Five

We spent the next eight months figuring out the details of my escape. I would have never been able to swing it if it hadn’t been for Cassie and her dad. As far as Aunt Grace was concerned, I would be going to Snow College tomorrow morning. What she didn’t understand wouldn’t hurt me.

  I sat my suitcase down by the bottom of the stairs. Jenny and Sarah waited for me with outstretched arms. I leaned into them, inhaling the scent of cheap strawberry shampoo.

  Sarah wrapped her arms around my waist, gazing up at me with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want you to go,” she said then buried her face into my abdomen.

  I held her tight for a few moments, feeling like the biggest loser but not the good kind. “I’ll be home before you know it, and if you promise to be good for Jenny, I’ll bring you a present.”

  She pulled away from me, her eyes brightening. “Really?”

  “Promise.”

  She raced into the kitchen, her tiny voice raised in excitement. “Rayla’s gonna get me a present, Momma!”

  “Is she now?” Aunt Grace said, stepping into the foyer. Her face was tight with worry as she wiped her hands on her apron. “You call me when you get there.”

  “I will,” I said, shifting my gaze back to Sarah, who smiled at me.

  Aunt Grace walked closer. “I don’t see why you can’t just stay here tonight.”

  Not this again. I’d already explained this ten times. “We have to leave really early. I don’t want to wake anyone up.” To counteract my tendency to rush my words when I was nervous, I counted to three before continuing. “Cassie’s parents aren’t even in town right now so we won’t be bothering anyone at her house.”

  Jenny hugged me from the back. “You better e-mail me.”

  We were probably the only family on the planet that couldn’t afford a cell plan that included unlimited texting. Once I got a job, I was going to get a new phone and hopefully a new plan.

  I touched her hand perched on my shoulder. “Promise.”

  She bounded up the stairs yelling for Travis to help her move her stuff into my room. He stopped by the railing, stared down at me. Giving me his lopsided grin, he flipped his head to get his blond bangs out of his dark eyes. “See ya round, Cuz.”

  I tilted my head in an upward nod. “Sure thing.” I pointed my finger at him. “Be good.” I wasn’t that much older than him, but I felt as if we had ten years between us.

  He huffed. “When am I ever not?” Without even a backward glance, he took off around the corner before I could say anything else.

  Sarah had already pulled Aunt Grace into the living room for her bedtime story. I waved goodbye, but neither of them noticed. The ancient door creaked when I pulled it shut. Not wasting any time, I quickened my step, but no one followed me to the car.

  The tires threw up a cloud of dust as I sped away toward freedom. I gazed at my home through the haze of the rear view mirror. The moon set an eerie cast to the scene. The old Victorian had seen better days. Time had transformed the once stately manor into the humble residence of a working family. It needed a paint job. The porch swing still hung by one chain, flopping around in the breeze, and bicycles littered the two week overgrown lawn. It wasn’t anything compared to Cassie’s house, but it would always be special to me. I swiped the tears from my eyes and rolled down the window. The time for crying was over. I was officially on my way.

  Cassie waited outside for me when I pulled up. Her grin couldn’t have gotten much bigger. The handle gave her some trouble, so I reached over and opened the door. Before I knew it she plopped onto the seat. Eyes glowing, she reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of cash. “Dad’s going away present.”

  I kept my cringe to myself. I was tired of feeling guilty for taking advantage of Mr. Lambert’s endless acts of kindness. He’d done so much for me, especially where college was concerned. I needed to figure out a way to pay him back. “You’ve got to have the coolest father on the planet.”

  She grinned, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Isn’t he great?”

  Taking the gearshift, I put the car in gear. Cassie still smiled when I glanced at her. “You sure you’re ready for this?”

  She laughed, nudging my shoulder with the tips of her fingers. “No backing out now!”

  One day I would tell her how much she meant to me. She’d given up her plans for mine. She’d helped me figure out everything and handled some of the details with St. Mary’s I could never have managed from home.

  I waggled my brows before I lowered her window. The invading night air sucked the moisture from my body like a sponge. She just shook her head at me, smiling, but I knew what she was thinking without hearing one word. We would have been much more comfortable in her car.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t think it would still be this hot when we planned this whole thing.”

  “If you think this is bad, you just wait until you have sweat dripping from you twenty-four-seven.”

  She’d already tried to explain humidity to me, but I didn’t care if I had to take three showers a day. I was on my way to my new life. We had pulled it off without any snags. Nothing short of death would keep me from claiming my dreams.