First Estate

"No, Mom. Of course not. I don't want power. I just want to be a normal guy. Well, I want to save Boston, but I don't want like political power or power to control people. It's disgusting to me when I see politicians doing that. That's not the way you raised me."

"No, it's not. I never wanted that either. I think that's why God left me alone."

"Do we have souls, Mom? Boston asked me that and I'd like to know."

"I have no idea what a soul is. I suppose we do, but how do you test for that? Ask me if we have feelings, emotions, thoughts or the ability to make moral choices. Yes we do. That's what humans do and they have souls, I suppose. So maybe we do, too. What does it matter?"

"Well, I just like the idea of redemption at the end," I said.

"Me, too, baby. I think you're my redemption. I finally got it right with you. I love these girls you've found, Parker. I think they're good for you. They're making you more human than I ever could."

It was very late and I was yawning. "I want to talk about this with you forever, but I'm crashing, Mom. Let's get some sleep."

She stood up and pulled me to my feet, her strength surprising me again. She squeezed me tight. "I love you, baby. You make me proud. Happy New Year; I think it's going to be interesting."

Chapter Five

I chartered a private plane to fly Boston to Boston. I still giggled every time I thought about that. Mona had given us her permission to take Boston with us and I noticed she had a little cough when I picked them up.

"Are you okay, Boston?" I asked her.

"Yes, I have a little cold. My immune system is shot, but when you give me your blood, it will help. Getting blood always makes me feel better for a while, even normal human blood. I get hemoglobin that helps me absorb oxygen and white blood cells that help me fight infections. It doesn't help as much as it used to and it's just going to get worse until it doesn't help at all. That's why I'm hoping you can help me so I don't have to get a bone marrow transplant."

"Can't Sagan or your family be a donor for you?" I asked her.

"No, for some reason, we don't match up very well. I really don't understand it. Because science, you know." She smiled at her little joke."

I got her some juice to drink and when she was done with it she curled up in her chair and went to sleep. Sagan and I talked quietly.

"Sagan, I want you to be honest with me. I don't care if Boston doesn't want you to tell me. How sick is she and how long do we have to help her?"

"She's not that bad right now. She'll be fine for probably about six more months. It's deadly, though, Parker. She'll die if we don't do something. She's taking methotrexate and she could start chemotherapy again, and she will have to if she gets a bone marrow transplant. She'll be put in isolation in a hospital and they'll completely kill off her immune system and bone marrow. Then they'll give her some healthy donor marrow. Her biggest danger right now is infections. She really has very little ability to fight them off."

"I don't know how hard this must be on you, Sagan. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Tears began to slip down her cheeks. "No, I'm okay. Just having you around makes everything better. That's why I've been so impressed with you, Parker. You loved her and paid attention to her even before you knew she was sick. She loves you, Parker. You're all she talks about. You asked me why I wasn't married or didn't have a boyfriend. Now you know. Boston needs me and I just didn't have time for that."

"Well, I'm going to try to help her. I love her, too, but I'm very concerned about you. You know I'll help you any way I can."

She leaned over, put her head on my shoulder and held my hand. "You are helping. God, I hope this works, Parker."

When we landed in Boston, Mom was waiting for us. She took us home with her and told us that she had talked to a pediatric oncologist who had agreed to give Boston her transfusion. I didn't ask what kind of a deal she had with him. I just told her that if she needed money I would pay for it.

She informed us that it wouldn't cost anything. We spent the night with her and I heard Boston coughing all during the night. Mom drove us to the Doctor's office Saturday evening. The Doctor's name was Rosenberg and he was a quiet little man. He didn't ask any questions, just took my blood and began to transfuse Boston. She complained a little about being stuck, but after the needle was in, she played on her iPad and waited patiently. I gave another pint and when the first one was finished, he gave her that as well.

I noticed a little rosy blush creeping into her cheeks and she became decidedly more animated. It took a couple of hours and I played trivia crack with her while Mom and Sagan talked and read magazines. When she was through we thanked the doctor and I carried her out to the car. When we got back to Mom's house, I started to carry her in but she demanded to be put down.

"I feel very good, Parker. I want to walk."

I set her down and she held my hand while we walked into the house. Mom got her a Coke and she sat on the sofa. Her cheeks were flushed and she talked non-stop.

"Is she always like this after a transfusion?" I asked Sagan.

"Sort of, but I haven't seen a change like this for a long time. You have good blood, Parker."

"I feel a little strange," Boston told us. "I feel all warm inside. It's like waking up from a long nap. You know how you feel kind of weak? That's the way I've been feeling but now it's as if my blood has been heated up or something. I feel warm all over. I'm not coughing anymore. Did you notice that, Sagan?"

"Yes, baby, I did. Either Parker gave you some really good white blood cells or this is working. How long will it be until we know, Lilith?"

"I have no idea. I've never heard of anything like this before. It could have already worked, or it could be working and we won't know for a while or it might just be the effects of the transfusion. We'll just have to wait. How long is it until your next blood test, sweetheart?"

"It's Tuesday. I would normally get a transfusion if my counts are low."

"I don't think you should do that, honey. Let's wait and see what this does," Mom told her.

"How can I keep from it? They don't ask me."

"Just make a fuss, about it," Sagan said. "You're good at that. I'll help you. I'll tell them that since you're making such a fuss we could wait a day or two."

"What does that mean; 'I'm good at that?' I don't make fusses, Sagan, you know that."

"Ha," her sister scoffed. "What about when Mom wanted to cut your hair after it grew back in?"

"I didn't want to cut it. I want it to be like yours. A person should have the right to decide their own hairstyle."

"That's right, honey," Mom told her. "Just do that; only don't let them talk you into it."

"Boston, your hair was all raggedy," Sagan told her. "Now you can let it grow out if you want to and it will look good. It didn't then. I wasn't on your side then because you were wrong. I will be now."

Boston was very active on the plane home. She went up and pestered the pilot into letting her sit with him for a while. She drank all the juice we had and watched a movie on her iPad.

When we got to the airport, she ran ahead down the concourse and rode the escalators up and down a dozen times. She chattered incessantly and bounced up and down in the back seat of the car. We were so glad to see her feeling like doing that we let her do anything she wanted. I stopped at Red Robin on the way home and she ate two big burgers and drank a strawberry malt.

I dropped them off and they promised to come over after the blood tests Tuesday and let me know what happened. I flew to Chicago on Monday and stayed overnight. When I got back Tuesday afternoon, Boston Snap Chatted me and told me they were coming over. She was making a funny face and that looked hopeful. I waited at the front door and when I saw her skipping up the sidewalk, I knew it was good news. I threw the door open just as she was getting ready to knock and grabbed her. She let out a little shriek and I whirled her around, wrapped in my arms.

"How's my girl?" I asked her, kissing her firmly on both cheeks.

"Put me down, you big lug," she demanded. "I have good news if you haven't scared me into a relapse."

I kissed Sagan and sat them down at the bar while I got a beer for Sagan and juice for Boston.

"So, what's the word?" I asked her.

"It's great. My counts are higher than they've been since I went into remission the first time and the bad white cells are down more than 50 percent. The doctor didn't understand what was going on and we didn't tell him. He said it was almost like my blood type had changed. He asked me about the needle mark on my arm but Sagan told him it was a scratch. We think it's working, Parker."

"That's great, kiddo. Can we go out and celebrate?"

"Maybe for a little while," she said. "I have a lot of homework to catch up on."

"I'm really good at homework. How about if you go home and I come over and help you and we finish it quick. Then I'll take the whole family out to Incredible Pizza?"

"Yay," she jumped up. "Let's go, Sagan. We need to stop Mom from fixing supper."

They kissed me and went home. I changed out of my business clothes and drove over to their house. We finished her homework in 45 minutes and we were ready to go. Boston was very impressed when I knew the answers to all her school questions without having to look them up in the books. Sagan, Thomas and Boston rode with me, and their parents drove their van.

We had a blast playing all the games and driving the go-carts. The pizza was inferior, but you can't get everything in one package. It wasn't bad, just not up to Anthony's.

Mona called a halt to the festivities at nine. "These kids have school tomorrow," she told me. "Would you give me a ride home? I want to talk to you."

"Mom, you aren't going to give Parker the inquisition," Sagan told her.

"No, No, nothing like that," she laughed. "I just want to get to know him better."

"I know you, Mom. I'm going with you."

"It's okay," I told her. "I'm sure she isn't planning to eat me."

I opened her door and she slid in. She reminded me very much of Sagan. She talked on the way home for a minute and then she became serious.

"Parker, I don't want you to feel defensive, but I know you did something to Boston. I don't know what it was, but it has helped her a lot. Will you tell me what you did?"

"I want to, Mona. I can't right now. Ask Boston and Sagan. If they want me to tell you, I will. It's their secret, too, and I won't tell it without their permission. I would never do anything to harm Boston. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. My girls have just blossomed since they met you. I've never seen them like this. Thank you, Parker. I never forget that neither of them would be alive if it weren't for you. I think they're both in love with you. Take care of my girls, Parker."

"That's my plan, Mona. I want to help take care of you, too. Sagan told me that you guys have a lot of medical bills. How are you dealing with that?"

"We're not. It's horrible. Bill collectors call every day and our credit is a mess. We can't get a loan for a new van, our credit cards are maxed out and even with me working and Jackson working two jobs, we're getting further and further behind. That's not your problem, Parker. You've got your own life to live. Don't get tangled up in the McDonald's problems. Just look out for my girls and I'll love you for it. It makes all the other stuff seem trivial when Boston is doing so well."

"I'm sorry, Mona; but that's bullshit. I can spot it a mile away. Sagan and Boston worry about that stuff, too. Let me help you. I'm kind of a big deal, and people listen to me. I'm not trying to brag. If you let me talk to the financial people at the hospital, I'll bet I can get them to write off a lot of your bills. They'll settle a lot of them for a lot less than you owe if we make them a cash offer."

She broke down and began to sob. I pulled up at a park we were passing and pulled her out. I put my arm around her and we walked together down the path to a fountain. We sat on a bench and she continued to cry.

"Mona, there's nothing here that can't be fixed." I reached down, tilted her chin up and made her look at me. "Let me help you."

"I know why the girls love you. If I were 20 years younger, I'd give them a run for their money. I'm just so lonely and frightened all the time about where our lives are going. I love Jackson. He's a good man, but we got married and had kids very young. That kind of limited our options in life. I don't know why I'm telling you this. I just feel very close to you. Yes, Parker, I will let you help us and I'll worship you the rest of my life if you do."

"I'm not looking for worship, Mona. I just want to help, and I can. You don't need to be 20 years younger. You can give any woman in the world a run for their money now. The first time I saw you in the door I was amazed at how beautiful you are. It's easy to see where your daughters got their looks. Never think you aren't beautiful to everyone that sees you. Let's go before the others think we're being held hostage."

We stood up, I pulled her close and we walked back to the car with my arm around her.

When I dropped her off, she squeezed my hand. "You're a dream come true, Parker. I won't mention any of this to anyone except Jackson. I owe you and I'll find a way to thank you."

"Mona, there isn't any need to thank me. I love your girls and you're no different. You've had a lot of bad breaks and you didn't deserve them. I'm just setting them right."

She squeezed my hand again and got out. I waited until she got to the door and she turned around and looked at me. She waved and went inside.

Chapter Six

Boston continued to improve over the next three weeks and by the time a month had passed, she was in what the doctors called "spontaneous remission." That's what they call something they have no explanation for. There was no sign of her cancer anywhere and she was a little female dynamo. She skipped and ran everywhere she went and she talked and laughed constantly.

Mona and Jackson made me their fiduciary and I got the hospital to write off over one hundred thousand of their bill by showing the CFO the situation and making sure that he knew they would never be able to pay it. I made a cash offer on the rest and they accepted. I set Jackson up on a payment plan and he paid me a hundred dollars a month. I paid off their credit cards and made them promise not to charge anything they couldn't pay off that month. I gave Mona five thousand dollars. She put it in a savings account and took out a five thousand dollar loan with the money as collateral. She paid it off in a month and we did this over and over at six different banks. By the time we finished their credit was in good shape and I loaned them the money to get a new van. I didn't charge them any interest and they were able to make the payments with no problems.

Sagan told me that her Mom had confessed to asking me about Boston. She didn't want to tell her about me, but there was always an undercurrent with Mona about it. I didn't know what to do about it so I just forgot it. Boston and I went to church every Sunday, and we had several talks with Pastor Davis about angels. I showed him the book Sagan gave me and he told me that most of it was legendary. He was quick to point out that didn't mean it wasn't true, but it couldn't be confirmed. We learned a lot from him but he told us that if we really wanted to do the research, we should go to the Catholic Church. They had much more information than he did, though mostly of the legendary type.

We got acquainted with Father Zelinsky, and he turned us loose on his church's library. I don't know what he thought about a giant and a little girl doing research into angels, but he never said anything. Boston typed up all our information and kept in on her iPad. It was getting a little crowded in memory and I got her a new iBook for her birthday. She loved it and soon had all the information transferred over. We were building quite a library and when Mom came down at the end of January, we ran it all by her. She had no idea about some of it, was able to debunk some of it and confirmed a lot of it. She stayed with me for a week and taught me an immense number of things about supernatural stuff. Boston wanted to know about it, too, and Sagan was interested as well.

"Lilith, do you think I'll get strong like you and Parker and be able to zoom around like you?" she asked Mom.

"I have no idea, honey. I don't know much about Sirens. Have you tried picking up heavy stuff?"

"Not really, do you think I should?"

"Not when anyone is watching. Little girls don't usually go around picking up cars. We don't want to attract attention. That would be dangerous for Parker and I."

"No, I won't let anyone know. Can I tell Sagan?"

"Of course, sweetheart. We trust Sagan. We can tell her anything."

Mom went back home the week before Valentine's Day and I set up a little trip with Sagan. Boston was a little upset that she couldn't go, but I explained that she had school and we were going to do "adult stuff."

"Are you going to seduce her?" she whispered at lunch after church.

"Boston, I wouldn't tell you if I was. What is wrong with you, girl?"

She was instantly contrite. "I'm sorry Parker, I'm just nosy. I know that isn't any of my business, but, it's so exciting if you are. You know she's never been seduced before. Oh, I hope you do. That would make her so happy."

"You're definitely R rated," I told her. "What do you know about seduction anyway? You're nine-years-old. How do you know she's never been seduced?"

"I'm ten now and I know a lot about it," she said. "I do get the internet, you know. I looked at things a time or two. It was kind of embarrassing so I quit looking once I found out how things work. If she had been seduced, she would have told me. We don't keep secrets from each other."

"I'm going to put a content block on your internet," I told her.

"Don't you dare," she warned me. "I don't do anything bad on there. I just need to know stuff sometimes. I'm not a pervert. I just like to know."

"I know, kitten. I was just teasing. I've noticed your family isn't into the keeping secrets thing. I'm glad I didn't try to keep what I am a secret from you. I thought about it. I didn't want to freak you out."

"I'm glad you didn't, too. You can trust me, you know, Parker. I would never tell your secrets. You saved my life; twice. I'll always love you."

"I know, Boston. You tell me all the time. I'll always love you, too."

"I can't wait till I'm 21," she said.

"Why, what happens when you're 21?"

"I'm going to ask you to marry me again, remember?"

I laughed. "How could I forget? You're going to find someone else long before then, though. You'll probably fall in love with some knight in shining armor and he'll sweep you away on his horse to his castle."

"That sounds like just the kind of thing I'd hate," she frowned up at me. "I don't like horses, and Castles sound all cold and damp. Besides, I've already met my knight and he doesn't have to use a stupid horse. He can teleport."

That knocked me out and tears ran down my cheeks from laughing. She joined me and we laughed until people were staring at us.

"How can you be a Texan and not like horses?" I asked her when I could talk again.

"I'm not a red-neck kind of Texan," she said. "I'm from Austin, for pity's sake. You see any horses in Austin? We have cars here. Where are you and Sagan going, anyway?"

"We're going to Petit Martinique. It's a tropical island. We'll sail and swim and dive and lay on the beach. Next time, I'll take you, okay?"