Roses Are Red

I judge service organizations on a ten scale. I expect 9.9999 out of ten. Your bank fails miserably.

The little people will have their day.

He reread the letter and thought it wasn't too bad not for two-something in the morning. No, actually the letter was good.

He would do an edit, then sign, and finally deposit it in his file cabinet as he did with all the other letters. They were far too dangerous and incriminating to actually send through the federal mail system.

Goddamnit, he hated the banks with a passion! Insurance companies! Self-important investment houses! Cheeky Internet firms! The government! The big boys and girls had to go down. And they would. The little people would finally have their day.

Chapter Thirty-Three

I had promised Ja

I was juggling a hot box in my hands when I entered her room at the hospital. She wouldn't be able to eat much, but Dr. Petito said a slice would be fine.

"Delivery," I said as I waltzed into the room.

"Hooray! Hooray!” she cheered from her bed," You saved me from this awful, dreadful hospital food. Thank you, Daddy. You are the greatest."

Ja

"You wanted olives and anchovies, right?" I teased her as I opened the pizza box.

"You got that wrong, Mr. Delivery Man. Better take that nasty pie right back to the store if it has those slimy little anchovies on it," she said, giving me the evil eye she must have learned from her great-grandmother.

"He's just teasing you," Nana said and gave me a softer version of the squinty-eyed look.

Ja

"I like anchovies," Damon said, just to be controversial. "They're real salty."

"You would." She frowned at her brother. "I think you might have been an anchovy in another life."

We were laughing, just like always, as we dug into the extra-cheese pizza and milk. We exchanged news of our days. Ja

Nana and Damon finally got up to leave around eight. They'd been at the hospital since just after three when he got out of school.

Ja

Then Ja

Damon and Nana Mama left with a lot of bye-byes, and extra waves, and see-you-tomorrows, and brave smiles. Ja

"Actually, I sort of like this," she told them," You know that I have to be the center of attention. And everybody stop worrying I am going to be a doctor. In fact, from now on, you all can call me Dr. Ja

"Goodnight, Dr. Ja

"Night," Damon said. He turned away, then turned back. "Oh, all right Dr. Ja

She and I were quiet for a few moments after Nana and Damon left. I came over and put my arm around her. I think that the parting scene had been too much for both of us. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, and I held her as if she would break. We stayed like that for a long time, talking a little bit, but mostly just holding on to each other.

I was surprised when I saw that Ja

Chapter Thirty-Four

I stayed in the hospital with Ja

I also thought about Christine. I loved her, couldn't help it, but I believed she had made up her mind about the two of us. I couldn't change it. She didn't want to be with a homicide detective; and I probably couldn't be anything else.

Ja

"Don't worry, Daddy," Ja

"Truth be told,” I said. "That's the way it always has to be between us."

"Okay. So I'm very scared," Ja

"Me too, little girl."

We held hands and stared at the glorious orangey-red sun. Ja

"What happens this morning?" Ja

"The rest of the pre-op work-up," I told her. "Maybe another blood test."

She wrinkled her nose. "They're vampires here, you know. It's why I made you stay the night."

"Good thinking on your part. I fought off a few dastardly attacks in the wee hours. Didn't want to wake you. They'll probably give you your very first shave."

Ja

"Just a little in the back. It will look cool."