SECRETS OF THE PAST
Chapter Fifteen
By the time Jack got to the
hospital, it was almost too late. His father's condition had gone from bad to
worse. Rose waited, feeling uncertain as to how he would react.
"Jack, thank God you're
here." Rose went to him.
"Why? What's wrong?"
Jack did not think that it was that serious.
"Your father has been
calling for you, saying that he's not leaving until you’re here." Rose had
no idea what to do. She was confused.
Jack quickly went inside. His
father was attached to monitors and the like.
"Dad?" Jack was worried
about him.
"Frank? Is little Frankie
here, too?" Frank asked.
"Yeah, Dad. He is with Rose.
I am here, Dad. You're not dying. You're strong." Jack tried not to cry.
"No, Frank. It is time. I
can feel it." Frank could feel himself slipping away.
"You sure?" Jack asked.
"Yeah. I want you to have
this." He passed him a little black book with account numbers inscribed
inside it. "I have been putting money into this account, Frank, under Jack
Dawson, since the day your mom left you with me. It's over a million dollars. I
want you to give some to Franklin for college."
"Sure, Dad. I will."
Jack always kept his promises.
"Dad? Where is Angelina?
Shouldn't she be here?" Jack asked.
"I have no idea, but she
must be on her way. If I don't see her, tell her that I loved her very
much." Frank wanted to wait for her to say good-bye, if he could.
"Okay, Dad. I will."
Jack touched his father's hand for support.
"Jack, I am very tired, and
I am going to rest now. I am so proud of you. You are the most precious thing I
have ever loved," Frank tried to say through the oxygen mask.
"Thanks, Dad. You rest now,
okay? Get better," Jack told him, feeling very sad.
"Okay, Frank. I love you,
son," Frank managed to say.
"I do, too, Dad."
Hearing that made Jack start to cry.
Jack went outside to tell Rose
and Franklin quickly about his father's condition.
"Jack, how is he?" Rose
asked.
"it seems like he's trying
to hang on until Mom gets here. He's so very strong. I know he can make
it." Jack wiped his tears on his sleeve.
"Dad, can I see him?"
Franklin asked.
"Sure. Go ahead." Jack
had wanted his father and his son to get close, and now he feared that it was
too late.
Franklin walked inside the room.
He could hear the monitors beeping. Then, all of a sudden, a loud beep went on.
Franklin called Jack.
"Dad, hurry! Something is
wrong." Franklin knew that there would be no luck. Somehow, he knew his
grandfather was gone.
"Doctor! My father!"
Jack called to them.
The doctors ran in and tried to
resuscitate him. After ten minutes, there was no response. Frank William
Abagnale, known as the Skyway Man, was dead.
The news was dreadful to all.
Even Angelina, who had not gotten
there in time, would feel awful that she wasn't there in the last moments of
his life.
Jack cried and held onto Rose.
Franklin was shocked, unable to
believe that his grandpa had died.
"Frank!" Angelina
rushed in, running.
"Mom, he's gone." He
went to her.
"No, he's fine. He's
okay." Angelina tried to calm herself.
"Mom, he told me that he
loved you very much," Jack said, still crying.
"No! Frank!" She began
to cry, and he held her.
Jack now had a different agenda.
He had a funeral to prepare, and he had to see what exactly was in those
accounts. With his father gone, it only meant one thing--his father was at
peace and there would be no more running, which reminded him of Carl Hanratty.
They had been close, and he was sure he would want him to be there. After all
the things they had been through, he was sure that he wanted him there.