I did the only thing I could do; I grabbed a lamp ripping it out of the wall and threw it into his face. That only stunned him for a moment, I was trying to hit him, but he blocked and countered his right hook felt like a mule kicked me. It knocked me on the ground as I was rolling away. He started reloading is shotgun. Kara sprang at him giving him a kick that sent him backwards, the bastard had to be six foot four inches. Kara kicked him so hard he came off the ground. I grabbed his shotgun and the shells he had pulled from his pocket. I reloaded the shotgun and shoved it under his chin, if he had moved I was going to blow his head off.” Daniel shaking, he looks very pale, he is trying to bring himself back under control so he can continue.
When he is a little more in control, he says, “That is when I had a chance to look around, and Sylvia was dying. She told Cindy that Kara and I were going to be her parents. She loved her, and would always be looking out for her little bit of an Angel. Kara was there beside her, she and Karen were trying to stop the bleeding but it was just too much. Kara was turning white herself. That is when I noticed the bleeding that was coming from her leg. Karen noticed it at the same time, Karen was on the phone with 911, she told the operator that they were two victims, and please hurry. Karen went to work on Kara’s leg. I am sure that saved Kara’s life, it was too late for Sylvia. She died before the ambulance arrived.”
Daniel can no longer control himself and he begins to cry, Helen pushed out of the way as Cindy pushes herself back to his chest. The young girl’s arms go around Daniel and she cries with him. Helen covers Cindy not as tightly this time as she cries with the two.
After a few moments, Daniel pulls himself back and control then continues, “We got here, and they took Kara in, they were given her IV fluids in the ambulance, they began her on blood as soon as they walk through the door.”
Karen comes out she has a bandage on her arm where she gave blood for her sister. Seeing her mother she rushes to her, Helen releases Daniel and Cindy to hold Karen.
Uncle George arise shortly before Michael senior, they both look scared to death as they run to us, they both ask, “What happened?”
Daniel tells his painful story again. Fortunately, by the time he finishes a doctor emerges with an update. The doctor begins, “Kara went through surgery fine, we got to her in time and she will make a full recovery in a few weeks. She will need some physical therapy to deal with the leg wound. She is remarkably healthy, that is probably one of the things to help save her. But how in the hell did she end up with a dime in her femur.”
Daniel asks, “Doctor about the baby, did she lose it?”
The family simultaneously ask, “Baby?”
The doctor has a reassuring smile and says, “Babies, your wife will have twins. It is too early to tell what sex they are, but they came through fine too.” He leaves us alone to attend to his duties.
Daniel pulled into a bear hug by the Coach, who has tears of relief and joy streaming down his face like everyone else in the family. The Coach slaps Daniel on the back and says, “That is my son-in-law.”
Daniel once free says, “We were going to announce to the family tonight that she was expecting she is so happy.”
Karen, Kathryn and Helen take Cindy to the bathroom, I am not sure if Cindy realizes how much blood is on her.
Kathryn gives me a nudge by our bond she reminds me of the will Sylvia with my help had written. Fortunately, the will was signed and notarized earlier last week, and executable nearly immediately because I am the executor to it. I pull Daniel over to the side and say to him, “Sylvia was not lying to Cindy, you and Kara are her guardians. A will names you as such.”
Daniel looking into my face asks, “How do you know JJ?”
I inform Daniel, “Daniel, Sylvia had me help her with it. It was just in case she did not survive. However, it is still a valid will, and I am the executor to the will. We need to tell Cindy, Kara and you are who Sylvia wanted to raise Cindy if she could not.”
A tearful Cindy can no longer stay away from Daniel, and comes tugging on him needing held and comforted. Daniel takes her into his arms holding her, Cindy cries softly against his chest. Daniel says, “I know Cindy, it really hurts. I am going to miss your Mom too. She is my hero, what she did saved you and Kara, for that I will always be grateful.”
Cindy through her tears says, “She is my Angel Mommy now. I wish I did not want to be like Sam.”
Daniel does not give her a second before he says, “Cindy what happened in no way is your fault. What you wanted did not cause this. What your mother did was because of her love for you. She protected you, the one thing in the world she loved more than life itself, and you are right what she did made her an Angel.” Cindy gives him a sad smile that does not last long before she goes back to crying against his chest.
At this stage, I know it is best just to let her cry, more tears she sheds now the easier her recovery will be. She is with the parents I guess destiny chose for her. I cannot help but think, this could have been different if we had not saved Sylvia, and then she would not been there today to save Cindy and Kara. Cindy’s father intention was to murder Cindy, no matter where Cindy was he was bound to come for her. Like Daniel, I too will be forever grateful to Sylvia.
I go to Karen giving her a hug and saying to her, “You did great sister. Thank you for being a hero.”
Karen hugs me back and cries on my shoulder for a moment bringing herself under control she looks into my face she asks, “Do you really think I am a hero? All I did was call for the police, and a little first aid.”
Holding her gaze I say, “Yes, you acted in a bad situation, a lesser person could have just lost it. What you did saved Kara. You did your best to save Sylvia but her injuries were just too much for anyone.”
My phone rings it is from home. Charles says, “Sam woke up having a nightmare, she wants to know where you are at.”
I answer, “First tell Sam, Kara is hurt but she and her babies are going to be fine. We are at the hospital now with her. They may let us see her in a little while they just moved her to recovery. We should be home shortly.”
Charles asks, “What happened? Is there anything we can do for her?”
I relate Daniel story to Charles, then what the doctor had informed us. I ask, “The doctor mentioned Kara had a dime in her femur, how could that happen?”
Charles says, “That bastard reloaded the shotgun shells with dimes. He definitely wanted to kill somebody. They do a lot more damage than normal shot.”
A nurse comes out and announces, “The doctor is going to allow two family members to see Kara at a time. She still little druggie from the medications, but she will recover quickly.”
Helen says, “Cindy we need to get you some clean clothes before you get to see her, with all that blood on you. You will scare her to death.”
The nurse says, “Daniel we can give you some scrubs, but we do not have anything to fit Cindy.” Most of the blood that is on Daniel came from Cindy’s clothing. Although uninjured Cindy did hold to her mother for a long time after she had passed.
Kathryn and I, asks Cindy, “Cindy you can come back with us and have a shower then will bring you right back, so you can see Kara.”
Cindy says, “I do not want to leave Daddy Daniel.”
Daniel says, “Cindy, it will be okay. I will be right here, and you can come back when you are clean. No one in our family will lie to you Cindy, your Aunt Kathryn and Uncle JJ will bring you right back.”
Cindy gives a sniffle, “Can Sam come back with me I need to talk with her.”
I tell Cindy, “I do not think I could keep Sam away, she loves Kara too. I am sure Sam loves you too, and she would do anything for you.” Cindy gives a shake of her head and I open my arms as she reluctantly leaves Daniel’s embrace. Kathryn and I take her back home, Kathryn pull Cindy into her bedroom, and I go change my shirt.
In the family room, I find my daughters with Charles, Jane, and the rest of my adoptive family. I begin, “The good news is that Kara will be fine. Unfortunately, she was injured. Sadly, we lost Sylvia. Sylvia gave her life to protect Kara and Cindy. Once we all get through this everybody’s going to be fine, Cindy will be going to Daniel and Kara, once Kara is back on her feet.”
Sam and Crystal come to me; I pull the two sad little girls into my arms. Sam asked, “Is there anything I can do?”
Crystal says, “Me too Daddy, I want to help.”
I say to them, “Cindy is grieving, let her know that it is okay. She did not do anything wrong, and we love her.”
Jane, Reese and Misty inform me that they will be going back with me. They need to bring Kara new clothes, and help with anything they can. Charles, Ron, and Marshall volunteer to drive for us, and they will run any errant needed.
Alyssa, Joan, Johnny, Jim and MC will remain here, Alyssa along with Charles and Jane will coordinate everyone, Joan, Johnny and Jim will also watch the children, Alyssa and Misty will prepare meals along with coordinate any additional support needed.
I smile realizing that my adoptive family is pulling together to do whatever they can to see that Kara is made comfortable, protected and that everyone has the time and ability to help. No one person will be responsible for everything, and everything will be coordinated to give Daniel, Kara and Cindy time to heal.
Charles catches me saying, “JJ, I just found out, that it was Cindy’s father who attacked them. The kick that Kara used was a little more powerful than what you believed. He is dead. The DA is investigating the possibility that she intended to kill him. That she had the means, and knowledge not to use deadly force to subdue him.”
Shaking my head I say, “That man is a fool, this was easily a case of self-defense. She just did as I had instructed her several times in a situation like that you cannot hold back. When facing the adversary bent on the death of another or yourself, you cannot take the chance of not using all your strength.”
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