Chapter 2 – A new life
"Miss, Miss…wake up, the plane is landing and we need all tray tables in their upright positions." The Flight attendant was gently shaking her. Cat groggily looked at the lady, her clear blue eyes a bit glazed with sleep. Where am I thought Cat. She didn't recognize her surroundings, boy,that last strap hit was a doozy. She raised her hand to her head, under the thick, dark, auburn hair was a good size knot. Then she remembered everything. Was she really rid of Alex…were here girls ok? Looking over, she saw her oldest looking out the window as they landed, and her youngest was sleeping. Seemed an awful long flight just to go from Tennessee to Ohio. They had left at 10am, but it seemed to be dark now. Cat looked at her watch. Curiously, it had stopped. The plane touched down on the dark Tarmac, and disembarking procedures began. The few people that were on the airplane stood up and collected their things. Cat woke her girls, "We're here girls.", she said gently.
"Mommy, where are we?" Rachel was her oldest. Long blond hair, blue eyes, slender. She was a dancer, 8yrs old, so much like her father. Cat looked down at her and didn't know really what to say.
"I'm hungry mommy", Annabelle, her youngest at the age of 6, tugged on her skirt. "Can we go get something to eat?"
"Sure honey...let's stop at the ATM and mommy will get some money out. Then we will go find a place to eat and somewhere to sleep for the night".
She took the girls' hands and as they walked to the luggage pick-up Rachel looked up at her mom. "You still haven't told us where we are."
"Well, honey, we are in a place called Springwood, Ohio. It is a small town in Ohio. Hopefully we will be able to resettle here."
"Where is daddy?"
"Honey, daddy and I had an argument last night. He stormed out and said he never wanted to see us again. He threw the plane tickets at me and told me to take you and sissy, and get out. So, I did. Daddy never did love us girls….we were an inconvenience. You understand don't you?"
Annabelle looked at her mom with tears in her eyes; "You mean daddy didn't really love us? Is that why you always seem to be hurting mommy?"
"Yes Anna, but that is all over now. Mommy is getting a new chance at life…so we are finally going to be happy." Cat looked at her children, but didn't add what was on her mind. I hope.
Cat looked around and located the closest ATM machine. Walking over to it, she put her card in and gave a resigned sigh. Not much in there she thought. Alex would have wiped it out with the drinking binge he went on last night. She checked her balance, withdrew enough money for some food and a cheap hotel, and then went to get her receipt. Wanting to know what her balance was going to be after the withdrawals, she was floored to see that it hadn't changed. In fact, it has grown by the amount she withdrew. Thinking it was from stress, she dismissed it, deciding she would check it out with a branch of her bank tomorrow. Withdrawing $200.00 should have left her with $200.00 more in the bank…at least that is what her balance before the receipt had shown.
"Mommy, I'm hungry and sleepy…when can we eat."
"Let's go over to the Café and get something." Cat and her girls walked to the café, where they sat down and ordered. The kids and she ate, and Rachel looked at her mom, alarmed.
"Mommy, why is that man over there staring at us?" Rachel brought her mom out of a daze. She was pointing over Cat's shoulder. Cat looked around and about choked. There HE was. Watching her and the girls. Why was no one else seeing this? He raised his gloved hand and waved. Cat closed her eyes, willing herself not to show how startled she was. When she opened them back up, she saw that the man that was standing there was not who she thought it was. It was an Airport security guard.
The security guard walked over, a look of concern on his face. "Ma'am, are you ok? You look terribly tired".
"I'm fine, thank you for asking."
"Well, if there is anything we can do for you here at the airport…just let us know."
"Actually", said Cat, "I could use some have a large amount of luggage", Cat pointed to the luggage cart that the suitcases were on, "and I don't know where to get a taxi here, or where to stay".
"No, problem, ma'am. We will have one arranged for you, just wait here."
About ten minutes later, the security guard found Cat and her daughters. They were finishing up their meal, as he walked up to her. "We got you a room at the local hotel, and there is a taxi waiting for you, your luggage is loaded".
"Thank you very much sir", Cat shook his hand. She gathered her girls, and as she was walking off, the guard stopped her. "Hey, lady. I don't know if you know this, but kids, well, just take care of your girls. I wouldn't want to see them hurt. You might want to stop by the 24hr clinic to get them a Rx of Hypnocil". Cat looked at him strangely. "Ok, I will consider that sir. Let's go girls".
Trying hard to smile, she ushered her girls to the waiting taxi.
Annabelle had just drifted off to sleep; Rachel was still looking intently at her mother. "Mommy is there something wrong that you just aren't telling us."
"No, honey, I just have a lot on my mind. Things will be better in the morning. We will find the home school umbrella, get you a tutor, and mommy will find a new job. Then we will look for a permanent place to live. One that has a room just your own. Everything will be ok".
Rachel looked at her mom for a little while longer, and then slid under the covers beside her sister. "Mommy, that man, he is going to take care of us now...isn't he?"
What could her daughter be talking about? Did she know? What are you talking about Rachel? Cat looked at her daughter, but she had fallen into a deep, comfortable sleep.
Cat sighed. Looking at her daughters made her wonder what she was doing. Maybe this is all just a dream, Alex beat me so bad, I am just dreaming it, but no, she was actually there, and it was happening. Never were dreams this real. Shaking herself back to "reality" Cat got up and went to take a shower. She brushed her teeth, and finally sleepy, lay down in the bed beside the girls. Soon, she was in a deep sleep herself.
Cat woke up alone. The room was cold, and the bed she was laying on was old and dusty. She sat up and looked around. What was going on? , she thought. Where am I? That's when she heard the low, gravely chuckle. It was all around her. Jumping up, she whirled around…"Where are you!" , she screamed.
"Right here!", was the reply. Suddenly she felt someone behind her, whispering in her ear. Her whole body shuddered. God, Alex used to do that when they first got married. Always did make her melt. She felt strong hands on her arms, keeping her from turning around. When she glanced down at the hands holding her, one was gloved.
"Yes, my dear, it is me. So happy that you could make it. Did you get my little gift?"
Sensing Cat's bewilderment he chuckled again.
"I couldn't have my dearest penniless could I? I also couldn't have your bank, or anyone else suspect what is going on. Yes, you are in a "fictional" place, but it is not really fictional. It is just not in anyone's memory anymore. Government wiped everyone's memory."
Freddy slowly turned Cat around. "I see you are confused. Let me help you understand."
Suddenly Cat and Freddy were sitting in a nice living room, a warm fire was crackling in the fireplace, and there was a bottle of red wine sitting on the coffee table. Freddy was there, in a smoking jacket, pipe in hand, looking like a complete gentleman. Odd to see him that way, thought Cat. Gesturing at the place beside him, Freddy looked at her. "So, you want to know the real story?"
Tentatively Cat sat down. "Sure", she said.
"Well, listen up, and listen well. I will only tell this once, and then I have, um…work…to do."
