Estelle

22| Meet me in the park

"I've been a coward, Jane."

"Dad." I am in disbelief.

"I should have called you over a year ago but I didn't. I'm so sorry and I need to see you right now."

I swallow hard. "I... I don't think this is a good time."

"I'm in Italy now. I flew here to see you after Mr. Vallorani mentioned where you were." He laughs to himself. "I only just got the courage to call you."

"Dad, I would love to but..."

"I know where she is." I suck in my breath. "Meet me in the park at the center of town. Bring the men that work for the other Mr. Vallorani. I'm not helping Accelius, I promise. I'm here on my own."

I don't say anything. I am too surprised to say a thing. I never thought he would come to see me. I never thought he would be the one out of everyone to be calling me now. Most of all, he knows where Blue is.

"I'll tell you where she is in person. I know it isn't safe so bring a lot of those men to keep you safe."

"O...okay, dad." The phone call ends.

I immediately grab a handgun and put it in a secure place in my jacket before getting into the car with two other vehicles following me. I sit in the back seat, anxiously bouncing my leg as we roll through town and approach the park.

What will he want to talk about? Do I forgive him? What has he been doing? Is he homeless now or did he find a place to stay?

We pull into the park and I get out, informing the men to stand around the park but remain inconspicuous. I begin walking down the path and soon spot a familiar figure on a park bench.

"Dad?"

He turns to me and smiles. The lines on his face look longer than the last time I saw him and his eyes look sad. I sit down on the bench next to him.

"Jane, I... uh... I'm sorry. I... I really don't have an excuse for my behavior. I should have been a better father a long time ago."

"What changed?" I ask but make my voice sound kind and not resentful.

"I found some old pictures of us with your mother." He sticks his hand into his pocket and pulls out a small, square slip of paper. "You look just like her." He smiles down at the photo, his eyes looking a bit younger.

He hands me the photo and I take it, looking over the image of a large cake with the number 3 on it. Mom is smiling behind young me while I stick my hand in the cake. Her smile is infectious and I can't help but smile too.

"I loved your mother more than anything," he sighs "but I couldn't let go of the past. I know it is no excuse but my father was just like me. No good."

I look to my father as he takes the photo back and slides it into his wallet. His graying rusty brown hair is unkempt and his beard is uneven. I see deep regret and sadness on his face as he gazes at my mom in the photo.

"I don't hate you." He looks at me, eyes wide in surprise. "I think most people would be but I have never been one to hold onto anger."

He smiles the first genuine smile I have seen in years. "You sound just like her. She once said, 'forgiveness is not giving up but letting it fall into God's hands'. I was never a holy person like your mother but now I understand." He huffs out a breath of air and speaks more to himself. "I am in God's hands now." He turns to me, his face becoming serious. "I realize that she would be disappointed in me if I let you go and never try to right my wrongs. She would want you to be happy."

"She wants you to be happy too. I am willing to make her proud of us if you are." I say as I gaze at the sparse stress around us and the walking people. "I'm tired of running."

"I am ready. Jane, I know this life is dangerous and I am sorry for dragging you into it. I will never forgive myself. That is why I want to tell you where your friend is." He hands me a slip of paper with an address on it. "Don't go by yourself. I know you can handle yourself and your uncle did a good deal of teaching you things but he is not right in the head anymore. It is dangerous."

I nod. "I'll tell Adonis."

My father stands from his bench and steps onto the paved path. "Speaking of that man, I expect to meet him. I may not be much of a dad but I have to make sure he is good enough. Ya know, just dad stuff."

I laugh. "I'm sure he will be happy to meet you."

"I'm staying in Italy. I'll call you later and maybe we can meet up."

I nod again. "I would like that. Thank you, dad. I am truly grateful."

With that, he walks down the path and soon out of sight. I quickly stand and rush to the car, the men around the park following my actions.

"Let's go back." I hop into the car and the men drive off quickly.

Pulling out my phone, I look over the address as I call him.

"Jane? Is everything okay?"

I relax at the sound of his voice. "I know where she is."

I hear hesitation on the other end. He knows I must have done something dangerous to get it but he knows that is not important at the moment. "Where?"

"She is at the warehouse on Via Sacra."

"Are you out of the house?"

I bite my lip. "Yes. We are on our way back now though."

"I trust your decisions, Jane. Just let me know next time. I love you."

"I lov..."

Suddenly, the car jerks and I feel my head hit the headrest. The phone is thrown out of my hands as I become weightless. The seat belt locks and jerks my body back as the car crashes into the ground. My hair is in my face as I hang upside down from my seat.

"JANE! JANE! ANSWER!"

I hear Adonis's voice coming from the phone somewhere in the back seat. I try to push past the blinding pain in my neck and shoulder. I feel blood rush to my head and I let out a moan.

"I... I think we crashed." I twist my head and try to see if the driver is okay. There is no movement.

"Jane, are you okay?"

I unbuckle the seatbelt and drop into the roof of the car, landing on a pile of broken glass. I drag myself towards the front and shake the driver. He doesn't move and I place my finger on his neck. There is a pulse but it is faint.

"Call an ambulance." I look out the broken windows and frown when I see nothing but blue. I blink and then the fear grips me. "Adonis, I'm on a bridge... and I think the car is on the edge."

"Get out of there, Jane."

Before I can move, the door opposite of me is swung open and I feel someone grab my legs and start dragging me out. I let out a scream as the hands roughly yank me out of the car, glass scratching at my skin.