I’m battling to keep my eyes open because I’m so tired. “Thank you,” I say with a croaky voice. I open the door, and turn to Earl. “I’m…” Crap, what do I say to him? “Thank you.”
“Here he comes now.” Earl points to a truck pulling into the station. Both Earl and I hop out of his truck, and we walk toward where his friend is parked. I’m careful to have the hoodie pulled up over my head, and my chin tilted down. I didn’t even hear Earl talking to anyone when I was asleep. I must’ve been completely out of it. I’m surprised I slept so deeply, especially after what happened. “Jackson.” Earl holds his hand out. “This is Elle.”
I hesitate as my brain registers the name Earl’s given. “Hi.” I smile, but try to keep my eyes down. Jackson is a bit younger than Earl, and beefy, with short legs and a long face.
“Hiya, little lady,” he says with the slightest Southern accent.
“Give us a minute, Jackson,” Earl says. Jackson tips his head, and strolls into the roadhouse. Earl turns to me. “Look, I know you’re in some kind of trouble.” My arms tense, as I hold my breath, waiting for whatever he’s going to say. “Here.” He pulls out a wad of cash from his pocket, and offers it to me.
“Oh no, I’m fine,” I say. Who has that kind of money on them? There’s got to be easily a thousand dollars there.
“You’re running and you’re scared. And the only reason a girl runs in the middle of night is because she’s in trouble. Take it, and one day, when you can, you’ll pay it forward.”
I try to swallow, but there’s a huge lump in the base of my throat. “I’m…” I look at the money and shake my head. I can’t take that from him.
“Jackson’s a good man, he’ll take you as far as you need, no questions asked. But for now, you will need this, and like I said, pay it forward when the time is right. Keep your head down, and don’t go looking for trouble.”
I blink away the tears. “Trouble found me,” I say as my breath hitches. He thrusts the money into my hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, be safe.”
I’m choking back the overwhelming emotions rushing through me. Earl is a kind and gentle man. “Thank you,” I repeat. “I want you to know you saved me.”
He nods and smiles as he backs away from me. “It’s not the first time, darlin,’ and it won’t be the last. Take care.” He swings around, and heads to his truck, where I stand as he hoists himself up, gets in, and leaves.
Huh. He’s done this before? Wow. What a man.
“You ready, little lady?” Jackson asks. I watch as Earl’s truck becomes smaller and smaller. My head’s hurting from crying, and what happened. “Here you go.” He throws me a bottle of water, and a muesli bar. “Figured you’d need to eat.”
I wonder if this is what Earl and Jackson do. Save people. It’s like the universe has aligned and provided me with two guardian angels. Are people really that honorable? “Thank you, Jackson.”
“Now, let’s git going.”
He easily gets in the truck, as I heave myself up too. Truck drivers make it look easy, but truthfully, I find it super awkward. Jackson talks as he drives along, mostly about how long he’s been driving trucks, and about his sons and their jobs and how proud he is of his wife who’s a self-published author.
Morning turns to afternoon, which turns to night. “I need to refuel the truck, and myself,” Jackson says as he laughs. “S’pose you ready for something to eat?”
“Yeah, I’m really hungry. Thank you.”
“There’s a diner I like, ‘bout forty or so minutes. We’ll be there soon.”
“Thank you.”
True to his word, we’re at the diner in under an hour. Jackson refuels his truck, and within half an hour we’ve eaten and are already on the road again.
The night is on us before I even know it, and I look out to the darkened sky. The stars are bright in the sky tonight, and as I stare at them, I can’t help but replay the last thirty-odd hours.
I take in a deep breath, and can smell the salt in the air. “Are we near the water?” I ask.
“Close enough. We’ll be passing alongside the water soon.”
Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply. The ocean has always calmed me. Even when I was little, my grandmother would take me to the beach, and I found I was always more grounded when I’d get home.
Opening my eyes, I see a sign.
Welcome to Hope River. Population 1301, 1302, 1300, 1304.
Hope River. Jesus, is this my sign.
I take a deep breath as I stare into the dark. I think I know where I need to be.
Hope River.
Right now, hope is the only thing I have.
Jake
“Thank you for the ride, Jake,” Gran says as I pull up in front of her house.
“Do you need help getting inside?” I ask. But really, my mind is on Elle. She disappeared from Hope and River’s showing of the new bed and breakfast.
“If you ask me again, I’ll be forced to slap you with my handbag. Go.” She shoos me away once she closes the door of my sheriff’s car.
I watch as Gran climbs the several steps to her front porch, unlocks her door and walks inside. She turns and gives me a small wave. I flick my hand up and drive down her long, dusty driveway.
I quickly glance down at my phone. Elle hasn’t returned any of my messages. When I told her about the woman who looked like her, I noticed how the color drained out of her face, and her breath hitched. I thought that was strange, but I’ve known Elle for years, and never known her to be deceitful. I thought I could catch her alone and talk to her, but Tabitha told me she hadn’t returned and when I went out to search for her, she was gone.
Driving toward Elle’s flat, I’m worried. My gut is telling me she knows exactly who Layla Dixon is, I have a feeling it’s her twin sister. Maybe something’s happened and Elle can’t cope. I don’t know, but whatever it is, I need to make sure she’s okay.
Getting out of the cruiser, I walk up to the apartment, and press the doorbell. I wait for her to answer. But she doesn’t. I press the buzzer again. Nothing.
I hit the other buzzer, hoping Elle’s neighbor is home.
“Hello,” a man says.
“It’s Jake.”
“Sheriff?”
“Yeah. I need you to buzz me in.” The second the door buzzes, I fling the door open and rush up the stairs. Elle’s door is closed. I knock loudly. “Elle!”
The neighbor, I think he’s name is Tony opens his front door and looks at me. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine. I’m looking for Elle.”
“I heard her come home about half an hour ago. Haven’t heard her since.”
Shit. Panic quickly floods me, and I’m about to break down her door if she doesn’t answer it. “Thank you.” Tony — or whatever his name is — retreats back inside. I bash on her door, louder. “Elle.” I hear something from the other side, and I give her to the count of five. I step back, so I can break her door down, but she opens it. She’s been crying, and she has a disheveled, frightened look in her eyes. “Elle.”
She purses her lips together, then brings a shaky hand up to chew on her nail. “What are you doing here?” She looks downstairs toward the door as if she’s waiting for something.
“Are you waiting for someone?” I ask as I quickly glance down the stairs, then back to her. She shakes her head. “What’s happening, Elle?”
“Nothing,” she says way too fast. She steps in front of the door, and shuts it so it’s barely open behind her.
She’s certainly hiding something. “Can I come in?”
“Um, no, now’s not a good time,” she replies with a shaky voice. She looks down the stairs again. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got some stuff to do.” She steps back inside, but is careful in the way she closes the door so I can’t see in.
I know there’s only one way in, and one way out of Elle’s apartment. So, I give her the space she’s desperately seeking, and go back downstairs.
I know Elle will be up in her apartment, watching for my departure so she can do whatever it is she’s doing.
But that’s not going to work on me.
I stand by the door, waiting.
Whatever is going on, I have to make sure Elle’s safe. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to her. I couldn’t let that happen again, not that the first time I failed was my fault, but it took me a long time to deal with the pain.
After nearly an hour and the front door opens as Elle steps through with a suitcase. She’s wearing a hoodie pulled over her head. She looks to the right, then the left and startles when she sees me. “Jake!” She makes a fist and brings it to her chest. “Shit, you scared me.”
“Where are you going, Elle?”
She slowly looks down at the suitcase, then back up at me. “Um, I’m going to do laundry,” she says in a deliberate and obvious lie.
“No, you’re not.”
She lets out a deep breath, and starts shuffling from foot to foot. “Look, Jake, I’m sorry, I have to go.” She lowers her gaze for a split second, before lifting her chin and pulling her shoulders back. She quickly darts a look behind me, before pressing her lips together. “I’ll see ya later?”
I step forward and place my hand over her hand clutching the suitcase. “You don’t have to run.”
Her eyes widen, as she sucks in a deep breath. “Yeah, I do,” Elle finally says in a tiny breath.
“Are you in trouble?” Elle backs away from me, but I move forward again, this time taking the suitcase from her firm hold. “I can help you.” I reach for her hand, and gently take it in mine.
“No, you can’t. I have to go.”
“Tell me what’s happening, I want to help.”
She blinks several times as she looks up to the sky. Tears streak her face as they roll down her cheeks and cling to sun-kissed, flawless skin. “I can’t,” she finally says as she lowers her gaze. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”
I know this has something to do with Layla Dixon. I just have to figure out what. “It’s about Layla, right?”
She stretches for the bag, but I move it back so she can’t reach it. “It doesn’t matter who it has to deal with. All that matters is I have to get out of here. And I have to go, soon. And by soon, I mean right now. I’m sorry, Jake.”
“No, I’m not letting you go.” I move her suitcase further back so it’s completely out of reach for her. “I’ll protect you from whoever you think you’re in trouble with. I’ll protect you.”
“You can’t,” she whispers. Elle wipes at her eyes. “No one can.” She bows her head, and cries into her hands, completely breaking down.
Jesus, what the hell is going on? “Elle.” I step forward, and wrap my arms around her. She cries into my chest for the long time. “It’s okay Elle, I’ll protect you. But I need you to tell me what you’re running from.” Elle steps back, and wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie. Even with her now blotchy skin, and red, puffy eyes, she’s still beautiful. “Come on, you’re coming home with me,” I tell her.
“What?”
“You’re coming home with me. We can fix this, whatever this is.”
“Jake, I can’t involve you. It’s not fair.”
“And I won’t let you run, so you have no other option.”
“You think you can keep me here?” she argues.
“Don’t test me, Elle. I’ll keep you in the watch house if I have to. I don’t want to, but I will. I’d rather you stay with me until we figure out what to do.”
She lowers her hoodie, and runs her hand through her bright red hair. “I can’t ask you to…”
“You’re not asking me to do anything I don’t want to do. We can work this out, Elle. Please, trust me. I’ve never given you a reason to distrust me in the past, so don’t start now.”
She looks down at the pavement, her eyes darting back and forth as she carefully considers what to do. But truth be told, I’m not letting her go. I’ll throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the cruiser if she fights this. I’m not losing her.
“Okay,” Elle finally says. “I won’t run.” She steps forward to take her bag.
“What are you doing?” I ask as I hold onto it tighter.
“I’m taking it back upstairs.”
“You’re not going back to your apartment, Elle. You’re coming home with me. I’ve come here to see how you are, and something’s terrified you enough to pack your bag and take off. That to me says you’re frightened, and whatever it is that’s scaring you, must be big. So, you’re coming back to my house, where we can figure out what has to happen to keep you safe.”
“Jake, I’m not your responsibility.”
How do I respond to her? I want to tell her I care for her, and I haven’t cared for anyone since, well since a long time ago. But that might scare her even more than she already is. “Because everyone in Hope River is my responsibility, including you.” Especially you.
She looks over to my cruiser, then back to me. “Okay, I’ll stay with you, for now.”
I’ll take that, but I’ll keep an eye on her. Whatever has got Elle spooked must be fairly horrific if she’s ready to pack and leave a place I know she loves.
I’ll work hard at breaking her barriers down, and making sure she’s safe. No matter what it takes.
The palms of my hands are sweating.
Standing in front of an unassuming building, I look up to see its sheer size. Still, it’s inconspicuous because it looks exactly like all the other buildings surrounding it.
The sun breaks out just behind the brick building, casting the entrance into shadow.
Funny, that. Because I’ve been living in the shadows all my life. Now is the time for me to come out of the shadows, and speak my truth.
Speak our truth.
There’s a line of cars in front of the building, all marked with the same lettering.
My heart beats quickly as a shock of finality runs through my veins.
This is where part of me will die and another part of me will live.
All my life I’ve been worried about what people think of me. But I can’t continue on in a life where I’m only breathing. I need to learn to live.
I take several deep breaths, ready to cross the street and take the leap I’ve been longing for.
“You can do this,” I say to myself. The sun is moving higher, the shadow becoming smaller.
Yes, you can.
I look to my left, and to my right, checking for oncoming cars.
I keep walking, crossing the street. I know if I stop for even a second, I’ll talk myself out of going.
You can do it.
I walk until I come to the automated doors that slowly slide open.
Hopefully, they’ll believe you.
I head to the counter, where a woman with dark hair pulled back in a severe ponytail and wearing a uniform is working on a computer. She looks up, but remains seated. “Can I help you?” she says in a flat voice.
My hands tremble, so I knit them together to stop the emotion bursting to come forward.
“I, um,” my voice quivers with uncertainty.
“Are you okay?” She stands and comes closer to the counter. She looks behind me, searching for a hint as to why I’m so edgy.
“I, um, need to talk to the police unit that deals with sexual abuse.”
Perfectly Thin
When I’m thinner, no one will make fun of me.
When I’m thinner, I’ll be accepted.
When I’m thinner, I’ll be beautiful.
When I’m thinner, I’ll be happy.
When I’m thinner, I’ll be loved, and adored.
When I’m thinner, I’ll like myself.
I can’t wait until I’m perfectly thin.
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Echoes of You
At seven I was adopted by the most loving parents in the world.
In this perfect family, I also
found my best friend, and sister Tina.
Throw into the mix my boyfriend Dylan, and my dog Zhen, life was good... until it wasn't.
A catastrophic incident unearthed echoes of my past.
It left me no choice but to confront my inner demons.
Will I be able to live through this again?
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A Bump in the Road
Pregnant at 15.
These are the words I didn’t think I would ever have to live with.
Alex and I thought we were careful.
Becoming accidentally pregnant was obviously written in the stars for me.
I can’t know what the future holds, or if Alex will even stick around.
But the one thing I know for sure; I’ll turn this hardship into a blessing.
With or without anyone else.
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Luna Caged
I often stare at the walls and wonder what’s beyond them.
The Elders tell me that nothing but sin, sadness, and disease lie beyond the wall.
Sometimes I hear things, noises that are strange to me. They’re often faint, and when I ask the Elders what those sounds are, they tell me they are the tortured souls of thousands of people behind the gates of hell. I don’t know what they mean.
I dream of leaving these walls, but the Elders insist this is the only place we’re safe. They talk about danger, hatred, and the devil himself waiting just beyond. They tell us the walls were built to keep us safe.
Although I believe the Elders, I want to see the outside world for myself.
But there’s no way out.
Or so I thought…
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Luna Freed
I often stared at the walls and wondered what was beyond them.
After my first escape, I realized that everything I'd believed, everything the Elders told us, and everything I thought I knew were all calculated lies.
Now I know the truth will set me free.
Hope's River Page 33
