Brooklyn's Song (21 page)

Brooklyn nodded off on her father’s shoulder when Song whispered her name. The governor gently nudged her and she opened her eyes. She quickly sat up when she saw him.

The governor kissed her on top of the head. “I’ll be waiting in the car. He shook Song’s hand. Detective Kai, thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome,” Song replied.

Brooklyn walked to Song. Her eyes welled up with tears at the thought of losing him. She reached and ran her hands through his hair. He traced his finger over her bruised cheek and swollen lip. Overcome with emotion, the two of them stood staring at each other, not sure what to do.

“There are cameras here and my lip is swollen; I must look like a mess.”

Song stepped closer to Brooklyn and whispered, “Yet, I still want to kiss you.”

He pulled her to him and winced when it was too much pressure on his ribs. She stepped back and Song leaned in and brushed his lips over her bruised cheek, kissed her forehead and held her close. He never wanted to let her go.

Down the hall, a bunch of officers watched. Mattice, in the middle, held out his hand. “Gentlemen, pay up, that will be five dollars each.”

Epilogue

The next morning Song and Mattice had to explain to Lieutenant Phillips how they got involved in Brooklyn’s kidnapping case. Lieutenant Phillips said, “Before you get started, let me take out my can of Febreze. I have a feeling I’m going to smell some bullshit!”

Just as Song was about to begin, he was interrupted by Lieutenant Phillip’s desk phone.

“This is Lieutenant Phillips, good morning Commissioner Hayes.”

She listened for a few minutes and said, “Of course, yes, I certainly will. I understand. I will let them know. You have a good day too.”

Mattice and Song sat nervously staring at Lieutenant Phillips trying to read her expression.

“As you know, that was the Commissioner Hayes. He has nothing but nice things to say about my ‘two talented detectives’ who along with the FBI saved the governor’s daughter. The three of us our invited to a luncheon next week…Details to follow. From now on, I want the two of you to color inside the lines, do you understand?”

Mattice and Song, said “Yes” in unison.

“Good work out there. You made me and this department proud. Now go get some rest!”

Four months passed. An anonymous tip led detectives to Harold’s apartment and the evidence that was collected linked him to the ‘chloroform rapes.’ Although Harold was in the hospital and recovering from his injuries, he was arrested and charged with numerous crimes including ten counts of rape, kidnapping, assault and attempted murder. The DA said they had a ‘solid case’ against him.

Brooklyn’s sister Jules gave birth to a healthy baby boy. He was named Daniel Sage, after her father and her husband. Lonette and Konstantinos traveled to Greece so that she could meet his family. Their relationship was going strong and she couldn’t be happier. Mattice and Gina were doing well too. She had cut back on her spending because they were saving to buy a house. The Governor and Lydia married in a small ceremony at his estate in the Hamptons.

Due to reporter Hunter Reed’s use of expletives on national TV, she was fired immediately. Now she writes for an online gossip blog.

After an investigation of Harold’s hiring at the Coretta Scott King School, it was found that all of his documentation was forged. Principal Harewood took full responsibility and resigned.

Song spent more time at Brooklyn’s loft than he did at home. One morning when he was sitting across from his grandmother, she told him that the lease was running out on Bernice’s apartment, and that she suggested that Bernice move in with her. Song was surprised because his grandmother’s place only had two bedrooms. That’s when she told him, “Grandson, I guess you’re going to be looking for a new home. I heard there are some beautiful places in Tribeca.” She patted his hand, “New home, new beginning.”

Brooklyn still had nightmares of her kidnapping and was seeing a therapist. It was helping, but she needed a break, so she took a temporary leave of absence from teaching. The students and staff gave her a party on her last day. After the party, Lonette was helping her pack up her things when a few students began cheering while looking out an open window. It was pouring outside. Brooklyn assumed they were looking at a rainbow. She stopped in her tracks when she heard Keisha’ say “Why does Superman have an umbrella?”

Brooklyn hurried over to the window. She cupped her hand over her mouth and squealed with delight when she saw Song dressed from head to toe in a Superman costume and holding a red umbrella. Brooklyn ran outside. The fall rain beat against her face as the red and golden leaves cascaded from the trees.

He smiled. “You were right.”

“Right, about what?”

“You told me ‘even Superman could use an umbrella on a rainy day.’” He laughed. “Well, here I am, umbrella and all. The other day, your father told me that I saved your life in Cape Cod. The truth is, I just repaid you for saving mine.”

He reached and placed her trembling hand over his heart. “That chain I wore weighed me down; I didn’t realize it until … Until I fell in love with you.”

Brooklyn listened, while she wept.

“You once asked me, what you meant to me. I wanted so badly to tell you that you are everything. I’m not ‘faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.’ But, I can promise … Promise to love you and be as strong as you need me to be. I’ll do my damn best to protect you from all things great and small.”

He handed Brooklyn the umbrella, got down on one knee and pulled a ring from his pocket. He said, “My ja-gi-ya, Brooklyn, will you marry me?”

Brooklyn looked down at Song; tears and rain streamed down her cheeks. With a blank expression she said, “Your tights have pockets?”

“First of all, they’re not tights, they are leggings and, yes, they do have pockets. Do you think you can give me an answer, I’m kneeling in the mud?”

She laughed, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Song slipped the ring on her finger, and gazed into her eyes.

“The children and Lonette are in the classroom window watching us,” she whispered.

He leaned in; his lips an inch away from hers. “Yet, I still want to kiss you.”

Song pulled her close to him and kissed her. When they heard giggling and clapping coming from the open classroom window, Brooklyn held the umbrella at an angle blocking the children’s and Lonette’s view, while she and Song kissed in the pouring rain.

It was important for Brooklyn to get to know Song’s grandmother before she and Song got married. So every Sunday, Brooklyn, Song, grandmother and Bernice had dinner together. Song knew Brooklyn had won his grandmother over when she referred to Brooklyn as “sonnyeo (granddaughter).”

Surrounded by their family and friends, Song and Brooklyn were married in the same chapel that her parents were married in. She wore her mother’s veil and a dress designed by her new stepmother Lydia. Lonette and Jules were her bridesmaids and Marta was the matron of honor. Keisha was proud to be the flower girl while Mattice was Song’s best man.

The happy couple had their first dance as husband and wife; “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” played in the background.

A few months after their wedding, Song stood with Brooklyn, the governor and a host of community leaders watching her cut the ribbon on the Margret Peirce home for battered women and children. Rose, Private Jones and Keisha’s mother Ruby were all employees at the shelter. Brooklyn even hired former principal Harewood.

After the ceremony ended, Brooklyn sat in the garden with her back to Song; his arms wrapped around her while pollen floated overhead. A field of wildflowers made the scene picturesque.

Brooklyn glanced up at the gazebo and read the words engraved on the border: ‘’New beginnings and happy endings.”

Song kissed her and smiled. “Ja-gi-ya, you have given me both.”