We need to change the plan, Sean is first and then Ryan.
Linda40
Tomorrow. I miss you; need this to be done so we can be seen together again.
Danielle33
This is for my brother it will be done when everyone has paid.
Danielle33 Logged off.
I check the database for the last known address of Belinda Ruth; it’s a little over thirty miles away. I call Ryan and make my way there.
I COULDN’T RESIST SEEING HIM, and it was worth it, his face was priceless.
He’s focusing on getting an arrangement ready on a side counter to the right of the shop and without looking to see who entered, causing the bell to ding, he calls, “Be right with you.”
It’s weird seeing him working in a flower shop. He always was a gentle soul. I laugh internally at how much I played with his emotions. He was a talented writer and from a few online searches I located a blog he keeps for short stories he writes and posts. I debated leaving comments but got too preoccupied with other things. I turn the “we are closed” sign on the door and make my way over to him. I grab a bunch of fancy looking shit from a nearby display bucket and drop them down on the counter next to him. “Would these be okay to send to an old flame?”
His body jolts; I guess my voice hasn’t changed that much in eighteen years. His hands shake, causing the scissors he’s holding to hit against the counter. He gasps and steps back, holding them out towards me. I hold my hands up in mock surrender and smirk. Is that anyway to greet old friends?
“What are you doing out? Why didn’t they tell me?”
I shrug. “Maybe they didn’t think you were important enough to tell. You were never really that important, Sean.” I step closer and he steps back. “I saw you with your boyfriend. Finally came out of the closet, huh?”
“You stay the hell away from him.”
I back up and wander around the shop picking up flowers and sniffing them.
“I was just going to ask if it’s serious. I thought maybe you and I could pick up where we left off.” I hold up my arm and he trips backwards, trying to get away. It would be amusing if it weren’t pathetic. He scrambles to his feet and grabs for the phone on the wall. “I’m calling the police.”
“Why? What have I done? I’ll catch you around. Let me know if you change your mind about catching up.” I exit, flipping the open sign on my way.
I managed to pop into one of the stores on the same street and pick up some utensils, towels and went into a grocery store for some supplies. It was weird to shop for this shit for myself. I was used to needing the basics and those being provided to me. Even in Grace Manor Isabella and Jodie kept me fed, and all supplies came with the place. I park my car in the Bluewater parking lot and try not to drive away. I despise this place and think it was all some form of mental torture they cooked up for the poor fuckers that do get free from the main prison, the uncertainty that they may lock that gate and never open it again is there every time I go through it. I can’t believe whom I’m seeing. Her long legs carry her across the parking lot, her hair flapping behind her, her eyes cast down. She looks a little pale. She beeps her car and before I have time to think, my feet have moved me to her.
She’s out cold; this is the worst self-defense I’ve ever seen. You can’t just go passing out when danger lurks, I could do anything to her right now. I pick her up before we gain the attention of anyone and slip her into her passenger seat then I pick the keys from the floor and get into her car. I drive her home using all my willpower to ignore my mind telling me to pull over, fuck her while she’s out so she wakes mid-way through and watch the disoriented look turn into horror. I laugh at my internal dialogue and find myself pulling up on her drive. It was reminiscent having her scent all around me. She was just as stunning close up as she ever had been. I get out of the car, taking the keys and dropping them on the seat. I leave her and make the long walk back to my car just as the sky opens and rain pours down. I leave Jenna a message telling her I’ll catch up with her tomorrow and go home.
I’m faced with Isabella when I walk in and she tries to greet me like we’re an item and this is our home.
“What the fuck are you still doing here?”
She looks surprised by my question. “You said I could stay with you.”
“No I didn’t. Are you going to tell me why you were at Grace Manor yet?”
“Screw you, Ryan,” she spits, and I grab her around the throat, my fingers fitting the blue bruises there from earlier.
“I could kill you and no one would care.”
Tears spill and I lick them up. “My Mom would care,” she chokes out and I release her.
“Is that so?”
“She lives next door to Doctor Leighton.” She laughs. “She asked him to help cure me of my promiscuous ways.” She runs her hands down her body. “He took advantage of it instead. Gave me a place at Grace Manor so I could be away from her and I did little things for him.”
She’s pathetic. “Go home to your mother, little girl, and get the fuck out of my apartment.”
She grabs the bag she brought with her and darts out of the house, sobbing. I need a shower and some food.
BANG, BANG, BANG!
What the hell? Oh my God, Ryan! I scream and flay my arms as my eyes spring open. I’m punching at air and sitting in my car on my drive. I jump when I see a figure standing by the window; it’s Lucy from a couple of houses up.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Braxton?”
I check around the car but see no Ryan. I lower my window and stroke my hands through my hair. “Hey Lucy.”
She’s looking at me like I’m crazy. “I just saw you lying there. I was worried.”
“Thank you. I was just taking a nap.” I now sound crazy “Listen, Lucy,” I say, climbing out of the car. “Cereus won’t be able to come over for a while, but she really loves playing in the band so keep her spot open?” Now I’m worried I am crazy because she steps away and raises her eyebrow at me.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Braxton, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Cereus isn’t in my band. We don’t socialize outside of school and most of the time not in school either.” She walks backwards up my drive and leaves me there stunned.
Where the hell has she been going then?
“Yeah, that Ryan guy.”
“Tell me more about the Mall guy.”
“There’s nothing to tell, it was just one of those brief encounters with a stranger you hear about, the kind that make butterflies in your stomach and your heart pound a little faster. That has never really happened to me before.”
I fly through the front door and find Cereus in the kitchen making a drink. “Have you been seeing Ryan?” I shout at her, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. I already know the answer her face tells it to me. “What has he been doing with you?” I demand, tears bursting from my eyes and sprinkling my cheeks.
She shrugs me away. “Mom, calm down. He’s my uncle; I have a right to know him.”
I regret it as soon as it makes contact. My palm collides with her cheek and she gasps and steps back from me.
“I’m sorry, but he killed my parents and he tried to kill me and your Dad. He gave up the right to know you. I will kill him before I let him come near you or my family again.”
“You’re lying!” she cries, her hand holding the cheek I struck. “You’re lying!” “Where?” I ask her. “Where has he been taking you? To filthy clubs?” I sob, my heart dying knowing he’s been around her, touched her, spoken to her.
“He has an apartment. He’s not horrible, Mom.”
“Where is his apartment? Write the address down.” I grab the notepad and pen kept in one of the drawers and shout, “NOW!”
She jots it down and stares at me. “Were you lying about him killing?”