Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 17:6 (NIV)
The Sword & Shield Family Restaurant
Cheerwell, Texas
Saturday, December 24, 2016
In a restaurant packed on Christmas Eve, Freedom sat down across the table from J.U., Joanna, Jerrica, Journee, and Jacson, her hands folded on the table. “Thank you for meeting me, especially on such short notice, apparently on one of your busiest nights as well.”
J.U. covered her hands with his. “We were sorry to hear about the passing of your grandmother. You and your family have our condolences.”
Freedom smiled. “Thank you.”
J.U. pulled his hand back, then glanced at his wife. “We’re curious, though, why you’ve called us here.”
Freedom sighed. “I have a secret to confess, actually a truth to share.”
Joanna leaned forward. “What is it, dear?”
“First, I need to tell you my story—who I am and where I’m from.”
“Go ahead, Freedom,” Jacson said. “We’re listening.”
“Before my mother died and I was placed in the witness protection program with Christopher and Cristine Cross, as Freedom Forrester, I had another name and another life, as Faith Palmer from Winwood, Texas.”
Jacson’s jaw dropped. “You’re her, aren’t you?”
J.U. glanced at him. “Who are you talking about?”
“Justice’s mystery girl—Faith.”
Joanna’s eyes got big, and she stared at Freedom intently. “Is that true? Are you the girl my son fell in love with at age twelve, the one he searched for for seventeen years, the woman he wanted to marry?”
Freedom nodded. “Until yesterday, I only knew his first name.”
Joanna leaned back in her seat. “He was right. You are beautiful, unforgettable too.”
J.U. palmed his dark-brown hands on the table, his stare direct. “Who were you hiding from?”
“D’Santos Fears and Davelle Spight.”
“Those are the same guys who killed our baby sister, Jessica,” Jacson said.
“They tried to kill me but killed my mom instead,” Freedom said. “I was a key witness in their human and drug trafficking organization in Winwood.”
“Before he got arrested, D’Santos Fears targeted, then killed Justice’s wife, Julianna,” Joanna said. “He blamed Justice for killing his seventeen-year-old grandson in the line of duty. Julianna was pregnant, too, with twins.”
That news stunned Freedom. “I’m sorry,” she said. “For him and for you.”
“Justice loved you.” Jacson rubbed his gold wedding band. “He may still love you.”
“Do you love him?” Joanna asked. “Is that why you’re here?”
“I haven’t seen him in seven years. So, it’s hard for me to answer that question honestly.”
“Seven years?” J.U.’s eyes zeroed in on her. “Where?”
“Homeport, Texas.”
“During the Christmas Eve snowstorm?” Jacson asked.
Freedom nodded.
“Aren’t your kids six years old?” Journee asked.
“That’s right.”
“Oh, Lord!” Joanna covered her mouth, tears in her eyes. “Oh, God!”
J.U.’s dark-brown forehead furrowed. “Are you telling us you and Justice have kids together—that those seven kids who’ve been calling me Uncle J.U. all this time are actually my grandkids?”
Tears stung Freedom’s eyes. “Yes, J.U.. They’re your grandkids.”
Joanna looped her arm through her husband’s. “Did you hear that, J.U.? We have seven grandkids, and Justice is their dad.”
He laughed. “Of course, I heard. I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out sooner. The kids look exactly like their dad, through and through, especially the eldest two, Everson and Eston, and the youngest girl, Gift, is almost the spitting image of Jessica.”
“Lord, I can’t believe it!” Joanna said. “I’m so happy.”
Jerrica frowned, her eyes on Freedom. “You haven’t told Justice, have you?”
“I just found out his full name yesterday,” she said. “You’re the first to know, and I thought you could give me some advice on how to proceed with Justice.”
“The sooner you tell him, the better,” Jacson said. “He’s already missed out on the first six years of the kids’ lives.”
“Will he be upset? Will he blame me?”
“Likely at first,” Jacson said. “But he’ll get over it, and he’ll be the best dad ever. He’s always wanted kids—lots of them too.”
J.U. snapped his fingers. “Invite Justice to the Christmasquerade tomorrow at Wintergrace and pull him aside at the midnight reveal so you can introduce yourself properly.”
“Won’t he be blindsided?”
“If he’s in a public setting,” Jacson said, “he’ll likely react better to the news that he has seven six-year-old kids he’s never met.”
Freedom was curious. “Is he dating? In a relationship? Serious about anyone?”
Journee smiled. “Don’t worry. He’s available. You don’t have any competition.”
Freedom felt her face grow warm. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Sounds like you’re still interested in him,” J.U. said. “That’s fine with us, too, because those kids are great, but they’re a handful, and they need both their parents together.”
“What if Justice won’t come?” Freedom asked. “What if he doesn’t want to see me?”
“Don’t worry,” J.U. said. “We’ll get him there, and he’ll definitely want to see you. That’s a guarantee.”
Freedom exhaled. “Then I’ll tell him tomorrow, on Christmas day, who I am and whose dad he is.”
* * *
Christmasquerade
Wintergrace Manor
Evergrace, Texas
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Dressed in a black tuxedo with a green mask on, Justice dropped his invitation to the Wintergrace Christmasquerade into the basket at the door, wondering for the hundredth time why and how, during their annual Christmas breakfast, he had let his parents talk him into attending Evergrace’s Christmasquerade and escorting Freedom Forrester-Evergrace.
It wasn’t as if he had a personal relationship with Elissandro Evergrace or even knew the Evergrace Daughter, whom he had gotten roped into escorting tonight at the last minute. All his parents had told him was that Elissandro Evergrace was an old friend of theirs as well as their senior pastor and that his daughter needed a security escort and would be wearing a green gown and mask during the Christmasquerade.
Justice had wondered aloud during their family Christmas breakfast why the woman couldn’t find her own Christmas date, and his youngest brother Jaron had said it was probably because Freedom Forrester-Evergrace was busy raising seven kids as a single mother.
Naturally, eavesdropping, his sisters, Jerrica and Journee, had begun lauding the woman’s virtues, telling Justice Freedom was a great person, a loving mother, and would make some smart man a wonderful wife, even if she did come with a ready-made family.
Even Jacson and his younger brothers, Jordan and Jaron, along with Journee’s and Jerrica’s significant others, Valentino Flores and Kimo Kim, had jumped on the matchmaking bandwagon, urging him to get to know Freedom Forrester-Evergrace better.
In the end, Justice had agreed to be the woman’s escort, but that was all he had agreed to. He had told all of them that he had no romantic interest in Freedom Forrester-Evergrace, nor did he want them to continue trying to play matchmakers. Of course, all of them had denied the charge.
Now, here Justice was, in a tuxedo, wearing an emerald-green mask, minutes away from meeting the woman officially.
Inside, Justice walked around the manor, twinkling with lights and decked out in Christmas decor, his eyes panning the crowd for the ever-elusive and camera-shy Evergrace Daughter. For all he knew, the woman could be anyone. He had already seen two women in green gowns, one short and plump, one tall and pregnant, but he hadn’t been drawn to either of them.
Suddenly, Justice looked toward the staircase, and he saw a tall, curvaceous woman in an emerald-green gown, with a cape sparkling with diamonds, practically gliding down the winding staircase, an emerald-green mask partially covering her light-brown face, her thick dark-brown hair crowned and piled atop her head.
That has to be her, he thought, moving in her direction as though drawn by a magnetic force. By far, her green gown was the most elegant, well-designed, and most expensive one there.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Justice was waiting, with one hand propped on the post and his other hand extended. “I believe you and I are partners tonight.”
“Are you Justice Shield?” she asked.
“At your service.” He bowed dramatically. “And you’re Freedom Forrester-Evergrace, I presume.”
“I am.” She curled her hand around his, and he felt a spark, a connection. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Justice.”
“You, too, Freedom.” He tucked her arm in his. “What would you like to do first?”
“Dance.”
“Dancing it is.” Justice led her to the dance floor, and he curved his arm around her. She felt natural in his arms, quite like she belonged there.
Wordlessly, he pulled her closer, pressing her hand to his chest, over his heart. “I like your fragrance,” he said. “It’s captivating, quite alluring.”
She laughed, her voice lyrical—musical—like silver bells ringing. “I like your scent too. It reminds me of a sea breeze.”
“That’s because I love being outdoors, working with my hands too.”
“I love being outside, too, usually with a camera.”
“Well, I guess we have that in common.”
“You’re a great dancer,” she said. “Where did you learn?”
“The Spirit of Dance Studio, when I was twelve years old.” Both her presence and her perfume were wreaking havoc on him, making his heart beat faster, and all he wanted to do was pull her closer and inhale her fragrance. He hadn’t been this attracted to a woman since Julianna. He had to get a grip on himself. He had to calm down. “So tell me, what exactly do you do besides throw elaborate parties?”
“Actually, my dad and his staff organize the parties. I’m just a photojournalist, and I have my own photography studio. Before that, I spent eight years in the Air Force as a combat photographer.”
Justice smiled. “I’m impressed—with the lady behind the mask, the woman behind the last name.”
She pulled away from him. “Why? Because there’s more to me than my last name or what’s in my father’s wallet or bank account?”
“Money, prestige, and names don’t impress me.”
“What does?”
“Noble actions and great character, like honesty, hard work, loyalty, integrity.”
“So, you don’t judge a book by its cover?”
“My parents raised me better than that.”
“Good, because nobody is perfect, and everybody makes mistakes.” She cocked her head to one side. “What have you heard about me?”
His face grew warm beneath her gaze. “I’ve heard that you’re a great person, a loving mother, and that you would make some smart man a wonderful wife.”
She exhaled. “I have seven children—four boys and three girls—and they’re the best blessings God ever gave me. Without them, my life wouldn’t be as complete. It’s been hard being a single mom, especially with seven kids, but I’ve done my best, and my kids have really only lacked one thing in life.”
“What’s that?” Justice asked.
“Their dad.”
Justice was curious. “Did he die or just walk out, leaving you alone?”
“It’s not that simple,” Freedom said. “He doesn’t know who I really am, and he doesn’t know they actually exist.”
“How old are they?”
“Six.” She stopped dancing and grabbed his hand. “Come upstairs, and I’ll let you see them. But keep your mask on, please.”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.” He was as eager as anybody else to finally see the infamous Evergrace Septuplets.
“Thank you.” Freedom tugged on his hand and then led him up the winding staircase until they reached the second landing. She turned right, stopped at the first door, released Justice’s hand, and opened the door.
Inside the room, the only light came from a lit homemade globe of the earth, but what fascinated Justice most was the six-year-old light-brown boy wearing powder-blue pajamas, lying on the bed, on his side, with his eyes closed.
The boy was more than familiar; he was the same as Justice had been at that age. Without asking permission, Justice sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the boy as though memorizing every feature of his face and form. Then, he reached out, gently running his fingers through the boy’s dark-brown curls, and in his heart, he knew, without Freedom telling him, this was his son—his firstborn son.
Tears stung his eyes behind the mask because he knew that there had only been two women in his life with whom he had been intimate within the past seven years: Faith and Julianna. Since Julianna was gone, that left his first love, Faith, which meant Faith Palmer and Freedom Forrester-Evergrace were the same person. At last, he had found her, or more so, she had found him.
“What’s his name?” Justice asked softly.
“Everson.”
“When’s his birthday?”
“September the twenty-fourth.”
So, his kids had been conceived on Christmas Eve during the snowstorm in Homeport. That also explained why Freedom was hesitant to tell him the truth outright now because she didn’t know how he would react. After all, the last time she had seen him, he had been drunk, and she had left him alone in bed with a blue rose and a rejection letter.
“Would you like to see the other kids?” she asked.
“Yes.” Justice stood up, then pulled the covers up to Everson’s chin.
Freedom led him through an adjoining door and shared bathroom to the next room, where Justice saw Everson’s identical brother. “This is Eston.”
Justice palmed Eston’s head with his hand.
The next room they visited was Essam’s, and he was fast asleep on top of the covers.
Freedom asked Justice if he would pick him up so she could get him back under the covers.
Silently, Justice lifted his son so Freedom could place him under the covers.
Another adjoining door led them into Given’s room, where Justice savored every moment, the sights and sounds. As soft music played in the background from Given’s bedside radio, Justice looked at all of the colorful sketches and artwork on the walls.
“The girls are next,” Freedom said, walking to the next room, which was Everly’s, filled with stuffed animals.
In Echo’s room, there was a guitar in the corner and a keyboard at the foot of her bed.
Finally, they reached the last room, and there was more soft music playing in the golden-lit room. A light-brown girl in lavender pajamas, with spiraling dark-brown curls and large blue eyes, so reminiscent of Justice’s baby sister, Jessica, sat up in bed, with a large picture Bible spread open in her lap.
Upon seeing Justice and Freedom walk in, she smiled from ear to ear. “You look pretty, Mama, like a princess.” She pointed. “Who’s he? Your prince?”
Freedom sighed. “His name is Justice. He’s a friend.”
The girl waved. “I’m Gift.”
Justice smiled behind his mask. “Hello, Gift. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You too.”
Freedom leaned over Gift and kissed her forehead. “Go to bed. It’s past your bedtime.”
Gift bobbed her head, then closed her Bible and laid it on the nearby night table. “Good night, Mama.”
“Good night, love bug.”
She yawned. “Good night, Justice.”
“Good night.” His chest got warm, then tight, as he walked to the door with Freedom. Indeed, God had blessed him with the most wonderful Christmas gifts—seven beautiful children whom he already loved. He couldn’t wait to spend more time with them and get to know them better.
He and Freedom walked silently down the stairs and away from the crowd to a spacious library with shelves stocked with books from floor to ceiling. Off to one side was a black piano, and Justice immediately walked toward it, sat on the bench, and splayed his fingers over the keyboard.
Justice looked at Freedom. “Come and join me.”
Slowly, she walked to the piano and sat beside him. “You probably have a lot of questions.”
“How long have you known my full name?”
“Two days.”
“What’s your full name?”
“Freedom Faith Forrester-Evergrace.”
He glanced at the wall clock, then at Freedom. “It’s almost midnight. But I can’t wait for the big reveal.”
“Justice, I’m really—”
He covered her hand with his. “I know who you are. I know who those kids’ mystery dad is too. He’s sitting right beside you on this piano bench, isn’t he?”
She nodded. “Are you mad? Angry? Hurt?”
He shook his head. “I’m happy, proud too. I’ve just met them, but I already love them, and I can’t wait until we can tell the kids who I am. But that’s not tonight.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“It’s time for the truth—all of it.” He pulled the mask from his face and laid it on the piano. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Freedom pulled her mask off, and Justice’s heart rammed his chest.
He raised his hand and caressed her face. “You’re more beautiful than I remember.”
“And you’re even more handsome and irresistible,” she said.
He leaned toward her, closing the distance between them. “Here’s something I’ve wanted to do all night.”
“What?” she said, breathlessly.
“Kiss you.” He pulled her closer into the warmth of his body, hugging her, and then he kissed her with every fiber of his being, romancing her lips with his and laying siege to her heart until she was clinging to him just as tightly as he was clinging to her.