Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Breakfast was a disaster. Maisy was more aware than ever of Jack's growing suspicions. He didn't like Jason, with good reason. Her brother was acting more smug and superior by the day, and when Jack said something about how he was looking forward to their picnic in the park, Jason had snorted under his breath.
If looks could kill, Jason would've been a dead man. Lately, neither man was hiding his disdain for the other, and it made for a very tense living situation.
When Jason finally got up from the table and left—after sending Maisy a not-very-hidden warning glare—Jack turned to her and said, "We're done."
"What? But you love Paige's biscuits and gravy."
"I'm not staying here another week. I know he's your brother, and you love him, but I can't do it."
"I'm sorry he's been…gruff lately," Maisy said desperately, already thinking about how her brother had told her in no uncertain terms that if she left before the three months was up, she'd regret it .
"Gruff? Maisy, he's an abusive asshole. I don't care what he says to me, I've heard worse, but I can't stand him treating you the way he does. I can't understand why you've stayed here for as long as you have."
Honestly, Maisy wasn't sure either. No, that wasn't true. At first, it was because she was a minor. Then, she was drugged to the gills, unable to take care of herself. She also had no money, thanks to Jason. No way to take care of herself elsewhere. She had no education beyond a GED, had never lived on her own, had no idea if she could make it in the "real world."
All that…and she was terrified of her brother.
"Look at me, Stellina ."
Turning, Maisy stared at the man who'd become the center of her world in such a short period of time.
"I'm not going to let him hurt you. I know this is hard for you. When your parents died, he was your rock. If he hadn't stepped in, you would've gone into foster care, been ripped from this house and everything you knew. You're grateful for him, and he's done a lot of good things for you. But you aren't fifteen anymore. And you have me to look after you. Trust me, hon. I'm not going to let you down. I might not remember the man I used to be, but I know down to my toes that I can provide for you. Protect you."
Maisy knew that too. She had no idea who this man was, but she had no doubt that whoever his people were, they were the luckiest people on the planet. "How…where will we go?"
"I'm not sure. But I'm actually meeting with a guy this morning about that job I mentioned a few days ago, the one on a ranch? It's not ideal, but it'll bring in some much-needed cash so we don't have to rely on your brother anymore. And…he mentioned something about a small cabin on the property that's available."
"What do you know about leading tours? About horses?"
"Honestly? Nothing. But I'll figure it out. And the thought of being out on that beautiful property, living a simple life…it appeals more than I thought possible. I won't go back to my bounty hunting job, and not because I have no recollection of what it takes to even be a bounty hunter. I don't want to do anything that will take me away from you for long stretches of time. This guy has assured me that the tours are mostly during the day, with only a few overnights. I messed up before, sent you back to this house alone. It's not happening again."
Maisy's eyes watered.
"Don't cry, hon. What is it that you want to do?"
"Me?" she asked with a sniff.
"Yeah. I don't want you to be bored while I'm off fixing shit and schmoozing with the ranch guests."
Maisy shrugged. "I don't know."
"Sure you do. What do you like?"
"Reading. Animals. Flowers. Kids."
An emotion Maisy couldn't read flashed over Jack's face. "Right, so maybe we can foster animals for a shelter, get them used to living in a house before finding them homes. Or you can learn how to arrange flowers and work for a florist. Or we can talk to the ranch owner about you helping with the kids who show up with their parents. And if none of those things spark your interest, you can sit on our porch and read books, surrounded by the hundreds of flowers you planted, with our loyal mutt Randy by your side and our baby strapped to your chest. "
"Jack," Maisy whispered, completely overwhelmed.
"The truth is, I don't give a shit what you do, Stellina . I just want to come home to your beautiful smile and know that you're happy."
She wanted that too. More than he'd ever know. But it was a dream. Like trying to catch hold of the fog. It was right there in front of her face, but impossible to grab.
"Now I've freaked you out. Come on, you said you wanted to talk to Paige before we headed out. I'll walk you to the kitchen, then head upstairs to change. You sure you want to have a picnic in the park for lunch? We can go out somewhere."
"I'm sure."
For the last week, Maisy had tried really hard to act the way she always had while on drugs. Spacey, as if she didn't notice anything going on around her. But she hadn't taken a single pill. She needed her head to be as clear as possible if she was going to figure out a way out of the shithole her life had become. And to get Jack away from her brother. It was hard to keep the neutral mask in place when Jason started in on her. When he reminded her what would happen to Jack if she defied him.
Jack stood and held out his hand. Neither of them had eaten much for breakfast, but Maisy wasn't hungry. She wasn't sure what was going to happen in the next few days, but with Jack's determination to leave and Jason's equal desire for them to stay so he could keep control over her, something had to break. She just hoped it wasn't her.
Jack opened the door to the kitchen, and Paige and the other two women who helped with the meals turned to look at them. Satisfied that Jason wasn't around, Jack took Maisy in his arms. He stared at her for a long moment, before leaning down and kissing her forehead. "I'll be upstairs waiting."
The moment he was gone, Maisy walked toward Paige. She didn't have much time, and she needed to tell the older woman something important.
"Maisy, what's wrong? Was something off with your breakfast?" she asked with a furrowed brow.
"No, it was great, as usual. But I need to talk to you," she blurted. "Alone."
Bless Paige, she didn't miss a beat. She turned to her assistants. "Can you give us a moment, please?"
Without hesitation, the two women nodded and headed for the door. When it was just Paige and Maisy in the kitchen, the cook turned to her. "Now, what's going on? What did you want to tell me?"
Maisy looked around, not sure what she was looking for. Cameras? Audio recorders? She wouldn't know what they looked like if they were there. But she couldn't risk being overheard. She gestured with her head toward the large walk-in pantry and headed that way.
Paige followed with a confused look on her face, but she didn't protest. Maisy closed the door behind them, then turned to the woman she'd known practically her entire life and took a deep breath. "I need you to do something for me. Something huge. And maybe dangerous. But I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was important."
The woman studied her for a long moment. Then surprised the hell out of her.
"When I first started working for your parents, I was twenty-five. It was supposed to be a bridge-job. Something I did until I found a ‘real' career. I'm now sixty-one, and I'm still here. I loved your mom and dad, and when you were born, they truly felt their family was complete. Some of my best memories are with you, Maisy. Baking cookies, watching you and your friends squeal in joy over the birthday cakes I made for you. And some of my worst memories are here too. Crying with you after hearing about the carjacking, worrying about you when you were so depressed you couldn't get out of bed…and watching that brother of yours abuse you so horribly."
Maisy's mouth dropped open in shock.
"I see it all," Paige said fiercely. "I would've left years ago, but I couldn't leave you alone in this house. So whatever you have to tell me stays between the two of us. You're the daughter I never had. I love you, child, so whatever you need to say, just say it."
The desire to tell Paige about Jack was difficult to tamp down. It was bad enough she was going to do what she was going to do. She was putting Paige in as much danger as her and Jack, but she had to do something . It wasn't enough, but it was the only thing she felt she could do at this point.
"I have a diary. It's not actually a diary, but a confession. I've written it all in the last week. I included as much as I could remember, all the details that will hopefully help. It's in my room. There's a loose board directly under the window. I don't think Jason knows about it. If anything…" She swallowed hard then forced herself to continue. "If anything happens to me or Jack…I need you to get it. And the other things I've hidden there with it. Give it all to the police."
"Maisy," Paige whispered in a tortured tone.
"Not that I think anything will happen," Maisy lied quickly. "But if it does… "
Paige reached out and grabbed her hand. "I understand. And don't worry, I'll take care of it. But I need you to hear me. Are you listening?"
Maisy looked into the face of the woman who'd always been there for her. It was full of lines and wrinkles, and she looked like she'd lived an extremely difficult life, but she'd shown up day after day without fail. Making soups, delicious bread, desserts, and filling Maisy's belly when she didn't feel like eating. She was putting her in great danger by not fully explaining, but as she stared into Paige's hazel eyes, Maisy had a feeling the woman already knew the dark and dangerous secrets that filled this house.
"Maisy? Look at me. Fight through the fog of those damn drugs he's been giving you and concentrate."
She felt bad that Paige thought she was distracted because of the medication she was supposedly taking. Jason had probably warned her she was depressed and back on the meds. Setting the stage, so to speak. "I'm listening," she told her old friend.
"I know," Paige said softly but firmly. "I'll take care of that diary for you. I give you my word. But if the chance presents itself, get out. Away from this house and the ghosts that live here. You deserve to fly, and you've always been tethered to the ground here. Take that husband of yours and get out. You hear me? Get out ."
"I will."
"Good," Paige said with such satisfaction and relief, it made Maisy blink away tears.
"And take care of that man of yours. He's a good one," Paige added with a nod. "He'll look after you."
Maisy wanted to say so much, but she didn't have the time, and she wasn't sure what she'd say anyway. Paige knew that Jack wasn't her husband before he'd appeared a few weeks ago. She wasn't stupid. But she hadn't said a word. Had kept quiet, just like everyone did around her brother.
A small part of her felt a teensy bit better at that knowledge, as awful as that was. That she wasn't the only one who was afraid of Jason. It didn't absolve her of her wrongdoings toward Jack, but at least she didn't feel so alone anymore.
Paige reached for her and hugged Maisy hard. Since they were about the same height, she could easily whisper in her ear as she did so. "Go. Get as far away from here as you can."
Maisy pulled back and asked, "What about you?"
"The second you're free, I will be too. I've only stayed because of you."
Her words almost brought Maisy to her knees. Knowing that this woman had been looking out for her for almost thirty years had a profound effect on her. She could stay, but that would mean Paige would too, and that wasn't fair. "Love you," she told Paige.
It was the other woman's turn to get teary eyed. "Love you too, child. Your secrets are safe with me. Now, go upstairs and get ready for your outing with your man. I'll have a basket ready for your picnic when you come back down."
"Thank you."
But Paige shook her head. "I knew this day would come. Prayed for it. And you have no idea how thrilled I am that it's almost here."
Maisy wasn't sure what to say about that. She had no plans. No idea how her escape from this house would work. Anywhere she went, Jason would follow, of that she had no doubt. He wouldn't let anything come between him and the money that was almost his. He needed her to sign the papers after three months of marriage had passed in order to get the funds released. After that…she was as good as gone.
She turned and opened the pantry door, relieved when the kitchen was still empty. She blew a kiss to Paige then headed up the back stairway toward her room. Thankfully, she didn't encounter her brother on the way. He'd probably take one look at her face and know something was up.
She slipped into her bedroom and smiled when she heard Jack humming in the bathroom as he brushed his teeth. Closing her eyes, she memorized the moment. It was so…normal. In a life where nothing had been normal, it felt amazing.
The water came on and she heard him spit into the sink. Then a moment later, he was standing in the doorway of the bathroom.
"I didn't hear you come in," Jack said with a smile as he walked toward her.
Pushing off the door, Maisy had a sudden need to touch him. To reassure herself that he was real. That he was here. She collided with his chest and hugged him hard, resting her cheek on his shoulder.
"You okay?" he asked as he returned the embrace.
Maisy looked up at him. "I am now," she blurted honestly.
He studied her for a long moment, just as she did the same with him. One of her hands moved into his hair and she stroked his nape. "Your head still hurt?"
Jack shrugged .
Maisy frowned. "Did you take something?"
"Yeah."
"This isn't normal. We need to get you to the doctor."
"I'll be fine," Jack said.
Maisy didn't like that he was still having headaches so long after his head injury. Her brother's contact had hurt Jack, badly. Had hit him hard enough for him to have a concussion and cause him to lose his memory. The fact that his head still hurt now, weeks later, had to be a bad sign. "Maybe a doctor will be able to have some explanation as to why you haven't regained your memory. Or will be able to tell you if it's permanent or not."
"I don't want anyone messing around with my head," Jack said firmly. "My memory will come back or it won't. It's not going to change anything."
Maisy couldn't hold back the wince. His memory returning would change everything .
"I'm good," Jack told her, misinterpreting her wince. "Promise. I'll tell you if I think something's wrong and I'll go to a doctor. Okay?"
She'd have to be all right with that. She nodded.
"Good. Go do what you need to do to get ready. Paige still okay with packing us a picnic?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. We'll grab that on our way out. Maisy?"
She looked up at him.
"Today's gonna be a good day. I can feel it. It's the first day of the rest of our lives."
She gave him a wobbly smile. It wouldn't be as easy as that, she knew that as well as she knew her name. Jason wasn't going to let them waltz out of the house and off into the sunset to start their new lives. No, he'd do something to prevent that. The clock was ticking, and he couldn't afford to let them out of his sight.
"Stop worrying, I've got this," Jack said, then he kissed her hard and fast on the lips, before turning her and giving her a playful shove toward the closet. "Don't dawdle, I don't want to be late for my interview."
She gave him a wobbly smile and entered her closet. She was already wearing jeans, but picked out a dressier long-sleeve blouse she hadn't worn in years. It was bright red, and she needed the flash of color to maybe boost her mood.
Jason wouldn't know what they were up to today, they often went out grocery shopping or to get Jack new clothes, and he already knew about the picnic. He shouldn't be suspicious about their outing. But if Jack got this job, he'd learn they were planning on leaving soon enough.
Maisy shivered but did her best to put thoughts about her brother aside. She wanted to enjoy today…because she knew the clock on her relationship with Jack was ticking as well.