ESCAPE
Chapter Twenty-Four
"Mommy!" Jayvelin and Jacob let go
of Nana Bobo’s hand and were immediately welcomed into their mother’s open
arms.
She lifted them in her arms.
"Kids..." She stopped. She looked at all the other people that she
had lived day after day with for so long. "Everyone, I’d like you
to meet Jack Dawson. He has agreed to keep me safe."
There was an awed silence. Then, Bob Robinson
stood up, walked over to this fascinating man, stuck his hand out, and said,
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dawson. Bob Robinson here."
*****
"Mommy, why do we have to leave?"
"I’m afraid it’s not safe to stay
here," Rose told her children. "But that nice man, Jack, is letting
us stay with him. And he has a big, big house that you two are just going to
adore."
This answer suited Jayvelin. Her inner sense
had drawn her to Jack, and she knew that he was what Cal had always been to
Jacob.
*****
The good-byes were heart-wrenching even for
Jack, who had just met all the people five minutes ago. But what had to be
done, had to be done.
"We’ll be just a walk away. And tomorrow
I’ll send my main man to help each and every one of you back on your feet. Hey,
none of that too proud for charity thing. This isn’t charity. When I see
someone that needs help, I help them. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t,
so in taking my money, you’re actually saving my life," Jack told them.
Inevitably, the night began to get chilly,
and the last good-bye took place.
"I’ve seen too many good-byes in this
journey," Rose muttered to herself before taking one last look back.
*****
"Mommy," the extremely sleepy Jacob
said, "are we going home for good?"
She cuddled her children closer in the
backseat of the car while Jack drove. "Yes. Oh, my darling, sweet little
baby boy, we’re going home for good."