Chapter 29

Laura sipped her coffee as she sat on the couch in Remington's office across from her mother and listened to Abigail complain continuously about the housing market in Connecticut. "But, I thought real estate was stable?" Remington interjected Abigail's rant.

"For the moment, but what's going to happen if prices drop before the house sells?" Abigail questioned.

"Well, I don't think you have anything to worry about, Mother," Laura tried to assure her.

"I bet those people in that post office in Oklahoma thought that, too, before that postal worker walked in and shot up the place. You know he killed fourteen people before he took his own life?!" she exclaimed.

Remington tapped his lips with two fingers and stated with a grin, "Abigail, I don't believe a disgruntled postal worker is going to delay the purchase of your home in Connecticut."

Abigail simply waved her hands and announced, "Well, you never know!"

Laura was distracted by a light knock on the door before Bernice stuck her head into the room. "Laura, there is someone here to see you," she stated nervously.

Laura rose to her feet, "I'll be back in a few minutes, Mother." She followed Bernice into the waiting room, where she found her father waiting for her.

"Loo-Loo! It's over! It's finally over!" he exclaimed loudly. He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tight as Laura's arms remained dangling at her sides. "I'm a free man again! No more FBI, no more hiding."

Laura glanced over at the door to Remington's office and nodded, "That's great. Tell you what, why don't you leave your number with Bernice, and we can get together in a few days when you're settled?"

"No, we need to celebrate! Let me take you out to brunch, just like we used to go when you were a little girl. Is that little diner still there?" he asked excitedly.

"This really isn't a good time," Laura began just before Abigail stepped through Remington's doorway.

"Laura," Abigail called her name. She looked up and stopped short as her eyes connected with John's.

John inhaled sharply, "Abigail. I didn't know you were here."

"John," Abigail responded coldly. Remington stepped out of his office and joined the small group silently.

John turned to Laura and asked, "Did you tell her?"

Abigail turned her icy stare at Laura and demanded, "Tell me what?"

"Um… Dad… well… he's back. He was under a federal protection program, but now he's back," Laura stammered. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she was finding it difficult to breathe as her parents stood just a short distance from each other for the first time in over fourteen years.

"I see," Abigail responded in a flat monotone.

John took several steps forward, his arms reaching out to Abigail as he stated, "I've missed you, Abi-" The rest of his words were cut short by the stinging slap of Abigail's hand across his face. "Abigail, I'm so sorry," he whispered heavily as he held his hand against his face.

Laura took a step forward, "Mother, it wasn't his fault." Remington also stepped forward and tried to reach out to his mother-in-law, "Abigail, listen-"

"Wasn't his fault?!" Abigail snapped. "He left us, Laura. He just packed up his things and left us, and you want to say it wasn't his fault?" She folded her arms across her chest and looked away.

"It wasn't like that, Abigail. I never wanted to leave. I was forced to… to protect you, all of you," John insisted. "I tried to tell you to warn you."

Abigail inhaled sharply, "You should have contacted us… somehow. Instead, I got nothing but a hastily written note you'd send money when you could, and that was it. No explanation, no phone call, no letters."

"I did send money… every month. Whatever they paid me, I sent most of it to you. I had no use for it. I was holed up on an island most of the time, away from the world," John cried.

Laura narrowed her eyes at Abigail, "Mother? Is that true?"

Abigail turned to Laura, and, with a slight shrug of her shoulders, she stated, "Well, yes. How do you think I was still able to afford the house in the beginning? But after I sold it, I didn't need the money anymore. I had everything forwarded to Connecticut, and I put it all in a bank account. I haven't touched it."

"All of it?" John asked incredulously. Remington couldn't hide the look of shock on his own face, and he could see it mirrored the look on Laura's as well.

"Most of it. I only stayed in California long enough for Laura to start college before I moved to Connecticut. Then Frances and Donald got married and moved close by… I figured it would be good for the grandchildren when I'm gone," Abigail stated firmly.

Laura's mouth dropped open, "You never told me that. All this time, I thought he was gone for good, and you had to fend…"

"I did have to fend for myself!" Abigail insisted. "I had to be both mother and father to you and your sister, and it was no picnic." She fought hard to keep the tears filling her eyes from spilling down her cheeks.

John stepped closer to Abigail and tried to touch her arm, "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone." When Abigail didn't pull away initially, he reached up and wiped away a stray tear. "It killed me every day knowing what I left behind, but I had to do it. And now it's over. The grand jury indited everyone on that list and in the organization. And the best part… they had no idea who I was. I sat there, completely anonymous. The FBI never used my name, and most of the original family is long gone or already behind bars. The few that were there held tight to their belief in Omertà, their code of silence. But they didn't have to say anything. With my ledgers and the other evidence, the FBI had, none of them will ever see the light of day again."

"Is that true? It's completely over?" Abigail whispered. She looked up into his dark brown eyes, her own brown eyes still filled with tears.

"It's finally over," John whispered before he pulled her into his arms. He held her tightly as she cried silently, the dam of tears unshed for so many years finally broken.

Laura couldn't help feeling emotional as her parents held one another. Remington closed the gap between them and pulled her against his side before he brushed his lips across her temple. "I never thought I'd see this day," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotions.

"It's one too long in coming, I'd say," Remington whispered back.

"What happens now?" Laura questioned softly.

Remington shook his head, "I don't know, but I think, perhaps, we should take them somewhere, where they can talk about things. The apartment, maybe?"

Laura cleared her throat, but it was Remington who spoke, "Abigail, John, might I suggest we take a ride somewhere a little more private and you two and hash things out?"

Abigail took a step back and tugged on the hem of her jacket, "I think that would be a good idea. I think I'd like to hear more about where John's been all this time."

John nodded in agreement, "I have to go back to the island to pack up my things… what little I still have there. Maybe Abigail would like to see it. Maybe that would help you understand why communicating was so difficult."

Remington clapped his hands together and declared, "I think that would be an excellent idea. Why doesn't Laura bring Abigail back to her hotel first to change… not that your suit isn't lovely, Abigail, but it's not going to serve you well on that speedboat. Then, they can meet us back at our apartment."

"Steve… Special Agent Molloy is waiting to drive me back. I can tell him to wait for you at the docks. We can all go together," John nodded. He turned to Abigail and asked, "Only if you want to go. I'll understand if you don't."

Abigail squared her shoulders and stated, "No, you're right. I do deserve answers, and I think I'd like to see it for myself."

"Well then, it's settled. I'll meet the ladies back at the apartment, and then we'll meet you at the docks," Remington smiled, hoping it would lighten the mood enough.

Laura looked at her husband and replied, "Fine." Abigail and John simultaneously declared the same, "Fine." Remington looked around the small group and, with a toothy grin, cheered, "Fine, then."