by Scott, Lisa
“Really, Mother?” Rachel asked.
Mother nodded, and Rachel rushed to her, hugging her.
“You’ll be all right?” William asked.
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
William climbed out the window and left. Mother sat on Rachel’s bed. She patted the spot next to her. “I knew something was up when I saw you sleeping in bed with your boots still on. So how long have you been sneaking this boy into your room?”
“He’s not a boy, he’s a man. And I had no choice since you give me no freedom.”
Mother picked up a brush and started brushing Rachel’s hair, section by section. “You’re not just any girl, Rachel. You’re extraordinary. People pay money to have their picture taken with you. I’ve done my best to keep you safe and well cared for.”
“But I want something different now. I should have a say in my life.”
“Are you sure about this? He’s probably planning to use you for some burlesque show with those horses. Like Lady Godiva, know who she was? She had really long hair, rode a horse into town naked one day to protest something her husband had done. Whatever William’s plan, he’s just going to use you, Rachel. That’s what men do. Trust me, I know.”
“I should be able to find that out for myself.”
Mother was quiet for a while as she braided Rachel’s hair. “If he comes for you in the morning, you may leave.”
Rachel wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck and hugged her.
“Now, go to sleep, my dear.”
Rachel yanked off her boots and lay back on her bed. She had a hard time falling asleep imagining her new life with William. But soon, she drifted off knowing she’d be in his arms and out of that RV for good.
***
The moon shone through her window, and the night was quiet. Her clock read three a.m. and she needed to use the bathroom. She slid out of bed but fell back onto the mattress. Her hair was caught on something. She flicked on her bedside lamp and tried pulling her hair away from whatever it was caught on. She tugged on a strand and followed it to its obstruction. She gasped. It was tied to her bed. Dozens of strands of hair were tied to the wrought iron headboard. Her mother must have done this while she was braiding her hair last night. She struggled to loosen the strand, but it was intricately looped and tied. She growled in frustration.
“Rachel, what is it?” William was peering in her window.
“William! What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been keeping watch outside. I didn’t trust that your mother wouldn’t just take off in the middle of the night. What’s going on? I saw you turn on your light.”
“She’s tied my hair to my bed. It’ll take forever to get it undone.”
William frowned. “I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t leave me!” she whispered, but he was gone. She kept quiet because she didn’t want to wake her mother. William was probably right. Mother wasn’t going to let her leave. She was holding her hostage. But hadn’t she been doing that all along?
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Mother didn’t love her. She didn’t want what was best for her. Mother only cared about herself.
A few minutes later, William was back at the window. He held up a pair of scissors. “We have to get you out of here.”
Rachel gulped and her stomach turned. “You’re going to cut my hair?”
“There’s no time to untie all those knots.” He crawled through the window and locked her bedroom door. He knelt next to her on the bed. “You’re going to be fine.” He kissed her and she nodded.
Her heart pounded as he started cutting her hair. Then there was pounding on her door.
“Rachel! I heard voices. What’s going on in there?”
“Nothing.”
The doorknob rattled. “Why is this door locked?”
“Why is my hair tied to the bedpost?” She pulled against the knots and realized half her hair was released.
“To be certain you’re not leaving with that boy. He doesn’t love you. He doesn’t care about you. He just wants to use you for your hair.”
“You mean like you do?” Rachel hollered, surprising herself.
Mother said nothing for a few moments. Then the door burst open.
William continued cutting her hair. Mother’s eyes widened and she screamed. “No!” she wailed, falling to her knees. “What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving. William is cutting me free.”
Mother hung her head and sobbed. “What will I do without you? No one in my life has loved me but you.”
Rachel waited for the guilt to pull her back like it always did, but that feeling was gone, replaced by anger. And hope. “Sell my hair. Use it as a wig and do the show yourself.”
William leaned forward and kissed Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m done.”
Rachel stood up. The ends of her hair were tied to the bed like silky prisoners. She shook her head. Her hair swung along her waist. “Oh!” She spun in a circle, laughing.
“What have you done!” Mother screamed, lunging at William.
Rachel stood between them. “I’m leaving with him and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“Do you have your things ready?” William asked.
Rachel looked around the room. “There’s nothing I need from here. And if The Woodsman is still looking for me, I’m willing to take my chances.”
Mother sat on the bed and cried. “Wait!”
“There’s nothing to keep me here.”
“No, I need to tell you the truth.”
“About what?”
“The Woodsman.” Mother sputtered through her tears. “There was never a threat. I don’t even know if he’s real.”
Rachel could barely find her breath. “What?” She sucked in a hysterical sob. “Then why did we leave Goose Valley?”
Mother covered her face with her hands. “My boss—he was making me do things at work I didn’t want to do. Bad things. When I told him no more, he hit me. That was the night we left.”
The fear and sadness that had been coiled inside Rachel for so long released and disappeared. She stooped next to her mother. “You need to start living, too, Mother. You’re still running from your past. I don’t want to be doing that twenty years from now. I hope you understand why I have to leave.”
William hopped out the window. Rachel followed, and he lowered her to the ground.
Something snuffled in the darkness and William led her to a beautiful white horse.
“Glad I planned ahead for an escape.” He boosted Rachel onto the stallion, just as Mother ran out of the RV.
“Don’t go!” Mother wailed.
William pulled himself up on the horse in front of Rachel.
“Goodbye, Mother,” Rachel said, tears filling her eyes.
William nudged the horse and it took off galloping, it’s hooves clip-clopping on the pavement as the sun started peeking over the horizon.
“I thought knights only rode off into the sunset, not the sunrise,” she said, gripping his waist.
He laughed as they made their way to the entrance of Neverland Island. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.”
William stopped the horse when they reached the pier. He handed the reins to the security guard and asked him to return the stallion to the show. “I guess we’re both out of a job now,” he said.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.”
She handed him her camera. “Will you take a picture of me? It’s the first day of my new life.”
She posed in front of the sign to Neverland Island. “Wait.” She repositioned herself so the skyline of New Royalton was behind her. “This is where my future lies.”
He grinned and snapped her picture, then reached for her hand. “Let’s go start living it.”
Wake Me With a Kiss
Aurora walked along the midway at Neverland Island, holding her giant stick of cotton candy in the air like she was the Statue of Liberty. She st
opped and posed, trying to appear serious while she held back a laugh. “Take a picture,” she giggled to her boyfriend, Todd.
He groaned. “Would you knock that off?”
Lowering the puffy mound of sugar, she crossed her arms. “What’s the problem? I do that every year we come here and you always take a picture. It’s a tradition.”
“It was funny when you were twenty-one. Now it’s not,” he said, adjusting his tie.
The man was wearing a suit at an amusement park. He looked like he was conducting an inspection. She, however, was wearing shorts and a tank top. She blended here. Why in the world had Todd suggested meeting here for lunch? It was so far from his office. Normally, he didn’t have time to see her during the workday. And when he did, it was always at some place where she felt like her bushy blond waves should be pulled into a tidy little bun.
“Why did you invite me here?” she asked, nibbling a tuft of cotton candy. “Because it seems like you hate this place now.” Which was sad, because this is where they’d met four years ago.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I do hate it here. But I know you love it.”
Surprised, she smiled. That wasn’t like him. With his law practice growing, Todd had been anything but thoughtful. Aurora had been doing her best to be patient with his long nights and short temper. But he hadn’t seemed to notice her discontent.
She offered him a bite of cotton candy. He shook his head.
Ungrateful jerk.
Sure he was handsome and successful, but she’d been mistaken about Todd. When she first met him, he’d looked so much like her friend Jordan, that she’d instantly felt a connection with him. But their similarities ended at strong cheekbones and shocking blue eyes. Jordan had been her best friend when she was a kid. He was the one she was meant to be with. They’d made a pact when she was eleven—not with blood or anything, but they’d carved their intentions into a tree. Even more binding than a legal agreement at that age. But then she moved to New Royalton, and everything changed. She hadn’t talked to Jordan in years. She glanced at Todd. He might look like Jordan, but he definitely wasn’t as fun. Or sweet. And he probably couldn’t catch a frog to save his life.
“Let’s walk down Side Show Row,” she offered. “There are a few acts I want to see.”
He pressed his lips together, and she held back another giggle. She knew he loathed the sideshows. But she was always enthralled with the fire-eaters and the people who could bend their bodies into unimaginable positions. Jordan would’ve loved it, too.
She stood in front of the location where the princess with the world’s longest hair was supposed be. “Darn,” she said, reading a sign posted near the entrance. “Looks like the princess is gone, but her hair is still here. Huh. For five bucks, you can pose with a wig that’s made out of seven feet of human hair. You interested?”
“God, no.” Todd’s nostrils flared and he looked up at the sky. “Aurora, I didn’t meet you here for cotton candy or to see the freaks.”
“They’re not freaks,” Aurora corrected. “They’re intriguing people. And cotton candy is delectable. You’re depriving yourself.” What had happened to the nice, fun guy she’d started dating four years ago? The one who’d made her a birthday cake out of donuts and chocolate kisses? He was always so serious now. When was the last time he busted a gut laughing?
He was still frowning. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. We’ve got something important to talk about.”
Her heart sped up. He wasn’t going to propose, was he? Four years is a long time to date. Most people would say the timing was right for that life-changing question. She looked at his pockets to see if a square box was bulging out.
He tightened his lips into a thin line.
Geez, he should at least be smiling if he’s going to ask me. She gulped. A proposal? She didn’t want that. Not right now. Maybe not even with him. Hopefully, he was just going to talk to her again about wardrobe choices, and how elastic shouldn’t be part of hers.
But who was he to tell her what to wear? She always argued back that elastic-waist sweat pants were cheap, comfortable, and—most importantly for him—they came off quickly in the bedroom, since he was pressed for time these days. Yes, even for that. He always countered she should be showing off her fabulous figure, not hiding it with stretchy pants.
Her cotton candy was wilting in the humidity. Todd set his hand on her shoulder, then pulled it back, curling his fingers into a fist by his side. “Aurora, I asked you to come here so we could talk.”
She looked around nervously. Honestly, it was the perfect place for a proposal. But he wasn’t her perfect guy. Oh, God no. Don’t ask me to marry you! She sucked in a breath.
“I don’t want to go out with you anymore,” they both said at the same time.
She blinked and her mouth dropped. “You invited me here to dump me?”
“Well you just dumped me, too.”
She pointed her cotton candy at him. “But I just made up my mind to do it. Clearly. You’ve been thinking about it, and then you invited me here—my favorite place—to break up with me.”
He shrugged. “I thought it might hurt less since you love it here. But see, that’s part of the problem. You enjoy simple things, like Neverland Island. I guess I did once, too, but I’ve grown to like the finer things in life. Black-tie events, for example. You’re a dog walker, for crying out loud. I need someone who’s going to help promote my career, not walk my pet.”
“You told me you love dogs,” she said.
“I used to, I guess. When I was a kid. I certainly don’t have time for one now. I need someone who’s going to help me make a good impression. When we were at that party at Grimm Towers, all the other wives and girlfriends were making small talk and sharing shopping tips. That’s what wives and girlfriends are supposed to do. You snuck into the back room to cuddle the puppy.”
Aurora set her hand over her heart. “She was whimpering. The little pooch was lonely.”
“But Mrs. Midas thought you were snooping around her home. You could have cost me an important client. Do you know how many lawsuits she’s filed? She slips and falls all the time. Her cases paid for the down payment on my loft.”
Aurora wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like the Midas girls. They’re snotty. Except for Cindi. She’s nice. Talks about shoes too much, though…”
“Maybe you should try a pair of nice shoes instead of wearing sneakers all the time.”
“I’m a dog walker, Todd. Can’t lead a pack of hounds while wearing stilettos.” She lifted her foot. “And these are tennis flats, not sneakers. It was a smart choice for walking around a dusty amusement park.”
He sighed. “Oh, yeah. And all that walking. That whole ‘can’t ride in a car’ thing is insane.” He rolled his eyes.
“What’s the big deal? I can get everywhere I need to go by subway. And I explained to you when we first started dating that I promised my parents I wouldn’t ever ride in a car. They’re fanatical about it. We moved to New Royalton from Goose Valley just so we could use public transportation.”
Rubbing his temples, he shook his head. “And you grew up in a place called Goose Valley. A place with more Canadian Geese than people.”
“They’re called Canada Geese,” she said. “I’ve told you that several times and you say it wrong just to annoy me.”
He shook his head. “Staying out of cars—because of some crazy old aunt’s warning?”
“Her predictions have come true before. Great Aunt Tilly said Grandpa Jackson would die under a full moon, and that man was found facedown and buck-naked in his bed. Full moon indeed.” Aurora nodded and held up a finger. “And she said Grandma Jackson was going to lose her marbles—and she did! She sold her prized antique marble collection at a garage sale by mistake. It was worth thousands of dollars. Grandma Jackson was despondent.” She crossed her arms. “So excuse my parents for being a little nervous because the family soothsayer predicted my demise in a car
.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re not going to die in a car crash, Aurora. I can’t believe at this age you’d give that any credence. You’re twenty-four, but you still act like a child.”
Her cotton candy slipped from her hand. “I thought you loved my carefree nature. That’s what you said when you met me—right here on the midway, where you were having fun.” Her eyebrows rose. “Your hat was even on backward, remember? In a very jaunty, carefree fashion. Back when you wore baseball hats.”
He sighed. “People change, Aurora. And I’ve changed. But I don’t see you changing to keep up with me.”
“Well, that’s fine. Like I said, I don’t want to go out with you anymore.”
“Good. That’s settled.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a client meeting in half an hour. Lady literally tripped on a banana peel at the grocery store. Should be an easy one.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Good luck, Aurora.” He walked away.
After watching him leave—without looking back—she shook her head and picked up the cotton candy, now dirty from the ground. She tossed it into a nearby trashcan and wandered down Side Show Row back onto the midway. She wasn’t upset so much by the breakup as she was by his words. Was she too childlike for her age?
While trying to think of reasons he was wrong, she walked down all the rows of vendors and booths, not buying anything. She was intrigued by an adult candy shop, but figured she’d binge on naughty chocolate body parts and then have no choice but to wear elastic-waist pants forever. See? Wasn’t that adult not to go into the adult candy shop? She even walked right past the games—and she was really good at the ring toss. Five giant teddy bears hung in her bedroom.
She groaned. Maybe she was still like a child. Teddy bears at age twenty-four? Perhaps she should get rid of one or two. Those suckers could be scary at night when she woke from a bad dream. Her dreams were quite vivid.
She walked along, lost in thought, until she found herself in front of a fortuneteller’s tent. She shook her head and chuckled. Maybe it’s Great Aunt Tilly. But if ever she needed a glimpse into her future, now was the time. And maybe this psychic could reassure her that Great Aunt Tilly had been wrong.