The Improbable (3 page)

           
“It’s alright David, they’re just rookies they didn’t know any better.” My
father, Warren O’Neil the Chief of Police walked in the room. He eyed the man
questioning me and smiled tightly. “I suppose none of you knew that David is in
fact my son. Due to the fact that Mr. Hutchinson has taken his daughter
straight to the hospital before pressing any charges, David is free to go.” My
father handed me a towel to wrap around my waist along with a neat pile of
clothes.

           
I cleaned myself up before exiting the room, not sure why he put me through the
embarrassment of getting dressed in front of the rookies. I smirked at the
questioning officer and sauntered coolly out of the room, as if he hadn’t just
seen me change. “Thanks, Pop.” I muttered once we were outside of the room.

           
“To my office.
Now
.” He growled as he guided me with his hand on my
back.

           
Settling into the seat in front of his desk, I watched as he sat in front of
me. There I was at twenty-four, still feeling like I was a teenager waiting for
my punishment.

           
“Four days…four days you’ve been here and you’ve managed to get under the skin
of one of the biggest business men in Chicago, son! I’m at a loss for words
right now; I mean do you know how much you risked putting our family name in
the line of fire? You’d better be glad no one has heard about this – because I
don’t know if I could save you from the town talk.” Warren leaned back in his
chair and crossed his ankle over his knee, looking at me expectantly.

           
I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face, knowing I messed up big time. “I
can’t express how sorry I am… it was just a big misunderstanding. I never
intended to jeopardize my chances being Chief of Police. This won’t affect
that…will it,
Pop
?” I asked, leaning forward with my
elbows on my knees.

           
I had done everything my father had wanted me to do and I didn’t want all my
hard work to go to waste over one incident. I had gone to the same college as
him and even studied for the same major! The day of my graduation, my father
informed me of his imposing retirement and was only too happy to invite me to
take his position as Chief at the Chicago police department. I took the offer
without hesitation and agreed to go through the same training he had gone
through to prove that I had what it took to be just as great as my father and
grandfathers who held the position before me

           
“Of course son, this doesn’t change anything.” He assured me. “You have nothing
to worry about son, I just wish you would be more goddamn careful sometimes and
watch your firecracker temper.”

           
“Thanks dad, again.” I ran my hands over my face and sat back in my chair. “For
everything, really.” And I really was thankful; when I agreed to take the
position, not only had he bought me a brand new car but he’d also surprised me
with a small place of my own in a nice suburb called Raymondsville, little ways
from the city.

           
“Anything for you son,” he smiled genuinely, “anything for you.”

He
forgot to say ‘as long as you obey me’.

3.
By
Any Means

M
y
head felt like it had a heartbeat of its own. My back felt like I had slept on
a pile of jagged rocks. The knot on the back of my head forced me to sleep on my
side. Though the room had stopped spinning hours ago, my eyes were still shut
tight and I still felt the need to clutch on to my pillow with all my might. Oh
yes, the hangover was in
full
effect.

           
I could hear the curtain over my bay window being pulled back swiftly. I peaked
to see who it was and regretted it
immediately
. The sun’s rays flooded
in through the slits of my eyelids, making it feel as if I were staring at it
with a naked eye in space.
What day is it? What time is it? How long have I
been asleep?
I wondered as I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head.

           
“Eva, baby, your girlfriends are here to see
ya
.” My
mother, Mary, announced in her always-delightful voice.

           
I made a few movements under the blanket to let her know I was still alive,
however, not quite ready to get up and talk to anyone.

           
“You can set that down here, Flora, thank you.” I heard Mama instruct our
housekeeper. Her light footsteps advanced toward me and all of a sudden the
blanket was ripped from above my head. “
Mornin
’
sunshine!” She smiled down at me.

           
“Morning mama,” I croaked. Through the aches and pains, I was able to sit up.
My eyes followed my nose to the bacon and French toast with a tall glass of
orange juice on the tray Flora had set down on the bed. My stomach roared and
my mouth watered instantly; it seemed like all I could remember was throwing up
until there was nothing left. I was parched, starved, and ready to dig in!

           
“Here, take these sweetie.” Mama handed me two multicolored pills, a comforting
and understanding smile on her face.

           
The pills were rough in making their way down my throat but the crisp ice-cold orange
juice was absolutely heavenly, bringing my insides back to life on its way
down. “How long have I been asleep? What happened?” I questioned.

           
“After Daddy and the boys found you, he took you to the doctor to make sure
everything was okay and brought you home. You slept for all of yesterday and
all through last night, just relax. Daddy doesn’t want you to stress, just to
relax.”

           
The
clicking
and
clacking
of heels against the wooden floors
became increasingly audible as my friends neared my room.

           
“Well thank the good heavens you are okay!” Kate rejoiced once she entered the
room. “We were worried sick about you!”

Rita,
Sarah, and Yvonne followed in and sat on the edges of my bed resembling the
colors of the rainbow in floor-length dresses and matching sun hats. All the
girls’ stares were concerned and analytical, it would’ve been rude of me to
laugh at their attire.

           
“When Timmy said they found your robe washed up at the dock we had thought we
lost you…” Rita admitted in a hushed voice.

           
“What in God’s name happened to you?” Yvonne asked.

           
My eyes danced around my friends’ faces as I tried to articulate what happened…
and failed. “In all honesty…I don’t know. The last thing I remember is walking
on to the diving board.”

           
“What the hell were you
thinkin
’ Eva-
Marie!
You could’ve died!” Kate scolded.

           
“You didn’t want that… did you?” Sarah asked in an appalled tone.

           
I was thanking the heavens for my mom having left the room. “No of course not!”
I blurted. “I love my life.” Did I really? “I’m too blessed and privileged to
just throw it all away, don’t be silly.” Was I
really
?

           
Kate placed her hand over her heart and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God,
Eva-Marie, you almost made me croak 60 years early.”

           
I rolled my eyes at her being dramatic.

           
“Who was it that got you out?” Rita wondered intently.

           
I shrugged, unable to give them that answer either. It was a partial lie, I
remembered his face – the beauty of it was practically seared into my brains.

           
“Well the good news is you’re okay baby doll.” Sarah smiled a warm, contagious
smile in my direction.

           
“And the story didn’t make the press!” Yvonne clapped.

           
I was relieved once again. “Oh thank goodness, I don’t think I’d be able to go
in public if this got out.”

           
“Daddy wouldn’t let me throw anymore boat parties if it had gotten out.”
Kathryn wiped fake sweat from her forehead and laughed.

           
“Alright ladies, we don’t want to be late getting to the club, you know they’re
honoring that old golfing woman today…again.” Rita rolled her eyes.

           
I giggled and skimmed over their attire. “So that explains the get-up.”

           
“You know how the old women get if we dress like tramps,” Yvonne reasoned.

           
“And also when we’re late.” Sarah rose and blew me a kiss.

           
“We just wanted to check on
ya
before we left for
town.” Kate rubbed my leg before rising from the bed.

           
“We love you honey, enjoy your day off!” Rita called over her shoulder as they
exited the room.

           
“I will!” I shouted after them. I glanced around my spotless, empty room and
sighed. “I sure will.”

           
Normally, I rarely received days off but I could see that my parents wanted to
make sure I got some rest. My friends’ parents didn’t make them work like my
daddy made me; but my friends’ parents also didn’t run a business quite as
similar to my daddy’s either. I was jealous of my girlfriends who didn’t have
to work, nonetheless. Determined to take full advantage of my
once-in-a-blue-moon day off, I slowly got out of bed and padded over to my
dresser to find my favorite book. In the bottom drawer buried under countless
dresses and stockings, was my battered English version of my favorite
fairytale,
Giada
.

           
It told the story of a King and Queen who had placed their kingdom atop a
treacherous mountain with a large moat, filled with deadly monsters, preventing
anyone from getting to the top to ensure everyone in the kingdom remained
unharmed, especially their daughter Giada. The king and queen warned Giada if
she were to ever leave the kingdom, the mountain would implode, ending their
kingdom’s reign and killing them all. One night a fairy came to Giada and
enlightened her, saying the love of her life that she was born to be with had
been frozen on the other side of the deadly moat, waiting on his knees year
after year for her to emerge from the waters and wake him up with a kiss. After
plenty of days of dissatisfaction with her life in the kingdom, Giada decided
to go on the journey of waking up her one true love.

           
Only the good Lord knew how many times I’d read the book since I was seventeen,
annotating it, writing personal notes in the book that related to my own life,
and falling in love with the story each time I read it. A few minutes into my
reading, I could hear my father and someone else’s voice traveling up the
staircase, advancing toward my room. Hurriedly, I dog-eared the page and shoved
the book under my pillow. I couldn’t risk my parents finding my
one
piece of privacy! I turned on my side to look out my bay window – more
realistic than staring at the wall. Who was he with and why was he bringing
them to my room?

           
“Eva, baby, you awake?” Daddy asked, entering without knocking. Boy was he
gonna
be in for a real surprise one day when he walked in
on me naked, it would serve him right for not respecting my privacy!

           
“Yes daddy, I am.” I answered without looking back at him.

           
He walked around and planted a kiss on my forehead before kneeling down next to
my bed. “How do you feel sweetheart? How’s your head doing? I know it was only
a small knot but I want to make sure you’re okay.” My daddy was genuinely
concerned. It took me back to the days when I used to get sick as a child and he
would take the day off right along with me. No one would ever understand how I
had so much love for the man yet resented parts of him.

           
I smiled brightly. “I’m
doin
’ alright Daddy, I’m
hangin
’ in there. Thanks for the day off.”

           
“Well what you expect? You’re my princess Eva-Marie, you come first.” He
reassured me.

           
“That’s always good to know Daddy.” I reached over and rubbed his shoulder.

           
He rubbed my hand and checked his watch. “Well, baby, your mother invited
someone here to lift your spirits!”

           
My eyebrows furrowed.
What
? As he began rising, I, too, began sitting up
in my bed. “And who could that be?” I asked, grabbing my glass of orange juice
from the nightstand.

           
“Come on in,” he instructed to someone at my door.

           
“Good afternoon, Eva!” A deep voice greeted me.

           
Oh goodness gracious!
I swallowed my orange juice – and disappointment –
down hard when I turned to see Ray Jackson’s tall behind standing in my room.

           
“Eva, I’m sure you remember Ray, from the time we had him over for dinner.” My
father introduced him. “Said he saw you at the party the other night. He ran
into your mother this morning at the grocery store and told her he wanted to
see how you were
doin
’.
Ain’t
that sweet?”

           
I straightened up and forced a smile. “Of course I remember.” I oozed of fake
enthusiasm. “Ray, good to see you.” I nodded politely at him.

           
“Always a pleasure to see you too Ms. Hutchinson. I’m glad you seem to be doing
okay since the incident my dear, I was worried sick when they said they’d found
your robe. But all is well this morning, I see.” Ray smiled brightly and took a
seat on the sofa in the corner of my room, crossing his legs in all his snooty-ness.

           
“That it is,” My father smiled at us both. “Eva, you’re
gonna
need to get ready soon.” He began making his way out of my room.

           
Ready? What? No, I’m enjoying my day off!
I threw the blankets off and
followed him, stopping at my doorway. “What? Ready for what Daddy? I thought I
got the day off.”

           
Daddy smiled at me from the staircase. “Ray’s offered take you out for a nice
day in the city, just go ‘head and enjoy yourself, baby.”

           
“But Daddy I really don’t –” I began to protest, being overruled by my father.

           
“And I trust that you won’t give him any complications.” He said curtly,
warning me with a simple menacing look from his eyes. “He’s a nice man
Eva-Marie, you’re going. That’s it.” He didn’t bother to look back at my
disapproving glare. “Mary, come get your daughter freshened up to go out with
Mr. Jackson.”

           
I sat by the bay window and crossed my arms over my chest, looking out into the
trees in the back yard. How could he do this? I didn’t even
like
Ray! He
was a pain in the neck and never stopped talking about himself! I fumed
silently.

           
“Don’t worry Eva-Marie, we’re
gonna
have ourselves a
good time in the city, don’t you worry.” Ray brooded with satisfaction, on
my
sofa in
my
room.

           
I regarded him with a disgusted expression. “Get out.”

           
He chuckled and shook his head, but rose from the chair. “Keep playing hard to
get. You’ll learn to love me Eva.” And with that, he exited the room, greeting
my mother politely on the way down.

           
“Let’s get you ready Eva.” Mama came in with my outfit and hair-styling tools.

           
I shot her a disapproving expression before disappearing into my bathroom for a
shower without a word. So much for a relaxing day off, my domineering father
and Ray’s big head had now ruined it. And oh how my mother just went along with
it! She must’ve had at least
some
idea of what I was going through. I
scrubbed my face more angrily as I thought about how angry all three of them
made me.

           
“Why do I have to go?” I asked mama as she was curling my hair in front of the
vanity mirror.

           
Mama sighed and smiled. “You know that we want nothing but the best for you
Eva.”

           
“I don’t know, nor do I like, Ray, Mama. What’s the big deal about him?” I eyed
her in the mirror; her expression had morphed into seriousness.

           
“We just want you to have a good life, baby.” She concentrated on getting my
curls to perfection.