by Stacy Eaton
“Thank you, Gloria.” I stared down at the lid where I had carved baseball bats, fire trucks, and his name. With the cloth off the wood, the memories filled my mind as if I had opened a bottle of pine cleaner and the scent, so pungent, would have brought tears to my eyes. There was no cleaner to blame for the wetness that I blinked back.
She sank down on her haunches and lifted the lid. The hinges squeaked softly from lack of use. “This is so beautiful.”
If I had spoken, my voice would have cracked, so I stayed silent.
Gloria tilted her head back to look up at me, “May I take a few photos of these?”
“Sure,” I replied. “What are you going to do with them?”
“I want to show them to someone and see if they will work for my project. I am almost positive that they will, and if they do, I am going to have a very big job for you.”
“Are you serious, Gloria? You’re not doing this out of some kind of charity, are you?”
She laughed, “Grey, you are the last person to whom I would want to give charity. You are too proud to accept such, but a job—a job, you can accept.” She stood up and rummaged in her purse, pulling out her cellphone. She snapped a few pictures of the toy box and then the chair. She delved into her purse again and pulled out a small leather wallet. She took out a business card and wrote something on the back before she handed it to me.
“My home address is on the back. I’d like for you to come by my house tomorrow morning, and we can discuss this further.” She hit a button on her cellphone before putting it to her ear.
“Gloria, I don’t know what to say.”
She held up a finger, “Mike, can you please pull around? I’ll be right out.”
“Who was that?” I asked as she put her phone away.
“My driver, he followed us over so I wouldn’t have to trouble you to drive me home.” She clasped her hands in front of her, “Now, come by at about nine o’clock, and we can discuss details.” She turned for the door.
“Gloria, remember, I don’t have the tools necessary to do these,” I protested nervously.
She turned slowly, a huge smile on her face. “Grey, remember,” she echoed my words, “that my husband used to tinker in a wood shop. I think you will find everything you need, and if there is something missing, we can discuss it.”
“Okay,” I said slowly.
“Now, for the rest of the day, relax. Do something that you enjoy doing, not because you have to, but because you want to. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She pulled the door open.
“Gloria,” I called out before she left.
“Yes, Grey?”
“Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me.” I was dumbstruck and felt as if this was all a joke. I was waiting for the pie in the face or the floor to drop out under me.
“Why? Because I like you. I like your values, and I like your honesty. I had a more relaxing morning with you than I have had in years. Today might have started out shitty for both of us, but I think our luck has changed. Enjoy your day, Grey.”
With that, she walked out and closed the door behind her. A moment later, I heard the outside door open and close, and I peered out the small kitchen window to see her climbing into a tinted Town Car.
It was only then that I looked down at the business card in my hand, Withers International. Holy crap! She was that Withers!
Chapter Four
Barbara
“Barb, you have a call on line three. The woman won’t say who it is, but she said it was important,” the voice on my intercom said as I typed a response to an email.
“Okay, thank you. I’ll get it.” I knew who it was.
I clicked the send button for my email and glanced at the door. Before I answered the phone, I went over and shut it all the way. It was rare for me to close it, but this conversation required secrecy.
“Hello,” I answered as I put the phone to my ear.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Barb, but I wanted to let you know something,” the woman’s voice on the other end began.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“You’ll be happy to know that the cupboard is stocked now, so we won’t need any more donations. In fact, we are getting ready to do a big delivery with some of the excess.”
My fingers began to tremble, “That is good news. I’m glad we were able to fill it so quickly for you.”
“Me, too, I’m sure the recipients will be very thankful.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” My mind began to spin. Anxiety clutched my gut. “Can you tell me when that delivery will be? I’d like to let the others know who are involved.”
“I’m not sure, but those plans are in the works. As soon as I have information on that, I’ll be sure to pass it along. Thank you so much for all your help on this. You have done an amazing job, and I’ll be sure to refer you to other nonprofits.”
“You’re welcome and thank you,” I replied, trying to not allow my nerves to register in my voice.
“Have a good day, Barbara.” The woman hung up as I was saying, “You, too.”
I stared at the phone for a moment. This was it. Peggy and I had met in person a couple of times, and over the last year, she had been slowly helping me build my nest egg. She had all my account details, and she was the one who watched my balances and made sure that a portion of my bonuses and paycheck were deposited each month.
A year ago, I had helped a woman who was on the board of directors of one of the domestic violence shelters with an art auction. We had hit it off really quickly, and now she was one of the few people who knew the hell in which I lived.
While working on her art auction, we found time to start working on a safety plan, a plan to get me and Allie free.
She had set up the account as the head, but I was a co-signer on it, so I could access the money when the time came. Over the last year, half of my bonuses went into that account along with a percentage of my paycheck, normally half of my raise each year. Todd was none the wiser. As long as he saw my check being deposited, he didn’t question the amounts. He made enough for both of us.
Peggy had also started helping me with the plans on how I was going to gain my freedom, and with three hundred thousand in the bank, I knew I would have enough to get started and file for divorce from the other side of the country.
I wasn’t sure how much Todd would fight me on this, but if I was honest, I feared for my life, just as I had feared for Allie’s every single day she had lived in my belly and was held in my arms.
I learned early on that Todd was abusive. In my own mind, I knew it. Domestic violence was all over the news these days; I would have had to be blind not to have seen the signs. He was controlling and had alienated me from my friends. The only time I went out to an event was as the object on his arm. Even my business trips had become few and far between.
That alone was difficult and caused added stress since I worked for a marketing company that helped nonprofit organizations raise money.
About the time that I knew in my heart I needed to get out, I learned I was pregnant. I thought back to the night I had told Todd we were going to have a baby. I was so happy about the burgeoning life within that never in a million years did I think he wouldn’t feel the same way.
In fact, I had convinced myself that this would fix the problems between us, and that he would ease up and show me the love he had once shown me before we were married.
Little did I know that the words I shared that night would make everything worse, a whole lot worse.
Todd had arrived home in a surly mood, but I was used to that by now. I had gotten off early so I could make him his favorite meal, roasted lamb and red potatoes.
When we sat down, I made a show of opening up a bottle of wine and pouring him a glass, while only having water in my goblet.
“Why aren’t you drinking tonight?” he had asked as he draped his napkin over his lap.
I gave him a soft smile. “Well, the doctor told m
e that I shouldn’t be drinking,” I stated demurely.
He eyed me critically, “When did you go to a doctor?”
“Today,” I sat down in the seat beside him and placed my cream linen napkin over my legs.
“Why did you go to the doctor and not tell me?” he asked harshly, but I knew—or so I thought—that what I would tell him would calm him down, make him happy. I was sure of it.
“I wanted to surprise you.” I grinned at him, “We’re going to have a baby.”
I waited for the smile, waited for the sparkle to come to his eye, and for the excitement to bubble out of him.
“You’re what?” he barked.
“I’m pregnant,” I repeated, confused and shocked by his reaction.
“Why the hell did you let yourself get knocked up?” He lifted his napkin and tossed it into the middle of his full plate. My hands twisted the linen in my lap.
“I didn’t let myself, it just happened, Todd.” I stared at him, “Aren’t you happy?”
His jaw clenched. “Happy?” he retorted. He pushed his chair up and stood glaring down at me, “Happy?” He placed his palms face-down on the table and leaned over them to get closer to me.
I shivered as I blinked myself back to the present. It was almost time. I had slowly been handing off clothing and small toys to Peggy for her to pack for me. Todd had asked one time what the bag was in my trunk, and I had told him it was for a homeless shelter. His upper lip had twisted back, and he’d made a rude comment about my things being too good for those people, but he hadn’t stopped me.
Little did he know that no one else would ever see them, and they would stay in my possession, along with Allie.
The scariest thing about this was not knowing what he would do when he figured it out. Would he come after us? Would he demand Allie back or use her as a tool to get what he wanted? The thoughts made my stomach churn, and I pulled open my drawer and took out some antacids before I opened my door. I couldn’t stay in here too long alone, it would raise questions.
Somehow, I knew that Todd had a spy watching me, I just didn’t know who in our office it was. I knew it wasn’t Trish in accounting, she was the closest thing I had to a friend and the only other person who knew about the other account I had. When I had set it up, I had told her I was putting together a college fund for Allie, and wanted to surprise Todd and asked her to keep it a secret. So far, she hadn’t said anything to me about it.
I had no doubts that others in the office knew things were not great at home. It was hard to hide the bruises all the time, or to paint a smile on my face when I was scared for my life, or in pain. I did what I had to, and made excuses. Todd had actually worked it out with my boss that I could work from home some days, using a made-up excuse that our daughter was sickly, and I was needed to care for her.
My boss never batted an eye. I don’t think he wanted to know the truth.
I sank back into my chair, my mind drifting back to that night again.
There had been no happiness, no excitement. In fact, all that had registered on my husband’s face was rage, and my body had begun to quiver.
“No, I’m not fucking happy!” Spittle flew off his lips and into my face. “I never said I wanted any fucking kids!” He shoved off the table, “They make too much noise and they make huge messes.” He continued on his rant as he walked around to the back of my chair, “What could possibly have gone through that stupid head of yours,” he poked me in the back of the skull, “to make you think I would want a kid?”
I rolled my neck as if I could roll away from the memories, I didn’t want to think of the violence of that night. The day after I had told Todd about being pregnant, he had come to me and apologized profusely. His excuse was that he had been jealous of the fact that he was going to have to share me, and he’d promised he would never try to do anything to hurt me again.
I had wanted to believe him—I really had—but his true nature came out time and time again. Although he never tried to cause me to miscarry Allie again, he found other ways to demean me and cause me pain.
His harshest comments came from how large my belly grew. He hated the sight of me as it protruded in front of me. He never touched me, and if he by chance saw me without clothes, his lips would curl in disgust. I should have been happy he kept his distance, but somewhere deep inside me, I still loved him and wanted him to love both me and the baby.
He had stated that he was allowing me to keep the child to keep me happy, as if he were paying me to keep quiet. Little did he know that I had enough evidence of his behavior and nasty taunts to destroy his career. The karma fairy would find him one day, of that I was sure.
Did it make me an evil person to know that I could destroy his career if I wanted to? I didn’t think so—not after everything that he had done to me—not after being degraded on my knees like a whore, or even worse, being told I was stupid in public while I stood by his side at an event. Did he not think that people saw the pain he caused? Did he think it made him more of a man, when in fact it made him less of one?
While I might be trapped in this relationship, it had taken me only a short time to realize the extent of his abusive nature. Add a year of planning to gain back my freedom and now the future was just over the horizon. We only needed to get the final plans set in motion, and I would be able to walk away—hopefully.
I busied myself with my work, even though my hands continued to shake slightly. In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to appear normal. I feared the final steps, but I knew I had to be drastic to gain the upper hand. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be seeing freedom, I would instead be staring at the inside of a silk-lined oak box.
Peggy had assured me she knew what she was doing. She had reiterated that this was not the first time she had helped a woman escape the perils of a high-profile person. I trusted her, I had no other option.
A knock on my door startled me, and I jumped in my seat as I looked up guiltily.
“You okay?” Roberta asked as she slipped into my office and took the chair on the other side of my desk.
I waved away her comment, “Yeah, I was deep in thought. What do you need?”
“There is a conference in San Diego next week, I was wondering if you were going,” she said as she crossed her legs.
The conference, yes, that could be my ticket.
“I had planned on it. Why?”
“I was wondering if I could go with you. I need to start learning more so I can help you. This might be the perfect time.”
Roberta was relatively new to the company, and I couldn’t think of a better person to take my place. “I can’t think of a better way for you to get involved. Check with Paul and make sure he is alright with it.”
She grinned, “I already did. He said as long as you don’t mind, I could tag along.”
I laughed. She was a real go getter. I looked over my mahogany desk and realized that it wouldn’t be long before she would probably be sitting on my side of it.
“Glad to hear that. Speak with Michele, she can get your plane tickets and hotel reservations done.”
“Will do.”
We spoke for a few more minutes about the conference and what I normally did there. I wanted her to know all the details; she would need them since I would probably never show up for them.
When Roberta stepped out of my office, I decided it was time for a coffee break. I rummaged around on my desk for a copy of the itinerary that Michele had given me for my trip. With the vanilla folder in one hand and my coffee mug in the other, I made my way to the break room, stopping in the copy machine first.
I knew Peggy’s fax number, and while it was a risk to send it to her, I had no other means of getting the information to her. I glanced over my shoulder and saw I was alone before I punched in her fax number and then scanned the page of my itinerary, pushing the button to send it.
It zipped through the machine and came out on top. I tapped my nails on the hard plastic top as I stared at the small
screen to make sure it was connecting. A moment later, the machine came alive as it printed out a receipt verifying the document had been sent. I slipped it off the machine and took two steps to stick it into the crosscut shredder. With a loud mechanical whirl, the receipt was destroyed, and unless someone wanted to check the hard drive of the copier, no one would be the wiser.
I tucked the folder under my arm and went to fill my coffee cup, my knees weak as I realized I had just taken the next step to freedom.
Chapter Five
Grey
Dressed in my nicest pair of pants and shirt, I pulled my heaping monster of a truck into the driveway of the Withers Estate. The gates were open, and I slipped past them with only a moment of hesitation.
What if she had changed her mind? What if she had only been feeling sorry for me yesterday or herself since she had received bad news, and today she had her good sense back and would tell me to get lost?
I had lain awake all night dwelling on these and other questions. Was she really interested in my work?
There was only one way to find out. I pulled my truck to the front of her large stone house. Did I say large? How about monstrous? Does she live in this thing alone? I wondered as I put my truck in park and pulled out the key.
My door squeaked louder than I remembered it sounding as I pushed it open. Man, a car like this should not be allowed anywhere near a home as amazing as this one. I prayed I didn’t leave a puddle of oil or transmission fluid all over the fancy paving stones of her driveway.
A large, dark oak door pulled open, and Gloria stood there with a huge welcoming smile, easing my anxiety immediately.
“Grey, you’re right on time. I was hoping you wouldn’t have trouble with your car this morning.”
I returned her warm smile and didn’t bother to tell her I had had to work on it for twenty minutes before it had started. I’d been sitting down the road at a gas station for the last hour with the truck running to make sure I wasn’t late. It was a waste of gas, but there was no way I was going to make her wait.
