“Sure.” My voice was flat, and I swallowed hard, looking away.
I didn’t know how I’d get through “later,” but it would be the last time. I would make sure of it.
Somehow, someway, I would makesureof it.
A notification alert buzzed. The Chicago caller left a message.
FIVE
Miranda
Afew days later, I peeked out the blinds and dialed Sherri’s number, watching Chris’ Challenger disappear around the street corner. We had talked in my driveway every day and yesterday finalized my plan to leave Chris. I knew exactly what to do. It was now or never.
Hope surged. As much as I dreaded driving all the way to Chicago, the meeting could change my life. I had no idea why Nathaniel Barkley includedmeof all people in his will, but when the attorney’s office called and said Nathaniel requested his beneficiaries be present for the reading of his will, I accepted the invitation. Nathaniel was a very wealthy man and whatever he had for me could change my entire situation.
Heck, a mere five hundred dollars would change everything.
She picked up. “Hello?”
“Hey, Sherri. Do you have a cup of sugar I can borrow?” It was our code.
Two minutes later, Sherri was in my house, quietly packing my things and Ed was in our driveway, filling my motor oil. Sherri had said we needed to use codes and keep talk to a minimum in case Chris had more surveillance going than I realized. The notion scared me. I’d never seriously considered the possibility. She told me to discard my phone and buy a prepaid one before I made it to my final destination. Just in case he looked up my coordinates.
My heart hurt for Sherri. She must’ve been through so much.
In record time, we had my car packed and ready. Kacey was buckled in.
My lips trembled as I faced her. “I’m—I’m scared.”
She wrapped her arms around me and started to cry. “I’ve been praying for you all night. For some reason, I know you guys are going to be okay. You’re going to find the next step.” She held me back to look at me. “There’s lots of possibility out there. And it’s better than this. I promise.”
I nodded, swiping the tears off my face.
She thrust a piece of paper with an address and hand-copied directions on it. “Don’t look up Brenda’s address on your GPS. Just follow the instructions. It’s pretty straightforward.”
Brenda, Sherri’s best friend, lived in Milwaukee. She had graciously taken Sherri in after her ugly divorce and agreed to open her doors for me and Kacey, too.
First stop, Chicago. Destination, Milwaukee.
It was more than I could’ve hoped for.
Ed shut my hood after checking all the fluids. They gave me a hundred dollars for gas and lunch. Sherri cried that they couldn’t give more. But Ed’s hospital bills made it difficult to pay their mortgage andkeep the lights on.
I assured them they’d given me hope—more than I’d had in a long, long time.
If everything went according to plan, I’d be in Milwaukee by nightfall.
Two hours into our drive, Kacey had fallen asleep and I listened to a mixed station. I checked my review mirror with the manic persistence of an insane person. I fully expected to see the Challenger on my rear or have police cars run me into the ditch on an Amber Alert call. My hands ached from the way I was gripping the steering wheel.
What if Chris found me? What if the meeting in Chicago didn’t go the way I hoped? Would Jack travel from Nashville to be there? Surely, he would. Was he informed I was coming? Ireallydidn’t want to see him.
What would I do—what would our life look like in Milwaukee? I didn’t know the first thing about Milwaukee.
I caught myself biting my nails.
I tried to push the thoughts out of my head and force some deep breaths. I needed to focus on getting to Mr. Paul Ruben’s office. According to the directions Sherri provided, I’d arrive around 2:45 p.m. Right in time for the three o’clock meeting.
SIX
