Chapter Six
When I got back to the house, everything was dark. Mom must have gone to bed, I thought. Trevor's car still wasn't in the driveway when I returned. I was thankful for that. I didn't want to run into him again tonight.
Greg and I had talked awhile longer at the cave and we came to a decision. Greg told me we had to leave tonight before we changed our minds or our parents tried to lie to us again. I never knew how little faith he had in his parents. He had sounded so bitter when he talked about them tonight. I wondered if there was something he wasn't telling me.
I went up to my room and took out my two duffle bags as quietly as I could. Greg and I were going to leave Duncan tonight in his pickup truck. We were going to drive straight through to London. I had to admit I was nervous about meeting Fred Jamieson.
I stuffed a few pairs of jeans and one skirt in one bag along with my toothbrush, hairbrush and other toiletries. In the other bag I put three sweatshirts, two T-shirts and a couple sweaters. I didn't know how long we would be gone; I wanted to make sure I would have everything I needed. I opened the drawer to my bedside table and pushed the back out of it. I had actually made the little cubby back there because Colin would always sneak up here and take my money. I had even caught Tyler looking around for some change once. Sometimes I felt like I no privacy whatsoever in this house. I was about to walk out the door when I caught a glimpse of my father's leather photo album sitting on the dresser. As an after thought I grabbed it and put in my bag.
I walked down stairs as slowly as I could so the steps wouldn't creak too loudly. I started to move past the den but I caught a glimpse of someone sitting on one of the couches. I froze and looked slowly into the room. I let my breath out a little when I saw it was Tyler. I was about to keep moving to the front door when he called out my name. My heart was pounding against my chest as I turned around to look at him.
"Yes?" I managed to choke out. I hoped he couldn't tell how nervous I was.
"I'm sorry about what I did," he said. He was just sitting there staring straight ahead at nothing. All the lights were off. There were still beer cans all over the floor but it looked better than it had.
"Tyler, you don't have to apologize, I'm glad you came in when you did, it could have been bad," I told him.
"I shouldn't have shot your boyfriend," he said.
"No I guess you shouldn't have, but it will be okay," I said, "Thank you for helping me," I didn't know if I should keep going towards the door. I couldn't tell if he knew I was leaving or not.
I started to move again. I figured I had to go now or I wouldn't have a chance again.
"I'll miss you," Tyler called out. My heart stopped for a millisecond before I called back to him, "I'll miss you too," and I opened the door and left Tyler alone in the house.
I hurried to the end of the driveway where Greg said he would be waiting for me. I saw a pair of headlights coming towards me. They blinded me for a minute but then my eyes adjusted to the light and I saw it wasn't Greg's pickup truck; it was Trevor's car. I threw myself to the ground at the side of the driveway. I managed to crawl behind the trees and I watched Trevor's car pass by and slowly stop in front of the house. He stumbled out of the car and went up to the front door. He looked almost drunk. I just prayed that Tyler didn't tell him I had left. They couldn't know where I was going. I stood up and hurried to the end of the driveway. Greg pulled up a second later. He got out and grabbed my bags.
"I almost got caught twice," I told him after we were driving and safely away from my house. I didn't tell him that Tyler knew I was leaving, I didn't know if he would be angry.
"All that matters is that we both got away," he said. He was staring intently at the road ahead.
We drove for a long time. Along country roads and through small towns. We didn't talk much; we already both knew what we were going to do. We were going to get to London and get a hotel room right away. Then we would go to Fred's house the next day and speak with him about all our questions. The only thing Greg and I hadn't discussed was what we gong to do once we knew the truth about everything. Would we go back to Duncan and face our parents? Or would we stay in London with Fred?
I was nervous about what we were doing. I didn't know if this would help anything. I was started to have second thoughts when Greg put his hand over mine.
"It's going to be okay Hope, I know it will," he said.
He was smiling faintly.
I trusted Greg. He was the only person in my life that I trusted fully. I knew he would do whatever he could for me and protect me at all costs. I knew I was safe with him. I fell asleep against the car door still holding Greg's hand.
When I woke up it was starting to get light again. We were coming into a town that seemed to be a little bit bigger than Duncan. I looked over at Greg. He looked less awake and intense.
"Good morning," I said to him. His hand was still on mine. It had been there all night.
"Hey," he said, he looked over and smiled at me quickly.
"Do you want me to drive?" I asked.
"No, no, I'm okay," he said. But his eyes were drooping and he was slouching down close to the steering wheel.
"Greg, you're tired, let me drive," I insisted.
He just shook his head, "I didn't want to admit this but we are going to have to get a hotel, we can't drive all the way to London in one trip," he said.
"Okay, that's fine," I said. I didn't tell Greg this, but I was actually happy to stop for a while. I wanted some tome to think about what I was going to say to Fred.
We pulled into the parking lot of a hotel called: LIGHTHOUSE INN. It seemed nice enough. I waited in the car while Greg went into the office to get us a room.
He came back with one key. I was surprised he hadn't got us separate rooms.
"I thought we could save money by getting one room, there are two beds," he explained. I just nodded.
We each took a bag into the room and Greg collapsed on one of the double beds. He was snoring in seconds. I sighed and tried to turn on the tiny television. But the only channel it has was channel ten and the show was Touched By an Angel.
I got up and went into the bathroom. I took a quick shower, trying to be as quiet as possible. But when I went back into the room and dropped my toothbrush on the uncarpeted floor Greg didn't even stir. He was out cold.
I didn't know what to do after I was all dressed and ready. I had nowhere to go. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep since I had slept in the car.
I pictured my mother waking up this morning and going into my room. She would find in empty, the bed un slept in. She would be hysterical with worry. I felt a pang of guilt as I pictured her rowing the boat out to the cave to see if I had spent the night there. She would call Carly and Erin but they wouldn't know where I was. And they would know Greg and I had left together when they found Greg's bed empty and his clothes gone. What would they do? Would they call the police?
I grabbed my purse and went out side. It was a nice sunny day. A lot warmer than the day before had been. I had seen a pay phone outside the office when we had first arrived.
I knew at the back of my mind that Greg would be furious if he found out I was calling home. But I couldn't do this to my mother; I had to tell her I was all right.
It's just a quick call, I told myself, I won't tell her where we are going.
I put in a couple quarters and dialed my number. My mother picked up after half a ring.
"Hello?" she sounded desperate.
"Mom," I said.
"Hope! Where are you? I thought something happened to you. Erin is beside herself with worry over Greg. When I found you bed empty I almost had a heart attack. How could you do this to me?" she raged.
"You? How could I do this to you?" I said, trying to stay calm, "Don't you care how I feel right now? I called you to let you know we are both okay, I didn't want you to worry,"
"Well I am worried, I need you to come home so we can talk," Mom said, she sounded angry now.
"I'm not coming home, tell Colin and Tyler I miss them and tell Trevor not to miss me too much," I heard her gasp in surprise at me calling Trevor by his first name before I slammed the phone down.
I regretted calling her now. I should have listened to my head and not my heart. I had to learn to control my instincts. I couldn't let Greg know I had called.
I spotted a Tim Horton's across the street and I crossed quickly. I could really use a coffee and my stomach was rumbling with hunger.
As I sat at a table with my coffee and muffin I couldn't help wondering if we were really doing the right thing.
"I guess we'll find out when we finally see Fred Jamieson," I said to myself. But would he really have all the answers we were hoping for?
When I got back to the house, everything was dark. Mom must have gone to bed, I thought. Trevor's car still wasn't in the driveway when I returned. I was thankful for that. I didn't want to run into him again tonight.
Greg and I had talked awhile longer at the cave and we came to a decision. Greg told me we had to leave tonight before we changed our minds or our parents tried to lie to us again. I never knew how little faith he had in his parents. He had sounded so bitter when he talked about them tonight. I wondered if there was something he wasn't telling me.
I went up to my room and took out my two duffle bags as quietly as I could. Greg and I were going to leave Duncan tonight in his pickup truck. We were going to drive straight through to London. I had to admit I was nervous about meeting Fred Jamieson.
I stuffed a few pairs of jeans and one skirt in one bag along with my toothbrush, hairbrush and other toiletries. In the other bag I put three sweatshirts, two T-shirts and a couple sweaters. I didn't know how long we would be gone; I wanted to make sure I would have everything I needed. I opened the drawer to my bedside table and pushed the back out of it. I had actually made the little cubby back there because Colin would always sneak up here and take my money. I had even caught Tyler looking around for some change once. Sometimes I felt like I no privacy whatsoever in this house. I was about to walk out the door when I caught a glimpse of my father's leather photo album sitting on the dresser. As an after thought I grabbed it and put in my bag.
I walked down stairs as slowly as I could so the steps wouldn't creak too loudly. I started to move past the den but I caught a glimpse of someone sitting on one of the couches. I froze and looked slowly into the room. I let my breath out a little when I saw it was Tyler. I was about to keep moving to the front door when he called out my name. My heart was pounding against my chest as I turned around to look at him.
"Yes?" I managed to choke out. I hoped he couldn't tell how nervous I was.
"I'm sorry about what I did," he said. He was just sitting there staring straight ahead at nothing. All the lights were off. There were still beer cans all over the floor but it looked better than it had.
"Tyler, you don't have to apologize, I'm glad you came in when you did, it could have been bad," I told him.
"I shouldn't have shot your boyfriend," he said.
"No I guess you shouldn't have, but it will be okay," I said, "Thank you for helping me," I didn't know if I should keep going towards the door. I couldn't tell if he knew I was leaving or not.
I started to move again. I figured I had to go now or I wouldn't have a chance again.
"I'll miss you," Tyler called out. My heart stopped for a millisecond before I called back to him, "I'll miss you too," and I opened the door and left Tyler alone in the house.
I hurried to the end of the driveway where Greg said he would be waiting for me. I saw a pair of headlights coming towards me. They blinded me for a minute but then my eyes adjusted to the light and I saw it wasn't Greg's pickup truck; it was Trevor's car. I threw myself to the ground at the side of the driveway. I managed to crawl behind the trees and I watched Trevor's car pass by and slowly stop in front of the house. He stumbled out of the car and went up to the front door. He looked almost drunk. I just prayed that Tyler didn't tell him I had left. They couldn't know where I was going. I stood up and hurried to the end of the driveway. Greg pulled up a second later. He got out and grabbed my bags.
"I almost got caught twice," I told him after we were driving and safely away from my house. I didn't tell him that Tyler knew I was leaving, I didn't know if he would be angry.
"All that matters is that we both got away," he said. He was staring intently at the road ahead.
We drove for a long time. Along country roads and through small towns. We didn't talk much; we already both knew what we were going to do. We were going to get to London and get a hotel room right away. Then we would go to Fred's house the next day and speak with him about all our questions. The only thing Greg and I hadn't discussed was what we gong to do once we knew the truth about everything. Would we go back to Duncan and face our parents? Or would we stay in London with Fred?
I was nervous about what we were doing. I didn't know if this would help anything. I was started to have second thoughts when Greg put his hand over mine.
"It's going to be okay Hope, I know it will," he said.
He was smiling faintly.
I trusted Greg. He was the only person in my life that I trusted fully. I knew he would do whatever he could for me and protect me at all costs. I knew I was safe with him. I fell asleep against the car door still holding Greg's hand.
When I woke up it was starting to get light again. We were coming into a town that seemed to be a little bit bigger than Duncan. I looked over at Greg. He looked less awake and intense.
"Good morning," I said to him. His hand was still on mine. It had been there all night.
"Hey," he said, he looked over and smiled at me quickly.
"Do you want me to drive?" I asked.
"No, no, I'm okay," he said. But his eyes were drooping and he was slouching down close to the steering wheel.
"Greg, you're tired, let me drive," I insisted.
He just shook his head, "I didn't want to admit this but we are going to have to get a hotel, we can't drive all the way to London in one trip," he said.
"Okay, that's fine," I said. I didn't tell Greg this, but I was actually happy to stop for a while. I wanted some tome to think about what I was going to say to Fred.
We pulled into the parking lot of a hotel called: LIGHTHOUSE INN. It seemed nice enough. I waited in the car while Greg went into the office to get us a room.
He came back with one key. I was surprised he hadn't got us separate rooms.
"I thought we could save money by getting one room, there are two beds," he explained. I just nodded.
We each took a bag into the room and Greg collapsed on one of the double beds. He was snoring in seconds. I sighed and tried to turn on the tiny television. But the only channel it has was channel ten and the show was Touched By an Angel.
I got up and went into the bathroom. I took a quick shower, trying to be as quiet as possible. But when I went back into the room and dropped my toothbrush on the uncarpeted floor Greg didn't even stir. He was out cold.
I didn't know what to do after I was all dressed and ready. I had nowhere to go. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep since I had slept in the car.
I pictured my mother waking up this morning and going into my room. She would find in empty, the bed un slept in. She would be hysterical with worry. I felt a pang of guilt as I pictured her rowing the boat out to the cave to see if I had spent the night there. She would call Carly and Erin but they wouldn't know where I was. And they would know Greg and I had left together when they found Greg's bed empty and his clothes gone. What would they do? Would they call the police?
I grabbed my purse and went out side. It was a nice sunny day. A lot warmer than the day before had been. I had seen a pay phone outside the office when we had first arrived.
I knew at the back of my mind that Greg would be furious if he found out I was calling home. But I couldn't do this to my mother; I had to tell her I was all right.
It's just a quick call, I told myself, I won't tell her where we are going.
I put in a couple quarters and dialed my number. My mother picked up after half a ring.
"Hello?" she sounded desperate.
"Mom," I said.
"Hope! Where are you? I thought something happened to you. Erin is beside herself with worry over Greg. When I found you bed empty I almost had a heart attack. How could you do this to me?" she raged.
"You? How could I do this to you?" I said, trying to stay calm, "Don't you care how I feel right now? I called you to let you know we are both okay, I didn't want you to worry,"
"Well I am worried, I need you to come home so we can talk," Mom said, she sounded angry now.
"I'm not coming home, tell Colin and Tyler I miss them and tell Trevor not to miss me too much," I heard her gasp in surprise at me calling Trevor by his first name before I slammed the phone down.
I regretted calling her now. I should have listened to my head and not my heart. I had to learn to control my instincts. I couldn't let Greg know I had called.
I spotted a Tim Horton's across the street and I crossed quickly. I could really use a coffee and my stomach was rumbling with hunger.
As I sat at a table with my coffee and muffin I couldn't help wondering if we were really doing the right thing.
"I guess we'll find out when we finally see Fred Jamieson," I said to myself. But would he really have all the answers we were hoping for?
