Freedom

by Mary Crawford

  “I used to like my normal. Now, even work isn’t enough to keep my mind off of things. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve got three days off. I'll be climbing the walls before long.”

  I stick my hand in my pocket and clutch my golf ball as I gather my thoughts. “Do you think Mitch will allow us to borrow the truck tomorrow?”

  “Which one, his personal truck or the work truck?”

  “Does one of them have a tow package?”

  “His personal truck does. Why?”

  “I think it’s time for us to schedule some fun.”

  “Sounds like a plan. What are we going to do?”

  “I’m going to keep that a secret. It’s about time you anticipated something good for a change.”

  “I’m not sure I like that part of the plan,” Zoe says as she takes a drink of the soda sitting on the table.

  “Are you going to be okay? I need to go make some phone calls. After I’m done, we’ll watch a movie or something. You can choose.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. The last time I chose our movie, you flinched every time there was a kissing scene.”

  I turned her around in my arms and brush a light kiss across her lips. “I have a feeling I would do better this time because I decided I like kissing.”

  Zoe pulls my head back down toward hers. She kisses me thoroughly and then cuddles against my chest for a moment. “You know what? I like kissing too. That’s a pretty big admission for me to make since before we met I had completely sworn off guys for the rest of my life.”

  I clear my throat nervously before I hit the connect button. Tristan prefers to do videoconferencing rather than speaking over the phone. So I prop my phone up between two books I’ve been reading.

  “Hey, Phoenix! I see you’re still at Hope’s Haven. I’ve been in that room. How are things going?”

  “Well, Mr. Macklin, that’s what I called to talk about.”

  “How many times I told you to call me Tristan?”

  “A bunch, but it still feels awkward.”

  “Okay, call me whatever makes you feel comfortable. So, I hope you’re not calling me to tell me that you’re not going to go to Oregon.”

  I cringe because if I’m honest with myself and Tristan, I am not sure if I'll end up in Oregon. But he doesn't need to know about that right now.

  “I don’t know how to do this without just flat out asking you. Zoe has had a tough time with this trial. Who am I kidding? It’s been awful for all of us.”

  “I’d be shocked if it was a pleasant experience. Trials rarely are.”

  “True enough. But, this one has been an especially tough one because it has torn her family apart. She’s feeling trapped and helpless.”

  “That’s too bad. Zoe is a great person. What can I do to help?”

  “That’s the reason I called. I remember a while ago you let one of the guys borrow your ATVs for his graduation party. Could I borrow them too?”

  “It depends. Are you planning to take them all the way to Oregon?”

  The expression on Tristan’s face makes me laugh. “No! I was just going to plan a trip to the Ocala National Forest. They have some trails there. I thought maybe Zoe would enjoy being in control of something for a change. Besides, getting away from town seems like a really good idea.”

  “The trails there are great. Rogue and I have been several times. Sure, when do you need them?”

  “I thought we would leave in the morning. Is it all right with you if she wants to stay overnight?”

  “Not a problem. It sounds like you both could use a true vacation.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “I know you have a lot on your mind right now, so this conversation can wait. Eventually, we will have to talk about Identity Bank West and whether you plan to work there.”

  “I understand, but I don’t think I can leave Zoe while she's still waiting for a verdict in her brother’s trial.”

  “You’re one of the good guys. I appreciate you watching out for Zoe. I’ll pick up the ATVs from Isaac and Rosa. The trailer will be parked in the driveway beside my house. Do you need to borrow a truck too?”

  I have to swallow hard before I answer. I didn’t expect to get a complement. Even though I should know better, I’m always surprised at Tristan’s generosity. “No, I think Zoe is going to borrow Mitch’s truck. But I’ll let you know if that changes.”

  “Good enough. Have a great time,” he answers before he hangs up.

  I let out the breath I’ve been holding. That conversation was easier than I expected. Hopefully, it’s a good omen for what is coming tomorrow.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  ZOE

  A FLOORBOARD CREAKS AS I tiptoe through Mitch and Jessica’s house. I cringe. The last thing I want to do is wake up the baby. When they discovered my parents were giving me grief about my apartment, they offered me their mother-in-law apartment. It’s tiny, but it has everything I need.

  It is hard not to resent all my family has taken away from me. I haven’t even shown Phoenix the eviction papers I found when I went over to check my mail. He doesn’t need one more thing to stress about. I don’t want him to treat me as just an annoying responsibility.

  Even though the sun is barely up, I walk over to Hope’s Haven to feed the dogs. Devon says he doesn’t mind working on my days off, but I hate to leave him with things undone. Besides, keeping busy helps keep my mind from wandering places it shouldn’t.

  One of the Newfoundland pups we recently took in is so excited to see me, he knocks a bowl of food out of my hands and it crashes to the cement floor.

  Phoenix races around the corner wearing only board shorts. “Are you okay?” He asks me as he inspects me for signs of trauma. It appears he thinks I’ve been attacked.

  Before I reach for the broom, I stop to give Phoenix a reassuring hug. “I’m fine. I just had an enthusiastic customer this morning. We made a bit of a mess. I’m sorry we woke you up.”

  When the scattered dog food finally catches Phoenix’s eye, he chuckles. “It looks like Smoke here is going to clean it up before you can get to it. He is like an enormous vacuum cleaner.”

  “It seems so,” I answer as I watch Smoke stretch to reach every last kibble.

  Phoenix looks down at himself as he holds his hand over his chest. “I guess I should go get dressed. I’m awake now! My heart is beating a million miles an hour.”

  “I didn’t plan it this way, I swear. Still, I can’t say I’m sad that we’re getting an early start today. I’m curious about where you are planning for us to go.”

  Phoenix’s stomach growls as he says, “I’m still not going to tell you. But, I guess we'll start with breakfast wherever we end up.”

  “You want cereal?” I ask.

  Phoenix shakes his head. “I’m feeling adventurous today. Let’s go out to eat.”

  I give Phoenix a high-five when we get back in Mitch’s truck. “I wonder what your mom would say if she knew you tried a few bites of my eggs Benedict. That’s a lot of food intermingled. You were incredible!”

  “Thank you. I surprised myself. But it looked so good. I couldn’t resist.”

  “So, what do you think?”

  “The texture thing was a little hard, but it was delicious.”

  “It was fantastic. Do you think you’ll ever order it again?”

  Phoenix sighs. “Honestly, I don’t know. Some days I cope with things better than others. Today is a great day, probably because you’re here with me. I don’t know if I would’ve been brave enough if I'd been alone. You notice I tend to eat the same thing over and over.”

  “Why? Is it because you don’t like other foods?” I ask.

  “I guess I just like to know what to expect. But, today showed me I may be missing out on a bunch of phenomenal food.”

  “Is there anything you would like to try?”

  “You’re going to think this is totally stupid. When I was a kid, I went to this birthday party. The kid had
a giant ice cream sundae. All the kids—except me—helped him eat it. Everyone was having such a great time. But … I just couldn’t bring myself to touch it. There was ice cream, whipped cream, all sorts of sauces and bananas mixed together. I wanted to join in the fun, yet I just couldn’t. That’s when I started figuring out that something was very different about me. I didn’t know what to do. So, I pretended I had a stomach ache and asked Brock’s mom if she would call my parents and have them pick me up. I was so angry at myself for not being like a normal kid.”

  I can’t help myself. I reach out and stroke my hand down his arm. Much to his credit, he doesn’t flinch anymore when I touch him. I guess he trusts me now. “I’m so sorry. It makes me sad for the kid you once were.”

  Phoenix shrugs. “It’s all right. I survived. But, it took me years to summon the courage to attend another party. I guess that’s why I got so good at figuring out computers. I had nothing else to do.”

  “It was like that with me too. When I was in junior high, Harry Potter books and Twilight were popular. A lot of my friends loved reading them. Since I can’t read well, I felt excluded. It was just easier for me to get along with animals. Lucky for me, I found a vet who was willing to allow me to shadow his veterinary technician. It was as if I’d found my calling.”

  “Did you decide not to become a vet tech?”

  I slump back against the truck seat. “I really wanted to but my parents didn’t think it would be a good idea for someone of my social standing to do such a menial job.”

  “Why? Taking care of animals is not menial!” Phoenix exclaims.

  “Oh, I know. There’s nothing like the feeling when you’re able to save an animal. Unfortunately, my parents feel like they have the right to tell me how to live my life if I accept money from them. Besides, I don’t know if I’d be able to handle college. From what I understand, you’re expected to read there.”

  “There are things you can use to help with dyslexia,” he suggests.

  “I suppose. My life went in a different direction than all of my friends. I began working at a pet store. Jessica came in to buy supplies. She told me what she and Mitch were doing at Hope’s Haven. I asked to volunteer. They liked my work so much they offered me a job.” I sigh. “No, that’s not giving them enough credit. These days, they’re providing almost everything for me because of my parents.”

  “I’m glad you found someone to believe in you. It’s wrong of your parents to withhold money just because they don’t agree with what you major.”

  I reach out and squeeze his hand. “I’m glad you think so too — but it doesn’t change what they’re doing. So, I’ll just have to figure out a way to cope.”

  “I guess I was lucky. Despite what you saw the last time we went to my parent’s house, for the most part, they’ve been supportive of whatever I wanted to do.”

  “It’s okay. I’d like to think your parents were under stress. Maybe the next time will be better.” I look out the window and notice where we’re at. “Oh my gosh! You didn’t tell me we were coming to see Tristan.”

  “We won't be here too long. I just came by to pick up a trailer for our activities today. Tristan’s like the best boss ever.”

  I nod. “I’m sure he is. He’s probably one of the nicest people I know. There’s a reason he’s friends with Mitch and Jessica.”

  Phoenix drives the truck around Tristan’s circular drive. I hop out. “I’m gonna go see if Rogue has any coffee,” I commented as I hold up my thermal bottle.

  “Go ahead, it’ll take Mitch and I a bit to hook this up.”

  Just as I am about to step onto their porch, my phone rings. I don’t even look down at my phone before I answer it. “Hi … You’ve reached Zoe,” I answer

  “Zoe, I just want to give you a heads-up about something,” Tori Clarksfield replies before I say anything more.

  “Oh, please don’t tell me we’re going to have to wait even longer for the verdict.”

  Tori clears her throat. “I’m afraid that’s exactly what I’m calling to say. Somehow, your brother has escaped from his guards. I don’t really know all the details because I just got the news today.”

  “What do you mean he escaped? When I saw him in court, he had handcuffs and leg shackles on.”

  Tori made a humming sound in agreement. “They should have been taking those precautions. Yet somehow he still is on the run.”

  I let out a loud groan of frustration before I respond, “I bet he bribed somebody. He used to bribe his classmates and the staff during high school to cover for him so he didn’t get in trouble. As the little sister, I heard all about it.”

  “I don’t know. Like I said, I wasn't officially briefed or anything. I got a call from the bailiff. Since Vincent’s been threatening you, I wanted to let you know as quickly as possible.”

  “Now what do I do?” I ask, tears coloring my voice.

  “Now, it’s the ultimate game of hide and seek,” she responds.

  “What do I do in the meantime?”

  “Obviously, the trial has been put in recess for the time being. The only person who still needs to testify is the defense expert. If I were you, I would think about leaving town. I know it would be cathartic for you to see the verdict, but I’ve seen the psychological evaluations of your brother. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near me. By the way, that’s my personal opinion, not my professional opinion,” she adds with a dry chuckle.

  My hands are shaking as I reply. “Okay, I have to figure out what to do. I’ll let you know if I leave town.” After a few beats, I moan, “What am I going to do? I’ve got a job to worry about.”

  “Perhaps your employer will be sympathetic to your exigent circumstances. This wasn’t something we could predict. With any luck, your brother will be quickly found and new charges will be added.”

  “I hope so too,” I whisper as I tearfully hang up the phone.

  My knees are shaking so much I have to sit on the front stoop to avoid falling. I stick my phone in my pocket and bury my head in my hands as I start to sob. Phoenix and Tristan must have heard me because they are running toward me at a dead sprint.

  Phoenix comes skidding to a stop right in front of me. He reaches down to grab my hand and pulls me up toward him. When I’m standing, he studies me for a moment before he asks, “Zoe, what happened?”

  “It’s my brother,” I wheeze between sobs.

  “What about your brother? Don’t tell me those high-powered lawyers of his got him off! Weren’t they supposed to call you before the verdict?”

  I shake my head. “It’s not that. It’s worse. He disappeared!”

  Tristan’s spine stiffens. “What do you mean — disappeared?”

  “I don’t know anything. The prosecutor isn’t sure either. It seems like somehow he escaped from the guards. No one knows where he’s at,” I say as I choke back a sob.

  “He must have had help,” Tristan asserts. “I’ve testified in that courtroom. It’s secure and their guards are top-notch.”

  “So, you’re telling me the man who threatened to burn you alive is free as a bird and no one knows where he is?” Phoenix asks me. His face is contorted with disbelief.

  I nod as more tears flow down my face. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s my every nightmare come to life. Only, it’s worse because this time the police can’t really help me.”

  Phoenix looks over at Tristan. I can tell his mind is working a million miles an hour as he contemplates my dilemma. “Let’s hurry up and get the trailer attached. I need to get Zoe out of town quickly.”

  Tristan lays a hand on Phoenix’s shoulder. “I think your instincts are good, but I’m not sure the Ocala National Forest is far enough away.” He pivots toward me. “Zoe, how do you feel about taking an impromptu vacation in Oregon?”

  I hold up my hands in a T symbol for timeout. “As much as I’d love that, I can’t leave Mitch and Jessica without notice. They are even more at risk with Vincent being on the lo
ose.”

  Phoenix addresses Tristan. “You are the security expert here, I just fix games. But, can’t you beef up your presence at Hope’s Haven?”

  Tristan nods. “Consider it done. If Jessica and Mitch need help, I can help cover the cost of temporary staff to cover for you while you’re gone.”

  “That’s so generous of you. I hate to put you out over what essentially is my own little family drama.” I respond.

  Tristan shrugs. “It’s what we do around here. Isaac and I have had to intercede in many family dramas and domestic violence situations. They are among the most volatile things we deal with. I don’t think we can overstate how important it is for you to stay vigilant and avoid contact with your brother.”

  Abruptly, I sink down to the steps as I think about the ramifications. “Okay, let’s just say for arguments sake, I decide that ditching everything I care about is the smartest strategy, how can we make it happen?”

  “I’m going to put the two of you on a plane and send you West. Phoenix was planning to go there anyway. I’m sure that Jameson will be flexible about his timing. Especially if I tell him what’s happening.”

  Phoenix turns a little grey. “This isn’t exactly how I planned for things to go. I thought I would have more time to gradually work myself up to the challenge of flying.”

  “I’m sorry. Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. But I am confident you’ll be able to adjust.”

  Phoenix breathes deeply causing his nostrils to flare. “I’m glad you have so much confidence in me, I just wish I could be as optimistic.”

  He looks so lost as he tries to save face in front of Tristan. My heart swells at his bravery. I know the only reason he’s doing this is because of me.

  I jump to my feet and place my arm around Phoenix’s waist. “I know you can do this. Besides, I’ll be right beside you every step of the way.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  PHOENIX

  I SLIDE FORWARD ON THE vinyl chair as I try to concentrate on the texts Zoe is sending. It’s pretty funny because she is sitting right next to me. If I wasn’t wearing noise canceling headphones, we would be able to have a normal conversation.