Chapter 9 - The Harbor Park
By the following summer, the concrete ruins of Terminal Four had been completely cleared away under a city-funded environmental renewal project. The massive orange gantry cranes were gone, replaced by a wide, green public park that stretched along the banks of the Calumet River, filled with willow trees, bicycle paths, and the laughter of children from the South Side brick flats.
The sign at the entrance of the park was carved out of native Wisconsin limestone, its letters sharp and permanent: THE DANIEL CARTER MEMORIAL PARK & WILDLIFE RESERVE.
Evelyn Carter stood near the riverbank, a light summer sweater over her shoulders, her hair tied up with the same blue ribbon she had worn in the polaroid. She was watching her daughters play near the water's edge.
June and Jade were ten years old now, their faces bright and healthy, their chestnut hair blowing in the clean wind off the lake. They were wearing matching blue sundresses, their bare feet steady and strong against the grass as they threw a red ball back and forth with a young retriever dog.
Nathan walked up the gravel path from the parking lot, his hands in his pockets, his wool vest replaced by a simple linen shirt. He didn't have his enforcers with him today; he was alone.
"Don Nathan!" Jade screamed, seeing him first. She dropped the ball, running across the green sod with her sister close behind, her bare feet loud against the grass.
She didn't flinch. She ran straight into his arms, her small hands wrapping around his neck, her laughter clear, loud, and completely unobstructed as he lifted her into the warm summer air.
June stopped beside him, her wide, serious eyes looking up at his face with a rare, peaceful smile. She reached out, her fingers catching the hem of his linen sleeve, holding on with a quiet, deep security that had nothing to do with fear.
"We finished the reading list, Mr. Nathan," June said proudly. "The one Nora gave us about the old ships."
"Good, June," Nathan said, setting Jade down and ruffling her dark curls. "A real hand needs to know how the routes are built before she can drive the crane."
Evelyn walked over, a warm, genuine smile lighting up her serious face. "The shop’s doing well, Nathan. We just took on two apprentices from the local vocational school. The union’s sponsoring their licenses."
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"They're good boys, Evelyn," Nathan said, looking out over the quiet water of the river. "They know how to fix a frame."
As they stood together near the limestone sign, the afternoon sun cast long, golden ribbons of light across the quiet park. The river was quiet, busy with barges that were no longer carrying any secrets, and the city behind them was full of life—their life.
