sixteen

She smiled as she helped serve breakfast, Patrick, Molly, grandma, Jacob, Katie and William sat round the table, this was her first breakfast, she wanted to enjoy and she was going to help organise Jacob's birthday that was happening in the evening, even the maids were happy she was helping. For the first time in so many years, she felt happy and right where she was; she sat with Katie who smiled at her; she was happy and that was all that mattered.

Just as she was about to pick her fork and put into the piece of vegetables in her plate; the doorbell rang.

'Who is it this early?' Molly asked as she stood from her seat.

'It could be Leonard.' Patrick told them.

Molly was still at the door when the adults stood up to meet her leaving the children on the table; having their breakfast.

'Yes, can we help you?' Molly asked as she looked at the two people in suits.

'Good morning, we are from the I.D.S.' Nick introduced as he showed them his batch hanging on his trousers.

'Yes?' William asked moving closer to them as they ushered themselves into the house.

'We came for Mrs Pearl Parker.'

William looked around and back at the man in question. 'Mrs Parker? Who is that?'

Although William was still shocked that he didn't know when the detective entered inside and moved closer to Pearl who was standing by the kitchen door.

'Yes? Can I help you?' She asked them.

'Pearl, do you know these people?' Grandma Harley asked her.

She stood her head. 'No.'

'We have been sent with a warrant for you to come with us.'

'What for?' Molly asked.

'You people are not from this place, I know the police officers and they know me so, who are you and what right do you obtained to come into my house and insult my guest.' William asked him with stern looking eyes.

Sophie looked at William; this was the kind of man; she wished Pearl had, not Richard.

'We are from Chicago; we've been given permission by your sheriff to go ahead with a warrant to arrest Mrs Parker.'

Sophie looked at him; when did all these happen, where was she?

'Mrs Parker?' Grandma asked.

'There is no Parker here?' Patrick added.

Nick smiled. 'I wished I had all day to explain everything but our plane leaves in few hours and getting here was very tough.'

'Where is your daughter, Mrs Parker?'

That was when Katie walked in with Jacob.

'Mom, we have finished eating.' Katie told her.

'That's good, Katie, please, stay inside, don't come out till I tell you.' She ordered her daughter but Nick moved towards her and held her little hand.

'Sweetie, how are you?'

Katie managed a nod looking at William and back at her mother.

'Have you heard from your dad?'

William didn't give her a chance to answer that, he walked towards him and pulled Katie from his grip.

'State your point and leave here.'

Sophie watched the entire family; they didn't even know what happened, if the information could get to Texas, it could have gotten here too, how come no one knew?

'Well, Mrs Parker is coming with us; we are deporting you from the country with your daughter.'

Pearl shook her head. 'I haven't done anything.'

'Not even murder?' Nick asked her.

Sophie watched as all eyes rest on Pearl.

'What are you talking about?' She asked him confused as the rest was.

'Look, I don't need to explain, when you get to the station at Chicago, you will know.' He said taking her hand.

'Sophie, please; take the little girl and let's go.' He told her.

William watched as Nick took Pearl out with Katie; how could they accuse her of murder; when the door was closed; William sat down and looked at his grandma and siblings; who didn't seem to surprised.

'Did you know about this?' He asked them.

They didn't talk; they just look down at their feet.

'Molly, Patrick, answer me!'

Molly did a little innocent nod.

'You knew and didn't tell me?'

'I didn't want you to feel bad...'

'How do l feel now, come on.'

When they didn't say anything he continued;

'How did you know?'

'Newspapers.'

He nodded. How come; he didn't notice that the newspapers were missing, they hid it from him and now?

He stood up as Patrick brought a newspaper out and gave it to him.

'We were not sure as well, but everything she did, she couldn't have been the murderer.'

William looked at the paper in his hands. There was a headline which had;

MURDERESS ON THE LOOSE, WHO IS NEXT. HUSBAND KILLED BRUTALLY BY HIS WIFE with a picture of Pearl; which they wrote anyone who finds Mrs Parker reward $111,000.

They had been looking for her, no wonder the man at the fair asked her; if she knew him. He threw the paper and walked away.

'What have Pearl done, what have she gotten herself into?' Molly wondered.

Grandma just sat looking at the door which William walked out of.

'I am more worried about Jacob and William.'

Patrick sighed.

She watched as her daughter held her in the plane as it took off.

'Mom, dad is angry with us, isn't he?

Pearl looked at her and wished she had comforting words to give but she couldn't think of anything.

'He is angry because I hit him and you tried to save me so he wants to deal with me again, is it because l found another daddy?'

Pearl shook her head and hugged her. 'I don't know, honey.' But she once she meet Richard she would ask for a divorce.

'Mom, we won't stay for Jacob's birthday, I won't give him his gift.'

Pearl just hugged her. She wished she could heal her wounds just by smoothening just she couldn't do anything, could to even help herself. In few minutes, they would be in Chicago and then she would hear what she was being accused of. She couldn't have killed anybody.

She looked back at the officer behind her; she was indeed happy for her friend.

She turned back to her daughter; maybe if she had known Richard would look for them, she should have left, she should have ran, prevent Katie from facing all these but yet she was trying to make her daughter happy and Jacob and William were her happiness, she couldn't live without them and now where does that leave her?

What about William; what will he think about her now?

'Mrs Parker will you still pretend you are not Mrs Parker?' Nick asked her as he stood by her.

She looked at the man; he was annoying.

'What do you want?'

She watched him sighed and looked into her eyes. 'The truth to be revealed.'

She didn't understand what this man was talking about? What truth?

'What are you talking about?'

'Don't try to play coy with me, Mrs Parker.'

She held her daughter close to her blossom. 'What would you like to hear mister?'

She watched him smile but he didn't reply.

'Believe me; you are holding the wrong person and I will sue you for this.'

Nick laughed. 'Sure, miss who knows you're right but in case hold that thought.'

She shook her head.

'Tell me, the truth, Parker.'

'Mom….' She heard Katie stir from her sleep.

Pearl pats her back and turned to Nick.

'What do you want to hear? Yes, I am Mrs Parker, what difference does it make, if I have change of name?'

Nick just smiled; he loved this attitude, before he got the chance to speak again.

'Nick, please, leave Mrs Parker alone, she needs enough rest and enough thinking to do before we land in Chicago.' Sophie told him before he attempted to speak.

He looked at Sophie and back at Pearl and then he walked away. Pearl looked at him as he took his seat six chairs from hers.

'Is he always like this?'

Sophie nodded. 'Yes, I don't complain.'

'How do you live with him?'

Sophie shrugged and pats her back. 'We are doing everything we can, we are getting help.'

Pearl nodded without looking at her. 'I missed you.'

Sophie smiled. 'We will talk when we have time, I won't pressurize you.'

She nodded. 'I am worried about what Richard might do.'

'Don't worry, Pearl. Just relax.'

She nodded and rested her head back and sighed.

She had to prepare herself.

They got to the airport and headed straight to the bus station;

'Do you have any body to take care of the little girl here?' Nick asked her as he watched both mother and child cling onto to each other.

Pearl shook her head. On plane, she had been confused at the fact that Nick hadn't told her anything, he didn't even call Richard to tell him, they were coming back and now he was asking if she had anybody in Chicago.

'Why the question?'

'It is just for other measures, we've not looked into.'

'What are you talking about, detective?'

'We perhaps we should not put Katie into this, you are the only one involved.'

She looked at the man, and then at her friend, that was when two police cars halted in front of them.

'Where you taking me?'

'To the station.'

'What for?' she didn't understand this man, she hadn't done anything, why would they take her into custody?

'Madame....'

'I want to speak to my husband, get me on the phone with Richard, he cannot just send me to police for defending myself and Katie.'

Nick shook his head. 'You were not sent by your husband but by your in-laws.'

'What could they have against me; I haven't seen them for a while now.' She told him.

Nick looked at her. 'Who would you like us to leave Katherine with for the moment you are with us?'

Pearl shook her head. 'I am not giving Katie to anybody.' She couldn't believe it; Richard won't take Katie from her.

'Your parents are in Texas, your in-laws in Canada, it is either we put her first in the court...'He continued as if she hadn't said anything.

'Are you out of your mind? Give her to the court, you must be joking….'

Sophie moved to Pearl and held her hand. 'Maybe, Katie can stay with someone you trust.'

Pearl shook her head. 'I don't want her to stay with anybody that is not me.'

'Mrs Parker…..' Sophie called; this was the method she used when Pearl was angry. She moved to Katie and bent by her.

'Sweetie, mom is going to come with us for the main time, we want you to stay with your grandma.'

Katie shook her head as she held her mother's hand tightly.

'No, I don't want grandma in Canada; I want great grandma Harley, Jacob and Daddy.'

'Daddy?' Nick asked her.

Katie nodded with a smile. 'Yes, William says it is fine if I called him dad.'

Nick turned to Pearl. 'How wonderful, you are able to make a man summit to your bidding.'

Pearl shook her head. 'I guess you've had problems with women; who want everything and not just sex.'

Nick looked away; at what Pearl said and Sophie was proud of her.

'I will call San Francisco, we cannot force Katie to do anything, she doesn't want.' She told him.

'Sweetie, mommy is going to leave you now and you will meet her later, okay?' Sophie told Katie.

Katie looked at her mother; who couldn't say one word; she just nodded and hugged her as an officer walked to her.

'Mom, I love you very much.' She said as she hugged her.

'I love you, pumpkin.' She said.

She watched as Katie entered the car and wave through the opened window.

'Sophie, please can you go with her, make sure she is safe?'

Sophie nodded, pats her and entered the car and it drove off. She looked at the man standing by her, he was smirking.

'What is with your face?'

He shook his head. 'The angry face doesn't suit you.'

She looked away; she wondered how Sophie could work with this man.

He paced around the house as he waited for Patrick, the door opened.

'Master, master Patrick said you are leaving.'

William nodded. 'Yes, I need you to take care of the ranch for me, till I am back.'

Leonard nodded. 'What about business with the Roberts, you promised them.'

William nodded. 'I know, I am going to Chicago, so I will meet them there and I want to check how the stock is going.'

'What about Jacobs?'

'Jacob is coming with me, I promised him a vacation, it's high he saw the place, you have to inform me on how things are going, I want a detailed report.'

He nodded. 'I will do that.'

They watched as Patrick walked across the hall to William and hand him the entry permit.

'The truck is loaded; it is time for us to leave.'

He nodded. 'Jacob!'

'Yes sir!' Jacob answered as he ran down the stairs with his bag pack.

'Go ahead; I will be right behind you.' He told Patrick.

Patrick walked holding Jacob's hand.

'I want grandma to be fine as well, I have told everyone, I don't want any mistake.'

Leonard nodded.

'Master, what about the other business?'

William took a minute to answer. 'The other business is my business.'