Lorraine looked over the crowd gathered in front of the new PEEC project learning center. It was a much smaller crowd than the library rally of almost four years before, but the memories were still fresh in Lorraine’s mind. She couldn’t help but wonder who might be out there, what bizarre logic would propel them toward some public display. Last time it was Donal, Lorraine silently reviewed as she scanned the crowd, who will it be this time? Some faces seemed familiar, others entirely new. The grim expressions that greeted her at Albert's funeral were plentiful among the otherwise smiling citizenry. Griffin had hired extra security for the dedication, with armed guards at both sides of the podium in front of the learning center entrance.

Ashe, at thirteen, was looking even older and more mature, scanning the crowd with a discerning eye, looking more like his father every day.

This time, Larry and Sally Devonshire were standing with Lorraine and the others at the podium, Kayla with Jeremy in the crowd. Jeremy was also looking shrewdly around the mass of people around him. He’d come against his own better judgment, insisting on holding Kayla and staying in the crowd in case he needed to run her to safety.

Neither Lorraine nor Griffin could argue with his logic or question his commitment.

A familiar sweaty, balding man in a red flannel led a second man carrying a camera, taking pictures of everything and everyone.

Lorraine said, “Dorian Gale, the Denver Post, and your photographer, Stu Jeffers.”

Dorian smiled. “You remembered me.”

“Of course,” Lorraine smiled, “you were there from the beginning.”

“The interview in the library, that’s right. You’ve been keeping busy, I see. Any words for our readers?”

Lorraine gave it a little thought. “Honestly, Dorian, most of what I have to say, I’ll say to the crowd. But, specifically for your readers, I would say that they should all keep subscribing to The Denver Post, and to subscribe to any reputable news agencies they can. Now more than ever we need honest reporting from real news reporters. The Post was instrumental in our campaign to save the public libraries, in fact, without The Post there wouldn’t have been any campaign at all. We have to save the free press the same way we had to save the libraries; urgently. We can't rely on our government to take care of us anymore, we have to take care of ourselves … and each other.”

“Awesome,” Dorian said, lowering his mic. “You’re really good, Mrs. Phoenix. Ever thought about running for public office?”

“No, actually, I haven’t. I’m too busy getting things done.” They all shared a chuckle.

Lorraine spotted Jeremy nearby and crossed the crowd to him, cooing with little Kayla. “How’re you holding up, Jer?”

“Fine, I’m good, I’m … it’s all good.” he mumbled.

“It’ll be okay, Jeremy, really.” Lorraine said trying to persuade him.

“Well, that is what you said the last time.”

“Jeremy … ”

“Okay, you’re right, you’re right, I guess I’m just jumpy. Where’s my husband?”

Lorraine looked around. “I don't know.” He wasn't a hard figure to spot, tall and dark with long, black dreadlocks and a colorful knit cap. He strode toward them, waving with big, flat hands at the ends of long, black arms. “Here he comes.”

Jeremy said, “Where you been, Anton?”

“Breathe easy, level,” he said in a heavy Jamaican accent as he approached. “A yasso nice.” Anton arrived with a hot dog in one hand, wrapping the other arm around Jeremy and giving him a kiss.

“Glad you’re having fun,” Jeremy said. “It’s impressive, right? My Lo’ knows how to throw it down!”

“Big tings,” Anton said, “naah mean?”

“No,” Jeremy said, “but I really don’t care.” The two shared a kiss, Lorraine and Griffin shared a hug.

“Guess it’s time,” Griffin said to Lorraine. “You ready?”

Lorraine looked around, took a deep breath and sighed, nodding. “Yeah, let’s do it.” She looked down at Ashe. “You’ll wait here, help look after your kid sister?”

Ashe nodded. “I will, Lorraine.”

“Thanks,” she said, turning to walk toward the podium.

“Lorraine?” Lorraine turned, Ashe taking the few steps required to reach her. “Would it be okay if … if I called you Mom from now on?”

Lorraine’s smile twisted on her face, brows arching, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She was almost afraid to speak, lest she break out in tears. She gathered her strength, brushed a lock of Ashe’s blond hair from his forehead. “That would be wonderful, Ashe.” They shared a smile and she gave him a little kiss on the forehead before turning to join Griffin on their trip to the podium.

The crowd clapped as they took the podium, news crews gathered, cameras and microphones fixed on them.

Lorraine cleared her throat. “Welcome to the grand opening of the pilot location of the Phoenix Enterprises Educational Center project, or PEEC,” she said, pronouncing it peace and inspiring another spattering of applause.

“I’m so proud of my parents,” Lorraine went on, “Laurence and Sally Devonshire, who were responsible for finding the location, brokering the deal and handling the accounting. And I’m so glad to say that they’re both staying on to manage the place, keep it staffed and running smoothly.”

The crowd applauded as Larry and Sally waved to the crowd and shared a pair of proud, beaming smiles.

Someone in the crowd caught Lorraine’s eye, stunning her silent and sending a bolt of fear through her body. His cocksure stride, a mean smile on his scarred face, he was instantly recognizable.

Tony Gardner?

But in the blink of an eye, he’d faded back into the crowd. Lorraine scanned the faces but couldn’t find him, until she wasn’t even sure if he’d been there at all.

“I also have to say a few words about my friend, my former boss, Carmen Mendez Jenkins. She’s given so much to the people of Colorado, particularly here in Denver. She was the rock of the Hadley branch of the public library. She gave me my job there. She loved her husband so much, the late Albert Jenkins, and I know she’s suffering so much from his loss. I wish she could have been here today, but I wish her a speedy recovery, and a quick return to public service. Though her late husband Albert’s career has been cut short, her career will go on to be, I think, one of the greatest examples of democracy in action that Denver, or Colorado, or any state in the nation has ever produced.”

Half the crowd clapped.

Feeling the stares of everyone around her, Lorraine shook it off and pressed a smile. “The Albert Jenkins Branch will demonstrate how effective a society can be when we serve each other, when we care for each other, when we love each other. When we put aside the color of our skin, the size of our bank accounts, how straight our teeth or our posture are, how thin or how fat; we’re all part of the same family. And a family that spends time together, grows closer; the family that spends less time together inevitably grows apart. Thanks to our public libraries, we as a family have more places to spend together, more time to share. And thanks to these new learning centers, we’ll be able to do more than share our time. We can share our knowledge, our skills and our talents, our sympathy and our empathy. With this learning center, we the people of the United States of America declare for the whole world to see; we care about each other, we look after each other, we educate and raise and protect each other. By our example, I know others will follow, and the world will be a better place for our children … ” Lorraine gazed at her kids, gathered with Jeremy and Anton near the stage. “ … Our friends, our family, all of the members of our entire family. That means you, me, all of us, working together for a better world, a better future. When we work together, we cannot fail and we will not fail!”

The audience cheered, Griffin wrapping his arm around Lorraine and pulling her close. Jeremy, Anton, Ashe, and Kayla looked up from the crowd, smiles beaming.

Griffin whispered into her ear, “My God, I love you so much.”

Lorraine turned, gently smiling as her lips neared Griffin’s, a long and beautiful kiss lingering between them. It was a promise, an oath renewed, a pledge before the entire world. The Phoenix family stood proud, together, bound together in love, no matter what or who would come against them next.

THE END