Chapter 37 Daphne

Saturday has arrived, and everything is in place. Meredith will be waiting for us outside the school after the play starts. She's familiar with the layout, having sent her own children to Charterhouse. The play is in the auditorium on the first floor. Down two hallways is a faculty bathroom that has a window right next to the parking lot. The restroom will likely be locked, but Meredith is on the board of the school and has arranged to hide a key under a plant next to the door. It all sounds very cloak-and-dagger and a bit far-fetched, but maybe if I pretend I'm in a spy movie, I won't be so terrified. I'll have only a few minutes to convince the girls to leave with me, to make them understand it's for their own good, and I still haven't quite figured out what I'm going to say. Meredith is lending us a car that's registered to her daughter, which should give me enough time to get out of the state and catch a bus. There'll be plenty of cash in the car and we'll stay in small motels once we're far enough from Bishops Harbor to hide out safely. We worked it out over the phone a few nights ago when Jackson had gone out for a while, and I knew I wouldn't be overheard.

"Are you sure you don't mind getting involved? If I'm caught, you could get in trouble for helping me."

"It's ridiculous. They're your children," Meredith says.

"I know, Mer, but right now Jackson has temporary custody. He's got us on lockdown here, and things are getting bad."

"Let me call the lawyers and let them know. Maybe they…"

"No. I'm not doing anything to risk leaving the girls here without me. I only have to stay hidden until the hearing challenging the order of temporary custody. That gives me a few weeks to gather everything I need to prove Jackson set me up."

"But won't it hurt your chances at the hearing that you've violated the order and taken the girls?"

"Not when I explain why I had to do it. Dr. Marshall has offered to fly in and testify on my behalf. Her notes from the past year detailing all his abuse will stand up. I have to try, Mer. I can't stay there another day. I don't know what he might do next."

She exhales a loud breath. "Okay, I'll make the arrangements. Please be careful."

"I will."

Jackson is waiting for us in the car even though we don't have to leave for another ten minutes. Punctual to Jackson means early, and on time means late. I stop by Bella's room and sigh when I see she's still not dressed but is lying on the bed immersed in The Clue of the Broken Locket. Ever since I introduced her to Nancy Drew, she's become obsessed and reads at least a book a week. It makes me so happy to see her newfound love of reading, especially as she struggled to learn just a few years ago.

"Honey, come on. Dad's waiting for us."

She looks up. "It's time to go already?"

I hold out the jeans she's thrown on the bed. "Hurry, get dressed. I'll see you downstairs."

When I reach the hallway, Tallulah is running out the door and getting into the car. I take a deep breath, checking my watch every few seconds, my impatience growing. Finally, Bella comes down the stairs, gives me a bright smile, and we leave the house together. We pull off at exactly one thirty. My heart is racing as I contemplate my plan. At intermission, I have to get the girls to the ladies' room but not too soon. I have to make sure there's a long line so that it can appear as if I've just remembered the other bathroom. Then I'll lead them to it and get them to follow me outside.

When we get to the school, there's already a crowd gathered. As we're led into the lobby, I notice the snack bar.

"How about if I get everyone a drink?" I need to make sure that a bathroom break is warranted.

Jackson gives me a look. "Let's all go over together." He puts a hand on my back and steers me toward the concession stand. "Waters for everyone?" he asks.

"I want a candy bar," Bella says. Tallulah is quiet.

Jackson turns to her. "We just had lunch, and I'm taking you out for a special dinner after. I don't think you need to stuff your face with candy." He smiles in a vain effort to deflect his harsh words.

She frowns and looks at me. If I didn't know that we'd soon be free from his grip, I would make a case for her, but I don't want to rock the boat. "Daddy's right, sweetie. How about if you save that sweet tooth for dessert tonight?"

Jackson shoots me a look of annoyance, and I pretend not to notice. "Waters for all of us," I say in a bright voice.

We take our seats, and the play begins. I can hardly pay attention, but I force myself to laugh when I hear others laughing. Jackson leans close to me, and I cringe as his leg makes contact with mine and he exerts gentle pressure. Finally, it's intermission and the house lights goup.

"Bathroom break, girls?"

Tallulah shakes her head. "I'm fine."

"Go ahead, Lu. Once it's over I want to get right out of here," Jackson says.

For once I'm grateful for Jackson's bossiness.

She sighs. "Fine."

"You staying here?" I ask him.

"Yeah, don't want to lose our seats."

We walk among the crowd and toward the long line at the bathroom. "I know another one," I say to the girls. "Follow me."

We walk down the hallway and turn right out of sight of everyone. I try the door, and it's locked.

"Ugh, Mom! This is for teachers," Tallulah says.

Bella is jumping up and down. "I need to pee."

"Okay, hold on." I find the key under the plant and put it in the lock.

"How did you…" Tallulah starts.

"Doesn't matter. Come on."

I lock the door behind us, and Bella goes into a stall.

I look at Tallulah. "I need you to listen to me. I did not take any pills that day. Your father put them in the drink I had. You see how controlling he's been. I have never lied to you, and you must believe me now. We have to go. I'll explain more, but I'm begging you to trust me on this."

Bella comes out of the stall, her eyes wide.

"What's happening?"

I open the window and point. "We need to go. I promise I'll explain everything. I hoist Bella onto the ledge by the window and she crawls out. I turn and Tallulah is standing there, arms crossed, her face etched with indecision. "Lu, come on. You know in your heart what's right. Please."

Something in my voice must convince her because she follows her sister without another word. I breathe a sigh of relief and climb out next. I see the white Toyota 4Runner in the parking lot, and we run toward the car. I unlock it, and the girls and I get in. I wipe the perspiration from my lip as my heart races. I start the car and put it into reverse. Before it can move, a black Mercedes SUV pulls in behind me, blocking my exit. There are cars in front of and next to me, so there's no escape. A shot of dread runs through me as I realize it's Jackson's. He leaps out of the car and bangs on my window. I open the window and he leans in. He doesn't look angry or surprised. He looks smug.

He whispers so that the girls can't hear. "Come on, Daph. Next time you make a plan, you might want to make sure it's not in front of one of the outdoor cameras." He shakes his head. Then he looks at the girls. "I'm so glad I stopped you in time. Mom's having delusions again. We need to get her help. Come on."

The cameras. How stupid ofme.

I get out of the car, numb, and follow him to his SUV. Another car pulls up, and I realize it's Chloe. Jackson turns to the girls.

"Chloe will take you home. I need to get Mom to the doctor."

"No, I wanna stay with Mom," Bella says.

Jackson crouches down so he's on her level. "We'll be home soon. I just need to talk to Mom alone first."

"Mom said you drugged her," Tallulah says, looking at him accusingly.

He tilts his head. "Your mom didn't even drink the coffee I brought her. She drank one of the lemonades I brought for you girls. Do you really think I would have drugged your drinks?"

Tallulah seems to consider this. He goeson.

"Honey, I know this is scary. But drug addicts blame others. It's not your mom's fault. She needs help."

"Jackson, come on, that's not…"

He gives me a look of steel. "If you continue in denial, I'm afraid this arrangement won't work."

My shoulders slump in defeat. "Girls, go ahead with Chloe. I'll be home later. It's okay."

They leave and I get into Jackson's car.

As we drive away, he reaches out and puts a hand on mine, squeezing it tightly. "I'm very disappointed, Daphne. I thought we were making such progress. I'm afraid you aren't well."

"Enough with the games, Jackson. You had all your bases covered with Amber showing up at the beach that day. But I'm going to call the authorities and expose her. Jax's mother is going to jail for her crimes back in Missouri. Maybe then she'll come clean."

He pulls the car over and shifts in his seat to look at me. "I wouldn't advise it. You do that, and I'll make sure that you never, ever, see those girls again. I'll alert DCF that you attempted to kidnap them. Chloe is a witness. You might even go to jail."

"What do you want from me, Jackson? I don't love you. Do you really think you can force me to be a loving wife again?"

"You may need some pharmaceutical help. I'll be letting the DCF investigator know that you've had some delusions and they'll mandate therapy for you if you're to continue living in the same house as the girls. I'm confident with some therapy and some medication you'll be the loyal, docile Daphne that I love so much."

"I'm not going back to that quack that lied for you all those years ago."

He shakes his head. "Dr. Graham is retired. Last I heard the man had only a few months to live. We'll go back to the woman we had that one session with, Hannah, right? You've already made quite an impression on her. Of course, once she realizes all those awful things you said about me were just a product of your delusions, she'll be quite relieved to know that I'm actually a good guy. I think we will develop a nice rapport, don't you?"

Great, Hannah the obtuse, who Jackson will have eating out of his hands. I lean back and close my eyes. He may have won this round, but the fight's not over.