6.
Interlude: New Mexico Sunset – Print Article
James Ford looked down at his shuffling feet, feeling awkward and out of place on the porch, orange setting sun still fairly high in the sky over his shoulder. He felt its heat on his back and blamed it for the gnaw in his stomach, though he knew better. He nodded once to himself, then reached up to rap knuckles on the wooden door. He stopped himself just before he connected, closed his eyes, and sighed to himself in frustration.
All the things I seen and done so far, and this is what's got me most chickenshit yet. Ain't I a sight, standing out here like an asshole for all the neighbors to watch. What's worst that can happen?
He winched an eye open to examine his surroundings. Could call the cops on me. Trespass or something. Despite my cleaned up record, can't say I'd still enjoy the experience. Maybe I should just go.
Or not. C'mon, one more deep breath and I'll-
The door pulled open, and James looked up onto Cassidy's frustrated, confused face for the first time since an Alabama jail. Blonde hair floated gently on either side of her face in the soft breeze. "Uh. Hi."
"What the hell you doing here, James?"
He caught himself with his mouth open, frozen in shock at what he'd imagined coming to pass and realizing all the little scripts he'd come up for himself weren't going to work. He closed his mouth, winced, then started over in the most honest way he could think of. "I want to meet her."
Cassidy tilted her head, face growing stony. "You think you got a right?"
He sighed a little. "No, but I'd like to try anyway. I got no rights in this, none at all. I don't even need to be introduced as her daddy. Won't ask for it. I just want to take a look at her, see for myself she's doing strong, and then I go. That's all, just two minutes of your life and out."
"Somehow I don't think that's what you want."
Another wince. "Naw, but it's what I'll take if I'm let."
She nodded at him, lips still pursed, then looked away, as if to consider. Long minutes passed and he began to expect the worst. Worry panged at him when she spoke. "Not right now, James."
"Cas-"
She took a hand off the door to raise it at him, palm out. "It's getting late, and she's got shows she'd like to watch. She's been good today, and I promised her. It'd confuse and upset her if I pulled her out to meet some stranger now. You meet me tomorrow noon, at the little park down the street. I'll give you your couple minutes then. No promises on anything else."
James managed a nod. He had no upper hand in the situation, nothing but honesty, which had never been that great a tactic for him, and it had worked out. It was something. "Alright, Cas." He dropped a little bow. "Thanks."
She said nothing to that as he got off her porch.
. . .
Clementine, in his opinion, was beautiful. She was hitting that gradeschooler growth, knobby knees, teeth gone awry as they make way for their replacements, a little bit of energetic awkwardness, and long blond hair tied up to match tomboy gear. She's gonna be a looker when she grows up, James thought with some distant pride. I may not have given up much to her this far, but at least I passed on some pretty good genes.
Cassidy introduced him to the little girl as a friend of mama's, and she'd accepted it with cheerful good humor. She'd shaken James' hand with the force of a kid trying to impress and nearly stepped back at the brilliant, tickled smile he'd shot back at her. When Cassidy told her to go play on the swings, she'd dropped James an awkward little curtsey and fled, giggling.
"I ain't in a place to judge, I know, but you're raising a good kid." Despite himself, James gave his ex-lover a grin.
"I like how you keep being self-deprecating before you say anything. Keep it up." She stood by him with her arms crossed, keeping a mother's watchful gaze on the girl. "So you know you don't have any rights in this. What did you want?"
James shrugged a little, taking his time in piecing together the answer in the right words. Honesty had worked out for him the night before. Might as well keep with it, under the circumstances. "I'd like to be in her life, just a little."
"Mmm." The voice was noncommittal.
"I don't want to play games with you, Cas. I don't ask to play the mommy and daddy game and pretend we still like each other for the sake of her. Kids know, kids pick up on how people hurt each other, and I don't want that. I can be the family friend, a close uncle-type or something. If you don't want to tell her till she's older, or ever, whatever. But support. I can be that. I'd like that."
Still nothing.
"Something better'n my daddy did, at least. He couldn't be there. Took a way out even more chickenshit than anything I did, Cas, and that's truth. Hard believing, but truth."
Her head turned towards him, very slightly. "What'd he do?"
After a long pause, he told her. When he was done, she dipped her head down, half-staring at the ground, half still watching her daughter. "That true, James?"
The telling had hurt. "It's all true."
"Explains a bit."
He nodded.
"What about Kate?"
Something panged in his heart. "What about her?"
"You gonna look her up?"
It was his turn to look down. Then he shook his head. "Notime soon. I made my goodbyes with her when we got back. I think everyone needs some time to think. I realized a lot about losing things, Cassidy, where I was. And I was in love with her." He closed his eyes, realizing what he said applied to two women. Both memories hurt. He didn't want to share Juliet, though. Not yet. He continued. "Probably still am, won't lie on that. But Clementine over there was first, whether I admitted it or not, back there in that jail. I want to get some of this in my life sorted out. For other people's sake. Before I lose 'em, too."
She nodded again, very slightly. "You were always good at bullshit, James. Damn good. I can't know you're telling the truth, and you know damn right you can't convince me."
"Yes'm."
"So the best I can do is either close you out entirely, or take a risk and a chance. Small steps. If you don't frig it up, then you got connection." She lifted her head up, nodding, face tense. "If you do, James, I will fuck you up. You do whatever you want in this world to anyone, but you hurt her, I will fuck you until you want death."
He swallowed, understanding that she felt she was the one taking all the risks in this. He felt he had more than a few himself, but mentioning that wasn't going to help his case. "You got it. I hurt my daughter, I'll give you the rusty knife myself. Start on the testicles. Hurts more."
That drew a small, huffed laugh. "Alright. This is your final chance for starting over."
"Yes'm. That it certainly is." He managed a grin, weak at first and then strengthening as he realized the worst was over. He'd gotten the best he could ask for. "Last chance pays for all."
"Alright. Let's get that child out for some ice cream, what do you say?"
"I say that sounds fine, ma'am."
She turned her head fully towards him and give a still wary but accepting smile. He returned it, feeling better than he'd had since leaving the island. James Ford was going to do the best he could with what he had.
A couple payouts from Richard's corporate contacts were only going to help.
. . .
From the Copenhagen Post, February 16th, 2009:
Police: 2008 Kastellet victim identified; still no motive
Police Chief Jens Højbjerg came forward today with the first new information since December regarding the waterlogged corpse of a middle-aged male found floating next to Kastellet Public Park. The victim, now identified as 42 year old Samuel M. Hicks, was discovered by a local woman visiting with her two children. Police have previously revealed that Mr. Hicks had been shot at close range by an unknown assailant.
Mr. Hicks was identified by a family member visiting from the United States, working with police on an unrelated missing persons report. The victim was a high-ranking executive with the Hanso Foundation. Police are working with the organization now to trace the victim's final hours. One witness statement has so far been released, identified as given out by the victim's secretary, on record as the last person to have seen Mr. Hicks. According to her statement to police, Mr. Hicks visited the Kastellet alone to enjoy a small lunch. There are no details of any further contact the victim may have had.
Mr. Alvar Hanso has declined to make a public comment, however a statement was released by the Board of Directors stating their distress and sorrow. The family has been contacted regarding the Foundation's condolences. Those wishing to show their support for Mr. Hicks' family is asked to support one of the Foundation charities Mr. Hicks was involved with.
The police continue to ask for any persons with further information to contact them at their tip line.
-leave comment: you must be logged in to leave comments-
. . .
Bloomberg
Businessweek Wednesday June 8th, 2009
Paik Set to Finalize Offer for Widmore Corporation Takeover; New Division in Place to Supervise
South Korean-based Paik Heavy Industries has gone public with its successful acquisition of majority shares in the Widmore Corporation, preceding the final buyout of the corporation itself. According to their statement, this is the culmination of a year's worth of work in the wake of the death of the Widmore chief. Intended to stabilize and further integrate with their long-term financial ally, Paik has offered several assurances to the staff and executives of Widmore that their positions are safe despite the stock consolidation. No short-term lay-offs have been announced.
Paik Industries saw their stock grow by 6% on the Nikkei after the announcement, closing at a record high.
Concurrent to this announcement, Paik also revealed its new European division would be making its headquarters in London. Paik Bioscience has a long-term goal of new innovation in medical markets, and will for the time being be the predominant supervisor and ally of foundering Widmore. This announcement was released by the new division's appointed CEO, William Flood.
O – email this article O – print this article