A Force Love Contract With GANG LEADER

She gave birth to her, but the first time she could hold her was two months ago. She could not put her down for a second. The little thing ate well, slept well, and seldom cried. She liked to be held in her mother’s arms and went around each room. Her eyes would widen with curiosity, and she chased the fat cat whenever she saw it.

Jimmy had visited once and sent a special gift.

After he was gone, Kate took the little bear to her daughter’s crib. She pressed the button, and the bear started to dance and sang. After the song she sang, another piece of music started.

The familiar music brought tears to Kate’s eyes. After the familiar piano prelude, she heard the mellow voice. “Hush, little baby, don’t say a word. Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won’t sing, Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring…”

This time he sang much more fluently than last time. Kate put her hand to her mouth and turned her back to her daughter. Her daughter opened her big eyes and listened quietly.

The case was like a black vortex, aroused great sensation in the nation, and swallowed many government officials in LA. Many of them lost their career, and some even lost their lives or were put behind bars. Over one hundred persons in the police and customs system were involved in the case. Governor Madison’s political career was ruined.

In the following half years, new officials take office gradually and finally got in the zone. Mayor Donald Harderson, who had been busy with the changing of the posts for this period, took the chance to resign for health reasons.

On a very nice autumn afternoon, he took the train and came to another city in the state.

He took a cab and went to a cemetery in a suburban area.

The cemetery was small and inconspicuous, but it was clean and orderly. Phoenix trees were planted along the fence of the cemetery. The thick, sturdy, and tall trunks and the broad crowns with golden leaves gave them an air of dignity.

After asked the guard, Donald found the grave.

On the dark marble headstone, two names were written: Simon Foster, Eileen Carroll.

Nothing more was written on the stone. The style resembled the persons who lived under it.

Donald recalled this brother, and tears rimmed his eyes. He bowed and said, “Simon, I come to see you now. I am sorry for coming so late…”

What replied to him was only the murmur of the winds among the phoenix trees.

I want to be your brother again when we meet in heaven.

I want to pay you back.

The golden leaves flew in the air, and some dropped under his feet. That day was not far away.

It was a miracle to see a child growing.

Eight-month-old Cathy was chubby and lively. She could climb now, and when she smiled, there were two dimples on the corners of her mouth. She was active and frisky but not clingy. She could spend half a day playing with toys on her own.

The center of Kate’s life was her daughter. And she still went to church every Sunday. She liked to stay behind when the preaching was over. The quiet and lonely church had a peaceful air. She prayed for peace and safety for her family only.

One day after she got out of the church, she saw a brand-new dark Pajero. She had some hunch, and she saw the door opened, and Jimmy jumped down.

“You come to the church?” Kate asked with puzzlement.

Jimmy shook his head. “I come to see you. I heard that you came here every week.”

“You heard?”

Jimmy smiled awkwardly, “You know, our job requires us to be well-informed.”

Tristan was still in a coma, and another important person of the Chasin Group, Chapman Hacker, fled to Mexico and disappeared before the action started. Those arrested were all small guys of the group. So the police had been monitoring Kate. Kate had detected something. She felt she was followed whenever she went out. And she even suspected that they had bugged her condo. However, she had done nothing, so she didn’t have anything to worry about.

After Kate got into Jimmy’s car, Jimmy said, “I have good news for you today.”

He waited for a second and then said, “Your request for visiting has been approved.”

Kate’s eyes brightened, “Really?”

“Thank you.”

Jimmy was awarded for his excellent performance in this action and was promoted. So he tried to help Kate get what she wanted, as long as it did not violate the principles.

“But,” seeing her expectation and persistence, Jimmy didn’t bear to see her be disappointed in the end, “I have talked with the doctors. They said that until now, there isn’t a shred of sign showing that he will wake up…”

Kate didn’t mind about it. “No news is good news.”

After a while, she muttered, “It means there is still hope. I saw a line, ‘Hope is a good thing.’ in a movie.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“The Shawshank Redemption.”

“You saw it.”

Jimmy smiled. “Well, the World Trade Center will have an inauguration ceremony on Saturday. Are you coming to see?”

On Sunday, Kate took her daughter to Tristan’s ward.

There was an armed policeman at the door of the ward. Cathy was curious and reached her hand to touch his uniform. Kate stopped her immediately and smiled apologetically at him. A bold girl. Afraid of nothing.

Inside the ward, the monitors beeped.

When she saw the person lying on the bed, tears rimmed her eyes. His expression was calm and peaceful. She thought these days were probably the most peaceful days in his life.

Kate’s daughter reached her chubby hand to wipe the tears from her face.

They only got half an hour, and they had to take good advantage of the time. Kate held her daughter to his side and told her gently, “Cathy, this is daddy.”

This one was more real than the daddy in the picture. Her daughter was curious and bent towards him and seemed to want to get close to him.

When Kate held her closer, her hand reached to touch her father’s big hand immediately.

Looking at the big hand and tiny hand together, Kate’s heart was overwhelmed with emotions. She said softly, “Do you feel it? This is your child, our child.”

The little thing bent down her head and started to bite. She was growing teeth now and would bite whatever she could get her hands on. Kate didn’t stop her and just watched her made a few tooth marks on her father’s finger and left some of her mouth water. She turned back to watch her mother’s reaction and smiled and showed the little dimples…

A few days later, Kate got a phone call. It was from Jessie, who she had not seen for a long time.

Jessie made an appointment with her at the café on the first floor of the World Trade Center.

After they met, Jessie said, “This is the place he was waiting to see.”

Kate nodded, “I brought him a photo when I visited him.”

Jessie paused a little after heard her words. And then she smiled with relief, “I come to say goodbye to you today.”

Kate was surprised, “Where are you going to?”

“Abroad. Traveling. With my father.” She sighed. “He endeavored on work with all his heart and soul. He had a dreary life. I hope he can go to see more beautiful scenery in the remainder of his life.”

Kate detected something was wrong and saw Jessie’s eyes reddened, “He got cancer. Terminal.”

Jessie said sincerely, “The first time I saw you, I thought you were a useless person. And then I thought you were too weak, didn’t deserve him. Now I think you are much better than I am. I will not have to worry about him with you being with him.”

When they got out of the café, Jessie said, “Want a drive?”

Kate shook her head, “No, thanks. I will take the bus.”

Jessie didn’t insist, and she said, “I am not going to hug you, but let’s shake hands for goodbye.”

Watching her put on the big sunglasses that covered half of her face and drive that ostentatious red sports car away, Kate couldn’t help recalling the images two years ago. She was struck by a lot of emotions when she walked to the bus station.

Not until she got on the bus, walked to the empty seat in the last row, and sat down did she slowly open her palm. Inside her palm was a crumpled paper ball.

She spread it and found a series of numbers that looked like a telephone number.

And in the end, it wrote C. H.