Chasing the Shrew

Dying

Amelia rounded the corner and the park came into view. Her lungs were burning but she ignored all the pain, the wellbeing of her children and DS was her only concern. She saw Peter struggling against a bodyguard in the parking lot and Jenny was nowhere to be seen. Like an angry bear, she roared and charged at the man holding her son.

It was pure chaos.

***

Henry secretly ran a background check on Amelia after he got home from dinner Thursday night. He was curious about the “angels” his wife had mentioned so he went to their school to catch a glimpse the next afternoon. The little girl was so adorable that he couldn’t help but want to see her again so he decided to make good on his promise to meet at the park. Helena had a tea party so Henry had the chauffeur drop her off first before taking him to the park. He was going to be a little late but he figured the little girl would be there till noon so it wouldn’t matter. As he got out of the car he heard a little girl screaming and he looked up to see Jenny running towards him.

Then a gunshot was fired from the park. Everyone flinched and Jenny was so scared she tripped and fell. The little boy was screaming at her to come back and was running towards her. Henry’s bodyguards leaped into action and ran to protect him.

Henry grabbed his cane and quickly walked to Jenny who was still face flat on the ground.

“Are you okay?” He crouched down to check on her.

Before he could touch her a small bowling ball of a boy tumbled in and knocked him to the ground in a tackle.

“Get away from my sister!!”

Peter rolled to his feet and scrambled back to his sister. He half-dragged Jenny and tried to take off again but was stopped by two heavyset guards. Then another gunshot ripped the air.

Jenny’s eyes rolled back and she fainted from fear. The sudden weight pulled Peter down and they tumbled to the floor in a heap.

Peter looked back and saw DS was now struggling against two more assailants and one had a gun. Then the third gunshot cut the air and DS stumbled. Peter screamed and tried to run to DS but a guard stopped him.

Peter struggled and turned to see the other guard pick up Jenny and take her to the car. His attention was split and he couldn’t concentrate. He screamed in frustration, struggling against the guard’s hold like a fish out of water, kicking and biting as if his life depended on it.

Before he knew it, another force collided with the guard. Peter heard his mother’s scream as she punched and kicked the mountain of a man. Somehow she was successful in pulling him free from the man’s grasp.

Amelia shoved Peter behind her as she backed away slowly.

“Where is your sister,” she rasped out, “Where is DS?”

Peter sniffled but managed to choke out, “DS is fighting in the playground. I think he got shot. They put Jenny in the car over there.”

Amelia sneaked a quick look, she was so focused on locating her children she didn’t see DS. His white shirt was stained red and he was still fighting. Amelia didn’t know who to help first.

Inside the car she heard a voice order, “Go help the man fighting those masked hooligans.”

The two bodyguards immediately ran towards DS, pulling out their guns as they ran. She didn’t know if they were truly there to help but she was fighting a battle on two fronts. Apologizing to DS in her mind, she decided to focus on Jenny first. She had a better chance of escaping with the two children and calling for help. If she left Jenny to help DS, the man may drive away.

Amelia grabbed Peter’s hand as she approached the car carefully, “Please return my daughter. I don’t know what you want but I will give you everything I have if you just return her to me.”

Henry could hear the desperation in her voice and his heart ached for this single mother. He spoke soothingly, “Don’t worry. Your daughter fainted so I took her to my car away from harm. My car is bulletproof. I tried to bring your son too but he’s a little fighter.”

Amelia didn’t trust a single thing he said but she didn’t let it show, “Thank you, sir. I will repay you somehow for your help but please give me my daughter, I need to check her condition.”

Henry nodded to the chauffeur and the man exited the car to carry Jenny back to Amelia.

Once Jenny was in hand, Amelia let out a sob as she clutched her daughter and checked for breathing then all over for any wounds. She then checked Peter over before repositioning Jenny in her arms in a comfortable hold and stood up.

“Thank you, sir. Please excuse us.”

She turned down to Peter and whispered, “Stay close to Mama, baby.”

Peter nodded and held on to a corner of her shirt.

Henry watched Amelia back away slowly knowing that she didn’t trust him at all. He smiled to himself. It was good to be wary. He picked up his phone and dialed a number then put it on speakerphone.

“Hello, Dad?” A familiar voice was heard loud and clear.

The tension in Amelia’s shoulders immediately dropped. Chris was like a warm blanket on a cold day, a welcoming comfort.

Henry kept his eyes on her as he spoke, “Son, I am with Amelia and her kids. They met some trouble. Can you come to the Finkberry Park?”

Chris's voice sounded cold, “Are they okay? Did you call the police yet? I’ll be right there.”

Henry looked at the scene with DS. All of the attackers were disarmed and sitting on the floor or still knocked out. DS was making his way over. Peter saw DS covered in blood, a small guttural sob escaped as he ran to DS. Peter stopped short in front of him and looked up with watery eyes.

“Uncle, are you dying?”

DS smiled gently, “Of course not! Uncle is fine.”

Peter gingerly hugged his thigh and cried softly into his pants. Amelia was grateful and sorry at the same time.

She turned to Henry, “Thank you, Mr. Farley, I have to take my brother to the hospital. I will come to thank you in the future, please excuse us.”

Henry smiled, what a tricky woman. She still didn’t trust him and was trying to escape. He decided to tease her a little, “Chris is on his way, why don’t we wait for him together or I can drop you all off at the hospital.”

DS kept his mouth shut and just watched Amelia quietly. He gripped his side tightly with one hand to staunch the blood flow and the other was gently cupping the back of Peter’s little head to his thigh. Amelia knew DS’s condition wasn’t good but she left her phone at home and she couldn’t call for help. She may have heard Chris’s voice or it could be someone pretending to be Chris; she couldn’t risk everyone’s safety.

She squeezed out a polite smile, “Thank you, sir, but we live close by and can go to the hospital ourselves. We really can’t impose on your goodwill any further. Thank you again.”

Henry smiled gently and nodded. He watched as the young mother walked away leaving a trail of bloody footprints. Chris picked a strong and wise woman. Despite her troublesome past, he could see why Chris was so infatuated. He turned his gaze to DS, for a man of his stature to take down five men on his own and walk away— he must have a colorful past. Before Amelia married into the family, they had to uncover DS’s past and clear up his current relationship with Amelia.

He shook his head. Why does trouble cling to good women?