Chapter 6

Mark Rosenbloom walked up to the table, LaCher following close behind. Amy and Dan rose to meet them. He was attractive for an older guy, Amy thought. Jake had inherited his father's good looks.

LaCher spotted Amy and Dan and gave them a slight nod. Amy wanted to run over to her and ask her how she had survived the knife attack and how she ended up here!

Hugs were passed between all three Rosenblooms while Amy, Dan and LaCher looked on. Jake grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her over to his father,

"Dad, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Amy Cahill. Amy, this is my dad, Mark." Jake said smiling between them both.

Amy politely put out her hand and Mr. Rosenbloom obligingly shook it. He said a gruff, "nice to meet you," but there was nothing nice on his face. He had a look of pure loathing on his features.

"And this is her brother and my best friend, Dan Cahill," said Atticus smiling broadly at Dan. At least Mark Rosenbloom lightened his scowl for a moment looking at how happy his youngest son was to announce his 'best friend' to his father. He knew how hard it was for Atticus to make and keep friends.

"Jake, I need to speak with you…now." Mark said with a strained look on his face. Jake smiled at Amy, but her sense of foreboding was strong. Amy glanced at Dan nervously. Dan looked just as nervous and uncomfortable. They both watched as Jake and his father moved just out of earshot, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what they were saying.

Jake was gesticulating with his hands and his father was shaking his head and pointing at Jake. Once, he even pointed at Amy and Dan. Amy was vascilating between watching Jake and eyeing Dan. Dan did the same. They both felt the uncomfortable level rising at the table. No one was speaking; all eyes fixed on father and son. LaCher gave a tiny uncomfortable smile to the Cahill siblings and attempted to make small talk, but it fell flat. Atticus didn't know what to do, he was half raised out of his seat, like he wanted to go stop Jake and his father.

"Amy, I think we should leave," whispered Dan.

Amy's face had gone hot and she was growing more embarrassed by the second. "I agree, let's go."

Without another look back, Amy followed Dan over to the railing on the patio and hopped over it. Once on the sidewalk, they both took off at a jog. Silent tears were streaming down Amy's cheeks. This had not gone at all like she had hoped. Dan made one quick look back, catching Atticus' shocked expression. Dan gave him a sad smile and a little wave, as if to say 'it was our only choice.'

30 minutes later, they were back in their car, headed for the mansion. Amy had to drive as Dan was still not old enough, but she would have given anything to just zone out and cry her way home.

Dan broke the silence, "What's the deal with that guy? I mean, we've had lots of people hate us in the past, but at least they had a reason for hating us-they wanted to kill us!"

Amy didn't say anything. She was numb. All she could think about was the way Jake was fighting with his father, no doubt, sticking up for her, but failing. What did this mean for them?

"I don't get it. Wasn't he supposed to be cool?" Dan continued.

"No, Dan, he's always disliked us. I guess all those attempts on Atticus' life and Vesper 1 killing Astrid didn't exactly endear him to us. Now, all he thinks when he sees us, is all the trouble we've caused and how dangerous we are." Amy said with a sigh.

Dan's phone pinged. He had a text from Atticus.

It read: Hey Dan, I'm so sorry you left. My dad and Jake just had an epic fight; thought you might want to hear this. I didn't think to record until they were about done, but I got the important stuff. It'll be OK. Jake's on his way to Attleboro right now. Chao.

Amy looked over in alarm, "Jake's on his way?"

Dan shrugged and tapped the audio file and put the phone on speaker. It was distant, like Atticus was recording from the top of the stairs, but they could make out what both men were saying:

"I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE BOTH ALRIGHT! THAT'S NOT THE POINT! You could have died, Atticus very nearly died. I don't care what a guardian is or does, Astrid died at the hands of these maniacs and as far as I'm concerned all of the Cahills are just as guilty!

What are you talking about? Amy and Dan had nothing, NOTHING, to do with mom's death. In fact, is was Att who figured out Dave Spiminer was really Damian Vesper. If we hadn't met Amy and Dan we would have never put two and two together and we would have never known what happened to mom! I was there when Damian Vesper's machine was destroyed. I watched him die!

YOU WERE THERE?! WAS ATTICUS? Where the hell have you two been? It sounds like you've been globetrotting with these, these, Cahills! I watched them on TV, they're nothing but spoiled trust fund kids with an ax to grind apparently. Did you see what they did to Pierce? They've ruined his life!

(Jake was quiet for a long time, when he finally spoke again he was calm)

Dad, you don't know the whole story. Pierce tried to kill Amy and Dan several times for knowledge they possess. Amy almost died trying to stop him. In fact, if I hadn't been there, she'd be dead right now.

Huh, yeah right. Jake, I don't know what's gotten into you. First you start acting all reckless and putting your brother's life in danger, then you start defending the Cahills! What's next? Tattoos all over and joining a biker gang? Come on son!

Dad, I love you, and you are rarely mistaken, but on this one, you are dead wrong. You won't even give me a chance to explain. You've already made up your mind!

(Jake paused for a few moments)

It comes down to this Dad: you put so much responsibility on my shoulders. I've basically raised my little brother since mom died and I've done it happily. I love Atticus and I'd take a bullet for him, but you need to trust me. I haven't gone rogue. Amy and Dan are worth trusting. They are worth listening to, and dad…I love Amy. I love her with every fiber of my being. I've never met anyone like her before. Like it or not, she's your future daughter-in-law. (Amy sucked in a short breath) So you better get used to seeing us together, because we're going to spend every possible second together for the rest of our lives!"

The recording stopped. Amy couldn't breathe. Dan was speechless. The emotion of the recording was palpable. Amy couldn't take it. She swerved the car toward the upcoming off ramp, careened to the bottom of it and threw the car into park along the shoulder. Then, she cried. She let the sobs rack her body. Dan reached over and put both hands around his sister's shoulders and held on tight. He was feeling the strain too, but listening to Jake defy his father and defend Amy was pretty amazing, Dan had to admit. He really did love her.