The place where had taken Mrs Taylor was a building where one wouldn't even bother to check. The police got in contact with Mr James and together they reached out to Sigmund Bank. Sigmund got across to his son who acted like nothing was wrong.
Sigmund had to threaten his son, then Hank was forced to leak out Lizzy who gave him the idea. Lizzy was his girlfriend.
Lizzy was arrested by the police and her boyfriend too.
"Who would have ever believed that Lizzy had a hand in this?" Mr James said, slightly touching Patricia's face.
Patricia gave a weak smile. Her lips were bruised, her eyes swollen from the beating those men had landed on her. She felt weak and Mr James supported her with a hand around her waist.
"Will you be alright?" Mr James asked her.
"I will be." She tried to assure him.
Mr James wasn't satisfied. He placed her beside him in his car, while the girls sat behind them. Then, he drove them to their house.
They had spent the whole day looking for Mrs Taylor. The girls wouldn't bulge, they wouldn't go to school. They were super worried about their mother.
Lizzy was acting in a sorta funny way, the kids had explained. She was taking some unknown calls which the kids pointed to the other staffs.
"Are you going to put her behind bars?" Patricia asked while Mr James when he dropped them off.
"That's her place. She deserves it." Mr James told her.
Patricia touched his hand. "I know she has done some wrong but do find it in your heart to let it go and forgive her." She begged.
He was surprised, he didn't know what to say to that at first. "Is that so easy for you?" He seemed bemused.
She smiled at him. "It isn't. But, I do understand that she did all these because she felt bittered that you like me. So, she partnered with Hank and became something else entirely." She explained.
"Patricia, that is no excuse. She is not a good person." He said.
Mrs Taylor sighed. "Please, forgive her for my sake." She pleaded.
"I'll think about it and decide what to do with her." He said.
They were both standing in front of her house while the girls were already inside the house. Mr. James was turning away.
"Martin." She called him by his first name.
Martin turned to look at her in surprise. "No one has ever called me that in a long while." He gave a huge smile.
She smiled back and lowered her eyes. "Will you come in for a tea?" She asked him.
He nodded. "What about your kids?"
"Ahh, they are cool with that. Actually, they will love it." She smiled.
********
Mr. James went to see Lizzy in Carbondale jail. He never liked Lizzy but she kept pushing herself on him even after his late wife's death. When her secrets had been exposed by the police, he was taken aback by how unruly she had been.
Being a boyfriend to Hank Sigmund was understandable. But, partnering with him to have his new product stolen? That was unforgivable.
"I still don't understand why you did all that." Mr James said when an officer brought her out to him.
"I don't understand why you're here either." She rolled her eyes.
He scoffed. "You are lucky. Patricia wants this case gone."
She laughed at that. "Well, thank the saint for me."
Mr James stood up, gave her a one sad look. She grabbed one of his hand and pulled him close. The officer came and pushed her back on her seat.
"You never looked at me, not once. Patricia swoops in like a princess and you are all over her. How am I to be happy about that? I had an escape plan with Hank, but it turned out to be a disaster." She quailed.
Mr James scoffed again. "Not the reaction I expected," he paused. "You are fired, Lizzy." Then he started walking away.
"You don't turn your back on me, James! I did everything for you! Don't turn....!!!" Her voice trailed off as Martin James didsappered.
********
Martin James looked down at the golden ring which Sheila, his late wife had once wore. He put that away and brought out a diamond ring. He wanted to propose to Patricia. He loved her and he couldn't think of a day which he didn't find himself thinking about her.
He wanted more than just mere dates with her, picnics with the family. He wanted to be part of them, part of their family.
He had kept in mind that the girls were graduating soon and he was his greatest wish if they would also accept him as their new dad.
He stepped into his car and drove off to their school. He made his way to the occasion and sat down where parents were to seat.
When Melina and Melissa saw him from the platform, they were giddy with excitement. They waved at him from where they sat.
After the ceremony, the girls raced down to meet him. "We didn't think you would come." They told him.
"I'd promised your mother that I would come." He smiled, showing his perfect dentition.
"We'll take pictures." Melissa pulled one of his hand.
"No, that can wait." Melina pulled the other of his hand.
Mr James laughed at them both. "Where's your mother?" He asked them.
"I'm right here." She said from behind them. "You guys have clearly forgotten me." She tried to feign a hurt expression.
"I'm sorry from stealing them from you." Mr James apologized.
"You don't need to apologise. They love you, that's obvious." She laughed.
Mr. James suddenly felt nervous, gave the girls a wink for them to leave. The girls noticed it. "Melissa, come let me show you something." Melina grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her away.
"We will be right back mum!" Melissa yelled to their mother while Melina elbowed her.
Patricia laughed at them. "What is wrong with them? Where are they off to?" She asked no one in particular then swirled round to face Martin James.
"I...You look beautiful today, Patricia." He started awkwardly.
Patricia scoofed at that. "Is something wrong, Martin?"
Without thinking, he said. "I love the way you call my name."
Patricia flinched then blushed. He touched her cheek that she suddenly looked up at him.
"The girls are happy as I am. I want us to be family. I love you, Patricia." He said.
Patricia was taken aback. His lips touched her lips in a light kiss. "The way you look at me." He chuckled.
Patricia smiled back. "How else do I look at you?" She asked him.
"Makes my stomach tighten." He laughed. Then, he went down on his knees. "Will you marry me, Patricia?" He asked her.
Patricia gasped, turned around at the peering eyes from parents and students alike including their kids.
"Go on, say yes." Melissa and Melina said with the others.
Patricia's eyes suddenly went teary. This was really happening. She turned back to Martin, went down on her knees and accepted the ring.
"Yes, I'll marry you." She answered him.
Martin pushed the ring into one of her fingers. Patricia had just made him the happiest man in Earth. He was ready to do away with the past, the past was gone already. He would face the future whole heatedly.
This was it!