He paused, his eyes scrutinizing me.
“What are you saying?”
His lips slightly quivered when he said it. He thought I didn’t notice.
“I’m saying that I think you should move out—you and Elijah. I need time to think. I need to figure out what it is I really want because it’s not this. I have rushed from one relationship, which ended in a bad divorce, and thrown myself directly into your arms, and I am beginning to think it was too soon.”
Matt stared at me, not blinking.
“So…you’re calling off the wedding?”
I exhaled, feeling good about my decision for once.
“I guess that’s what I am saying.”
A strange scoff left Matt’s mouth, and he shook his head at me. He rose to his feet and walked past me, mumbling.
“I can’t believe you.”
Then, he left, slamming the front door behind him so hard my dad woke up and came out to me, rubbing his unshaven face, squinting his eyes at me.
“Eva Rae? What’s going on? Why are you sitting here? What happened to your arm, sweetie? Are you okay?
I looked up at him, then nodded. “You know what? I think I am. I think I have finally taken control of my own life. It’s a mess and chaotic at times—well, most of the time. But it’s the way I like it. I don’t do normal.”
That made my dad smile. He placed a hand on my shoulder while nodding.
“Good for you, sweetie. Good for you.”
He waited for a few seconds, then added, “Do you want a beer or something?”
I laughed, then shook my head.
“No. I need to sleep. There are only a few hours till the two little monsters will wake up. But thanks.”
Epilogue
Chapter 75
The sound of the Ring doorbell rang in the hall inside. I could see movement behind the frosted glass with the beautiful palm trees. The door was opened, and a face appeared.
“Kim.”
“Eva Rae? What are you doing here?” Kim said and stepped outside, closing the door behind her while whispering, “You can’t be here.”
“Yes, I can,” I said and stepped aside. “And I haven’t come alone.”
Kim’s eyes fell on the two women behind me.
“This is my sister, Sydney, and this is Mrs. Harris, from the Department for Children and Families.”
Kim’s eyes grew big. “DCF? But…”
“We’re here to talk to Amy.”
“But…Amy is…”
“Save it. We know she’s in there, and we know you’ve been keeping her away from her child.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at my minivan, knowing that inside of it sat Christine, keeping an eye on Owen until we came back out, hopefully with Amy.
“We have done no such…”
“Kim,” I said. “Let us in, please.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she became resigned. “Okay. But make it brief. If Phil finds out you’ve…”
We didn’t listen to the rest of that sentence but walked right past her into the massive hall.
“Where is she?” I asked. “Upstairs?”
Kim nodded. “In her room.”
I rushed up the stairs, Sydney and Mrs. Harris coming up right behind me. We opened one door, and I called her name, but that was a bathroom. I grabbed the handle of the next door and shook it.
“It’s locked.”
I knocked.
“Amy?”
“Y-yes?” a small, thin voice said behind it. “Is anyone there? Is that you, Eva Rae? Please, help me.”
My heart dropped as the realization sank in. “They’re keeping her locked up.”
“This is serious,” Mrs. Harris said.
“Please, help me,” Amy said.
Mrs. Harris faced Kim. She spoke with a firm voice yet failed to hide how angry she really was.
“Please, open the door, Mrs. Robinson.”
Kim walked up and put the key in the door without protest. She turned it, and it opened. I pushed the door open. Amy threw herself into my arms. I grabbed her and held her tight, kissing her hair.
“Oh, you poor thing. You poor, poor child.”
She cried and held me tight like she didn’t want me ever to let go of her again. “Is he all right? How’s Owen?”
I nodded, crying heavily. “He’s fine. He’s just fine.”
Amy relaxed, but I didn’t let go of her. My heart was breaking for the girl.
“I meant to come back,” she said, sobbing. “On the day I ran away, I came here to ask my mom to forgive me and for her help, but then my dad came home, and he…he grabbed me, then dragged me into my room and locked the door. I couldn’t get out. I couldn’t get back to Owen.”
“I know, sweetie. I know. It’s okay.” I paused, then took a deep breath before I asked what had been on my mind for quite some time, “He’s the father, isn’t he? Your father? He’s Owen’s father, right?”
Amy’s body jolted in sobs, and I held her so she wouldn’t fall to her knees. “Oh, my God,” she said. “Oh, my God.”
“It’s okay, Amy. I’ve got you now. He can’t hurt you or Owen anymore.”
“He was so angry,” she said between sobs. “When it turned out that I was pregnant, and my mother…she wouldn’t forgive me. That’s why I ran away. They wanted me to get rid of him, but how could I? They said my dad might end up in jail if anyone found out, and that made me feel guilty, but in the end, I had to protect my child.”
I exchanged a look with Mrs. Harris, grabbed Amy by the shoulders, and looked into her eyes.
“It’s not your fault, Amy. Do you hear me? He’s the one to blame. Everything is going to be all right. We’re taking you home now.”
“But…where are you taking her?” Kim asked.
“Sydney and I run a shelter for young women who have been trafficked. We have a team of doctors and psychiatrists that can help her get her life back together again. She’ll be taken care of there.”
“But…but what am I supposed to tell Phil when he comes home?” Kim asked as we started walking down the stairs.
I turned and looked at her. She seemed so lost; it was heartbreaking. But she had chosen her life, and now she had to live it. I didn’t feel sorry for her. Phil was going to jail for what he had done, and she would end up very lonely.
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
Then, I turned away and put my arm around Amy, walking her out to her son in my car. When she saw him, her face lit up, and tears sprang to her eyes. She took him out of the carrier, then held him close.
“Oh, my sweet boy. I am never letting go of you again. Do you hear me? Never. Nothing and no one will ever come between us again.”
I placed a hand on her shoulder, fighting to press the tears back, but failing miserably.
“It’s time. We need to go.”
Chapter 76
“You’re telling me you would sit here in your car and watch her? While she was in her house? No wonder she thought you were creepy and called the cops on you.”