Richard’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove, his mind racing with thoughts. Thanksgiving used to be a time when his daughter, Deidre, would come home every year, but that tradition ended after his wife’s funeral four years ago. Now, they only had their weekly phone calls, leaving him longing for more. So, on his eightieth birthday, he decided to surprise her with an unexpected visit.
When Deidre opened the door, Richard threw his arms wide, beaming with joy. “Surprise!” he called out.
“Dad? What are you doing here?” Deidre asked, her voice trembling, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Richard’s smile faltered. “I came to celebrate with you… It’s the big eight-o!” he said, his voice losing its cheer. “But why are you crying? What’s wrong?”
Deidre quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Dad. Everything’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting you, and it’s not a good time. I have so much work to do. I’ll call you later, and we’ll have dinner, okay?”
She closed the door, leaving Richard outside, puzzled and hurt. Something was definitely wrong.
Instead of leaving, Richard quietly moved around the house, peeking through the windows. Inside, he saw two men who looked rough and intimidating talking to Deidre.
“Who was that?” one of the men growled.
“Just a neighbor’s kid playing a prank,” Deidre lied, her voice shaking.
The other man sneered. “You’re six months behind on your loan payments, Deidre. Mr. Marco isn’t happy.”
Deidre’s voice was desperate. “I just need more time. Business will pick up soon.”
“Time is something you don’t have,” the man said, pulling out a gun and pointing it at her. “People who owe Mr. Marco usually end up at the bottom of the lake.”
Richard’s heart pounded with fear as he watched. The man eventually put the gun away with a look of disgust. “Danny, see if there’s anything valuable we can take.”
As the men rummaged through the house, Deidre fell to the floor, sobbing. Richard’s mind raced. Deidre had always said her business was doing fine, but it was clear she was in deep trouble. He had to do something.
The men loaded several appliances into their vehicle and drove off. Richard, driven by determination, followed them.
They stopped at a two-story brick building downtown that looked like a bar. It was closed, but the door was unlocked. Richard went inside and saw the men join a group at a large table. The man who seemed to be in charge had a nasty scar above his left eye—Richard guessed he was Mr. Marco.
Richard took a deep breath and stepped forward. “I’m here to discuss Deidre’s debt.”
Mr. Marco looked at Richard with a smirk. “A good Samaritan, huh? She owes $80,000. She was supposed to pay it back with her profits, but that didn’t happen.”
“I only have $20,000 in savings,” Richard admitted, feeling the weight of the situation.
Mr. Marco sighed. “That’s not enough. But maybe you can help us in another way.”
Richard’s heart sank as Mr. Marco explained his plan. He needed Richard to smuggle a car across the Canadian border. Desperate to save his daughter, Richard agreed.
Later that night, Richard pulled into a gas station near the border. As he parked next to a police cruiser, the German Shepherd inside went wild, barking and scratching at the window. Richard panicked and quickly jumped back into the car, realizing something was hidden inside.
He sped off, the police in hot pursuit. The chase led him down a narrow, unmarked dirt road through the forest. As he navigated the rough terrain, the car got stuck on a rise above a river. Richard’s attempts to reverse only made things worse, and the car began to slide toward the water.
The car plunged into the river, and Richard scrambled to escape. Water filled the car rapidly, but he managed to squeeze out just in time. He swam to the riverbank, gasping for air, realizing how close he had come to drowning.
Soaking wet and exhausted, Richard hitchhiked back home. The next day, he went to the bank to mortgage his house. The thought of losing the place where he had made so many memories with his family was heartbreaking, but he had no choice.
As Richard signed the paperwork, Deidre called, her voice filled with fear. “Dad, some men came looking for you. What’s happening?”
“Don’t worry, Deidre. I’m taking care of it. Just tell them I’ll be there soon,” Richard said, trying to sound calm.
Later, Richard drove to the bar, a duffel bag full of cash by his side. As he approached the entrance, Deidre appeared, running toward him. “Dad, wait! I won’t let you face them alone.”
Richard knew he couldn’t convince her to stay away, so they entered together. Inside, the thugs led them to Mr. Marco. Richard placed the duffel bag on the table. “Here’s the $80,000 she owes you, plus $15,000 for the car. I, uh, got into some trouble, and it ended up in the river.”
Mr. Marco’s face twisted in anger. “You think $15,000 is enough to cover the $100,000 worth of goods in that car? You’ve got to be joking.”
He pulled out a gun and aimed it at Deidre’s head. Richard stepped in front of her, pleading, “No, please! It’s all my fault. Don’t hurt her!”
Mr. Marco sneered and shifted the gun toward Richard. But before he could pull the trigger, police sirens wailed outside. The gang members scattered in panic.
Richard and Deidre hid under a table until the police arrived and escorted them to safety. Mr. Marco was arrested, and the nightmare was finally over.
In the ambulance, a paramedic checked Richard over. “Are you sure you don’t have any heart issues?” the paramedic asked, concerned.
Richard shook his head, but his relief was short-lived when a detective approached. “Sir, what were you and your daughter doing at that club?”
Richard explained everything, hoping to avoid mentioning the car in the river. The detective glanced at Deidre and then back at Richard. “If we hadn’t found that car full of contraband, we wouldn’t have been there to save you. Be more careful about who you borrow money from, miss.”
Richard exhaled deeply, relieved they were safe for now.
As they walked to Richard’s car, Deidre apologized tearfully. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I didn’t know how to tell you about the mess I was in. I felt like such a failure.”
Richard put his hands on her shoulders, his voice gentle. “You’re not a failure, Deidre. Maybe things didn’t go as planned, but you tried. I just wish you’d felt you could come to me. We’re in this together now.”
Deidre broke down in tears, and Richard pulled her into a comforting embrace. “It’s okay, honey,” he whispered. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
