“Your father’s name is Leonard, correct?”
She nodded. “Yes. I was Leonard’s third daughter.”
“He is in custody. He was identified as one of the leaders of the community. Right now, we’re looking at what we can charge them with. So I need you to tell me what life was like in the community.”
She nodded as thoughts of the community filled her mind. “There was so much. I don’t know what you need to know.”
“Just tell me what you can think of. You can always send me an email. You have an email address, right?”
“Yes. My friends have helped me a lot. They’ve set me up with a phone and email. They taught me how to text and talk on the phone. They’ve invited me into their houses and out to dinner. They’ve helped me so much.”
“How did you meet your friends?”
“Their husbands and boyfriends work with Q.”
Flora started talking about growing up in the community and the rules they lived by. Daria couldn’t believe they really buried people as punishment. When Flora told her about the times she’d been buried, Daria reached across the table and squeezed her hand, telling her she was brave.
“I don’t know if it was brave or not. I just knew I couldn’t live with the man my father wanted me to marry. I didn’t want to be the wife of an old man and raise his children. I mean, I felt bad for his kids, but I couldn’t stomach it.”
“Were you told anything about the leadership of the group or how they ran anything?”
Flora shook her head. “No. They didn’t let us know anything. When I escaped, I thought most of the population was dead. They told us that only five million people were alive, that everyone else died.”
“I’m surprised they were able to keep you from knowing anything.”
“We were cut off, separated from society. The only time I left the compound was when my father went to buy pigs. I was a kid and wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone. It wasn’t like I knew what was going on. My father was punished for taking me.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m just surprised they were able to keep you all in the dark. I’ve tried to speak to other women from the community, but they wouldn’t say much.”
Flora snorted. “Honestly, they won’t ever talk. They have been conditioned to think you all are evil.”
Daria raised her eyebrows. “It’s how they acted. Like me and everyone from my office are evil. It has made it difficult.”
“It’s hard for them. Their world is being ripped apart. The lack of information they’ve had is scary. Now that I’m on this side of it, it’s weird thinking about how much we didn’t know. But we didn’t know, so how could we have known?”
“I may have more questions later. Can I contact you at a later time?” Daria asked.
Flora nodded. “Yes. And if I remember something, I’ll send you an email.”
“We will keep you updated. Being happy and living a good life is the best revenge against people like this. Don’t give up. Be happy.”
“Thank you. I’m trying.”
Daria left, and then Andie took off. She sent a note to Q telling him about the woman stopping by and Andie coming over. She was proud of herself for staying so calm. The only reason she was able to do it was because of what she’d learned at The Refuge. The people there had changed her life.
When Q came home, she was waiting for him by the door. She pulled him into a hug and held on as he shut the door.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good. I kept my calm, all because you helped me. I feel like I’ve grown so much in the few months I’ve been free, and it’s because of you. I feel like I can accomplish anything.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, but you played a large part in that. If you weren’t so strong, you wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
“Thank you.” She pressed her lips to his and kissed him like she meant it. After the kiss ended, she pulled back and met his gaze. “I want you, want to have sex with you.”
Q had been waiting for her to ask. They’d fooled around but hadn’t gone beyond touching. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes. When I went to the doctor, I got on birth control.”
