“And whose fault is that?” I bite back. “I may not have the college degree, but I understand right from wrong and running those people out of their homes is an injustice your soul will never recover from.”
“We are not religious.” Liam scoffs.
“I never brought up god,” I tell him, “But let me know in fifty years’ time if you’re happy with what you did to living, breathing, human beings.”
“This is for the good of our town,” My father stands.
“It’s for the good of your bank account,” I retort.
“What has gotten into you?” My father asks, offended, “We trained you better than this, Marly.”
I grit my teeth to stifle my remark back. These aren’t people you can reason with; they don’t see any other view other than their own. I’m saved by the personal chef now back since my parents are, calling that dinner is now served in the dining room. They all leave, glaring at me where I stand at the door. I am expected to join them, and I go, knowing once it’s over they’ll leave me alone.
I’ll retire to my bedroom to shower and read before I sleep, and they never bother me once I go. I can do what River does and escape through my window and down the trellis even if it does sink dread into my stomach.
Dinner is served but I can’t focus on the food, not when my bag and the folder contained within is just outside the door. I am desperate to get to it, just so I can hide it until I get a minute to look at what’s inside. I have a feeling my grandmother is harboring a lot of secrets that I never even entertained before, especially since my father is her son.
I remain quiet, like they expect me to be, although I know my fight is far from over and when I claim exhaustion, I am dismissed to my bedroom like I’m ten years old and not twenty-one. There’s not a single complaint on my tongue.
I rush to the bathroom to grab a shower and stash the folder at the back of my closet to look at later. There’s time to analyze it, to read every word my grandmother wrote for me.
The humidity is killer this time of year and it doesn’t change at night, so I pick out a light blue summer dress and then move to the window. River makes it seem so easy, coming and going by way of the trellis but as I stare down at it, I wonder if he has some superhuman ability.
It seems so high, the distance between my bedroom and the ground making my stomach churn. This is the only way out, now that my parents are back there will be staff constantly present and if there is anything I have learned about my parent’s employees, it’s that they are paid well and will definitely tell them if they are to see anything suspicious.
I push the window open as far as it can go and throw my leg over the ledge, ignoring the shake in my limbs as I commit my body to the natural structure attached to the house. Slowly I move down the building, careful where I put my hands and feet as I make my way down and once I’m on solid ground, I dial River.
“Princess?” He answers on the first ring.
“Meet me at the end of the block,” I whisper into the phone, “I can’t get my car.”
“I’ll be there,” River vows before the line goes cold.
I keep to the edge of the yard as I make my way across, toward an unused gate not many know about, I’m pretty certain even my parents have forgotten it exists. It’s out of view but the gardenis consistently tended to, so I know it hasn’t been overridden by plants. The hinge creaks loudly and my heart leaps into my throat as I whip my head around, waiting to see if anyone comes to investigate the noise. When I see and hear no one, I slip through and lock it shut behind me, breaking out into a jog to get away from the house as quickly as I can.
My lungs are burning by the time I reach the end of the block, looking left and right to see if I can spot River, though I know he won’t be here yet. I step back from the road, tucking myself against a fence to try and hide from view as I wait for him.
It’s another five minutes before I hear the sound of his engine, and the bright green Plymouth turns onto the street. I don’t wait for him to get out to open my door, though I can see him moving to do so and just open the passenger side, getting into the car quickly.
“Go,” I hiss to him.
He hesitates, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie, “I’m fine.”
His dark eyes narrow and while I can see he doesn’t believe me; he doesn’t push further as he presses on the gas and drives us away from this damn place. The further we get, the easier it becomes to breathe, like the weight of it all is being left behind. I know it isn’t, I know it’ll be there, always, unless I do something to change it.
We drive in silence the entire way to the track and then he’s pulling in, gravel and dirt crunching under the tires as he comes to a stop in the row of cars set up to race tonight. It’s busier than usual and that’s saying something since it’s always packed. Several fires are going in barrels and music blares so loudly, I can hardly hear myself think.
“The fuck is this?” I hear River yell to Jake who is walking toward us. Zara isn’t with him tonight though I know she has a family dinner to attend.
“Ricky and Benji are here,” Jake cringes, “Brought a crowd.”
“They’re fucking banned,” River snaps, “Where are they?”
“Trust me man, I told them, said they wouldn’t leave until you got here.” Jake starts walking beside River as the three of us head into the busiest section of the track, “You should know,” Jake continues, glancing at me, “Rachel is with them, she’s the one who told them they could wait for you.”
“She doesn’t have that authority,” River grasps my hand as we walk, his thumb moving in circles across my knuckles.
