We rolled up to the house to swap the bike for the truck and headed into town to get our boy.
My phone rang as we were driving in and my heart’s pace picked up as it always did when I saw an unfamiliar number flash across the screen.
“Who is it?” Axel asked brusquely.
“I don’t know, should I answer it?” I asked him.
He gave a terse nod as I slid my finger over the screen.
“Hello?”
“Sophie,” my mother’s rushed voice hit my ears.
I sat up straighter, shocked to hear from her and more so by her tone. Gone was her usual poise and standard calculated manner of speech.
“What do you want?” I replied coldly. “How did you get this number?”
Axel deftly pulled to the side of the road and mouthed to me to put it on speaker. I complied with shaky hands.
“I found it on your father’s desk,” she answered breathlessly. “I don’t know how he got it but I think he’s had it for a little while. He knows where you are.” She delivered the news like a crushing blow.
I shot a look at Axel and he reached over and took my free hand, pulling it into his lap.
“Why can’t he let this go?” I demanded furiously. “You both need to let me go!”
“I know.” She shocked me by agreeing in a subdued voice. “This past year, Sophie, not knowing where you were – if you were safe. Knowing what we made you do.” Her voice turned hoarse with an emotion I’d never heard in her before. “I just want you to be okay, Sophie. I don’t want to lose both my children. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me just to hear your voice.”
I wished I could say the same.
“What does he want?” I asked, choosing to ignore her emotional plea. It was too little, too late.
“He’s scaring me,” she admitted. “He’s a different man than I knew. I don’t know what’s driving it. He’s convinced himself that you need to come home and marry Benjamin,” she told me, referring to the senator’s son that they’d tried to force on me so long ago.
I saw Axel visibly stiffen beside me at the very mention of Benjamin, as he made a motion that I should mute the phone.
“Just a minute,” I told her, doing as he asked.
“You tell her you’re already married, babe,” he instructed.
“What?” I exclaimed.
“Not quite how I’d hoped to share my plans, but I knew all along we would need to play this card. Your brother and I have looked deep into the state of play with your father. You being spoken for in the eyes of the law puts a serious wrench in his plans. It might even make him back off altogether.”
“But we’re not married,” I protested.
He leveled me with a heated look and I gasped, not quite ready to take in what he’d said without needing words.
“What about Mad?” I asked quietly.
He shook his head. “Don’t mention him. I want him out of this. It sounds like she’s still under the impression you didn’t have him.” My heart clenched at the very thought as I nodded in agreement.
“Mother,” I began in a shaky voice as I took her off mute. “You need to tell Dad that I’m already married,” I shared. “Whatever plans he has, he needs to keep me out of them.”
Her intake of breath was more controlled than I would have expected. “When? Who?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I cut her off. “All you need to know – all I’d hope you’d care about – is that I’m safe and happy. Despite everything, I hope the same for you,” I murmured. “Goodbye, Mother,” I hung up swiftly, my hands moving shakily through my hair.
“Good job, baby,” Axel praised me, pulling me forcefully into his lap so I straddled him.
