Chapter 19
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Martin and Sam stood looking in the observation window as Eddie was reunited with his niece. She didn't look quite like the young woman Martin remembered; more like the shell that a pretty girl used to live in. But the clinic was helping; her skin was clearing up and she looked clean and sober. Apparently after she left the church she saw took the sign on the bench as a real 'sign' and decided to go visit the clinic. She didn't have any money but since they were a non-profit group they were able to find a spot for her. It seemed she was as tired of the life she was living as much as her sister.
They had stopped to pick up Eddie on their way to the clinic because they thought that she might feel better being found by family. Plus, Sam thought that it might be better to have a family member tell her about her mother's ailing condition.
Eddie held his niece in a tight embrace as she cried. A short while later they walked out of the room with his arm around her. She wiped tears from her eyes and smiled when she saw Martin. She walked up and gave him a hug saying, "Thank you for finding me in time."
"I'm just glad we found you," Martin said as he released her from the hug and followed Eddie, Kiki, and Sam out the door.
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He and Sam hung back wanting to give the family some privacy while Kiki was reunited with her mother. It was clear that the end was near because almost every member of the family was crammed into the small house and there were several old women praying the rosary next to Peggy's frail body. Kiki and Marisa held each other as silent tears streamed down their cheeks.
Martin thought perhaps this moment was too personal to share so he looked at Sam who thankfully seemed to agree. She nodded her head and they walked to the door, trying to quietly slip out of the house. They made it all the way to the porch before Eddie stopped them.
"I can't thank you both enough," Eddie said as Martin shook his head.
"Hey, it's our job." Martin smiled sadly.
Sam reached out to shake Eddie's hand and said, "Take care. I hope everything works out with Kiki." Sam touched Martin on the elbow and said she was going to go wait in the car. He knew she wanted to give them some privacy.
"Martin, I owe you so much. First you saved my life and now you were able to give my sister some peace in her final hours by reuniting her with her daughter. I can't ever repay you."
He shook his head and replied, "No, you saved my life remember. I'm the one trying to repay it."
"What are talking about? That thing with Tony? Martin man, that was nothing compared to all you've done for me. All my life people just treated me like a convict but you believed in me. You got my life on track: you helped me get into Harvard and MIT. You introduced me to my wife. I could never repay you for everything you've done." Eddie put his hand on Martin's shoulder and said, "Shit man, you're my hero."
Martin was so touched that he couldn't even speak. He just smiled at Eddie and the two men exchanged a hug before stepping back and patting each other on the shoulders.
"You better get back inside," he said to Eddie who just nodded at him and walked back into the house.
When he got into the car Sam looked over at him and asked, "What did he say?"
Martin just looked out the windshield before turning to her with a big smile. "He said I'm his hero."
She grinned at him, turned on the ignition and said, "Let's hit the road, Superman."
