Miranda allowed Theo wasn’t a genius by any stretch of the imagination, but she meant well enough, in her own greedy way. She gave them the location of the cabin in King George, a location Miranda had never known. He’d blindfolded her again before dumping her in his car, left her tied at the hands and feet until he’d gotten onto Route 3 when he’d stopped, cut her loose, and removed the blindfold, warning her to keep quiet. She’d obeyed.
Theo said she wanted to get back to Richmond, that the country life in the Northern Neck was unappealing to a girl from Miami, where Ilya, her grandfather, had settled when he was with Ringling Brothers. So, Frank took her away, giving Dan’s shoulder a squeeze as he helped him down the stairs and into the driver’s seat of the Miata Theo had insisted they drive. Miranda followed behind them.
“Thank you, Frank. I really appreciate this. Take care of her. She’s alright,” Dan smiled.
“You’re welcome, dear boy. I told you: we like your bride and, God knows, we love your boy. We’re not so very scary, really.”
Dan laughed. “No. In the scheme of things, I guess not.”
Frank closed the door and drove off with the top down. Dan wrapped his arm around Miranda, and they waved goodbye from the driveway.
A neighbor, working in her flower bed at the front of her house, watched the Miata drive away with an obvious intensity. Dan smiled and waved at her before taking out his phone and sending a message to the VRBO host. Then they climbed the stairs and went back to the balcony.
“I promise you, Miranda. You’ll never have to worry about that son of a bitch again. Never,” he said as they walked.
She smiled and kissed him. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Danny. I already know that.”
“I won’t regret a thing,” he swore.
“I’m not sure about that girl,” Gavin proclaimed. “I only believed maybe a quarter of what she said.”
Dan nodded. “I understand, but I think she means well. I trust Frank even if he creeps me out.”
“Frank…isn’t…He doesn’t figure into my issues with Theo. He believes her. I don’t.”
“Noted. But I believe enough…Is that good enough?” Dan asked.
Gavin looked conflicted, but he said no more and just nodded.
Miranda felt her stomach lurch, and she ran to the sink. She barely made it before her breakfast vacated her stomach.
Deb jumped up and came to Miranda’s aid. She turned on the faucet and grabbed a clean cloth from the drawer. She pulled Miranda’s hair back and held it, rubbing her back while she vomited. Then when Miranda started to cry, Deb gave her a gentle squeeze. She wet the cloth and wiped Miranda’s face. “Is it all up?” she asked. Miranda nodded.
Deb helped her to the sofa and sat beside her. Deb patted her lap, and she laid her head in Deb’s lap. Deb gently rubbed her fingers through Miranda’s hair. “It’s okay, Sweetheart. We’ll do whatever you say. If you trust her word, we’ll trust her word. If you don’t, we won’t. Right?” Miranda could feel the daggers Deb must have shot at the two men, who just bowed their heads, stopping their argument. She was grateful that Deb was there.
“I trust her,” Miranda said, wiping her tears with her hand.
Gavin opened his mouth but shut it again without speaking. He lowered his eyes and nodded. “Okay,” he said after several seconds. “I’ll trust you and Dan.”
Deb’s voice softened when she spoke again, “Thank you.”