Week 499 - 4 In a secure ISA computer room, Andrew said to Paul, “You sure about this?”
Paul nodded. “I’ve installed top-of-the line encryption. You remember how when we were looking for Theresa, we had to follow about a thousand different IP addresses to find out where Rolf really was? That’s nothing compared to this. They’ll be able to text to their heart’s content, though I blocked social media. It’s too risky.”
Andrew nodded. “This should brighten up their July 4th,” he said as he took the phones from Paul. “Maybe they’ll feel a little bit like they’re in a free country, huh?”
“Just a little,” Paul said, “especially cause… we’re gonna bring the party to them since they can’t celebrate with their families.” He opened a mini-fridge and took some packages of hot dogs and hamburgers out of the freezer section. “Come on.”
Andrew smiled to himself as he watched Paul pack the food into a cooler. I hope we’ll at least be able to see fireworks together, he thought, because that would make it the perfect time for our first kiss.
Parker watched as Philip finished cleaning the girll “When will I be old enough to use the barbecue?”
“A few years yet,” Philip said, “but I’m sure you can help. Want to see how I prep the barbecue before I start cooking?”
Parker nodded eagerly but Chloe came over just then and said, “There you are. I thought you were helping your sister decorate.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed. “Take a Youtube video, Daddy Phil, cause I’m being called away.”
Philip and Chloe couldn’t help smiling at that but after Parker shuffled away, Philip couldn’t help poking Chloe playfully. “What’d you have to ruin his fun for?”
“He’ll get over it.” Chloe crossed her arms. “Look, I don’t have a problem with Parker learning to use the barbecue. He’s going to be 14 in November. But if he does it, then Charley’s going to want to do it and she’s way too young so it’s far better you teach him in private sometime.”
“I’m sure we could find something age appropriate to satisfy Charley without letting her get too close to the flames,” Philip said.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to spend any part of today trying to convince her that I’m not just being Mean Mommy because I won’t let the eight-year-old do the same things her big brother does. Trust me, it’s worth it to keep the peace.”
“If you say so.” Philip sighed. “I guess I’ll have to put you on kindling duty. I need scraps of newspaper and I’ve got a bag of wood chips in the garage.”
“Ay, ay, Captain,” Chloe said lightly, and kissed Philip before she left.
David and Valerie had already come over with Julie. They were standing in the kitchen, watching as Parker and Charley hung streamers.
“Hannah would have never been so helpful at that age,” Valerie said. “She’d be too busy running around with one of those instant cameras, taking photos like there was no tomorrow.”
“Yeah, until the cartridge ran out,” David said, smiling slightly. His smile faded. “She should be here taking photos, not…”
“I know. The good news is, the trial’ll start tomorrow, so there’s a chance she’ll be home soon.”
“Right.” David squeezed Valerie’s hand. “You sure there’s no talking her out of testifying?”
“It’s too late for that.” Valerie’s voice was flat. “Besides, that’s no way to do things. It just shows Nat that if she throws her weight around, she can get her way.”
“We’re not talking about a toddler here,” David objected. “We’re talking about a hardened criminal who has already ruined our daughter’s life enough and who could had you killed too.”
“But she didn’t. And even if I believed this nonsense, it’s not up to us. Hannah is an adult and she wants to testify. End of discussion.”
David started to say something else but Valerie said, “Shush. Your mother’s coming this way.”
David shut his mouth again as Julie came in, wearing a blue dress and a hat that had red, white, and blue stripes on it. “Happy Independence Day!” she said, smiling widely.
David hugged her and kissed her cheek. “You doing okay?” he asked. “I know it has to be hard, the first one without Doug.”
Julie’s face trembled slightly, but then she said, “I know Doug would want me to have a good time today. He loved a good party, especially on the Fourth of July, but he always said that me being the life of the party was what made the night for him. So I’ll have to put on my best smile, bright enough for him to see up there in heaven.” She did, but then it faded. “It certainly would be easier if my granddaughter were here. Have you heard from her since she left? Because I haven’t.”
David and Valerie exchanged glances, not sure what to say.
Other people were streaming into the yard. Philip shook hands with Daniel as he, Jennifer, and Mike came in, and JJ and Paige came in with Mariposa, with Harlow following behind.
“So this is a standard America Day celebration, yeah?” Harlow said, looking around.
“American Independence Day,” Paige corrected. “When Doug was alive he used to read out the Declaration of Independence; I wonder if anyone will do that this year.”
“I will if no one else will,” JJ said. He patted his guitar. “I’ve got some music to go along with it too.”
“I have yeetar too!” Mariposa said, holding out her toy guitar and smiling widely.
“You sure do,” JJ said. “We’ll play together later.”
Charley came running across the grass. “Come play Independence Day hopscotch, Mari!” she said.
Mariposa said, “Hopscoch?” She frowned.
“I’ll come show you,” Paige said. She took Mari’s hand and said to Charley, “Don’t forget that you’re a big girl compared to Mariposa. She doesn’t know how to do some of the things you do. But it’s okay. We’ll show her together and let her try it.Z” She added, “Leave your guitar with Daddy, Mariposa. You can’t hold it while you play hopscotch.”
“My yeetar!” Mari said, and held it out of reach.
“Let her take it,” JJ said. “It’s meant to survive whatever kids her age get in their head to do to it.”
“All right, fine,” Paige said, “but when it’s your turn to hop, Mommy will hold it for you.”
Paige and Mariposa walked off with Charley. JJ went over to Daniel, who was watching Parker kicking around a soccer ball with Chase and Joey on the other end of the yard.
“He say hi to you?” JJ asked.
“He nodded and waved. Guess that’s all I’m gonna get out of him.” Daniel sighed, then rubbed his hands together. “Enough about that. How you doing, man?”
“Real good,” JJ said. “Surprised Tom gave me the day off, but whatever.” He crossed his arms as Daniel nodded. “Parker’ll come around. I bet you’re good at soccer. Why don’t you go over there and play with him?”
Daniel hesitated. “Nah. He’s having the time of his life with his friends. What does he want me cuttin’ in for?”
“Weren’t you the one who told me I wouldn’t know unless I tried? If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have given Paige any kind of chance. So now I get to return the favor. Go out there and talk to your kid before he thinks you’re the one who doesn’t want anything to do with him.”
Daniel took a deep breath. “You know what? You’re right. It’s Independence Day and it’s time I let go of feeling like a stranger to my own son.” He patted JJ’s shoulder and walked off.
At the safe house, Andrew was putting down a platter of hamburgers and hot dogs. Hannah stood watching him, her arms crossed.
“Here you guys go,” he said. “I know you’d rather be at home celebrating Independence Day with your families, but — “
“Serious?” Hannah said. “How are you going to say we should celebrate freedom when we’re locked up here?”
Kenneth put his hand on her shoulder. “At least we’re safe, right? And we’re not at each other’s throats, so we can enjoy each other’s company even if it’s not how we want it.”
Hannah pulled away. “Yeah, but we don’t even have phones or anything and he’s coming in here saying he’s got food for us like it’s gonna make a difference. They had burgers and hot dogs for the Fourth in jail too, didn’t make that any better either.”
“I understand how you feel,” Andrew said. He held up his hand as Hannah started to say something. “That’s why we thought it might be a good time to give you these.”
Paul came in behind him and opened the bag where he had phones. “These are secure phones,” he said. “No social media, that’s still too risky, but you can call your parents over encrypted WiFi without anyone finding out where you’re at.”
“For real?” Hannah picked up the phone.
Paul nodded. “Happy Fourth of July.”
Andrew added, “Now what do you say we get this party started?”
At Julie’s, JJ was playing and
singing:
Through the joy and pain that living brings
Don't we all want the same thing
Freedom, sweet freedom…
As he continued the song, everyone celebrated the Fourth of July in their own way.
Daniel played with Parker, trying to block him as he kicked the soccer ball. He beckoned Philip over and Philip came and played with them too.
Charley took Mariposa’s hand and helped her navigate the hopscotch board.
At WIXR, Emily and Alison were in the break room with Nicole and Sally, watching as Sally cut a cake made for the Fourth of July, with fruit as the stripes of the American flag.
At Salem U, Dani was at the punch bowl in her dorm’s day room, getting on-alcoholic punch while behind her, there was a fireworks display on TV.
David and Valerie spent time with Julie in the kitchen, decorating cupcakes for the Fourth of July. Valerie’s phone rang. It was Hannah. She put her on speaker.
In another part of the safe house, Jeremy leaned against the wall while he talked to Mike on his secure phone.
As the song ended, Mariposa tried to climb onto JJ’s lap but Paige picked her up and put her on the chair next to him so she didn’t get in the way of his guitar playing. Mariposa looked like she was going to cry, but Harlow gave her her toy guitar and she smiled and pretended to strum.
Everyone clapped.
Julie came out with the tray of cupcakes and put them down on the table. She said, “Before we all dig into these amazing desserts, I just want to say a few words. Doug loved to entertain on July 4th, you see, and it doesn’t feel the same without him, but I am very grateful to Philip and Chloe for opening up their house to us to carry this tradition on.” She sighed as she played with her necklace. “If he were here, he would be reading the Declaration of Independence, but I don’t feel moved to do that this year. Instead, I just wanted to say a few words.” She sighed. “Salem hasn’t been at its best in a while. There’s gang members running around causing trouble, and we’re back to living in fear, or, at least, some people are trying to install that anxiety and intimidation into us so that we don’t feel as free as we deserve.
“At times like this, I’m sure it feels stupid to even celebrate this holiday. It can feel like a bad joke. We’re not free if we live in fear, and it can feel like it’s just getting worse and worse. But what I’ve found is helpful at such times is to remember that our country was founded on the promise of freedom. It wasn’t perfect -- we know that. If that iwas 1776, half the people in this room wouldn’t have had the right to vote and some of us would have had even fewer rights than that. But we’ve made progress and then suffered setbacks and gotten up and dusted ourselves off time and time again, and the way through rough times like this is to remember the promise, remember what we are fighting for.”
“Hear, hear!” Abe said, raising his glass.
“I hope I didn’t get too political for some of you,” Julie said. “My point is just, let’s celebrate how far our country and city have come and the freedoms we do have while keeping our eye on where we want to go next. Happy July 4th!”
