“Did you at least get to travel and see the different countries and explore?”
I shake my head, “No, we weren’t allowed to leave the camp we were stationed at.”
“Excuse my language, but that’s pretty shitty to get shipped off to a foreign country for years.”
I snort through my nose and almost laugh.“It was terrible.”The moment the words leave my throat, my hand comes up and smacks across my mouth.“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,” I say pleadingly.
She gives me bewildered look.
“I’d be saying a lot worse things than that.Probably even fork the front lawn all the way to the mailbox too,” Raegan says, and it makes me laugh.She joins in, and it’s like a tethered lifeline.
Our food comes and I dive into the cheeseburger and fries with a gusto.
“What did you do after you left?”I ask to change the subject.“Was it junior year?”
She nods, wiping her mouth with a napkin.“Yeah, my boyfriend at the time cheated, or so I thought.So I went to live with my dad in Seattle.”
She tells me she went to college, got her degree, and does computer tech consulting for various companies.I wouldn’t know the first thing about any of that because I haven’t touched any electronics since I had to turn over my phone before I was dropped off at the airport four years ago.
“You look different since high school,” Raegan comments in between bites.
“Not having access to good fatty foods will do that,” I laugh.“I think I’ve dropped forty pounds since high school, and I’m definitely not as pale as I was since I’ve been out in the sun over the years.”
We start talking about a few people we remember from school.Even though she was a year ahead of me, Sweetwater is still a small town, so we know a chunk of the same ones.
“My roommate, Ivy, is coming into town tomorrow.We’re gonna hangout around town and meet up with a friend to swim if you want to join us,” she asks as we walk out of the diner after she pays for my meal.
“I don’t have a swimsuit,” I say shaking my head.Plus I don’t know if Papa will allow me.I need to figure out how my exit plan is going to work.It needs to be pushed up sooner since he mentioned finding me a husband to marry.
“I’ve gotcha covered.We look to be around the same size,” she offers.“Let me have your number.I’ll send you a text with the address and time to meet up.”
Crap!
She gives me concerned look when I don’t say anything.I start to fidget with my hands as they begin to sweat.
“I—I don’t have a phone,” I finally say.“Yet.”
She nods in understanding, “No worries, here…” Raegan unzips her athletic crossbody bag and pulls out a pen and small piece of paper.She starts to write down something then hands it to me.“Here’s my phone number and the address of my friend’s house.Let’s meet around two.”
“Okay.If I can make it,” I voice.
“I hope you can,” she expresses and then pulls me in for a hug, shocking me.She takes a step back and smiles.“I know that our mothers forced this, but I’m glad we reconnected, Sutton.”
I feel my brows furrow in confusion.“My…mother?”
“Yes.”Reagan pauses, observing me closely.“Karen?”
Of course that’s who she means.Of course Karen would say she’s my mother.In The Fellowship, the wife is mother to all the kids, even the ones that aren’t hers.
“Oh, right.My mom.Karen.”My smile is strained, but I push through.“Me too,” I honestly say.I’m hoping that maybe Raegan will be a pathway to get away from my father and his crazy life.
“Top the girl off,”Ivy yells out as we all soak up the sun in Allison’s pool.She just put her daughter down for her afternoon nap.
I was shocked when I asked Papa if I could hang out with Raegan again.Of course, he had stipulations and expectations, but he always does.He also gave me a phone to use, but I have to give it to Karen when I get back this evening.I also found out that Karen has been playing the role as my mother to Raegan’s mom.They are the ones holding the Garden Parties and events to keep up appearances for The Fellowship.They apparently have their fingers in a lot of pies in town.
“I don’t think I should,” I admit, my mind’s starting to feel a little fuzzy like it did the other night at the bar.
“Listen, Pollyanna, I need to ask some hard questions about your family, and I need you to be a little more sloshed than this.”She giggles, and it causes a chain reaction with me and Allison as we follow suit.
