“I had him investigated,” I say to her.
Tina slowly turns her head. Her eyes are wide and filled with anger. “You had him investigated? Are you shitting me right now? I expected this from them,” she maliciously spews toward our parents. “But you. You’re supposed to be my best friend. You’re nothing but a traitor. All you’ve wanted to do from the start is tear us apart.”
“Tina, can’t you see? You and I were good, and we’ve been nothing but distant roomies. He’s doing this, filling your head with shit so he can separate you from us. Once he does that, he can do anything he wants.”
“He loves me!” she screams at me. “He. Loves. Me!” she yells louder.
“We love you, Tina,” Dad says as he steps forward to approach her.
“Don’t you dare touch me.”
Dad backs away from Tina, his hands up yielding to her hysteria. “Tina, you have to break it off with him, before this becomes dangerous.”
“Fuck off! You all don’t know what you’re talking about. He loves me, and I love him.”
“He’s messing with your brain. He’s a predator. He’s no good,” I say.
“Shut up! You’ve betrayed me. I don’t ever want to talk to you again.” She takes off up the stairs, all of us follow her. “Stay away,” she shouts over her shoulder at all three of us.
“Tina, we love you, and want to make sure you’re safe,” Dad says, charging ahead of us.
Tina gets to the top of stairs, and before she goes into her room turns to face us. “I hate each and every one of you! Get out of my life!” she screams and runs into her room, slamming the door.
“She’s angry and hurt. She doesn’t mean it,” Dad says.
I can’t help but burst into tears. My best friend just told me she hates me.
“Tina!” I bash on her door, demanding she let me in.
“Go away,” she yells back.
“Tina, honey, we need to talk,” Mom says. We’re all trying.
Tina doesn’t respond. “Tina!” I say again.
Suddenly the door swings open, and Tina’s there with a bag on her shoulder, carrying a pair of shoes in her hands. “You can all go to hell,” she shouts. “I’m moving out.” She flails her hand out aggressively, pushing us out of her way. “Don’t bother trying to call me, because I won’t answer.”
“Tina, please don’t go. We can talk about this,” I beg.
She swings around, enraged. Her jaw is tight, and her lips are pursed shut. “He said you’d all try to split us up. I told him he was crazy, but obviously not. Because you all have come up with some imaginary bullshit. But the worst thing, is you betrayed me. I’ll never forgive you for that, Molly. You’re dead to me.”
“Tina, I forbid you to leave,” Dad says.
Tina laughs bitterly. “Forbid me? You forbid me? You’re not even my real dad.”
Dad stumbles backward a step, and his hand flies up to his chest. Mom gasps, and bursts into tears.
“Tina, don’t do this,” I plead. “It’s not too late. Please. He’s not a good guy. His parents aren’t good people.”
“Don’t tell me, you’ve investigated them too.”
“What do we have to do to prove to you, Preston is trouble? He’s not a good person. He doesn’t have your best interest at heart,” Mom says.
“And you do? Like him.” She flicks her head to Dad. “You’re not even my mother. You have no say in what I do. I’m old enough to leave, and guess what, I’m out of this hell hole.” She flees down the stairs eager to go to Preston.
Mom chases after her, refusing to give up. I have tears streaming down my cheeks, but I refuse to let her go like this. Dad is hot on our heels, running like his life depends on it. “We won’t give up on you, Tina. We’ll fight with everything we have to get you back,” he shouts to her retreating back.
She sticks up her middle finger, and runs out the front door to her car. She throws everything in the back, gets in, and takes off so fast she nearly hits the gate before it fully opens.
Mom, Dad, and I stand at the door. Mom and I are crying so hard our chests are heaving. Dad’s face says it all. He’s heartbroken. Tears well in his eyes. He grabs onto Mom and me, and brings us in for a tight embrace. I hear his muffled cries as he holds us.
It takes many moments of us embracing, before Mom breaks away to head back inside. Once there, we sit at the dining table. “What are we going to do?” I ask.
“I’m going to the police,” Dad says.
“I’m coming with you,” Mom says. “Stay here, Molly in case she comes back. We’ll go to the police department. See what our options are.”
“Okay.” I watch as Mom and Dad, holding hands, leave the house. It’s dark and a ridiculous hour of the night. But we can’t let her leave without fighting for her. I pick my phone up, and dial her number. It rings out. I dial again. It rings out. I dial for a third time, and it goes straight to voicemail.
I hate this feeling of being powerless to help. But most of all, I hate knowing Tina is on her way to Preston’s, where he’ll probably beat her. No one deserves that.
I dial Dylan’s number. I know it’s late, but I have to hear his voice. “Sweetheart, everything okay?” he asks in a sleepy voice.
I burst into tears. “She’s left. She’s gone to him.”
“Oh shit. I’m sorry. I’m coming over.”
“No, don’t. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you,” I say through the heavy tears.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Where are your parents?”
“They’ve gone to the police to see what they can do.” Zhen pushes his nose into my free hand to let me know he’s close.
“Ugh,” he grumbles. “I don’t think they can do anything. She’s gone freely.”
“He’s going to hurt her, Dylan. I can’t let that happen.”
“I know.” I hear the ding of the elevator. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay, thank you,” I say before I hang up. Zhen’s by my side. He’s staying so close to me, aware I’m upset. “What are we going to do, boy?” I ask Zhen as I sit on the floor and hug him. I stay there, hugging Zhen until I hear Dylan’s car come up the driveway. He knocks, and I yell, “It’s open.”
He walks in, and sees me sitting on the floor, a trembling mess, hugging Zhen. “Come here,” he says and scoops me up. Zhen follows as Dylan takes me into the living room, and places me on his lap. He cradles me tight, gently running his hand down my back.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“I know you are.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Let me take care of you, Molly. Let me help.” His offer isn’t hollow. I know Dylan wants to be here, and wants to be a huge part of my life. I love how passionate he is when he’s around me. It’s like I’m the only thing that matters to him.
“I feel like a part of me is gone.”
“You and Tina have always had such an intense bond, it’s natural to feel empty. Now we wait for your parents to return, and strategize how to deal with this. Okay?” He tilts my chin up with his finger, and kisses me softly.
“Okay,” I say.
He wipes away my tears with his thumbs and kisses my cheeks before bringing me in close to his body. I lay my head on his shoulder, and try not to think about what could be happening.
Before I know it, my eyes are drifting closed, and I fall into an uneasy sleep.
“Molly.” I feel a kiss before I even open my eyes. “Wake up, sweetheart. Your parents are back.”
I startle awake, and jump off Dylan’s lap. “I’m sorry,” I automatically say, not entirely sure what I’m sorry for. “What happened?” I ask Mom and Dad.
Mom sits in the arm chair, and Dad sits on the arm of it. “I’m afraid it’s not good news,” Mom starts. “The police are going to go and talk to her, make sure she wasn’t extorted or threatened into going, but she’s of legal age. They said she has a right to exercise her free will. When we told the police off
icer about his past, they said until something happens, they can’t do anything. If he broke the restraining order, then they could step in.”
“Did you ask if you could put a restraining order on him on Tina’s behalf?” I ask.
“If she was a minor, we could. But we can’t,” Dad replies.
My stomach knots as I pace back and forth. “So that’s it? We can’t do anything? We just have to wait until he puts her in the hospital before we do something?” I yell, too wound up and upset to be able to talk in a reasonable manner.
“We’ll get her back, Molly. We have to,” Mom says.
“Do you think she meant what she said?” I ask.
“I think she was angry, upset, and most likely manipulated. And I also think, once she calms down, she’ll see that we only did what we did because we care,” Dad says.
“Unless that thing gets in her head,” Mom says.
“I’ll ask Gemma to dig up as much as we can about him,” Dylan says.
Mom and Dad both give him a small smile. But none of this matters if he ends up hurting Tina.
“I think I’m going to go for a shower, and go to bed. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sleep or not, but my head’s a mess,” I say.
“I’ve got work, so I should head off,” Dylan says.
“Mom, can Dylan stay, please?” I beg. I haven’t even asked Dylan if he can stay, but I need him close.
“No, that’s not a good idea,” Dylan replies. I look to him, hurt he’d want to dismiss me so quickly.
“Good night. Thank you for your help, Dylan.” Dad shakes Dylan’s hand before heading up to bed.
“Thank you for being here for Molly.” Mom gives Dylan a kiss on the cheek and follows Dad.
“You don’t want to stay?” I ask.
Dylan links our fingers together and leads us out to the foyer. “Tonight isn’t the time or place for me to stay. Your family is going through a lot, and to have me staying, especially considering you didn’t clear it with your parents first isn’t right. I know you’re emotional, and I’d love to stay so I can protect and comfort you, but this isn’t how it should be done.”
He’s right. Springing something like this on my parents isn’t the most appropriate thing right now. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this.”
“It means a lot to me to know that when you need me, you’ll call me.”
“Thank you.” I reach up and give him a kiss.
“Good night.” He kisses my nose, opens the front door, and walks to his car.
I watch as he drives away. My heart is completely shattered by tonight’s events with Tina. But also full, because Dylan was so wonderful and supportive.
I think I’m falling for him.
Clutching my boarding pass in my hand, I nervously look toward Dylan.
“Are you okay?” he asks. I nod, and smile weakly. “You have flown before, right?”
“Yeah, to go on vacation with my family.” I think about Tina and where she is. Sadness overtakes my nervousness about flying, and I feel like someone’s ripped my heart out of my chest, stomped on it, and left it to rot.
“This way to the Delta Sky Club,” Dylan says as he guides me along the wide corridor.
We get into the Sky Club, and I instantly relax against one of the beautiful leather chairs. I look out the window, watching as planes taxi on the runway. “This is relaxing,” I say as I watch.
“What is?”
“Watching the planes fly in. Then watching them go out, and wait their turn to take off and go. It’s almost like a well-rehearsed ballet. It’s calming.”
“Tell me what’s happening with Tina.”
I feel my eyes water, but I hold it together. “She hasn’t spoken to any of us. But we keep persisting. It’s been eight days since she left, and I feel like a part of me is missing. I wish she’d come back.”
“As long as he…”
My phone rings, and I look down at the screen. “It’s Tina,” I say. “I have to take it.”
“Go ahead.”
“Hello?” I answer the phone, too excited to hear from her. Please, tell me he hasn’t hurt you.
“If you people don’t back off, I’m getting a restraining order against you and your parents,” she says in an eerily flat voice.
“Tina, we can talk about this. We just want you safe. Please, come home.”
“I’m warning you, Molly. This is your only chance. Back off or you’ll regret it.” She hangs up.
I look at my phone, and see the call’s been dropped. I instantly call her back, and it goes to voicemail. “Shit,” I groan.
“What happened?” Dylan asks.
“Hang on.” I hold a finger up, and call Mom. She picks up immediately. “Mom.”
“I thought you’d be on the plane by now.”
“Not yet. But Tina just called me.”
“Did she? Is she okay? Does she need anything?” Mom sounds frantic.
“Mom, she threatened us.”
“What? Wh-wh-what do you mean?”
“She said we have to back off or she’ll get a restraining order against all of us.”
Dylan’s face drops. It’s obvious he’s hurting for me. For how Tina is treating us.
“Molly, I’m so sorry she called and said that to you. Look, your Dad, and I have it under control. You have a nice night with Dylan, and we’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Hanging up, I stare at my phone. I can feel Dylan’s eyes boring onto me. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he says. “This is a terrible time for you.” He takes a deep breath. “But I promise to try and make today as fun as possible. When we land, I’ve got to go to the office, but I should be finished by about four. I have dinner planned for us.”
“You do?” I ask. I’m happily surprised. Dylan has a way of making me feel something other than the sadness I feel for Tina.
“I do.”
“Oh.” Now I’m worried. “Do I need to go and buy anything to wear?”
“No. Like I said, I’ve organized it.” He smiles cheekily. “I should be back at the hotel by no later than four-thirty, then we’ll head out for dinner about six. Oh, I need you at the hotel by three-thirty.”
“What? Why? I thought I was going to the Smithsonian.”
“You are.” He looks at his watch. The light reflects off the solid silver band. The black face and silver hands catch my attention. I can’t help but stare at the beautiful watch. “We’ll be landing by seven-thirty, and by the time we get the car and get to the hotel, it’ll be shortly before nine. Plenty of time for you to explore the Smithsonian.”
“Do you know how big that place is? Although I’ve never been, I know plenty of people who have. And one day isn’t enough.”
“How about I promise to bring you back. And we can do all the Smithsonian museums next time we’re in Washington.”
“Hmm.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Pinky promise, and I’ll make sure I’m back at the hotel by three-thirty.”
“Pinky promise it is.” He holds his pinky out.
“You know, you can’t break a pinky promise.”
“I have no intention of foolishly violating something so sacred,” he teases. He’s managed to get my mind off of Tina and her threats. We link pinkies together, and shake. “It’s time to board. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ignore you on the plane. I’ve still got a lot of work I need to get done.”
“Ignore away. I’ve got my Kindle fully stocked with books.”
They announce our plane’s boarding.
Standing, we head toward the gate. Absentmindedly I find I’m twirling Tina’s pendant between my finger. Although I’m worried about Tina, in this moment, I’m really happy with how Dylan and I are working out.
Opening the door to our hotel room, I walk in and collapse on the bed. The Smithsonian was interesting, but huge. I knew it was big, but I can’t believe how large it is. I can’t wait to ret
urn to see it at a more leisurely pace, and with Dylan.
I look at the alarm clock beside the bed, and sigh. I’m back with five minutes to spare. I promised Dylan I’d be back by three-thirty, and I am. My eyelids feel heavy. I think I could easily sleep right here, fully clothed and with my shoes still on, although the view of the Capitol building makes me want to stay awake to admire it.
There’s a knock on the door, and I don’t really want to answer it. But I do. In front of me is a lady in a hotel uniform. “Hello?”
“Hi. Miss Molly?” she asks.
“Ah, yeah.” I look beside her, and see she has a large suitcase folded flat.
“I’m Mandy. Mr. Dylan has asked that I come to give you a massage.”
Oh. “A massage?” This is exciting.
“Yes, ma’am. A full-body massage. May I enter and set up, please?” She’s courteous and softly spoken.
“Sure.” Stepping aside, I let her in.
“How are you liking your stay here in Washington?” she asks as she makes quick work of assembling a massage table.
“I was at one of the Smithsonian museums. It’s huge.”
“Which one did you visit?” She places a white sheet on the table.
“American History.”
“Oh, that’s my favorite. I love the room they have dedicated to the Star-Spangled Banner. The dim lighting, no flash photography, it’s breathtaking.” She’s really engaging.
“The story behind it was amazing. I love seeing it, and noticing just how fragile it is.”
“Miss Molly, would you care to go into your bathroom and strip down to just your panties please. I have a robe here for you.”
“Do you want me to take a quick shower first? I’ve been walking around all day, and I’m sweaty.”
“I can come back in a few moments if you’re more comfortable having a shower first.”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” She smiles. “Ten minutes?”
“Perfect, thank you.”
She leaves the room, and I quickly multitask by stripping and calling Dylan. He answers immediately. “I’m sorry, I can’t talk long, Molly. Everything okay?” he says hastily.
“I just want to say thank you. Mandy just arrived for my massage, but I sent her away for ten minutes while I grab a shower. I’m juggling calling you to say thank you, and stripping for a shower.”
Echoes of You Page 17