~
I crawled back into bed, and lay awake staring at the roof. My math exam was first up in the morning, and I knew the algebra equations were going to defeat me. That was Lucas’s forte and one he’d tried many times to teach me. He was patient and kind while I struggled with even the basics of it. I was more artistic than academic, but Lucas swore he could make a mathematician out of me yet. I didn’t have the heart to tell him his efforts went through one ear and out the other. Not by choice. It just wasn’t a strength of mine. But figuring out why X equals Y wasn’t at the top of the food chain for priorities.
I never wanted to tell him his time was wasted. I enjoyed his company far too much to lose it.
A silent tear trickled down my cheek. The torn skin on Lucas’s face would scar. It would serve a permanent reminder of his teens. My heart ached for the Lucas who didn’t deserve any of this. For the Lucas who was abandoned by his father and neglected by his mother. And for the Lucas who was forced into battle with the sadistic boyfriend.
The tears smeared across my cheek when I swiped angrily at them. I wanted to run down the hall to my parents’ room and tell them everything. I wanted to tell them of the violence happening just next door. I wanted them to reassure me they’d fix it.
But Mason’s stern warning left me feeling helpless.
The cat bell tinkled into the otherwise silent night. Dashing across the floor to the window, I came face to face with Lucas. We both smiled, small and solemn. I gave a little wave, and through the dark void separating us, Lucas returned the gesture. The yelling had ceased, and all the lights were off. For now, the Carter boys could rest knowing that tomorrow was a new day. Or they could spend the night wondering how they could fix the situation. Lucas pointed to the message that had arrived which I’d forgotten.
Retrieving it from the peg, I unfolded the small piece of paper and wept silently over the heartbreaking words.
I wish we could run away together.
Chapter 14
NOW
“Gem,” David, my boss, sighed heavily into the phone. He was on speaker which made his disappointment all the more glaring. “It really is last minute, and the exhibit is due for installation tomorrow.”
“I know, and I apologize.” I was sincere. The thought of leaving town when there was yet another huge show due to start was not ideal, and in my eyes, unprofessional. “I’ve trained Charlie well, and I’ll give him detailed and precise instructions.”
It was six in the morning, and I was already on my way out heading north to Maine. I’d planned to leave early knowing the roads were quieter. If the detectives were correct in assuming I’d be followed, at least they’d be more visible. So far nothing was out of the ordinary. I knew David to be an early riser for his dawn gym sessions, so calling him this early wasn’t uncivilized.
“I’m not so sure I share the same faith in Charlie as you do.” He sounded skeptical, but Charlie had been a great asset to me, as long as he steered clear of the opening night ‘open bar.’ “There’s a lot riding on this, Gemma, especially after the last horror story of Maximus Kline.”
“I know and trust me, he won’t be filing a suit against the gallery. He was very understanding given the situation.”
“Lucky we had you to talk him off the ledge.” There was a playful smile in his voice. David was still unaware of my unwitting involvement in the vandalism. If he knew, we wouldn’t be having this conversation as Charlie would have been promoted the next day without any doubt of his performance. Business is business, and me being there was a danger to the gallery’s reputation.
“The next exhibit will be great, and, in fact, I know it will bring more of a crowd than Maximus’s did.”
“You should be here,” he said with an edge of disappointment. “But since you’re not, you’ll have to come out for dinner with me when you return.”
My heart sank to a pounding beat. He always did this. Putting me in an uncomfortable position was his forte. David liked to watch me squirm by pushing the boundaries of our professional relationship.
“David, I—” Knowing rejection was imminent, I barely started before he cut me off.
“Think about where would be nice to eat. A new wine only bar opened up a block over from the gallery. Anyway, I have to shoot off. Take care of Charlie for me, would you? I’m counting on you to pull this together from wherever you’re off to.”
Again, before I could respond David had ended the call, and I was left formulating yet another excuse that would close the deal to another date, while still keeping hold of my job. The result would see me upon my return, resigning and looking for another gallery position, hopefully higher up the ranks without the unsolicited advances from my employer. But for now, I had greater issues to run from.
~
Two hours later, I arrived in Maine. With lush green grass and purple wisteria trees in full bloom framing the driveway of my parents’ house, I could finally feel a sense of relief. Exhaling heavily and shaking off the negative energy from the last week, I found myself looking forward to a few days of peace. The car bobbed and dipped as I navigated the dirt drive to the side of the house where I parked and retrieved the bags of groceries I’d bought in town.
The house was a labor of love for my father who had spent countless hours reshaping and remodeling until the once rundown house morphed into a beautiful home. Mom, always the decorator and fan for fashion, adorned every room with an elegance found only in homemaker magazines. They’d moved from Little Valley, Delaware when I started my first year of college.
The key had only just slid into the lock when Mrs. Harper sang out from across the white picket fence dividing the properties. “Yoo-hoo,” she sang, giving an enthusiastic wave. “Hi, Gem darling.”
Forgetting about the key which required some elbow grease, I waved back and smiled. “Hi, Mrs. Harper.”
“Look at you…” she crooned, pulling off her gardening gloves, “… you get more beautiful every time I see you.”
“Thank—”
“I can’t even remember the last time I saw you. Did you get the birthday card I sent? You can never trust the postal system these days, everything goes missing.”
“I did and thank—”
“How long are you staying, darling?”
“Well, not—”
“Are you still seeing that fine young chap, Peter?”
“Yes, I—”
“He’s good for you, darling. You know they say couples start looking like each other after some time.”
“No, I didn’t know—”
“But you two still have a while to go before that happens. A bit like how dogs and their owners look the same.”
“Ah… that’s—”
“Will Peter be joining you this stay? It would be lovely to see him again.”
“No, he—”
“I tell you what… if you don’t feel like cooking later on, I have stew in the slow cooker. I’ll bring some by.”
“You don’t need—”
“Nonsense! It’s lovely to see you again, darling. I must shuffle on. These obnoxious weeds won’t pull themselves out.”
And just as quick as she appeared, Mrs. Harper disappeared behind the fence. Exhaling, I rolled the tension from my shoulders. Talking with my parents’ neighbor often felt like getting caught in a whirlwind.
Once inside, I opened a few windows to allow the house to air out after a week of being closed and stuffy, and unpacked the groceries. Cracking open a new bottle of Sauvignon, I poured a glass of wine and relished the fruity taste. As I nestled into the plush sofa, my cell buzzed.
Charlie.
Charlie: Biatch! I owe you.
I smiled knowing how much this opportunity meant to him.
Me: Don’t let me down. There’s a lot riding on both our shoulders.
Charlie: I’ll be so awesome at it, you won’t even have a job when you get back! HA!