| |
Frank stared lovingly at his daughter, Valerie. With her deep blue eyes and long dark hair flowing over her shoulders, she looked just like her mother had when she was 17. Valerie was a beautiful girl and had easily captured the attention of several young men at her high school, much to her father’s dismay. Frank knew there would be no shortage of boyfriends in her future.
“Valerie!” Frank called out to her from the school parking lot.
“Dad! What are you doing here? Megan and I are supposed to go shopping together.”
“Change of plans. Tell Megan you’ll catch up with her later. I was thinking we could get some ice cream and talk.”
“Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“Yes, but I stepped out for a bit so I could spend some time with you.”
Valerie said goodbye to her friend and hopped into her father’s car. Frank could tell she was excited to see him and curious about his unexpected visit, but he did not reveal his intentions until they arrived at their destination. Frank took a bite of his sundae and began the conversation. “You know, I used to take your mom here. We had some good times, but that was a long time ago. Anyway, how was school? Did you have a good day?”
“It was alright.”
“I still can’t believe you’ll be graduating next year! I guess it won’t be long before you don’t need me anymore.”
“I’ll always need you, Daddy,” she said, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “In a couple years, I’ll be entering the police academy. Who else will be there to keep all those cute new recruits from getting within two feet of me?”
“Yeah, I’ll have my eye on them. Promise me you’ll at least try to find one who’s worthy of you.”
“Do any of them even stand a chance of meeting your high expectations?”
“Not likely, but they can try,” he answered and winked knowingly at her. “You’re just like your mother and every bit as beautiful. You don’t know the power you possess. Speaking of that, I can see you’re wearing too much makeup. Your clothes are too tight, and that skirt is way too short. No daughter of mine is going to school dressed like that. Are we clear?”
“Sorry, Dad. Ryan likes how I look.”
“I’ll bet he does! Who’s Ryan? Tell me more about this guy.”
“Why? So you can check up on him?”
“I’m just doing my job as a parent. You’ll understand someday. You know, your mom would have given anything to get the kind of attention from her father that I’m giving you. You’re lucky you have a dad who cares about you enough to stick around and make sure you don’t ruin your life. So let me remind you, as long as you’re living in my house, I better not find any boys in your room. There’s plenty of time for that, and hopefully I’m dead by then.”
“Dad!”
“Oh, and if this new boyfriend of yours wants to take you out on a date, you tell him I’ll be up late cleaning my guns, so he better get you home on time.”
“Yes, Dad,” she responded with a roll of her eyes. “Do you have any idea what it’s like being the police chief’s daughter? It kind of freaks out the guys. Hopefully it won’t scare Ryan away too.”
“Well, if he’s a decent guy who stays out of trouble and respects you, then he’s got nothing to worry about. You know I always get suspicious of anyone new in your life. That’s because I know there are people out there willing to hurt you to get to me, and I would never forgive myself if anything bad ever happened to you.”
“I understand I have to be careful, Dad, but Ryan is just a boy from school. You really shouldn’t worry so much.”
“Val, I realize I won’t be able to protect you forever, and I know I’ve given you a hard time about following your mom and I down the path of law enforcement. If being a cop is really what you want to do with your life, then I’ve decided I won’t stand in your way. Maybe the self-defense training would even do you some good. But that still won’t stop me from worrying about you like crazy because I love you so much.”
“Thanks, Dad. I love you too.”
Frank’s thoughts drifted for a moment to the first time he’d taken his daughter target shooting. She had suddenly shown interest one day about a year ago and insisted on accompanying him to the pistol range. He planned to take her once and eliminate her fascination. He thought that would be the end of it, but he could not have been more wrong. Frank saw how excited she was when she pulled the trigger and hit her target. The experience had forever changed her. She discovered she had a taste for it, and it was hard to deny his daughter’s raw talent. The results spoke for themselves. Valerie was a natural, shooting with the effortless accuracy of her mother. Thankfully, their son had not shown the same interest in guns. It appeared he did not intend to follow in his parents’ footsteps.
“I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you, and your brother too. Of all the things I’ve ever accomplished, you kids are the greatest contribution I’ve made with my life, so don’t let me down.”
“You’re not dying, are you, Dad?”
“Not that I know of. Why?”
“The things you’re saying.”
“It’s about time I said them. I know sometimes I don’t say nearly enough, and I haven’t always been able to be there for you, which I deeply regret. I hope you can forgive me.”
“It’s OK, Dad. I always knew you loved me, and you were there as much as you could be, but you do work a lot. I know your job is important, but don’t you think maybe it’s time to retire?”
“You’re right, sweetie. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, but this job has always been a part of who I am, and I’m not eager to give it up. However, being a cop is a younger man’s game, and I’m no longer a young man. But Val, you have your whole life ahead of you, and if I know you, it’s going to be one wild ride. Now, I better drop you off at home and get back to work.”
“So you really skipped out on work just for me?”
“That’s right. I am the boss you know, and besides, what’s the worst that could happen? I’m planning to announce my retirement at my 60th birthday party anyway. I made a promise to your mom a long time ago that this would be my last year, and I intend to keep it.”
Driving home, Frank wondered how so many years had slipped away from him. How had his kids grown up so fast? It seemed only yesterday Valerie was his little girl. He remembered holding Gina’s hand throughout the long and difficult labor the day his daughter was born. From day one, it was clear Valerie was a spirited child, unlike her more calm and level-headed younger brother, Sam. When Frank looked over at his daughter, he was reminded of the difficult years leading up to this day.
Frank’s marriage to Gina didn’t turn out quite the way he’d planned. Sure, she was the woman of his dreams, but she was also hard to hold on to. Fate had brought them together, but fate quickly threatened to push them apart. Though he never regretted the birth of their first child, Frank often wished she hadn’t arrived so soon. He could have used more time alone with Gina to cement their marriage first, but they didn’t get that chance. For the short time they had worked together as a husband and wife detective team, they were blissfully happy, but Valerie’s birth had forever changed their lives in ways that were both good and bad. It was Frank’s chronic addiction to his work, however, that did the most damage to their relationship.
The strain became evident about five years into their marriage. At 47 years old, Frank’s hair was primarily gray, but he was now the proud father of a four-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. With a beautiful, loving wife and a great career, he had everything a man could ask for but no time to enjoy any of it. Gina, now age 34, was a full-time stay-at-home mom. While motherhood brought her great joy, it had also meant the end of detective work. Frank had sensed her growing restlessness over the last few years. He knew how much she hated sacrificing her career, but Gina had made it quite clear she did not want someone else raising their children. Her biggest fear was for them to feel discarded like she had been. Still, Frank could tell she was growing tired of him getting called in to work while she was left out of the action.
Before Frank could rush out the door on one such morning, Gina cornered him, looking for a kiss. He was slightly resistant at first, since she was keeping him from more important things, but it didn’t take long for Frank to lose himself in her embrace. Unfortunately, they were once again interrupted by his phone.
“Hold on a sec,” he told her. “I’ve got to take this.” Frank tried to maintain eye contact with her as he answered the call.
Soon the baby started screaming, and Gina had to break herself away from Frank’s arms. When she came back to continue where they’d left off, Frank was already out the door. He hadn’t even said goodbye, or maybe he had and she just hadn’t heard him over the deafening wail of their baby. Either way, it left her feeling cold and empty. She would have the company of their children all day, which was not the same. She wanted just a scrap of his attention, but that had become a rare commodity since she’d left the force. Frank’s increasing responsibilities made it difficult for them to spend quality time together.
That summer had brought a rising crime wave to Chicago that left the city in chaos. The murder rate was at an all-time high, and so were the budget cuts, requiring that more be done with less. Even though Captain Michaels was hard pressed to run his department with the personnel he had, he was forced to temporarily lay off one of his detectives until further funding could be secured. This meant cutting someone of a middle rank since he desperately needed not only his most experienced officers at a time like this, but also his least experienced, since rookies were cheap to employ. Such were the conditions under which Tim found himself without a job, while Frank and Sean strained under increasing unpaid overtime just to keep the department running.
Meanwhile, Gina was struggling to raise the children practically on her own. There were times she considered herself a single mother. After months of staying up all night with a new baby and then dealing with the challenges of raising two young children, Gina was burned out. When she heard from Frank that Tim had been left without a job, she jokingly asked if he’d be interested in earning some babysitting money. Frank had a good laugh, but he could tell she was suddenly considering the idea she’d stumbled upon.
“You’re seriously thinking about it, aren’t you?” he asked her.
“Well, Tim needs a job, and I need some help, so why not?”
“We’re going to trust Tim with our children? I don’t know, Gina.”
“Actually, the way I see it, he’s perfectly qualified to protect our children, and even you said he’s matured some since I left.”
“True. Still, I’m not sure I like the idea of him hanging out with my wife.”
“You need to stop being so jealous, Frank! This is Tim we’re talking about.”
“Exactly.”
“We’d barely see each other,” Gina reasoned. “He’d be here while I’d be elsewhere running errands and such.”
“And we can’t find anyone else for the job?”
“Even though I don’t particularly care for the man, I feel bad he lost his job, and I really don’t have time to pursue other possibilities. They’d just be strangers to us. You’ve known Tim for years.”
“The guy did grow up with three younger siblings. I suppose he’s learned something about childcare.”
“I could use the help. Please, Frank, before I lose what’s left of my sanity!”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Let’s at least try it. We can always tell him it’s not working out.”
“Alright, I’ll give him a call tomorrow,” Frank reluctantly agreed.
He was shocked when Tim agreed to take the job. Unprepared for the positive response, he just told Tim to meet Gina at the house in the morning for further instructions. Tim showed up bright and early, eager to see Gina again after her long absence from work.
“Hi, Tim,” she greeted him at the door.
“Hey, Gina! It’s good to see you again. You’re looking well,” he said, feasting his eyes on her.
“Really? I’d imagine I look pretty worn out because that’s how I feel these days. Raising kids takes so much more out of me than work ever did.”
“No, you look great. I mean it. Even after two kids, you still look amazing.”
“Thanks,” she smiled, flattered by his compliment. She proceeded to fill him in on the details of the job, and when she introduced him to the kids, Tim was a natural. If they liked him, she liked him, and she told him he was hired.
As the weeks went by, Gina’s decision to have Tim help out began to pay off. Her tension eased. She felt like she could breathe again. The much-needed breaks made her a more patient mother who was better equipped to deal with the behavior of two toddlers.
One day, Gina asked Tim to watch the kids so she could go for a run. It was something she’d missed since they were born but had no time or energy to do it. She wanted to get back in shape and maybe return to work when times were better and they started hiring again. She had discussed it with Tim, and he encouraged her to start training. He had been surprisingly pleasant to be around since taking the babysitting job. He was supportive and seemed to know how to make her laugh. His attention filled a void for adult companionship and conversation she was missing in her life. Gina rarely saw her friends anymore, or Frank for that matter, so this had become important to her. Outside of the workplace, Tim’s behavior was somehow more tolerable. Instead of loathing him, like she did before, she felt they had finally established a friendship.
On this particular day, Frank and his rookie partner, Darryl, needed to ask a business owner some questions about a homicide. When they arrived at his shop, Frank couldn’t shake the feeling something wasn’t right, yet he couldn’t find any evidence to back it up. He let his partner ask the questions and decided to take a quick look around the place, pretending he needed to use the restroom. Just as he suspected, Frank stumbled upon something and was about to call for backup when a man jumped him from behind. The guy was young and quick, and Frank was no match for his strength.
Frank was knocked to the ground, and before he could recover, the man thrust a knife at him. He blocked the initial blow but found himself pinned beneath his attacker, who was leaning his weight on the knife. Frank fought to push the blade away from his body, knowing he was struggling for his life, but he could feel his muscles straining and growing progressively weaker. He knew he couldn’t hold the man off indefinitely but hoped to at least prevent the blade from penetrating too deeply. When the knife finally pierced his chest, Frank felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. The pain was sharp, and he could see blood soaking through his white shirt. A shot rang out, and his attacker withdrew the knife and ran. Darryl had heard the commotion and rushed to Frank’s aid. He tried to follow the man but quickly realized it was no use and gave up the chase.
Frank applied pressure to his chest wound and looked down at his bloodstained hand. His breathing was labored and excruciatingly painful. The bleeding and shortness of breath worsened when he tried to sit up, but he knew they might not be out of danger and wanted to stay alert. Suddenly, Frank saw someone appear behind Darryl and pull out a gun. In his haste to help Frank, Darryl had forgotten about the shop owner. Fortunately, Frank was faster and shot the man in the shoulder, driving him away before he could fire.
“That was a close one!” Darryl said before noticing his partner had been wounded. “You’re bleeding, Frank!”
“I know,” Frank groaned. “I’m having trouble breathing. Do me a favor. Call for help, then call my wife.”
“Try not to move, Frank,” were the last words he heard before passing out. His partner promptly called for help and applied pressure to his wound until the paramedics arrived.
Meanwhile, Gina had just arrived home and was chatting with Tim when the phone rang. He watched her face transition from happy to shocked to fearful during the short conversation.
“What’s wrong, Gina?” Tim asked once she hung up.
“Frank is being taken to the hospital for a stab wound to the chest. I need to get down there right away!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll stay with the kids. You should go. Are you alright to drive?”
“Um, I’m not sure,” she said, on the verge of tears.
“Hey,” Tim said, giving her a supportive hug. “Frank’s a tough guy. He’ll be alright. You’ll see.”
Gina’s first instinct was to pull away, but she needed the comfort, and Tim was there, so she stayed in his arms for a moment to gather herself before leaving for the hospital. When she arrived, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Gina prepared herself for the worst while she waited to catch a glimpse of her husband. After what seemed like hours, emergency room personnel wheeled Frank past her in a rush, but no one would tell her anything about his condition. All they said was that she would have to wait until the doctors evaluated him.
Gina pulled out her phone. “Tim?”
“What’s going on?”
“Things aren’t looking so good,” she said, trying to control her sobbing. “Frank is unconscious and looks really bad, and I’m waiting here for the doctors to tell me something. Is there any way you can get one of our neighbors to watch the kids?” She paused for a moment. Her tone reflected her growing anxiety and vulnerability as she begged for his help. “I need you, Tim. I’m scared.”
Those few words were all he had ever wanted to hear. She needed him, and he did what he had to do to get to the hospital to be with her.
While Gina waited for Tim to arrive, a doctor did eventually pull her aside.
“Mrs. Turino? Hi, my name is Dr. West. I’m a thoracic surgeon. Your husband suffered a stab wound to the chest. When the knife entered his body, it punctured one of his lungs and caused it to collapse. We had to put in a chest tube to clear all the air and blood trapped inside his chest cavity so his lung can reinflate. He’s unconscious right now, and we’re prepping him for surgery to repair the internal damage to his lung.”
“That sounds serious,” Gina replied in a shaky voice. Her eyes grew wider the more she heard. Panic was setting in and rapidly building in intensity. Gina could hardly breathe, and she felt sick to her stomach.
“We’ll do everything we can,” he reassured her, “but right now they’re waiting for me in the operating room.”
“Thank you, doctor. Please take good care of my husband.”
Shortly afterward, Gina saw Tim moving quickly toward her. She was glad to see him and wasted no time seeking comfort in his arms.
“Any word?” Tim asked while he held her, now tighter than before.
“Yes. I just talked to the doctor.” She repeated what Dr. West had told her. “It could take a while. I thought I might go nuts if I had to wait here alone.”
“Well, I’m here now. Would you like me to get you some coffee?”
“That would be great, Tim. Thanks.”
Over the next couple hours, Tim did his best to keep Gina distracted. He told her funny stories he remembered from work, little things Frank never had the time to tell her anymore, and they relived the memories they shared of the old days. He also brought her up to speed on the layoff situation and said he hoped to be back to work soon, even though he would miss his babysitting days and time with her.
“What’s going on in there?” Gina finally blurted out. “I can’t take this much longer.”
“Try to be patient, Gina. I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”
“Mrs. Turino?”
Gina turned to face the doctor who was calling her name.
“Your husband made it through surgery.”
Gina felt partially relieved but waited to hear the rest of what the doctor had to say before relaxing.
“We were able to locate and repair the source of the bleeding and will be keeping a close watch on his condition. If all goes well, your husband will remain in the hospital with a chest tube in place for a few days before we can send him home. He’s looking at a total recovery time of six to eight weeks.”
“Thank you, doctor. I want to see him.”
“Sure. Right this way. It may be several hours before he regains consciousness though.”
Gina rushed to her husband’s side while Tim waited just outside the room. “Frank?” she called softly. Gina sat down next to him and took his hand in hers. “How could this happen? You had me so scared. Please just open your eyes. I’m here, Frank, and I love you.” There was no response, but he was stable and resting comfortably.
Tim poked his head in the doorway. “Gina? Since he’s going to be out for a while, do you want me to take you home?”
“No, Tim. I’m staying right here with my husband until he wakes up. Can you go back to the house and relieve the neighbor?”
“Sure, Gina,” Tim promised before leaving.
The next morning, Frank did regain consciousness. “Gina?” was the first word on his lips.
“Frank?” she responded. Gina lifted her head from where it had been resting at the foot of his bed. She’d fallen asleep while sprawled uncomfortably across a chair.
“What am I doing here?”
“You had surgery, honey. Do you remember anything that happened?”
Frank only responded with a clueless expression, a result of the anesthesia he’d been under.
“It’ll come back to you. I’m just grateful you’re alright.” Gina took his hand and squeezed it before bending down to give him a kiss.
“What about my partner? Is he OK?”
“Yes. I talked to Darryl twice on the phone last night, and he’s fine thanks to you. Apparently, you’re his hero. I can’t say I’m surprised. Unfortunately, Internal Affairs will be stopping by to pay you a visit later. I’m sure it won’t be anywhere near as complicated this time. From what I understand, it’s a pretty clear-cut case.”
“I guess I’ll be getting some unscheduled time off.”
“That’s right,” Gina smiled, “and I’ll get to have you all to myself.”
“And the kids,” Frank added. “Do they know?”
“Well, obviously Sammy is too young to have any idea what’s going on, but apparently, Valerie is asking Tim lots of questions.”
“Tim’s got the kids?”
“Yeah. I thought they’d be the most comfortable with him while we’re here. They adore him. He’s really been a lifesaver.”
“So, how long am I in here for?”
“Why? Restless already?”
“I’m just anxious to come home and be with my wife and kids.”
That made Gina feel good, but she knew their happiness would be short-lived. Once Frank was fully recovered and cleared by Internal Affairs, their lives would go back to what had regrettably become normal for their household.
