Rafe held Clare’s hand as they walked through Central Park in New York City. The leaves were falling and created a remarkable palette of colors framing the stone walkway. Fall had arrived and winter was approaching. Hundreds of children ran and played, laughing on the Saturday afternoon, as they jumped in the piles of multicolored leaves along the pathway. Rafe was at peace, as Clare was safe and happy. She didn’t remember much about the ordeal. She occasionally talked about the nice man but that was it. She had no idea her life had been in danger. Rafe was thankful for that. But there was something else, something that disturbed her, deep down in her subconscious. Perhaps even as a child she had sensed the evil. It was in her dreams that the man came back to her. She would wake up screaming with fear. Rafe would dash into her room and hold her for the rest of the night. He felt guilty, as he realized he enjoyed these times when she needed him so desperately. Rafe saw her now only on the weekends, as he was so busy now with work. Rafe treasured his times with Clare and his older children. Today was a special day, as it was Clare’s birthday, a Daddy and Clare day. He had her all to himself.
Except for one quick thing he had to do. The two of them continued hand in hand up the paved walkway and eventually came to their destination. The playground sprawled before them, the bright, colorful obstacles beckoned her. Clare squealed with delight. “Can I go, Daddy?”
“Yes, my love. Of course!” responded Rafe. Clare bounded from his arms and gleefully ran to the jungle gym rising from the soft, wood-chipped earth. She soon scampered up the slide the wrong way and came tumbling back down, laughing with delight, sawdust sprinkled in her hair. Rafe beamed with pride. I made the right decision, he thought. He glanced over at the bench located underneath one of the massive oak trees dotting the landscape of the park. There sat Neal, smoking a cigar and waving at him. Rafe walked over.
“How are you, my friend?” asked Rafe.
“I’m great! Thanks for asking. It’s good to see you again!”
“You as well. I’ve missed having a friend around. You are a friend, aren’t you, Neal?”
“I have been always, mate! Want a cigar?”
“Yes, don’t mind if I do! Time to celebrate I should say.” Neal reached into his pocket, and withdrew a nice Cuban, and handed it and a lighter to Rafe.
“So I'll see you at the rally, right?” asked Neal.
“Yes, I’ll be there. I’m rather enjoying my newfound occupation. How is the promotion for the event going? Do we have a head count yet? I really want this rally to be a rousing success!”
“I think we are up to around twenty thousand confirmed. I’ve got you speaking second in the lineup. Hope that’s okay with you?”
“Sure, works for me. I’ll give a fabulous speech!”
“Great. Then I’ll see you next there. Be sure to get there early in case we have any last-minute hiccups we have to deal with. I want this to go smoothly. I don’t want you know who pissed off again.”
“Yes, I know what you mean! I’ll be there early.”
"Also Rafe, I hear there is a possible government position opening up for you. A rather prestigious post I'm afraid. Don't let it go to your head! You know our leader likes to reward his supporters."
"So I hear. I'll believe it when I see it. See you at the rally."
“Great. You know, Rafe, I did what I had to do as well.”
“I understand, Neal. We all do that from time to time.”
Neal threw away the stub of the cigar into the bushes and got up to leave. He shook Rafe’s hand and slowly started to walk away. “See you soon, let's have a drink sometime. What do you say?” asked Neal as he left. Rafe nodded in agreement.
Rafe watched him walk away but then called out to him one last time. “Neal. I’ve been wondering something. What was the offer you couldn’t refuse?”
Neal turned and stared silently at Rafe for what seemed like an eternity, the color draining out of his face. “You don’t want to know the answer to that question. Let’s just say it was my worst fear. Don’t ever ask me that again,” the Englishman responded with a vengeance. With that, Neal turned and angrily walked away, his shoulders held somewhat less high than they had been before. Whatever it was, it must have scared him badly, thought Rafe.
After Neal left, Rafe called for his daughter to return. Clare came walking up slowly, obviously tired from jumping all around for the half hour she was engrossed in the playground. Rafe picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, and they began to walk back down the hill to the exit from the park. She played their normal game of trying to fall sideways from his grip, but he stopped her at the last minute. “Do it again, Daddy!” she cried. This went on for several minutes.
“Clare, I have a special treat for you now.” Ice cream was next on the agenda. She bounced on his shoulders with happiness as they walked, nearing the southern park entrance.
“I want chocolate! With sprinkles!” she demanded.
“Okay, okay! Today is your day, my love.”
As they approached the ice cream stand near the subway station, Clare noticed a homeless man sprawled on the sidewalk. His meager belongings were stuffed into two plastic bags. A half-eaten plate of food was near his face, along with a few beer cans that were definitely empty. His head rested on a brick barrier that separated the sidewalk from the rest of the park. His hair was matted with dirt and his teeth were black.
“What’s wrong with him, Daddy?” Clare asked innocently as Rafe lifted her up off his shoulders and put her back down on the concrete.
“He’s homeless, my dear.”
“What does that mean?”
“He doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“That’s sad. Is he going to be okay?” she asked.
“Don’t worry, Honey, the government will give him everything he needs. He’ll be okay. I’m sure he’s just not feeling well. And you know what the best part is, my angel? Daddy’s been writing a lot of articles in the paper about how good it is for the government to take care of everybody. I’ll make sure someone comes and helps him. Would that make you feel better?” Rafe noticed the pride in his daughter’s eyes. It was nice to feel like he was doing something positive, even if the results told a different story. Clare enjoyed her ice cream, and Rafe enjoyed the day with his daughter.