Levi holds his hand up. “Anne, Blake is here to help.”
“I’m sure,” my mother starts. “He’d like to help himself to an explosive news story.”
“Hey,” Blake responds. “I’ve never wanted to exploit Summer. She knows that.”
“Levi.” I look at him with pleading eyes. “I want to leave.”
“That’s where Blake is going to help. He’s going to distract the media while we escape out the back way.”
“What’s in it for him?” My mother’s expression couldn’t be more skeptical.
“Nothing,” Blake says. “I just want to help.”
I trust Blake. His previous track record of being honest with me hasn’t gone unnoticed. “I appreciate this. Let’s go.”
“Thanks for your help, Anthony,” Levi says. “Summer, Anne, follow me.”
Levi holds the door for my mother and I as we exit the room. We turn the opposite way of how I came in. The next thing I know we are making a few turns, going down stairs, and we end up outside the hospital in the back where the deliveries are made.
“I brought my car around.” Levi nods his head to the left. “We’ll come back and get yours tomorrow.”
Moments later, with Mother in the front seat we speed off, media free.
But the pill bottle jamming through my jeans pocket into my leg reminds me there is something terribly wrong in my life.
Chapter Nineteen
If I thought Thursday night was a nightmare, I should have never gotten out of bed Friday morning.
I was news again.
Bad news.
Just because I was able to escape didn’t mean the media didn’t print anything. They just didn’t have the pictures to go with their crazy made-up stories.
“Mother, why don’t you just turn your phone off?”
I would turn mine off, but I’m hoping Levi will call. It is now just after lunch, and Mother’s already had to charge her phone battery.
“I might as well. It’s not like I’m answering it. Unless it’s somebody important, of course.”
She must know a lot of important people, because she’s answered more calls than she’s ignored.
Sam is sitting on the living room floor playing with a puzzle, oblivious to everything that is swirling around him. I’m thankful he’s so young.
I jump as someone knocks at the door. Peeking out of the window I see Rachael’s car. I ignore the pang of disappointment that it’s not Levi and open the door.
“Hi Rachael.” I invite her in.
“Hi. I hope you don’t mind me coming by. I tried calling but—”
“It’s not a good day to answer the phone,” I say.
“I’m sure it’s not.”
I notice Rachael’s gaze drift toward my mother who is sitting in the recliner, her head buried in a gossip magazine. “Mother, this is Rachael. She owns a boutique in town, and she goes to the church.”
Mother makes no move to get out of her chair. She barely peeks over the top of the magazine she’s reading. “Hello.”
“Hi. And hi to you, Sam.”
“Hello.” Sam looks up briefly before going back to his puzzle.
Rachael looks at me. “Can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure. Let’s go into the kitchen. Mother, keep an eye on Sam, please?”
“I always do.” The crinkle of the magazine page being turned finalizes her sentence.
“Come on. Would you like something to drink?” I offer as we pull out chairs to sit at the kitchen table.
“No. I’m good.”
It’s only now I notice Rachael seems a little uncomfortable. A little on edge and a lot like she doesn’t want to be here.
“I wanted to warn you about something.” Her voice is soft and hesitant.
A sense of dread casts itself over the room. I don’t say anything even though I’m guessing she wants me to.
After an awkward silence she speaks. “There are a several media vans in front of the church. I would say I don’t know how they found out you were going to be there, but I’m pretty sure Kara White let them know.”
Hurt runs a ragged edge over my heart. It would be less painful to be struck by lightning. “Oh.”
“None of us at the church believe anything we’re hearing on the news.” She places her hand on the table like it would cover mine. Except my hands are clenched together in my lap.
“We’re all behind you, Summer.”
I chuckle. “Except Kara White.”
“The rest of us know people can change.” Her fingers start drumming the table.
The media has found me in Lawson’s Ledge. I guess I can’t complain, really. I’ve been here almost a year. I think I did a pretty good job of hiding. It’s a good thing I only have a short time left here. But I can’t jeopardize the program tonight. The people here have been nice to me, and it wouldn’t be fair to them. I’m sad at the decision I have to make. “It’s probably best if we don’t come tonight.”
She casts her gaze downward. “That’s up to you.”
“I don’t want to get in the way of the children’s performance. Maybe if you go and announce that I’m not coming, the media will leave.”
She looks up at me. “It doesn’t seem fair. You’ve worked so hard with the kids, and they really like you. But if it’s what you want me to do …”
Even the sun streaming in through the windows can’t brighten the atmosphere in the room. “None of this is what I want.”
Rachael shifts slightly in her chair. “It’s not what I want either. I’m really sorry.”
A little laugh escapes. “I’ll call Levi and tell him I’m not coming.”
“The children are going to be disappointed.”
“Tell them all I said to sing really loud.”
“I will. Hey, do you want me to take Sam? He could still be in the program.”
Memories of Sam walking away with Rachael at the waterfall flood me. I was a wreck, and he was only a five minute walk away. I’m sure Sam will have a great time, but can I handle it? Will the media recognize him? My heart starts pounding. “I’m not used to Sam going places with people. I know that sounds weird, but all this is new to me. And to be honest, I’m very nervous about it.”
“I promise to take great care of him.”
“I know you will. It’s not that. It’s all about me. And the media. I’m just not sure.”
“It’s certainly up to you. I know Faith would love to have him over. I could order them a pizza. And I will call if there is the slightest problem.”
Composure. I need composure. The chair makes a loud noise as it scrapes across the floor as I stand. I walk to the window. A year ago I didn’t even know what Sam was doing with whom. Now I’m acting all uptight because a friend wants him to spend a few hours with her daughter. And there’s the media issue.
I have to start learning to trust. If I look at things logically, when something does happen to Sam he’s usually in my care.
“Okay. He can go. But please call me if you need me to come and get him. Levi is supposed to take me to get my car in a little while. I had to leave it at the hospital last night.”
Rachael sighs. “I bet that whole incident was horrible.”
“It was. I’m glad it’s over.”
“Summer, I hope you know I’m a friend. You could have called me last night. I would have come.”
My heart smiles. “I appreciate that.”
Rachael stands. “I’ll miss you tonight.”
“It’s probably for the best. There may have been a lot of attention diverted from the performance.”
“How about I send you a DVD of the kids’ part?”
“That would be great.”
“Good. Sam and I will go and get Faith from the sitters.”
“You know, I just remembered. Since I don’t have my car, I don’t have Sam’s car seat.”
“I have you covered. I had Pamela all week. The extra seat is still in my car. We’re good to g
o.”
We walk into the living room. Mother is not sitting in the recliner anymore. I shake my head. “Sam. Rachael is going to take you to the church, okay?”
Rachael crouches to talk to Sam. “We’ll go get Faith from her babysitters, then we’re going to eat pizza, then we’re going to the church. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
“Yes. I love pizza.”
She stands and takes Sam’s hand. “Well, let’s go then.”
“Bye, little guy. I’ll see you later. You sing really good and loud, you hear?”
“I will, Mommy.”
Minutes after she leaves I am still sitting in the kitchen. Rachael really blew my mind with her gesture of friendship. And regarding the media, I guess I’m not really surprised by what has taken place. What is a surprise is the depth of hurt I’m feeling right now.
And the depth of gratitude toward Rachael.
I had finally felt like a part of something normal. Something every day. Something Godly. I thought I had made some friends, and I now I know I did.
I miss Levi. We’ve been texting the last few minutes. He wanted to come and take me and Sam to the church, but when I told him about the media and Sam already being with Rachael, he said he’d come over after the performance.
If that was okay with me.
Him texting me like this is weird. It’s not that we haven’t texted before, but never a whole conversation. Something’s changed with him. Something that makes me think he’s regretting us being an us.
“What did that church lady want?”
I wish I could ignore my mother. I take a deep breath. “She came to let me know the media has surrounded the church.”
Her foot taps really loud. Like she’s angry. “You see. This has been my point all along. You need to be back in California. This no-name town doesn’t have a clue how to handle these situations.”
“It’s about the pills. The news.” I get up from the chair and pull a box of macaroni and cheese out of the cupboard. My comfort food. After filling a pan with water, I set it on the stove to boil.
“A little controversy, and they panic.”
I lean against the counter. Her lack of insight and sympathy never cease to amaze me. “Mother. Since when have I ever been just a little controversial?
Having ignored the phone all morning, I spend the better part of the afternoon on it with Coleman and my lawyer, Mr. Powell. Talking until I didn’t have anything else to say. Defending a character no one knows exists.
The day seems so long. I miss Sam, and the approaching darkness means he’ll be home soon. Sitting on the front porch swing is the most peaceful thing I’ve done all day. There is a slight breeze playing in the trees, its voice fighting with the crickets to be heard.
The swing creaks occasionally as I gently sway back and forth. I’m forcing myself to sit still until Rachael brings Sam home. My body feels like it’s been pumped with caffeine all day. I know it’s the adrenaline from fighting my battles.
Gravel crunches as a car makes its way down the long drive. I glance at my watch. Rachael is right on time.
Excited to hear how everything went, I walk out to meet her.
Sam runs to me.
“Hi, little guy. How did it go?”
“Mommy, it was fun. I was on the stage singing just like you do.”
“That’s great, Sam.”
Rachael ruffles his hair. “The performance went great. All the kids said to tell you hello.” She looks into her car. “I think Faith fell asleep, so I’m going to go. I’ll talk to you soon, Summer.”
“Thanks again for taking Sam. I’ll call you later.”
I hold his hand until we reach the porch swing. “Wanna swing for a minute?”
“Yes.”
We settle ourselves on the swing. Sam is sitting in my lap. I love his little boy scent. I brush a cookie crumb from the side of his face. “Tell me all about it. Did you really have fun?”
“I did, Mommy. Lots of fun. I wished you were there to see me.” He’s smiling. Something he’s been doing a lot of lately.
“I wish I had been there, too.”
My cell phone rings. I look, hoping it’s Levi. It’s Rachael. “Hello, Rachael.”
“Summer, I’m so sorry. I guess those news people followed me. They’re camped along the side of the street at the end of your drive. I know they can’t see your house, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. I don’t know how this could have happened.”
My heart slams against my chest. “They must have recognized Sam somehow.”
“I’m sorry, Summer. I had no idea they were behind me. I swear.”
“Hey, don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. They’re sneaky and will do anything to get a story. I appreciate you letting me know. But I’ve gotta run. I have to figure out what I’m going to do.”
“Okay. Keep in touch?”
“I will. Bye.” I hit the off button on my phone.
“Summer.”
At first I’m startled, then my heart calms a little as I recognize Levi’s voice. He’s running from the path out of the woods, taking the stairs two at a time.
“Summer—”
“I know. Rachael just left and called me. I’ve got to get out of here.”
“I’m already on it.”
“They’ve left me alone for so long. This is crazy.” I stand, setting Sam on the porch.
“Why don’t I go in and start helping Sam pack his things. I’ll tell your mother, too.”
“Thank you. I need to call Coleman and tell him to book us a flight.”
“I can take you wherever you need to go. That’s why I came through the woods. We’ll have to hike back that way, but at least we can leave without the news people knowing.”
I start pushing buttons on my phone, then look at Levi as I wait for Coleman to answer. “Thanks for thinking it out. I’m too frazzled to think. I can handle this for me, but I don’t want Sam and you caught up in this.”
“I spent half my life running. I know what I’m doing. But you’re right about Sam. Come on, little Dude. Let’s go get started.”
Levi and Sam go in the house, and I start pacing the porch. Coleman finally picks up.
“Coleman. I need you to book a flight for me, Mother and Sam. Book it out of Chattanooga. The media has found the house. I can be at the airport in about three hours.”
“What do you mean the media has found you?”
“They followed one of my friends to the house. They’re camped at the end of the drive. I need to leave.” I lean against the door, the absurdness of the situation threatening to take over.
Coleman chuckles. “You don’t need to leave. You need to go and talk to them. Hold a press conference. This is an opportunity for you.”
Anger burns through me. “I have Sam with me. I’m not doing it. I don’t want this.”
“Princess, you need to get over what you want. The public wants you. And they have been very good to you. Talk to them. Try to play the sympathy angle with this situation. You can’t let all this free publicity go to waste.”
Free. Levi tried to tell me I was free. I’m not free. I’m bound by this life I made for myself. I’m bound by decisions I’ve made in the past. I’m bound by contracts and legal documents I know nothing about.
Free. I want to be free. Free from all of this. “Coleman. You’re fired.”
“What?”
“You’re fired. Right now. I’ll book my own tickets.”
“You can’t fire me. We have a contract.”
“I know. I also know there is a way out of everything. As soon as we hang up, I’m calling my lawyer.” My voice starts to shake. I feel like I’m falling apart.
“You’re going to regret this, Princess.”
I squeeze the phone, praying for strength. “I’m not going to miss you telling me how I’m going to feel. I’ve got my own mind, my own emotions and God’s strength, and I’m starting to use all of them right now. Goodbye.”
&
nbsp; He starts to speak, but I click the red button.
He’s disconnected.
Gone.
For good. I don’t care how much it costs me.
My hands start to shake as a panicky sensation tries to settle inside me. I place my palms together, like I’m praying. And I do. Pray, that is.
Closing my eyes, I lift my face heavenward. I know if I open my eyes I’ll only see the top of the porch, but God still sees me. And he knows what I’m going through.
Strength. God, I need strength. Not any kind of strength. I need the kind that come only from you. Please? I’m trusting this. I’m trusting You.
An unexplainable joy slowly starts to squash the panic as I keep repeating the prayer. My breathing returns to normal. My legs actually feel like they can keep me upright.
Jaunting my way down the porch steps I look to the sky, black and sparkling with stars. I thrust my hands in the air and jump.
I’m free.
And it feels awesome.
“Summer, I can’t take another step. And I thought I heard an animal. I can’t imagine what kinds of creatures are lurking all around us.”
I stop walking. We are close to Skeet’s. Levi is pulling mother’s suitcase, and I’m carrying her purse. “We’re almost there, Mother.”
“This is so ridiculous. Another fabulous idea from the God guy, I’m sure.”
“I refuse to let Sam be ambushed by cameras. Leave it alone.”
“Avoiding the media is not like you.”
Sometimes I wish I could fire her. “Mother, we’ll talk about this later. Let’s just get to Skeet’s house.”
As soon as we reach the house Mother collapses on the couch. Sam settles into an oversized chair with his bear and blanket.
I grab my phone and start looking up transportation services.
“I’ll take you to the airport,” Levi says.
“No you won’t. It’s late, and the airport is too far.”
I haven’t had any real time alone with Levi since the hospital incident last night. I still sense a change in him, yet he protests the whole time I’m making the arrangements. I hang up my phone.
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