Jesse sits in his car outside
Krystal & Carmen’s staring down at the report he’d gotten from the FBI then
folds it sticking it inside his pocket. He still hadn’t told Frankie anything
yet but first things first he needed to talk to Griff. He exists the car slamming
the door behind him then walks inside. He looks around the restaurant it was
still early just a little after opening the place was practically empty and no
sign of Krystal or Carmen good. He sit’s down at the counter and slaps the top.
Jesse: Hey anybody home?
Griff: Hey Jesse! (He calls from
the back wiping his hands on a towel as he comes through the door) Hey what’s
going on? (Extends his hand and Jesse
shakes it)
Jesse: Nothing much I though maybe
I’d come in and talk to you for a few minutes.
Griff: Why something up? (His
suspicions raised)
Jesse: No nothing just some family
issue I need to bounce off some body. Maybe you could join me for a cup of
coffee?
Griff: Sure, let me just let Carlos
know. (He opens the door to the kitchen calling back to his helper as Jesse
moves to a table. Griff quickly pours two cups placing them on a try with a
small picture of milk and two spoons then carries them to the table placing one
in front of Jesse and one in front of the empty seat across from him. He places
the tray at the end of the table then sits down) so what’s going on Jesse how
can I help?
Jesse: Well there’s no other way to
do this so I’m just going to say it.
Griff: Say what?
Jesse: I know that you’re Randi’s
father.
Griff: Nah, I don’t have any kids chief.
(He grins broadly then shrugs)
Jesse: Randi has a very rare blood
type and a few months back there was a shortage at the hospital you went to the
blood lab and you donated the night we talked. (Griff stares at him then shrugs
sipping his coffee coolly giving away nothing)
Griff: So, lots of people donate
blood. I just felt bad and did my civic duty.
Jesse: There’s more I had a sample
of your DNA and Randi’s compared you’re her father. There’s no point lying I
know.
Griff: You stole my DNA? (He glares
at Jesse his look full of venom)
Jesse: I didn’t steal it I used the
tissues you bled on the day you cut your hand then I stole Randi’s toothbrush.
Griff: Have you told her yet?
Jesse: No, you’re the first person
I’ve told. (Griff looks at him his expression surprised then confused)
Griff: You came to me first why?
Jesse: I want to understand why you
would want to keep that a secret?
Griff: Can’t you guess?
Jesse: Why don’t you tell me?
Griff: Because I’m a criminal and
I’ve been to prison.
Jesse: Come on man Randi doesn’t
care about stuff like that. She’s had her own ruff times.
Griff: Yeah I know and it’s all
because of me. It’s my fault she grew up in foster homes, my fault she was a
prostitute, my fault her mother died all of that there, is on me.
Jesse: What happened to you?
Griff: Randi’s mother and I we ran
off we ended up here in Pine Valley. I drove a cab for a while went. Then I got
a job at the steel mill and I was lucky to get that I barley-finished high
school. All and all things were fine we even saved up money got a little place
over on Maple Shade. We were so happy baby on the way I was king of the world.
(He smiles laughing bitterly thinking back) Then not too long after Randi was
born I got up one morning went to work got told the mill was closing down they
were moving all operations to Japan.
Jesse: Oh man. (He moans his heart
feeling his pain remember his own past when he and Angie had run off with
Frankie)
Griff: I got a couple of part time
jobs but it wasn’t enough, money was tight mortgage was due, newborn baby I was
desperate. (He moans) She begged me not to go. She told me that if I did and if
I got caught I would never see her or our baby ever again. I kept trying to
convince her we wouldn’t get caught and when I got back we’d be living like
kings! (His eyes well with tear his voice becoming tight) I was supposed to be
the wheelman because when I first came to town I drove cabs and knew the
streets. They caught us about two blocks from the place. And Larisa, she was
true to her word I never saw her again. I kind of held out hope there for a
while but when she wasn’t at my arraignment, not at my trail not at my
sentencing. I got the hint. (His chuckle edged with the bitterness he felt)
Jesse: How did you know Randi was
your daughter she was just an infant when you left.
Griff: I’d know my baby anywhere
she looks just like her mother besides, Mrs. Crawford she lived next door she’d
send me pictures every now and then till Randi was about four going on five
then they just stopped. I just assumed she had died or something.
Jesse: She may have around that
time a tornado hit Pine Valley Maple Shade was all tore up.
Griff: After that I lost track of
them both (He finishes look down at the table then back at Jesse) till Carmen
started teaching at the prison. (He smiles for the first time since they
started talking)
Jesse: Is that why you took the job
here with Carmen? (His voice sounding more cop than he had intended)
Griff: I was scheduled to come here
after I was released long before I knew she was a friend of Randi’s. I wouldn’t
do that to her Carmen’s been good to me. I didn’t find out about that till a
week before they put Ryan in my cell.
Jesse: Glad to here that. (He says
with a sigh his gut telling him Griff was being honest)
Griff: So where do we go from here?
(His voice resigned and filled with sorrow. Jesse leans forward his voice firm
but compassionate)
Jesse: You’re going to talk to your
daughter and tell her who you are I can’t keep this a secret from my family
correction, (He smiles) our family for much longer Frankie is already breathing
down my neck.
Griff: Frankie knows? (His eyes
wide with surprise)
Jesse: Frankie suspects he doesn’t
know anything for sure (He watches as the tension leaves Griff’s face) but I’m
not going to be able to hold him off for too much longer. (Griff places his
hand against his hand on his forehead then rubs his temple then sighs)
Griff: Just give me a couple of
days.
Jesse: Just do me a favor please?
Let me know before you do it?
Griff: No problem.
Jesse: Thanks, (He looks at his
watch then stands) listen I got to get over to the office I have a ton of paper
work to get through. (He begins to shrug in to his jacket)
Griff: Hey Jesse thank for coming
to me first.
Jesse: No problem (He says reaching
out and shaking his hand) I’ll catch you later.
Griff: Take care man!
Good for Jesse
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