“No, Daddy. I’m not going. No.”
Mr. Acres stands and bows his head as he slips both hands in his pockets and sighs heavily. When he raises his head, his expression is stern. “I’m leaving in two days, and you’re coming with me. The police released the 4Runner and I sold it to the junkyard.”
“What?” she gasps in disbelief, stumbling back to catch herself on the dresser. “Why would you do that without discussing it with me first?”
“Because it was on its last leg.”
“Charlotte,” I whisper. “It’s okay. Sniper can help us get you another car,” I try to assure her, but she doesn’t seem to acknowledge what I’m saying.
“But . . . it was his.” She’s looking at her father like he’s just stabbed her in the heart and the betrayal of it is so much worse than what he’s actually done. “How could you?” she asks as her voice cracks, and my fists clench when I realize why she’s so upset. It was Axel’s 4Runner. This guy is a dick!
Mr. Acres’ jaw sets in annoyance and the muscles tic, but he moves to the door. “Two days,” he says, again, before opening the door and leaving. The moment the door closes behind him, Charlotte collapses to the floor and begins to sob.
“Charlotte.” I kneel beside her, wishing I could scoop her up, and sit her in my lap and wipe her heavy tears from her face. “Baby girl, you have to calm down. Breathe.”
“He sold it. He sold my brother’s car,” she sobs, her eyes clenched closed in pain. “How could he?”
“I don’t know,” I tell her. “He wants you to come home. Taking your transportation away seems like a good way to convince you.”
After a few minutes, she calms down and sits up, leaning her back against the bed’s headboard. “He’s staying at your parents’ place. Time has run out, Ike. I have to tell them everything before he does and spins some crazy story.”
This is the moment we’ve both been building toward. We’ve known it was coming, but even I’m starting to dread the end of this. When she tells my family and George the truth, it will bring me one step closer to having to leave them—to leaving her. But we have no choice now. We can’t have her dad spinning Charlotte as some kind of mental patient.
“Call Sniper to come get you,” I tell her. “Then call my mother and explain you need everyone to meet at her home. Tell her it’s really important and you need her to get George there, too.” With a slight nod, she pulls herself up and stands frozen for a moment. “Are you okay?” I ask her, even though I know she’s not.
“I’m scared,” she whispers.
“I know. I am, too,” I admit. “Just know they’ll believe you.”
“He’ll hate me,” she cries softly. “And you’ll go, and I’ll be alone again. I wish you could just take me with you.”
My heart feels like it has officially combusted into a million tiny pieces of pain. In helping me, I’ve only made things worse for her. “Charlotte, please.” My voice shakes as I speak. “It’s going to be okay. We will make sure of it. I’m not going to leave until it is, okay?” But I know deep down it may not be a promise I can keep. That invisible pull has strengthened as George has gotten better, and I find myself digging my heels into this world to keep it from taking me. But I’ll fight it with every bit of strength I have to make sure she’s okay.
“Call Sniper,” I tell her, and after wiping her nose with her forearm, she nods once and moves toward the phone. I give her the numbers and she calls Sniper and my mother and sets everything in motion.
“Go shower and get ready. Sniper will be here soon.”
Nodding numbly, she heads into the bathroom, and just before she closes the door, she says, “Ike.” I turn and meet her gaze, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
“Yes, baby girl?”
“I love you.” And although the words are beautiful, the pain in her expression as she speaks them twists my insides. Then she closes the door and leaves me aching with her words.
When Sniper picks me up I must look a fright because he immediately seizes me into a big bear hug. “What happened?” he asks as I cry into his shirt.
“My father found me. He wants me to come home, and I have to tell everyone the truth before he tries to convince them I’m crazy.”
“It’ll be okay, love. I’m here. I’ll help you. I know you can see Ike. And I’ll be beside you every step of the way.” I hug him tighter for saying that; I need someone to be with me, to stand beside me. I know Ike is on my side, but that won’t help unless I can convince them.
Sniper drives to the McDermotts’ B&B while I try not to vomit. “Did Beverly call George?”
“Yes,” he answers. “But she didn’t tell him it was for you. So he has no idea what’s going on.”
“Good,” I exhale. “George is going to be . . . upset.”
“Maybe at first, but so was I. It only took a little convincing.”
“Yeah, but he’ll feel like I betrayed him.”