buried under mountains of paper work until Christmas."
Albert laughed. "No, I left it all in your brother's capable hands." He pulled off his sunglasses and tucked them in his pocket. "I have a few things I need to check on here," he paused, shifting his attention to Abigeál's retreating back. "Don't run off Abigeál, let me see that baby girl of yours."
"She was just about to take Katie inside to feed her, Sir. It's a little too cool out here now."
Albert looked away, as though I hadn't spoken, and shifted around his daughter and son-in-law toward Abigeál. He glanced over his shoulder, his brow squinting from the afternoon sun, focusing his green eyes on me. "I just want to see that precious baby girl you and Abigeál created. I'm sure your little Katie won't mind if I hold her for just a minute, right, Scott?"
My heart froze, and shattered into a million pieces.
"I'm sorry, Albert. She really needs to be feed," Abigeál interjected. "She gets really cranky when it's past –"
I took a deep breath and watched helplessly as Albert reached over, and lifted Katie out of Abigeál's arms.
"She's a special little girl, isn't she?" Albert cooed, stroking her silky black hair. "You look just like your daddy, his same blue eyes."
Albert glanced up with knowing eyes. Abby grabbed my hand, cutting off my circulation
"Scott, you'll be at the company meeting in Seattle on Monday, right?" He asked without taking his eyes off my daughter.
Abby paled and I could see the rapid movement of her chest under her green tank top.
"Yes sir, I'll be there." I answered through the lump in my throat.
♦~♦~♦~♦
Please don't do this, Scott!" Abigeál pleaded, gripping the silver frame that held our family picture.
"Do you think I want to do this, Abigeál? I'm ripping my own heart out." I stepped around the overturned furniture. "Look around you," I gestured with my hands. "I skipped Monday's impromptu meeting, and now look at our house. You know as well as I do that they did this. They know we lied! And you know they'll never stop looking for us – for her! Is that the life you want for her, Abigeál?" She trembled as tears slid silently down her cheeks. "Answer me!"
"No!" She shouted and sank to the floor. "Oh… Scott, please. I can't lose my baby. There has to be another way!"
I bent down, delicately pulling up her chin to look her in the eyes. "We knew when we made our decision to have her that this was always a possibility, Abigeál."
"I know!" She shouted and shoved my hand away. "I never believed for one minute we'd have to go through with it."
"I'm so sorry, Abby… I love you both." I whispered.
♦~♦~♦~♦
The sky was a dark, murky blue, with only a sliver of the moon glistening through thick clouds that threatened rain. The wind picked up enough to have the swings swaying back and forth, as though the hands of God were gently pushing them. I walked around our two-story rambler, pouring gasoline on every flammable object I could find.
I paused staring over the twenty acres surrounding our house; they once seemed so alive with possibilities for the future, but now seemed void of hope.
Our dream house, I thought, unable to stop tears from slipping down my cheeks. Abigeál and I worked so hard to make everything perfect for our future, our daughter. Now, with one spark, those dreams will vanish.
I tossed the match and ran into the cover of the woods. Thick, black smoke billowed out of the shattered windows. Within minutes amber flames tore through my home, my life. I collapsed to my knees, vowing to make things right.
♦~♦~♦~♦
I raced down the side of the cliff to the dock, and jumped into the boat I had waiting for me. It was sleek and made for speed. Using it for its full intention, I raced under the Golden Gate Bridge and hugged the coastline, using only moonlight to guide my way.
Some time passed before I slowed and a blanket of dense fog swept in, engulfing every inch of Half Moon Bay.
The only way I could safely access the cavern without being detected, was at low tide, and that wouldn't happen for another hour. I glanced up. The fog had waned just enough so I could see the house perched on the cliffs edge, like a general ready and waiting for battle.
I clenched my fists. "I'll fight you until there's not a drop of life left in me."
I made my way into the boats cabin and sat down at the scarred table in the corner of the room.
Yesterday's newspaper stared back at me:
Missing: Predominate Dr. Scott Tillman suspected of arson
and the untimely death of his wife and infant daughter.
I balled up the paper and tossed it on the floor. Abigeál walked up and rested her hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath and began to write:
Tom,
As I sit here, putting pen to paper, I find myself struggling to find the right words.
I've never written a more important letter in my life.
I lifted my hand from the paper and shook it trying to make the trembling stop. Accepting that my hand would never stop shaking, I began to write again.
This precious baby girl you're looking at is my daughter, Katie. She was born on April 18th and it breaks my heart to say, she isn't safe with my wife and I any longer.
I paused, blinking back tears that were clouding my vision.
I can't help but think of all the wrong decisions I've made throughout my life. I've done things I'm not proud of; things that even if I tried to explain, you wouldn't fully understand.
I will, however, do my best to explain the one thing I know, you, of all people, will understand: My older brother passed away at thirteen, from cancer. His death destroyed my parents emotionally, and physically. So, I didn't just lose my brother that cold day in September, I lost my parents too. They'd become nothing more than empty shells and the sun never shined in the Tillman house again.
Accepting that my family would never be the same, I focused on my schoolwork and quickly rose to the top of my class, and continued to excel through medical school. I was offered a job with a well-known medical research company - and accepted it - with the hopes of saving lives someday.
I never wanted to feel the pain my parents had, so I decided to never have children of my own… That was until I met my wife.
Her desire to have a family was contagious. I allowed myself to see the possibilities through her eyes, but fear still overwhelmed me. I set out in search of a way to make our dreams come true, without the risks, and found it.
I heard once that when much is given, much is expected in return. I just never dreamed I would have to sacrifice the most precious gift in my life. But now I know nothing comes without a cost – a cost I now believe is worse than death.
My daughter is one of a kind Mr. Williamson and, because of that, there are people in this world that would rather she not exist. I know none of this makes any sense to you, but I need you, and your wife, to protect her and raise her as your own. My wife and I want her to live as normal a life as possible, and this is the only way.
To answer the question I'm sure you're asking: no, you don't know me - but I know everything there is to know about you. I know you saved the lives of countless men in your brigade by risking your own life, and losing your right leg in the process. And, that you've dedicated your life to helping others.
Mr. Williamson, you are the only one I trust to protect her as I would. I would give up my life if it meant she could stay here in her mother's arms, but it would do no good. The people who want her wouldn't be satisfied with my wife's death, nor mine. They only want our daughter.
Life, and the people around you, aren't always what they seem Tom, and I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for that.
-Scott T.
PS - Please burn this letter immediately.
I sat there, numb, as I finished the letter and stuffed it into an envelope.
Revelation