“I know it’s Bora Bora.We’re going to have a bungalow over the water.”
“That sounds amazing,” I say.
“It does sound amazing,” Cal agrees.“But that’s not where we’re going.”
“You’re torturing me with this.”Victoria crosses her arm over her chest and laughs.“But there better be a Mai-Tai in my hand in the next twenty-four hours.That’s all I’m saying.”
I close my eyes.For a moment I allow myself to fantasize that I’m the fancy and elegant Victoria, and I’ve just married the love of my life and I’m about to go for two weeks to an exotic location to be loved and protected.
“Kneel down and open your mouth.”
I look out the window again, trying to hide the shock, hoping Cal and Victoria won’t notice that I’ve started to shake.It happens like this sometimes, for no reason.The voice breaks into my thoughts.I try to fight it off, but the memory is too sickening and I’m too weak and I can’t prevent the visuals and words and sensations from playing out over and over and over in my head.
The floor was sticky from a long day of short-order cooking.His pants smelled like old scrambled eggs.
“Do it, or I kill you.”
There was an unusual lull in business at the truck stop that night.There hadn’t been a customer for nearly an hour and a half.All the cooks except for one were outside on a cigarette break.The remaining cook was the assistant manager of the truck stop, who answered only to the owner, who happened to be his uncle.The other waitress scheduled for that night had called in sick, but I knew she was really in Vegas interviewing for a cocktail waitress job at the Bellagio.
I really hoped she got it and could get out of here.
I’d used the time to refill ketchup bottles and saltshakers and give the tables and vinyl chairs an extra wipe with a wet rag.Next, I refilled the napkin dispensers and then emptied the bathroom trash cans.There was nothing else to do except wait for the customers to come in.
I washed my hands and was just about to sit down at the counter when the cook called out to me.He asked me to join him in the kitchen to lend a hand with something.When I walked through the swinging doors, I felt something crack against the side of my head.I went flying and hit the floor.My head was spinning, but I managed to push myself upright.I was trying to tell myself that it had been an accident, not an attack.
I opened my eyes to see him looming over me.
He shoved the barrel of a handgun against my forehead and released the safety.
“Kneel down and open your mouth.Do it, or I kill you.”
I should have screamed.I should have run.I should have hit him with a frying pan.
I’ve gone over the event a million times in the last two weeks.All I see are all the things I did wrong, all the right things I didn’t do at all.
But at that moment, with a gun in my face and my head ringing like a bell, I couldn’t think straight.
I was sure about one thing, though.That I’d fought too hard and for too long to die kneeling on a greasy truck stop floor.I would do whatever it took to survive this.Like I always did.
I chose to not resist, and he didn’t kill me.In fact, I didn’t even have time to open my mouth because just then, the other cooks returned from their smoke break.The manager hid the gun in his waistband and yelled at the cooks about something.I jumped up and ran.
He busted through the swinging doors right behind me and grabbed my upper arm, hard.He squeezed until the pain nearly made my legs slide out from under me.
“If you say a word, I’ll kill you.But only after you get on your knees and open your mouth for me again.”
I ripped my arm away and never looked back.I didn’t even return for my last paycheck.I ran out of that place wearing the uniform with the frilly pink underpants.
And I survived.
CHAPTER 16
Finn
After Emma runs from Jasmine’s room, I leave the house to go check on Jasmine.I don’t want her showing up with her cream sodas and Nutter Butters only to find her new friend sobbing because of me, her father, the jerk.
I catch my daughter just in time.I ask my dad if he could keep Jasmine entertained for a while so I can take care of a few things.He says he’s happy to.I kiss Jasmine on the head and tell her I’ll be right back.
Phyllis overhears my request and asks me what kind of tomfoolery I’m up to.
