‘They sure did,’ Aaron said with a bowed head, shaking as he relived the interrogation.
‘I know it’s going to take a while but I’d love to get this family back together. I want us all to celebrate a proper Christmas together. Why don’t we start right now by getting ourselves a tree?’
The boys cheered and ran off to get their coats and shoes. Darnell stood up and took the opportunity to have his wife to himself. He grabbed her by the hips and locked lips with her. She lifted herself up and wrapped her legs around his waist.
‘PDA!’ Thomas shouted as he and his brother returned to the room. ‘We don’t need to see that.’
‘Are we getting this tree, or what?’ Aaron said.
The boys ran to the car. Jasmine removed her apron, slipped on her purple faux-fur coat and followed the boys to the car. Darnell stood back and looked around the room at the place where once again he felt at home within. He then turned to his family who were all together and happy for the first time since he could possibly remember. As he followed them to the car, a book on Lincoln’s legacy rested on a sideboard next to the door. He smiled, stroked the cover and left, confident that he had done his job to maintain America’s history.
Chapter 30
The 8th of December was a special day in 2012. The date was chosen on the anniversary that Abraham Lincoln offered full pardons to Southerners, who served in the military fighting against the Northern States. It was a move made to rebuild relationships across the nation and was a fitting date to put the former president to rest. Darnell considered the date to be his own special pardon to Abraham Lincoln after all that he’d learned about his spoken intentions prior to him becoming president.
It was a Saturday therefore most people, except for those in retail, hospitality and healthcare, were able to take time off to watch the proceedings. Those that were in work watched in their droves on their televisions as they served the nation.
Millions of people took to the streets in Springfield to watch Abraham Lincoln’s body brought home in a horse-drawn carriage. The casket was made of solid walnut and specially created to replicate the original one he rested within. It was draped in the United States flag and surrounded by military personnel as it passed his former home, his law office and the State Building where he once served as senator. The journey then made its way to Oak Ridge Cemetery.
A stage was erected in front of the obelisk. The recently retired Darnell Jackson and his former colleague, Vanessa Jamison, stood to the side of the stage wearing their Presidential Medals of Freedom. The President shook their hands as he made his way to the stage where a plinth stood in the centre. He straightened up the microphone before giving his message.
‘This country has had an unsettling few weeks as our greatest president was taken away from us. Millions of Americans lost hope in our ability to keep our history and its people secure. But with the support of our police force, some of the greatest men and women in our country, we have been able to welcome the President home. Abraham Lincoln’s story is a message of hope for all of us. He fought for our freedoms which we enjoy today. What is beautiful about dark moments like we have faced in the last month is that we all come together as a nation in tough times. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, ‘We are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection’.’
The crowd before him applauded, which echoed across the city as people took to the streets to watch the service unfold as the ceremony was projected onto large screens.
A choir took to the stage and sang ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ as the coffin was taken inside the tomb. When the song finished, the country took a moment of silence in memory of Abraham Lincoln, who brought the nation together and handed them the freedoms which they enjoyed today. The president was once again at peace.
Note from the author
The idea for this book came to me as I took a trip to Springfield, Illinois in 2009. I was living in Chicago at the time on an international internship as part of my degree. Two friends, who looked after me throughout my year abroad, took me on this historic trip to the state capital. Growing up in Britain, I knew little about Abraham Lincoln before but after visiting his former home, the museum and his place of work throughout his time in the state capital, I was consumed by his story.
On the way home, we took a detour to Oak Ridge Cemetery to visit Lincoln’s grave. There was a sign there which taught me all about the attempted theft of Lincoln’s body in 1876; this true story made up the prologue of this book. I was fascinated and thought it would make a tremendous story in a modern era. I didn’t think about it again for some time but I kept a note of the incident in my jot book, where I keep ideas for future novels as I’d recently begun to take writing seriously (although it wasn’t to be until a decade later that I’d actually publish one).
On my return to the UK, I discussed my trip and my fascination with Abraham Lincoln with my friends. One of those friends with a keen interest in politics said, ‘Well you know Lincoln wasn’t all he was cracked up to be?’ I asked her what she meant and she began to divulge
