The Improbable Read online

  “A ‘thank you’ would be appreciated.” I spit out with irritation. No matter what they preached to me in the academy, I knew I’d continue to have problems with my short fuse.

  “What are you doing?” She questioned in a worried tone when she saw me removing my button up that matched my swimming trunks

  Without answering, I rung it out and tossed it at her.

  The girl shuffled into it, removed her shoes, and carefully stood up. “Well, I do thank you kind sir but I do not know you and would like to go home. Now if you’d excuse me.” She shoved past me and started in a zigzag line towards an exquisite Rolls Royce.

  I raced toward her and closed the door as she opened it. “Are you out of your fucking mind? You’ve had more drinks and shots than I can count on my fingers!” I didn’t mean for my voice to come out so harsh yet I couldn’t control it. Could she not see her own foolishness?

  Her petite hands met my chest and pushed me back. “You are not the boss of me!” She swiftly opened the door and slid in. Feisty and fast.

  I was able to get the door back open before she put the keys into the ignition. I reached in and retrieved the keys. How many times was I going to have to save this girl in one night? She surely was gorgeous, but her stupidity was slowly outshining that factor! “You aren’t driving.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and didn’t look at me like a stubborn child.

  “I know you don’t know me, but if you drive, you’ll kill yourself. Let me take you home.” I tried to reason.

  “I don’t want you having knowledge of where I live!” She spat, still not making eye contact. “I’m sleeping right here, sir.” She huffed trying to push me out of the way to close the door, failing.

  I checked the surroundings. Even though it was a private property, I still didn’t have a good feeling. “Come to my car, I promise you’ll be safe.”

  Her eyes widened and she finally looked up at me. “I don’t even know you! You could take advantage of me or even –”

  “Or you could stay here…with the coyotes.” I interjected. “I hear they’re real bad out here in the summer.” I shoved my hands in the pockets of my swimming trunks and looked out at the night sky, hoping she was falling for it. “This is a low car you’ve got, there’s also snakes to worry about – they’re ruthless as well. And the boat won’t be back until a few hours from now. You’d be out here all alone…” I peaked down to see her expression shifting into worry.

  “I don’t believe you,” She said in a light voice, still not looking up at me.

  “Well you don’t have to believe me,” I quickly reached in and scooped her up and began heading toward my car around the bend in the road. “But it’s true my dear, and whether you like it or not you’re going to be safe tonight.”

  “You put me down this instant! Help! Put me down you idiot! I don’t want to go with you!” She yelled, making the situation seem worse than what it was.

  Once we arrived at my Jaguar, I set her down right before she vomited in the grass. I opened the door and she stumbled into the back seat face first and taking up all the space. She was groaning and her feet were hanging out of the door so I couldn’t shut it. By the time I settled down in the grass, leaning against the car, she was already snoring. What a night.

  “You put your hands up! Don’t move!” A voice shouted along with whistles and the barking of dogs. I couldn’t be sure where the voice was coming from and I wasn’t sure whom they’d been talking to. I looked around; I was lying in the grass next to my car, the girls’ legs and feet still hanging out of the car. I was dressed only in my swimming trunks and the morning sun had reddened my skin. I blinked, sat up and looked around.

  “I said don’t move!” A policeman had his gun pointed at me with a quite large German shepherd at his side.

  I was immediately outraged. Did they not know who I was? Who was this rookie anyways? And what the hell was I in trouble for? “What seems to be the problem, officer?” I asked, as calm as possible, slowly rising to my feet.

  “You stay right there! Put your hands up!” He commanded, gun still pointed at me. “I’ve found someone!” He yelled to the rest of his squad. “Over here Mr. Hutchinson, she’s in there!”

  One of his men, obviously another rookie, rushed over and immediately placed cuffs around both of my wrists and right then and there I was ready to choke him out. But I knew even my father couldn’t get me out of jail if I did. I forced my smoldering anger into silence, still confused as to why I was being arrested.

  “Eva-Marie, are you alright!” A black man pushed through the rest of the police and immediately located his daughter in my back seat. “Eva, it’s daddy, you’re alright. Just wake up.” He rubbed her back and sat her up, cautiously sliding her out of the backseat and leaning her against the car, still holding her in an embrace and covering her with a light blanket.

  Eva-Marie’s eyes darted around from face to face, and then to her surroundings. A worried expression came over her and didn’t even falter as she realized it was her father who stood in front of her. “What happened?”

  He spun around in an instant, seething as he started toward me. “What in God’s name did you do to her?” He demanded.

  I looked at my swimming trunks and the matching button up draped around Eva-Marie’s shoulders and realized how they’d found her sprawled in the seat of my car – then it began to click in my mind. My anger boiled over. “What? I saved her life!” I roared, coming at him but not being able to get anywhere with the officer holding me back. I shot Eva-Marie a fiery glare, “You tell him I saved you! You know I did!”

  “I don’t know what happened! I don’t know!” She shrieked.

  “Do not speak to her like that!” Her father pointed at me.

  “She knows what fucking happened!” I shot back.

  “Baby, are you alright? They’d found your robe in the water and your friends had no idea where you’d gone!” Mr. Hutchinson searched his daughter’s face for answers. He then turned to me and got in my face. “If I find out she has so much as a bruise on her, I can surely promise that I will have you put away for the rest of your life, boy!”

  This black man referring to me as a ‘boy’ took me aback. That was it, I’d had it. “I didn’t do anything wrong!”

  “Okay. No more from you,” The officer behind me started yanking me toward the police car pulling toward the scene.

  She was looking at me with questioning eyes as her dad pulled her away toward another car.

  My eyes met hers and I sagged, done trying to defend myself to these rookies and her father who had absolutely no idea what had gone on the night before. I was angry with her for not speaking up, how drunk could she have been? Oh, if they only knew it was nothing they even expected. I knew my father would handle it once I was at the station. I ducked into the backseat and stared out the window. Mr. Hutchinson handed both officers fairly large bills and nodded at both of them.

  “I told you already! She was drunk and she jumped – or fell – off the diving board, she wasn’t going to make it out so I went in after her!” I yelled, my voice booming off the walls of the questioning room. I rose out of my chair quickly and making it clatter to the floor. “Where the hell is my fucking father? This is bullshit!”

  “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

  My 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.”