AND LOVE CHAP 127
Kindness
LAST TIME
ON THE ISLAND, RING – FRONT DOOR
Several family members look at their phones. They see a disheveled middle-aged lady. Ragged, torn floor-length white robe with covering brown tunic; light cotton coat; well-worn shoes; scarf on her head covering stringy light brown hair. She looks like she has been crying, her head hanging low. Beside her are 2 well-worn suitcases.
"I'll get it," Eddie proclaims. She opens the door a little, "What do you want, ma'am?"
The lady raises her head, "Is Cassandra here, please?"
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Eddie is startled "Sarah Abdul?" She chokes out.
"Yes," the lady nods. "Can you help me, please?"
"Yes, come in." Eddie takes her by the arm and motions to the suitcases. Jamie and Nicky bring them inside. Sarah is ushered to the FR where she gratefully sits in a comfy chair. The family gathers around her. Cassie and Mal kneel, one on either side of her knees.
"Can I get you something to drink or eat, ma'am?" Mal inquires.
"Do you have tea, please," she softly asks.
"And maybe some toast?"
"Yes, please."
Mal scurries off; soon returning with tea, milk and honey. She also has a small tray with toast, butter and jam. She sets the refreshments on an ottoman by Mrs. Abdul's knees. "Is this all right, ma'am?"
"Perfect my dear, many thanks."
Cassie helps Sarah get the tea fixed to her liking, and after the guest takes a sip and bite of toast, asks what they all are wondering.
"We all are so sorry; we heard about the tragedy that befell your family. How did you get to us?"
Once started, the story pours forth. The orders that both Ibrahim and Eli participate in the commando raid. The mother's pleas notwithstanding – especially for Eli. She feared greatly for her kind, gentle son. The devastation when her husband and 2 sons did not return home. The begging for help from friends; finally resulting in ship passage on a freighter to Tunisia. Then by airline to Paris, then JFK. Then her last money for a cab, bringing her here to Cassandra's home.
"I have nowhere else to turn, please?" She puts down her tea cup, covers her face with her hands and begins to weep.
The family joins her with tears, hugs, and soft expressions of comfort and support. Jamie and Cassie took her suitcases up to the upstairs bedroom. They got her set-up in Cassie's lower trundle bed. The room was pretty full what with the 3 sisters, Nicky and now Sarah. The only empty bed now was the top bunk above Mary Rose! An unexpected situation, but one they could handle.
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ON THE ISLAND
The next morning after breakfast, Sarah had volunteered for cleanup, (Please, let me do something!). Afterwards, their guest wandered into the home office. She noticed a piece of embroidery laying on a chair, partially completed. She picked it up and carefully examined it. "This is very nice," she whispered.
Eddie noticed. "Nicky was working on that," she commented. "I think she grew tired of it."
"Oh, do you think she would mind if I completed it?"
"I am sure she would not mind. She has some more patterns and materials in that cabinet over there," Eddie points to a corner in the office.
"Thank you! I was a seamstress back home before I had our 2nd child. Then I retired, as you say it. Though being a mother is work too, yes?" She smiled at Eddie.
"Yes, yes, it is," Eddie replied before turning back to her computer.
Sarah is workings when Patrick wanders in. He stops by her side, very interested in what she is doing. He watches for a while, resting his hand on her leg. "Pretty," he muttered.
"You like that, ah . . .-
"Patrick," Eddie fills in as she hears the hesitation.
"Patrick, your name?" Sarah asks.
Pat nods.
"Pretty, can I do that too?"
"You would like to try?"
He nods vigorously.
"Well, let's see if there is a pattern you like, Patrick." She picks up the stack of patterns and leafs thru them, Patrick looking on. When she comes to the outline of a bluebird, he stops her and points.
"You like that one, yes?"
"Yes."
"That one is a bluebird. Let's see if we can find a picture of one."
Eddie has been listening; she goes to her browser and types BLUEBIRD. Up comes a full color picture. "Here you go!"
Sarah and Pat turn, "Oh, see. He has a white breast, a golden throat, a black beak and otherwise he is blue. Let's see if we can find those colors. Now, it's just an outline so what if we do just gold, blue and black?"
"Ok, that's good. Thank you."
They find the colors and Sarah shows Patrick how to get started. He keeps at it for an hour and 15", with Sarah's help. Mom is impressed with his concentration to task. 'There may be something here', she thinks.
AT SUPPER
Sarah speaks up. "Nicky, I took over your embroidery and finished it. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh, not at all. I think I'm going to give up on that. You may take over all that stuff. You're welcome."
"Thank you. I wish I could find work as a seamstress here. I'd like to find some work"
Jamie and Eddie look at each other. nodding. "We will keep our eyes open."
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BAY RIDGE, MBR
"Jack, I'm really concerned about Nicky."
"Why, dear?"
"His juvie record, Jack!"
"I don't-
"Why won't you even listen to me, about what's in it?"
"Erin! I've learned over the years that our past is just that. Our past! What matters is what we are now, and going forward."
"I know, but Nick's our daughter!"
"So?" He shrugs, as he slips on PJ shorts.
"So?" Erin explodes. "What the hell, Jack? I don't understand you!"
Jack sits down on the edge of the bed, as Erin sips into her snazzy red camisole. There is a huge piece of this that those who have seen Jimmy's juvie record haven't seen, or isn't in there. Jack Boyle was the defense attorney! He didn't recognize Jimmy at first. When he did-
FLASHBACK
James Collins enters the office of Boyle and Associates with his heart in his throat. He knows exactly what's up.
"Mr. Boyle is expecting you. Go right in," the receptionist announces.
Jimmy enters the double wooden doors. Jack is standing behind his desk, he motions for Jimmy to sit. He does, and Jack sits as well.
Jack clears his throat.
"Mr. Boyle-
Jack motions for him to stop, he does. "Jimmy, when I finally recognized you, I asked myself if what I knew of you as a juvenilemattered to me. Nicky's dad."
He pauses, Jimmy frets.
"My answer was no. If you have been clean ever since, that is."
"And?"
"And I had my top investigator do a thorough, top to bottom scrub. Guess what she found?"
'O GOD!'
"She found nothing. Nothing. Now, I haven't told anyone, yet. I'm not sure what to do. Jimmy. What would you advise me?"
"Advise you, sir?"
"Yes. Should I make this known? You see, nobody involved knows that I was your defense attorney. While I am not ashamed of that fact, I am not looking forward to Erin and Danny finding out. So, what would help you, here?"
"Well, I think Nicky should know. And hear it from me, sooner rather than later. I always intended to tell her. About that incident, I mean."
"I agree, son. I'm glad to hear you say that. Now, the 3 of us could meet here. Nick and I do that from time to time."
"Really?"
"Yes. Would you like me to set that up?"
"Yes, please." Jimmy relaxes a little.
"TXT me some day/time options, and I will pick one and set it up. Give my gal your cell number, please."
He does, they shake hands and Jimmy departs.
5 DAYS LATER
Jack and Nicky hug, "Hi dad, what's up?"
"Nick, it's about Jimmy's juvie-
"STOP! I've told him that I don't care about that!" Nick stands, grabs Jimmy's wrist and starts to leave. He firmly pulls her back to her seat.
"Jimmy, I-
"Nick, babe, listen to your dad, please. This isn't about me. It's about him."
Nicky is confused. She looks at Jimmy, then her dad, then back at Jimmy. "Ok." She sits back; arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Nick, when I first saw Jimmy, I didn't recognize him."
"You know him?" She is surprised.
"I was his defense attorney."
Nicky stares in disbelief. "No!"
"Yes." Jack looks to Jimmy, a questioning look.
"Nick. I intended to tell you about the incident. I wasn't sure when, or how." Jimmy looks down.
"Jimmy, baby, I don't care-
"I know you don't. And I love you for that-
"I love you too," she whispers.
"But I can't carry that around with me for . . . ah . . . –
"Forever," Nick whispers again. They share a brief kiss.
"May I tell you, please?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Should I leave?' Jack offers.
"No, dad. Stay please."
Jimmy starts: I was 17, with my 1st real girlfriend. I had dated some for a couple of years. We'd been together for 5 months. We were at her house, parents out of town. Our make out session got really hot and heavy. I mean she was really into it. We shed clothes, like we'd never done before. She was ready, but I hadn't brought protection; I wasn't expecting that. Well, she whipped out a condom and dared me to put it on.
He stops, hangs his head.
"Go on, babe," Nicky encourages him. She knows that he shouldn't quit now.
"I did, and we . . . ah, got in position. And I was part way in and for some reason she panicked! She started screaming NO, NO! So, I pulled out; she started hitting me and continued to scream. I tossed her clothes to her, got dressed fast and left. Next thing I know, I am charged with rape. As an adult."
He hangs his head; Nicky hugs him tightly. "It's ok, it's ok," she whispers. Over and over.
When they are composed, she looks to her dad. A questioning look on her face.
Jack nods. "That's what happened. She broke down during a deposition. She admitted to exactly what Jimmy just said. All charges were dropped, but I couldn't get the arrest and initial charges expunged. So, they are there in the record. I'm sorry."
Nicky nodded. "And mom?"
"Well, either she or Danny used their creds and status and pierced the veil and saw his juvie record."
"But charges were dropped, dad!"
"Yes, but they know that something bad happened, or someone thought so."
"But-
"Nick, I know it wasn't rape or even assault. Her attorney tried to get Jimmy to plead to that. I encouraged him to stand firm, and he did. The only bad thing that happened was her panic. We stood firm for dropping charges, and they were."
"Jimmy, babe, it's what and who you are now that matters to me-
"Do you really mean that-
"James Collins, look at me!"
They look at each other, intently.
Jack Boyle quietly slips out.
"Jimmy, I love you. That, whatever it was, does not matter to me now. I know who you are. I know Gregg trusts you; and he wouldn't if you are someone he couldn't trust. Can we leave this behind us, please?"
"Yes, I love you too."
They seal their vow with a kiss.
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ON THE ISLAND – 2 WEEKS LATER
"Uncle Jamie, may I take the Chevelle for a drive? I am taking Jimmy out for supper." Nicky looks pleadingly at Jamie.
He smells romance in the air. He smiles, "Ok, but don't do anything your aunt and I wouldn't do." WINK
"Thanks," WINK.
Porsche Huntington, 6 PM
Nicky pulls up, parks and honks 3 times. She waits 5 minutes and Jimmy hustles out, slips into the shotgun seat and sighs.
"Rough day, babe?" Nick asks as she leans over and gives him a short kiss.
"Naw, just the usual. Folks want it done now! Where are we going?"
"A way out ON THE ISLAND."
"Dinner?"
"Something like that." She smirks.
"Ok, I trust you."
"Good, you should."
Nick drives east for 40". She stops at a grove of cottonwood trees. She drives off the road, into the grove and parks with the car headed back west. She looks over at JC, "Hungry?"
"Ah . . . I don't see a drive in, or-
"I thought we'd start with desert. Look behind you."
"Um . . . all I see is . . . a beautiful backseat," he blushes furiously.
"That backseat has history, babe. Let's add to it, shall we?"
"Well, I didn't bring-
"No worries. 3 months on the pill. I'm ready, are you?"
He was ready!
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TBC