Deciding it was way past time to get moving, Tarin playfully wrestled Chance into his clothes and then into his spring jacket and hat. His grin was infectious and something she sorely needed. She smiled back. He gave her a zerbert kiss. It was a moment like this one that made her wonder if she’d done the right thing by not letting her father know he had a grandson. It might bring a light to his eyes, laughter to his soul and life to his days, things she’d never seen in him but she still had hope. But she couldn’t tell him. If he knew the trouble she was now in, he’d help her but she wasn’t sure at what price. It wasn’t something she was willing to risk.
One last look around at the immaculate glass and chrome apartment, skimming over a place that was as emotionally stale as the man she’d allowed herself to be hitched to. It had been yet another colossal mistake.
This whole situation made her momentarily ill but she steeled her spine; she was made of tougher stock. Raised by her father’s firm hand and solitary attitude, she’d learned to take care of herself from a young age. When he’d gotten tired of her he’d sent her off to boarding school with only weekend visits home. He’d been so proud of his little offspring robot. They’d parted ways a few years before and she wasn’t about to mend that rift. For the first time in her life she felt as though she was on the cusp of living her own life and doing what she wanted to do. A basement suite sounded like a perfect place to start. But then living on the street would have been preferable to living with Stephen or her father’s rules.
Grabbing her large suitcase and pulling out the handle, she stacked as many other bags as she could on top. It worked fine as long as she was standing still, but as soon as she moved they toppled over. That meant she was going to have to make two trips.
Unloading, she hauled as much as she could and headed into the hallway after checking to make sure no one was there. She grabbed Chance’s free hand, noting his other one was hugging his big green rabbit.
The elevator trip to the garage was uneventful but it didn’t ease her nerves or stop the feeling that someone was watching her. Once the doors opened, she walked quickly across the underground parkade, her heels clicking loudly, making her wince at the noise. Once at Stephen’s Mercedes, she stuffed all she’d hauled down into the trunk and was closing the lid when the guard walked by.
“Mrs. Roth. How are you today?”
“Tarin, please. I’m good, Dale, and you?” During one of their many chats, he’d told her he’d been the guard there for over ten years. He was a bit of a gruff old guy but he’d taken a liking to her. The one time he’d seen her with a bruise on her forehead, he’d told her that he was pretty sure a cupboard door hadn’t done it. It had actually been the truth, but she wasn’t sure it hadn’t been deliberate on Stephen’s part. Since then, Dale had checked on her regularly and hinted many times that if she ever needed a place for a short getaway, he had the best one for her. She knew he meant with him and his wife.
“Good. Good. The missus wants me to go on a cruise but I’m not sure I have the legs to be at sea for a week. I prefer solid ground under my feet. She’s trying to get me into retirement mode. I’m done in a couple of months.”
She laughed. “Oh, but it’ll be fun. You probably stop at a lot of islands and get off the ship, right?”
“Yes, but we have to get to those islands first.” He smiled. “Anyway, can I help you? I saw you were hauling a lot of things. If there’s more I’d be more than happy to help you bring it down.”
Though she tried hard not to react, she felt the color drain out of her face, and she was certain from his look of concern that he noticed.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I have a few things to do. Thanks but I... uh... don’t need help. I’m good. But thanks.”
“Hungry. Hungry,” Chance, hiding behind her leg, chanted softly but loud enough for her to hear.
“I know, love. We have to get a few more things and then we’ll go out for breakfast, okay?”
“Now, Mommy. Now.”
“How did his birthday turn out?”
Tarin smiled. Dale had bought him a present each birthday since he’d been born. She wondered who’d be there to give him a present when he turned three. “He loved it. Thank you so much for the car, he barely puts it down. He plays with it all the time.” She didn’t know how to tell him his gift was the only one that hadn’t come from her. Stephen hadn’t wanted any other kids over. Not that she knew any, anyway.
“Mommyyyyy.”
“Want me to watch him for a few minutes, while you go back up?”
Instant panic gripped her. “Uh, no. No. Thanks though. I can manage.”
She had no idea what he saw in her face or in her eyes but he held her gaze for a long time. She refused to look away.
“No problem. I’m not supposed to be down here anyway. I’ve been in Mrs. Brown’s apartment looking for that damn cat again. You have a good day. And take care.” He was halfway across the parking lot before she was able to move.
“Wait. Dale?”
He looked at her over his shoulder.
“Do you still volunteer at that place, Suit the Men?” It was a charity that gave men who couldn’t afford it nice suits so they could interview for good jobs.
“Yes. We’re busy trying to get thirty suits right now. Well, actually we need closer to two hundred but thirty will do for now.”
“Maybe you can help me then.”
An hour later, a banana and a juice for Chance and they’d managed to clean out her closet and half of Stephen’s and loaded them into Dale’s van.
“If anyone should question you, show them this. I...” Not knowing what to say, she handed him a note, hugged him, loaded Chance up and climbed in behind the wheel. She checked her purse for the tenth time to make sure the cash she’d withdrawn from the bank a little every day that week, was still there. The fear of Stephen finding it had kept her on her toes. Hiding it in Chance’s stuffed gorilla had been the answer. Stephen had never gone near the toys.
She would be fine for a while. The jewelry would provide more money once she found a few places to pawn them. If she managed it right, she’d have a job right away. Pulling in to Calgary International Airport, she parked in the farthest corner she could find and then unloaded the trunk. She got them checked in and while waiting, she got Chance a juice to drink and a cracker to munch on. With him busy, she checked her phone for messages. There were no texts. She gave a huge sigh of relief because that meant Stephen still had no clue. There were a few emails, which she checked. The third one was the one she had been hoping for. She had an interview in a couple of days. It was going to be a crazy rush but she confirmed she’d be there.
After they were settled on the plane, she thought how crazy her life had become. Bobbie, her friend since first grade, was going to pick her up in Montreal and then drive her to Toronto. She wasn’t accustomed to asking for help from anyone, especially when they had to go out of their way to help her. Bobbie had a big heart, although she kept it hidden under a tough exterior. She wondered what Bobbie would do to Stephen if she ever shared with her how he had mistreated her. Bobbie had been there through every damn stupid thing she’d done as a kid and had still been her friend.
She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake in including Bobbie in her plans. The idea that her friend could be hurt because of this situation slammed into her like a freight train. She must be insane following through with this plan. It reminded her when she was sixteen and had been accused of doing something she hadn’t done, so she’d come up with a plan to fix it—only that had made things worse and it had lost her Bobbie’s friendship for a very long time.
Am I doing the same thing again?
Though there were never any guarantees, she had to believe this was going to change her life for the better. The thought of what Stephen might do was something that kept playing out in the back of her mind. It was part of the reason she’d decided to travel across the country and get far away from him. But that was only part of it. The real one was because of a piece of paper, one that contained Caspian Winery letterhead. Why would someone keep her locked up, drugged up, whatever else they had done to her and then give her a code and leave her a logo? It didn’t make sense. What she did know was Caspian Winery was the only connection she had to that missing period of time. She’d read everything she could find about them but nothing explained a connection to her. The letterhead was the only clue she had and she had to pursue it. She had to find out who had played this sick game with her and why. It was key to Chance’s future and her own.
She pressed her palms together and placed her index fingers against her lips. She’d never been religious but that didn’t stop her from praying for something better. If she played it right, she’d have a new life.
One she hoped both her and Chance would survive.