by TC Rybicki
“No, but he tried.”
“And?”
“And, I leaned away from it with my hand on the pepper spray you gave me.”
“Good girl. That spoke volumes not as much as a squirt to the eyes, but I’m sure he won’t ask you for a third date.”
“They rarely do. What are you doing home so early if you’re not working?”
“Oh, you know just chilling.”
“Is Daisy stopping by soon?”
“Her name is Maisy, big difference and hell no. Once a week is enough of her. I have to function properly, or people die, and she’s an animal in the sack.”
“Enough. Say no more. I don’t want to know. I’m going for a shower before I scarf a few slices of nut butter toast and hit the hay. Thanks for checking up on me.”
“It’s my job.”
“You’re a weirdo.”
“Yeah, but I’m a weirdo that’s about to chow down on some veggie curry stir-fry and rice while you eat nut butter on that crappy cardboard sprout bread.”
“Jerk. Where’d you find good vegetarian Asian food? I thought you said you only liked the one from that Thai place close to me because it has tons of flavor.”
He laughed obnoxiously and then someone knocked on the door. Dutch used his key and let himself in before she could get to the door to find out what was happening. He was there the whole time they were talking.
She should be annoyed since he tricked her, but Willow was so happy to smell curry. She grabbed a bag to help. “Oh my God. I love you so much. I didn’t know you were visiting this weekend.”
“Hold on a second. Can I turn on my video while you repeat that you love me? I need that confession for safe keeping.”
“No way. I hate my voice on video, but you know I love you. And I love you best when you’re feeding me.”
“Slow down. First things first. Where’s Satan?” Dutch looked above and all around to make sure Felix wasn’t primed to take a swipe at him. For some reason, Willow’s two guys didn’t get along. It must be the primal jealousy thing males were born with. “He’s in the kitchen eating, so we’re safe to eat on the sectional.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. He didn’t scratch you once that last weekend you were here.”
“Wrong. I distinctively remember wearing a Band-aid.”
Dutch had a busy schedule, but he came to visit as often as he could. She wished they could see each other as much as the old days before college and jobs, but Willow would take whatever she could get. He had his so-called love life and his friends that needed attention. Most holidays were with his parents, so she got to see everyone at once just like growing up. Dutch’s parents still lived at the lake house and Willow’s old room hadn’t changed a bit.
They had a comfortable routine. She was thankful for almost daily phone calls and texting. It was a habit to always send him a prayerful message before each big case, and he always stalked her social media while she was on location for the blog. Their relationship worked. It was unconventional. They both had to explain themselves to people they dated more than once. Yes, they were each other’s special person, and of course, Willow’s last name was also Chadwyk, but they were never married. Most important, they weren’t brother and sister. The easiest explanation was it’s complicated. It really wasn’t, but people generally avoided prying after hearing that phrase. Dutch and Willow weren’t the least bit complicated in their eyes. Their relationship worked from the start and no matter what life brought that would never change.
Summer 1996
“We could take the boat out. I was going to visit Stevie, but we can row out and see if the fish are biting.”
Doug had talked this little girl’s ear off since she woke up. At first, he thought she was a kidnap victim or maybe an escaped mental patient. He and his friends had vivid imaginations. She spoke clear English, practically the same accent as him. That meant she was a local kid.
It turns out the girl told Doug her name was Willow (just Willow when he asked her last name) lived close by, somewhere deep in those woods. He and his buddies never explored far enough because of the snake scare. He could hardly believe sack-wearing people lived in those woods so close to his own house. His father wasn’t a millionaire or at least he didn’t think so, but they had a nice house and lakefront property. He wondered how stuff like that went on and they never knew. Doug’s life had been so average until that moment he met the woods’ girl.
She claimed someone was mean to her and her parents wouldn’t do anything about it, so she told them she was taking a long walk. They didn’t even try to stop her. Her mother just said, “Okay, if that’s what you’re feeling today.”
Momma would’ve thrown a fit about such a statement. Doug would never walk off if he was in a disagreement with his parents. That wasn’t allowed, but this kid, who was two years younger, had been wandering the forest and no one was looking for her. For a few minutes, he wondered if he should tell his mom, but his sense of adventure led him in another direction.
He had more questions for Willow. She got in the boat with him, but he could tell she was a little apprehensive about it as soon as he pushed off. “There’s a life jacket under the seat if you’re not a good swimmer.”
“I’ve never been in the deep water. Is it deep? And no, I don’t swim at all.”
“Yeah, in the middle it is. I reckon it’s twenty feet or more.”
Willow didn’t have a clue how to use a lifejacket, so Doug had to stop rowing to help her out. He sure as heck didn’t want her to fall out and drown in front of him. That would’ve ruined the rest of the summer, for sure.
“You promise you’re ten because my little brother’s seven and you’re not much bigger than him.”
“Yes, I’m really ten. Why would I lie?”
“Not sure. What about your shirt or is that a dress?”
She shrugged. “It’s all I ever wear.”
Doug found a spot where the fish were normally biting. He stopped rowing and dug around under his feet for some gear.
Willow wanted to know what he was doing.
“I’m going to catch a fish.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m good at it. That’s why.”
“How?”
He put his finger over his lips to shush her. Everyone knew fish didn’t like noise. She barely spoke earlier when he had all the questions. Of course, afternoons weren’t exactly the best for fishing, so Doug needed to be patient. Willow looked bored from the other side of the boat. He kept his line in the water, but his eyes stayed on her. Deep down, he was a little nervous having her out on the lake even if she was in a lifejacket. What did he know about this girl? Not much, and something was fishy about her. Fishy stranger while fishing. He hoped he didn’t get in trouble. He had an idea he was breaking a rule, but he didn’t know which one.
She was a squirt, for sure. Willow had more hair than body. It was so thick and wavy, and it went all the way down her back. No girl at his school had hair that long. She had fair skin and a few light freckles across her nose and cheeks. It was obvious she was outside a lot because she wasn’t a ghost. Still, his summer tan was way darker. Momma had some Creole on her side and Dad’s mother was half-Italian, so he browned up nicely. He was the darkest in the family with his black hair, brown eyes and toasty tanned skin. One of his aunts told him once he’d be the lady killer. Doug didn’t want to kill ladies, but he’d recently figured out that meant something different.
“You ever cut that hair?”
“Nope. I think Rain did once, but I don’t remember.”
“Who’s Rain?”
“My mother.”
“Oh. You call her by her first name?”
“She insists, says labels aren’t authentic. I don’t know what that means though.”
Neither did Doug, but he figured Willow’s Momma might be a nut. What if the apple didn’t fall far from the tree?
“Let me get this straight. You call yo
ur Momma Rain and you’re just Willow. What’s your father’s name?”
“He goes by Stone.”
“Goes by? You mean that’s not his real name?”
Willow shrugged again.
“Hey, where do you go to school?”
“No place.”
“No shit? Lucky.”
For the first time, Willow laughed. She couldn’t stop laughing at Doug’s swear word and then he got just as tickled. They both cracked up and damn if he didn’t catch a fish at that exact time when they weren’t being the least bit quiet.
He reeled in his catch. It was decent, but he didn’t have a cooler and he was pretty sure he wouldn’t catch another. There was no sense in keeping one fish. Willow looked worried over the hook in the fish’s mouth.
“Oh, no. He’s bleeding! Why’d you do that?”
“Because that’s what fishing is.” Now Doug was rethinking his thoughts on no school. This girl was clueless about life.
“Stop! He’s hurting. What are you going to do with him?”
“Hold your horses. I’m going to let it go today.”
“Will he live?”
“Of course, he will.” Doug unhooked the fish and tossed it back into the water. “Bye. Go home, eat lots of worms and get bigger for the next time I catch you.”
“Why’d you say that?”
“Because next time, I’m keeping him. Duh.”
“For a pet? I’ve always wanted a pet. I fed a cat once, but she disappeared. I miss her.”
“No, and yuck. Cats are the worst. She probably got eaten by a bear or something. Dogs are way better. I have one.”
“You do? Can I meet her?”
“Sure. Let’s get back to shore and to answer your dumb question, I don’t want a fish out of the lake for a pet. I eat ’em.”
“Gross. That’s disgusting.”
“Seriously, you’ve never had fried fish? It’s the best, especially fresh out of the lake.”
“I don’t eat meat. My family doesn’t believe in murder.”
“That’s a load of crap. What do you eat?”
“Whatever we can grow.”
“No wonder you’re such a pipsqueak. It’s not murder. The good Lord gave us animals for food.”
“Oh yeah, would you eat your dog?”
“Hell no! That’s disgusting. She’s my pet.”
“So, how do you know what’s a pet and what’s food?”
“You’re weird.”
“Well, you’re mean... and a murderer.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted the rest of the way back. Doug didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, but seriously this was the weirdest kid he’d ever met.
“Oh, crap.”
Willow turned around to see what the matter was. His father never came home early, but there he was in broad daylight with his hand shielding the sun from his eyes, so he could see Doug coming across the lake.
“Who’s that?”
“My dad.”
“Oh. Is that bad? You look scared.”
“Do not, but I think it might be bad. Look, you’re going to have to get your story straight. No one truly lives in the woods, doesn’t go to school and doesn’t have a last name. Stop pretending and tell my parents the truth, ‘kay or they’re liable to call the cops or something.”
“I never lie.”
“Everybody has a last name. It’s the law. I have three names.”
“That’s a lot. Well, I’m just Willow and that’s all I’ve ever been. Our teacher says one name is all we need.
“Teacher? You said you don’t go to school. Does he have a name?”
“JC is a leader, a teacher, a provider- kind of like, everyone’s father.”
“JC, just initials, huh? Oh jeez. Dad looks pissed. Look, I need you to think harder. He’s going to ask your parents’ names and he wants all of them. What about your birth certificate? Mine clearly says Douglas Uliss Chadwyk.”
“I don’t know what a birth certi... whatever you said, but that’s a funny name. Too many names.”
“A little respect, please. It’s my great-grandfather’s name, and I beat up a kid up in third grade for teasing me about my middle name, Uliss. Don’t worry, I won’t hit a girl, but that’s my name and I’m proud of it.”
“Dutch.”
“Huh?”
“Your names remind me of Dutch where the windmills are. Get it.”
“Are you sure you’ve never been to school?”
“No, I haven’t, but I still learn. That’s why I’m here.”
“Come again.”
“I like to read, especially books about faraway places. We have some books and the other kids laughed at me for pretending I’m going to take a thousand trips one day. Even Rain laughed. That’s why I got mad. Well, and some other reasons.”
“What other reasons?”
“A boy tried to look under my dress and I hit him. Rain was so angry.”
“She should be. That’s not cool. I’d get my butt whooped for such a thing.”
“No, she was angry at me not River, the boy. Violence is a crime against our souls. She said boys are curious and I shouldn’t be ashamed of my body. Some people in our group don’t even wear clothes all the time. Our body is our temple not evil, but I don’t want River to look at me.”
Doug didn’t know what to say about that, but he should tell his parents. That was something that had been drilled into him since birth. If someone makes you uncomfortable, tell a trusted adult. Willow was uncomfortable, and her mother didn’t even care.
His father came over to help pull in the boat. “Well, hello there, young lady. I don’t think I’ve seen you before. I’m Douglas’s father, Mr. Chadwyk. Did your parents know you were going out on the lake?”
Willow shook her head.
Dad gave Doug a ‘you’re in deep shit’ look, but he kept a pleasant tone for Willow. “Hey, what’s your name?”
“Willow.”
“Nice, never met a Willow. Listen, my wife’s inside making some lemonade. She might have some cookies, too. Why don’t you go up the steps and let yourself in the deck door? She’ll be happy to meet you. I need to speak to my son first and then we’ll be up in a bit.”
Doug nodded to her.
Willow kept turning around to look back at him, but when she was out of listening distance, Dad unloaded. “Boy, have you lost your mind? Why would you take a little girl out on the lake? That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. I’ve taught you better than that. I know all the guys’ parents and that they have permission, but a small child? I don’t even let you take your brother alone. I’m liable to ground you from the lake until after vacation for this stunt.”
Doug didn’t know what to say, so he blurted out something stupid. “You’re home early.”
“That’s all you have to say for yourself. I closed an important case this morning, so I came home for a celebration. I’m taking us out to dinner.”
“Oh great, congrats, Dad!”
“Douglas. Talk. Who is the little girl? Who does she belong to? And how did the two of you end up on the lake?”
Doug couldn’t hold it in another second. He spilled his guts about all the weird stuff Willow told him over the past hour after finding her sleeping in his boat. His father nodded quite a bit and his angry face transformed into his concerned face. He patted Doug on the back when they headed back inside.
“I wish you would have gotten your mother first, but you did a good thing, I guess. I’m glad she ended up here instead of someplace else. Poor little thing. Worse things could have happened to her alone in the woods and so close to the water when she can’t even swim. Smart decision, making her wear the life jacket.”
They got inside. Tanner and Willow were sitting at the bar eating. Willow was tiny, but she was stuffing her face with cookies and fruit. She must have been starving.
His mom looked like she might burst into tears. Doug’s parents walked off to the side to talk.
&nbs
p; “Take it easy, Wills. When’s the last time you ate?”
“This morning, but it sure didn’t taste like this. Cookies are so good. I’ve never had one or this.” She held up a banana.
“You’ve never had a banana?”
“Nope. Guess they don’t grow in Georgia.”
“I reckon they don’t. But a word of caution- just eat one. Too many and you’ll have problems later in the bathroom.”
“Are you in trouble Dutch?”
“Naw.”
“Am I?”
“No, no way. My parents are just concerned. That’s what normal parents do. They get concerned about stuff. I see you met the twerp.”
Tanner stuck his cookie-coated tongue out at Doug.
“Oh yes, Tanner’s cute. We’re new friends.”
“Well, don’t get too close. The little faker said he was sick earlier, and I wouldn’t want you to catch something.”
Doug casually backed his way closer to where his parents were having a discussion.
“Hippies? In our woods? Why didn’t you tell me if you knew?”
“I heard about a group; I didn’t think it was a big deal. Never heard of them causing trouble.”
“Of course, it’s a big deal, they’re a short walk away, obviously. Oh my God! What if it’s like Manson’s cult?”
“Good Lord, Dawn. No one has ever had trouble with these people or died because of them.”
“Look at her, Walt. She’s filthy and her clothes are hardly proper. She doesn’t even have underwear.”
“How do you know?”
“I asked. That’s how. What if they’re abusing her?”
“I can make a call, but I’m pretty sure the sheriff knows about the commune. They aren’t breaking any laws, or they would have been asked to leave a long time ago.”
“What about private property?”
“That area must not be private, and they can claim religious freedom about the rest. If they’re not trespassing and there’s no proof, they’re endangering the kids, there’s nothing we can do. I need to take Willow back.”
“No. I think we should call the police. Her mother told her to leave or do whatever she wants. How is that not child endangerment?”
“It’s not up to us, but if I get the police involved tonight, foster care will take her to investigate and scare her half to death. They’ll eventually take her back to the commune. I’m familiar with a few cases like this. I mean, if she tells us she’s being abused or sees it, I’ll change my mind.”