Love's Truth

by C. A. Popovich

  She’d had no idea how much she needed the closeness of another human being until Ruth began to hold her in the night. Her mother must have held her as a baby, but Lynette had no recollection of it. Neither her mother nor her father had paid much attention to her except to teach her to grow potatoes and care for the few chickens on their property. Her mother had taught her to read, write, add, and subtract, which came in handy when she was assigned as caretaker for the children in the cult. Ruth had given her what she never realized she craved. To be held by a woman in the night.

  She met Donna at the hotel soon after she began working in the kitchen. She’d been free for six years, but Sarah still lingered in the background. Donna had been kind to her at first, and Lynette accepted her advances to satisfy her longing to be held. Her dalliances began a few months into their relationship, and Lynette felt a part of herself crumble with each one she became aware of. Donna finally abandoned her for one of them, and she was left broken, her trust in herself and her choices shattered.

  Lynette pushed away the memories and turned her thoughts to the present. So much seemed to be happening, and fear seemed liked her constant companion again. How could she possibly have anything with Barb with her past hanging over her head? She cared too much about her to drag her into the chaos of her life. She pulled into her carport and checked the area around her car before she took a deep breath and followed Starr inside. She changed and crawled into bed with Starr at her feet. She lay staring at the ceiling debating with herself. She wanted to send Barb a note to let her know she got home safely, but it would mean she was offering her phone number. She chuckled at the thought of mistrusting Barb and grabbed her phone.

  Just wanted to let you know I got home safely. Thanks for going with me tonight. My aunt was thrilled you were there. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I have to ask you to never let anyone have my number. xo L. She hovered her finger over the Send button. If she couldn’t trust Barb with her phone number, how could she ever trust her with her heart? She hit Send.

  Chapter 33

  Barb stretched and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The sun hadn’t poked over the horizon yet, but the early-morning glow highlighted the trees and river below. She stood at the door for a moment to enjoy the scene before making a cup of coffee and putting on a sweatshirt and sweatpants. She drank her coffee and enjoyed the solitude. Thoughts of her evening with Lynette brought a smile, and she looked forward to seeing her at breakfast. She checked her watch and realized she still had an hour and a half. Cheesecake wasn’t technically breakfast food, but she was on vacation, and another run was definitely on her schedule. She retrieved the piece from her small refrigerator and settled back on the balcony with a fresh cup of coffee.

  She unplugged her phone and automatically checked for messages, surprised that she had one. She read Lyn’s message twice before replying. No problem. Your number is safe with me. B. She immediately marked her number as private. Her feelings for Lynette had grown as quickly as the three weeks had gone by. She remembered her mother’s words: You’ll know right away when it’s the right one. But the right one, in this case, came with all kinds of complications. Were her feelings real? Or were they motivated by her romantic nature and desire to protect? Or even by the novelty of being on vacation? Was it like a summer camp crush? Or…was it simply real, and the short time span didn’t matter because it was meant to be? Sometimes people knew they’d met the perfect person after a single date, didn’t they? Was this any different? The moment she’d seen Lynette she’d had a wow moment, and that had only intensified over the past several weeks. It was too fast, maybe, but like her mom said, if Lynette was the right one… Her thoughts reminded her she was going to send her parents a postcard. That would be the perfect motivation for her run. She brushed her teeth, put on her sneakers, and headed out the door.

  Barb ran along the river past gift shops and restaurants beginning to open for the day. She loved watching a place come awake, like the prospects of a new day were open and ready for everyone. Anything was possible when a new day began. She slowed when she reached a residential area to admire the houses and green lawns. The tree branches swayed and leaves danced in the slight breeze. When her brother had suggested this place for her vacation, she trusted his judgment. Now she was glad she had. Besides meeting Lyn, the area was a perfect mix of nature and entertainment. She picked up her pace and headed back to the hotel and Lynette.

  She took a shower before going to the breakfast buffet. The room was crowded, so she hung her jacket on her chair to claim her favorite table and went to find Lynette.

  “Good morning.” Lynette smiled and handed her a plate with her omelet.

  “Thank you. Did you sleep well?” Barb took the opportunity to talk while there was no one in line. Lynette had dark circles under her eyes. She looked tense, almost wary.

  “Well enough. How about you?”

  “Out like a light. I was up early and took time for a run. It’s peaceful here in the early-morning hours. Thanks for the text. I appreciate your trust in me.”

  “It is peaceful in the morning.” Lyn grinned. “You’re welcome. I figured all the time and other things we’ve shared, my number would be a small thing.”

  Barb took her omelet to her table and wondered how such a short, mundane conversation with Lynette could be so interesting. She finished eating breakfast and finished her coffee while she watched Lynette work. Barb stopped by her station on her way out. “I’m going to take a walk by the river today and go to the gift shop for a couple postcards. Would you like to go with me?”

  “I would. I’ll come by after I’m done here, if that’s okay?”

  “It’s perfect. See you later.” Barb watched the riverboat glide down the river and relaxed with one of her romance novels to wait for Lynette. She was in the middle of a scene she’d love to imitate with Lynette when there was a knock on the door. She opened it and took Lynette’s hand.

  “Hi there.” Lynette leaned and kissed her quickly. “It’s a beautiful day. I’m looking forward to our walk.”

  Barb filed away the details of the scene for another time. “We can go anytime you’re ready.”

  “Let’s go.” Lynette opened the door and Barb followed her out.

  She held Lynette’s hand on the way to the gift shop and noticed her looking back and forth before they entered the store. “Are you okay? You seem nervous.”

  “I’m all right. I told you about the phone call. Last night, my aunt told me she saw a stranger lurking around her art studio. Well, she didn’t really say lurking, but that’s what I’m calling it. It was a stranger, anyway. I’m worried about it.”

  “Let’s go inside and look at gifts.” Barb intended her suggestion to be a distraction for Lynette, but she looked around the whole shop before stepping in. “I’m looking for postcards.”

  “This is a nice one.” Lynette held up a card with the riverboat on it.

  “It is. My brother would love it.”

  “Here.” Lynette handed her another card with the cave featured.

  “Thanks. I’ve got my two.” Barb chose one with a painting of the river. “Let’s send this one to your aunt. A thank you and thinking of you card. From us.” Barb hoped Lynette would say yes. She liked the idea of giving something as a couple.

  “I like that idea. I think she’d love it.”

  Barb bought all three and took Lynette’s hand again when they left.

  “It was nice of you to think of my aunt,” Lynette said quietly.

  “So, it’s okay if I send it from both of us?”

  Lynette stopped walking and turned to her. “She thinks you’re my girlfriend.”

  Barb liked that idea. “Is that a bad thing?” she asked.

  “No. But…I don’t know.” Lynette sat on a nearby bench. “I don’t know. I’m so fearful that someone’s looking for me, and the only thing I can think of is that it’s the cult. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. I think being
anyone’s girlfriend would be a bad idea.”

  “It’s okay, Lyn. What your aunt thinks is important, but I care more about what you think.” She enfolded her hands in hers.

  “I told you about my past.”

  “Yes, you did. And it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

  “Barb, I’m still married to Peter, and I have no idea how I could ever get out of it.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “You know I don’t.”

  “He might not even be alive.” Barb sat next to Lynette, and she leaned into her.

  “I know. But I don’t know. There are too many unknowns in my life.” Lynette’s tears hurt Barb’s heart. “I don’t understand how all this is supposed to work. I’m so confused.”

  Barb held her close and vowed to figure out a way to help her.

  She carried the bag with the cards as they walked back to the hotel. Lynette was quiet, but at least her tears had stopped.

  “Thanks for the shopping trip.” Lynette headed to the kitchen. She looked tense, worried. There were clearly things she wasn’t saying, and it made Barb’s stomach ache. How could she battle that kind of fear? How could she help when it was something so far outside her control?

  Barb walked to the post office to mail her family postcards, but she’d forgotten to get Jen’s address from Lynette. She stopped to watch the river a few minutes before going back to her room. She made herself a cup of coffee and thought about what could be done. Brad could get her information about laws in Idaho, but there was no way to know where Lynette’s cult had been located. From what she’d read, they sometimes abandoned their compound and took up somewhere else. Maybe even a different state. Hell, Jim Jones had moved his to Guyana. She blew out a frustrated breath. She’d have to do her best to support her and take this a day at a time. She finished her coffee and went to the dining room.

  “Hi, Barb.” Claudia waved her over to one of the tables.

  She sat across from Claudia. “Hi. It’s good to see you. Can I ask you for Jen’s address? I bought a postcard for her.”

  Claudia leaned toward her and spoke softly. “I have it, but I have to get Lynette’s permission to give it to you. I know you’ve already been to her place and such, but still, I have to ask. You probably know why.”

  It was another aspect Barb failed to take into consideration. She was going to have to learn to be more sensitive and aware. “Yes, I do. Thanks, Claudia. I’ll talk to Lyn later.”

  Claudia smiled a knowing smile. “I’ll tell Lyn you’re looking for her.” She rolled her eyes and headed to the kitchen.

  Barb relocated to her favorite table and watched the people moving past the windows awhile before getting up to get her food. To her, they were people who lived in the area or were on vacation or visiting. She couldn’t imagine seeing them as a possible threat. She cringed at the fear Lynette must be living with daily.

  She’d almost finished eating when she saw Lynette. She smiled at her and was rewarded with a wink and small wave. They hadn’t made plans to see each other later, but she wanted to. She set her empty plate aside and went to the station next to where Lynette stood. She pretended to be filling another plate as she leaned and whispered to her, “I miss you, and I need your aunt’s address to mail her card. Can you stop by my balcony later?”

  “Claudia’s going to the market this afternoon, so I’ll be over after dinner, okay?” Lynette gave her a quick smile and looked away.

  “I look forward to it. I’ll have the hot chocolate ready,” Barb said. She finished eating and took a walk along the river to think. She’d hoped Brad would have found out something about finding bodies, but she hadn’t heard from him. Even if the feds found a bunch of bodies from a cult, there probably wouldn’t be any way to know which one they came from unless someone lived and told. A large part of Barb’s job was helping people. Her inability to find a solution to Lyn’s dilemma was tearing her up inside. She cared for her and wanted her to feel safe and happy. She sighed deeply, knowing she probably hadn’t the power to make that happen. She started at the knock at the door. “Come on in,” she called from the balcony.

  “I brought my aunt’s address.”

  Barb addressed the postcard and put it where she’d remember to take it to the post office the next day. “Thanks. Now everyone’s covered.” Barb took Lynette’s hand and led her to the balcony where she had the hot chocolate waiting.

  “Mmm. Thanks.” Lynette took a sip, her gaze focused on the horizon.

  “So, how are you doing tonight?”

  “There’s an important lesson my group has taught me. Take life one day at a time, and let go of what you can’t control.” She sighed. “It’s a tough one to master.”

  “Know that I’m here if I can help with anything.” Barb reached for her, but Lyn moved away, putting distance between them. Barb’s stomach dropped at the despair in Lynette’s eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, Barb. I wish you could help me. I wish my life was different. I wish I could be free to do what I want, be with who I want, and live without fear. But I can’t. I let myself hope we could have something deeper together, but I’m too scared. I’d potentially be putting you in danger, and I’d be constantly looking over my shoulder. I just don’t see a way for it to happen. I’m going to move again, disappear and start over somewhere. You go home and live your life safely.”

  “Don’t do this, Lyn. We can figure something out. You could come home with me if you want to move.” Barb’s throat constricted and her mind raced. She wanted more time with Lyn. She needed to help her. She blinked back tears and tugged Lyn into her arms and kissed her, fearing it would be the last time.

  Lyn pulled away, cupping Barb’s face in her hands. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For being wonderful and showing me how wonderful life could be.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’ll never forget these past few weeks.” With another swift kiss, she was gone.

  Chapter 34

  Lynette pulled into her carport and sat for a moment to absorb the pleasant feeling after Barb’s kiss. She wished she could have more with her. She wished she could be free. She locked her car, slipped her cell phone into her front pocket, and noticed a white minivan in the spot next to hers. Must be a new tenant. She returned her thoughts to Barb and how awful it felt to walk away, and how devastated Barb had looked. It couldn’t be helped. She had to be safe, and this was the only way.

  Just as she was about to put the key in the lock she heard a scraping noise, a footstep. Her heart pounded as she went to turn, but before she could she was slammed into the door, knocking the wind out of her. Starr was barking like crazy inside, and it was the only thing she could concentrate on as a needle slid into the side of her neck. She wanted to cry out, but the world went black.

  She awoke to a throbbing headache and her feet and wrists tied by rope. Whatever she was lying on was hard and cold. She realized it was a vehicle when it began to move. Her vision began to clear, and she tried to sit up, but the rope around her waist was tied to something on the floor that held her in one spot. There was no slack in the rope so she couldn’t sit up at all, but thankfully her hands were tied in front of her rather than behind her, giving her some freedom.

  “Who are you? Where are you taking me?” she yelled as panic squeezed her throat. She scanned the inside of the vehicle. The back doors were chained, as was the side sliding door. A two-wheel box carrier like the one they used for kitchen supplies at the hotel was strapped to the side wall. It must be how whoever drugged her was able to get her to this vehicle. The minivan in the carport. How could she have been so stupid not to see it and leave right away? She’d practically handed herself to them. She struggled with the ropes on her wrists, but pain shot up her arms when she twisted them, and there was no question of getting the knots undone in the dark. She took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself and tested how far she could move. She could bend her elbows enough to raise her bound hands to the pocket where she’d put her phone
. She could bend her knees and relieve the pressure on her ankles.

  “Who are you?” she yelled again. “Why are you doing this?” She pounded the floor of the van with both feet. “Who are you?”

  “Shut the fuck up, or I’ll gag you, too. You’re going back to where you belong.” The voice was gravelly but definitely female.

  “Why are you doing this?” Lynette choked out the question through tears, and there was something about the voice that was familiar. “You won’t get away with it.” She got no answer, so she took another deep breath and carefully moved her hands toward her cell phone. She tried to keep an eye on the driver, but the van was dark. She managed to pull her phone out of her pocket and balance it well enough to compose a text to Barb. Thank God she’d decided to give her new phone number to her after she’d changed phones. I’ve been kidnapped. I’m in a white minivan. I don’t know where I’m being taken but it’s a woman driving. Please make sure Starr is okay and tell Aunt Jen I love her. She’d pushed Barb away and she might have left already, so she copied the text to Claudia. She considered calling 9-1-1, but she was afraid the driver would hear her speaking and take her phone away, since she’d have to actually talk to someone. As quickly as she was able, Lynette slipped her phone back into her pocket. Her heart beat a staccato rhythm, and she forced herself not to scream. She prayed Barb would get her text and call the police. But she’d told her to go home. Tears rolled down her cheeks to puddle on the cold metal floor. She tried to wipe them away but the ropes held her hands too far away. What if Barb decided to leave that night? She’d probably wait until daylight. Barb was a brave officer of the law. She’d do whatever she could to help someone in trouble, even if it was someone who rejected her. Wouldn’t she?