants pocket bringing out a handful of change, he chooses the needed coins. He checks his watch, he's right on time, so thirty minutes should be long enough, he feeds the parking meter and heads towards his destination, he hears the beep of the car locking as he walks away.
As he reaches the door there's a young mother struggling with a child by her side, a crying baby in a stroller, and bags of shopping. She's attempting to turn around so she can back her way through the door, but, the pedestrians seem unaware of her plight and walk doggedly on, not giving her time to make the turn. Jane rushes forward and opens the door, inviting her in before him. She smiles gratefully at him, and she holds her son's hand and pushes the stroller through the open doorway. Jane follows her inside. The baby's still crying and as they line up the Mother looks sheepishly at him.
"I'm sorry, she's hungry, I have just this last thing to do and then we can go home, I'd hoped she'd last, she's not really due for another forty-five minutes."
Jane smiles sympathetically at her.
"Kids like to disregard schedules at the most unfortunate times. Let me see if I can help. My wife says I have a way with kids."
"Do you have any?"
Jane shakes his head.
"My wife's expecting our first in three months."
He opens his hands towards the baby.
"May I?"
The Mother nods her head.
"Please."
Jane releases the baby from its restraints and picks her up. He lays her on his shoulder and moves up and down to soothe her. As the baby's cries turn to intermittent sobs the Mother smiles:
"You do have a way with children, I can see you will be a fantastic father. She's usually fearful of strangers."
She offers him her hand which he takes.
" My name is Lucy."
"Mine's Patrick. Very nice to meet you."
"The pleasures all mine, you've been very kind."
A man dressed in a brown suit and white shirt, appears at Jane's shoulder. He's short and round with a long skinny neck, making Jane think of a skittle. He's bald, adding to the vision, except for a short ring of grey hair that sits just above his ears.
"Mr. Jane, sorry to keep you waiting."
Jane feels bereft at having to give the baby back so soon. Her soft skin against his own, feels delightful, the scent of talc and lotion bringing back memories that, though, still squeezes his heart, the pain has lessened by time, and the joy of their future child. The Mother holds her arms out and takes her from him.
"Thank you Patrick."
Jane beams at her and says heartfelt:
"It's not been a problem. You have two lovely children. I hope she lets you get home before she starts again."
He bends down and seemingly pulls a quarter out of her son's ear. The boy's eyes almost pop out of his head, Jane rustles his hair and hands the coin to him, following the man into his office, he turns and waves at the stunned young man, who's watching him retreat.
Lisbon brushes the last of the dust in to the corner of the room and looks at her work with satisfaction. Patrick will be surprised. He'd added the last piece of skirting to the nursery last night. He's working so hard to get the house finished for when their child is born and just being able to do this little thing to help him is a pleasure. She's studied his timetable he nailed to the wall of the last room he will complete, (who knew he could be so organised) and it brought home to her the large amount of work he has left to do and it's a gruelling schedule he's set for himself. So she's determined to do as much as she can to lighten his load. With the floor swept he can prepare the room for painting. She only wished she could do more, but she would be risking his wrath, and will never be allowed to be alone again.
She leaves the pile for Patrick to sweep into the dustpan, bending being too difficult with 'paperweight' in the way and moves to the kitchen. She turns on the cold water and cups her hands together underneath it, she splashes the gathered water on to her face. It feels so good., cooling her down instantly and helping her feel refreshed. She grabs a towel and dries herself then, opens the fridge door and removes the pitcher of iced tea, that she's prepared earlier. Pouring herself a glass she goes outside and lowers herself carefully in to the chair underneath the lovely silver birch. Just the short walk outside caused sweat to trickle down her back, she savours the shade the tree gives and closes her eyes and lets her body relax. She groans just a little when she feels 'paperweight' begin to move, stretching her skin.. It's always when she starts relaxing. She mutters to the baby:
"I hope your timing improves when you're here with us."
Jane's glances up at the clock as he's leaving the Bank Managers office. He's pleased to note that the whole transaction took even less time than thought. He should be back home for lunch. He promised Teresa he'd stop at their favourite thai place and pick up a couple of dishes. Suddenly there's a loud bang and it takes a moment for his brain to catch up with reality. A vehicle crashes through the doors of the bank, ripping them off their hinges, glass is flying everywhere. Jane throws himself on the ground, he winces as the floor is rough beneath him. He's too far away from any form of protection and he feels sharp shrapnel of glass penetrating his clothes as glass rains down on him. He flings his arms on top of his head for protection and it feels as if he's being hit with tiny balls of ice. He realises that these must be the gang of robbers that are terrorising the area, having attacked numerous business. Teresa has talked about how well organised they are and that they have very little to go on. All around him he hears screaming and men shouting. His heart sinks when he hears a baby crying. It's barely a minute before the car starts backing out of the bank. Jane lifts his head and takes a look at the retreating vehicle.
He gingerly picks himself off the floor, as the car drives away, millions of pieces of glass falling off him. He takes stock of himself as he does so, and is pretty sure he alright. Parts of his skin sting, and when he looks at his hands he finds them covered in tiny scratches, although some are bleeding, none look very deep. He turns his attention to the chaos in the room. Some people are standing still, Jane recognises the symptoms of shock in their vacant expressions. Some are sitting on the floor quietly sobbing, being comforted by others, he waves away a man who takes his arm suggesting he should sit down. He's searching for the young mother and her children as he scans the room. He directed by the wailing of the baby to a group of people near the counters, looking at the floor. He rushes over, fear gripping his stomach.
With the words FBI the group parts like the red sea to reveal the mother's body twisted on the floor, her son sitting next to her, holding her hand, tears on his face as he quietly pleads for her to talk to him. There's bewilderment on his face, uncomprehending why his mother isn't answering his pleas. No one is offering medical assistance, it's obvious she's dead. The boy looks up at him, and Jane gently approaches him, crouching down beside him. The boy looks at him quizzically.
"What happened to your face?"
Jane shrugs, not knowing himself, he doesn't answer. As he hears sirens in the distance, he touches the boys shoulder. Tears spring to the boys eyes and spill over on to his cheeks.
"She's gone isn't she? Her eyes are open but she's not answering me, just like my dog."
Jane nods.
"Is there someone I can call to get you and your sister? Is your daddy around?"
"He's at work."
Jane moves his hand down the boys arm and takes his hand and gently tries to encourage the boy to move. The boy shakes his head. Jane nods and sits down beside him.
"Okay, I'll stay here with you."
He hears cars screech to a stop, then doors open and bang closed. The boy looks at him.
"What happened to your face?"