Redeemed

“He spoke lots of languages,” Little Adam cries. “I heard him.” A weeping Allard throws his arms around him. “My dad was a doctor and he’s not dead,” Little Adam screams as Allard gently strokes his head. Katie throws her arms around him and hugs him hard. “These are all lies.” Her insides are shaking. He and that woman looked so comfortable, like a husband and wife! Could he have had another wife and other kids? Nausea attacks her taste buds, and she swallows it down hard. “We all know he spoke several languages and he was a doctor. The CIA is trying to convince the public that I’m crazy and that he was a con man.” “Why?” Wes asks calmly. “Why is it so important to paint him in such a bad light?” “I don’t know. Maybe if they can convince me he was a loser and that he wasn’t an agent, I’ll stop asking about him and leave them be. But if they had told me he’d died, I’d have left them alone. Why all the charades?” “Somebody screwed up.” “Or maybe Adam told you too much,” Allard suggests. “Whatever it is, they are determined to bring you both down.” “This morning I heard on the radio that your marriage license was phony and the actual number belongs to a couple in Ohio who want to sell copies for a dollar each.” Allard laughs. “They said you were never legally married and that you knew it because your taxes always stated you were single.” “He told me we had to do that to protect his identity.” Tears are running down her face. “I know I wasn’t conned, but I never meant to have this blow up so badly. I just wanted to give him a decent funeral. Wow!” “Go to the ranch. Let it calm down.” “You’re right. Boys, let’s go while there’s nobody at the gate. We’re going to drive up there.” “You’re crazy.” “Certifiable.” “Don’t jeopardize the boy’s safety. Fly.” “That’s what they’re watching for. They’ll monitor my every move, but nobody will expect me to drive anywhere.” “Katie, you can’t make it for six hours without using the bathroom or filling the gas tank.” “Allard can fill the tank, and the boys can stand guard while I use the men’s room. I once traveled three-thousand miles incognito; I can do six hours.” “You weren’t famous then.” “I was wanted.” Within an hour they are on the road in her rarely used Buick LeSabre. She wishes she could let Allard drive a little, but she knows better. She stays under the speed limit but longs to speed and make the trip faster. She is nervous, and yet there is a great sense of adventure in the group. She has to use the restroom only once, but it takes three gas stations to find one with the restrooms on the outside. She can’t help remembering being fifteen on the road trip with Adam. He would go into the men’s room first and straighten them up and spray with some flowery scent. The contrast between urinal and summer breeze was nauseating, and she had to ask him to stop. Her life was in danger back then and they were driving from New York to Huck’s hospital in San Francisco. If she had been recognized she could have been killed by the crooked FBI men who had killed her parents, brother, and eight others in the massacre on her fifteenth birthday. She wipes away tears. Adam protected her. She suspects that he and her brother Chris later killed the two FBI agents, but they both denied it. She feels that Adam kept her safe. What she would do for a safe feeling now. Seven hours later, they arrive. The three of them stare at the crowd at the wrought iron gate of Nick’s Ranch. “Susannah, go back to Hollywood” one sign reads. Another says “Don’t bring your insanity back here.” But the one that hurts the most is a picture of an apple tree with the caption, “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” She has to stop the car completely and she is scared. She sees Nick, Cahill, Mitch, and even Breck coming toward the gate carrying guns, and that makes it even more scary. “Look at that sign, Mom.” She looks where Allard is pointing. “Welcome home, Katie. Laugh often, love much. You’ve been gone too long.” She waves at the man holding it. She sees him wave back, then sees him pull a gun. She screams for the boys to duck, but they didn’t understand. She forces Allard’s head down and shouts that somebody has a gun and for Adam to crawl onto the floor of the back seat. Both boys do as they are told. No shots are fired, but the rapping on the window gives them all heart attacks. Nick mouths for her to sit up. She does. Her face tear-streaked, her eyes huge with fear, she waits for his next direction. He motions for her to drive through the now-open gate. There are people everywhere, but she drives on through. “You can sit up, boys.” Her crying sons do. When she gets to the house, she parks the car, but she doesn’t get out. The three of them sit there weeping, waiting for Nick and the other men. Nobody comes from inside the house to meet them, either. Katie knows immediately that orders have been given to stay inside and are being followed. Life has changed for everyone. Once again she has inadvertently made life miserable for the people she loves. She sees the men coming and tells the boys, “We can get out now.” Nick motions for them to go inside, and the three of them climb out of the car. The boys are hugged and kissed, but no such expression of love is waiting for Katie. All eyes ask what have you done to our world?