Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
"Please." I take a deep breath. "I can't stay here.”
"Alright." He inhales, most likely taking a puff from a cigarette. "I'mma come get you. Pack you some clothes, and you best leave a note or tell someone you're leaving on your own accord, cause I ain't going to jail too. Where you want me to get you from?"
"My sister's house." I reel off the address quickly.
"Give me four hours. And make sure you tell 'em you're leaving."
"Okay." I hang up the phone and inhale.
Marney isn't Jude, but in a weird way I feel like there's a bit of him in Marney. He watched him grow up. He's practically like a father to Jude. If I can't be with Jude, then I want to be with Marney. He makes me feel safe, almost as safe as Jude. And at this point, Marney is the only person who knows just how much I love Jude. He knows what we have is real and not just the delusions of some poor raped and abused girl who's gone crazy.
I stand up and grab a bag from under the bed. I don't have much, only what Lizzy bought me. I've been dependent on her and John for the last few weeks. Jude made sure I had money, but I couldn't exactly spend it without raising suspicion. The last thing I want is for anyone to start asking questions.
I shove my few items of clothing and my toothbrush into the bag and sling it over my shoulder. Lizzy is waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Her voice is panicked.
"I'm leaving," I say without looking at her.
I stare out the window. All I can see is the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The car takes a sharp left-hand turn, bumping over a dirt path. Minutes later we pull up to a beautiful villa situated on an inlet.
The house is white with plantation shutter windows and a Spanish tiled roof. Tall pampas grass lines the drive and palm trees sit to the side of the house. The car rolls to a stop, and Marney clamors out, immediately lighting a cigarette. The driver goes to the boot, pulls out the luggage, and sets it on the ground in front of my feet. This is my new home. Oceans separating me from the life I once had, and from Jude. This is hours from civilization, and I am fine with that.
The smell of the ocean drifts on the warm breeze, making me smile. I love the ocean. I instantly feel calm in this place.
Marney pays the driver then grabs the handles on the suitcases. "Alright. Well, come on," he says, the cigarette dangling from his lips.
I follow him to the bottom of the wooden stairs, and the wind catches my hair. He pulls a key from his pocket and opens the door. When he takes the keys from the lock they drop, the clatter from the metal hitting the floor echoes from the tall ceilings.
"Damn, boy," Marney mumbles, looking back at me.
"This place is beautiful," I say, glancing around the entryway of the house.
"Well, it's yours. Jude put it in your name, well, in your alias well before you ever left." He fidgets, looking at the ground. "I guess he knew even then that he wanted to give it all up for you, sweetheart."
"I..." I swallow around the lump in my throat. "Why would he do that?" I stammer.
He shrugs and says simply, "Cause he loves you."
I bite my lip and look away from him. I can't have this conversation right now, because it's irrelevant.
The floor to ceiling window bathes the entrance way in light. A spiral staircase sits in front of it, silhouetted against the glass. The view is amazing, white sand and an endless ocean. The house is right on the beach. I step further into the house, taking in my surroundings. I walk through an arched doorway into a living room. One wall is nothing but French doors, all facing the water.
The wooden floors creak slightly as I move across them, exploring the house. Marney quietly follows me. There's a brand new kitchen, a pool and deck out the back, and a gym in the basement. I climb the stairs. As soon as I push open one door, I want to cry. There, in the middle of the room is the most beautiful crib. Gossamer hangs from the ceiling, covering the ornate woodwork. I run my fingers over the edge of the wood, taking in the room. Everything is here. The walls are painted a soft yellow, and all the furniture matches the crib. I can't believe he did this.
Marney clears his throat. "He wanted to surprise you. Been working on this since you went to the doctor and saw the 'blob'." He looks at the ground awkwardly.