Happy 4th of July to those celebrating today. I'm currently hiding in bed from all responsibilities until I absolutely have to go to another BBQ. Would you believe an only child like me married a man with 11 siblings? I'm tired already LOL.
Thanks to Fran, Dani, Ariel, and Gemma!
I try to act like I didn't sneak the wooden box beneath my clothes and place it among the butterfly bushes before he came home from work.
I don't draw attention to myself; acting too happy to have him home would tip him off, and being too dismissive would find me at the other end of his fists.
He's in a good mood, which works out better for me since he's too preoccupied with the high of a successful workday to scrutinize my every move.
I try to focus on him and the movie he puts on to watch, but all I can think about it is the note to Rose. The paper for Alice with Rose's address on it. How I'm going to convince Alice to go to the address - go there and have Rose save me.
What will Rose do?
After she had seen him throw me down the stairs at her apartment one time years ago, she realized he knew Rose was aware of who he really was.
And she retreated like he knew she would.
Would she remain hidden? When I finally get the courage to leave, would she turn her back on me out of fear?
There is only one way to find out.
The next morning, when his car pulls out of the driveway, I do what I normally do. I can almost hear the cameras move to catch my every move. I wash the floors even though no dirt has been dragged in since I washed them yesterday. I vacuum his office. I dust. I cover our bed with fresh sheets.
All the while, I watch the clock. I busy myself for the cameras, but inside I'm dying, counting the minutes until I step outside. It's part of my routine - clean the house, eat lunch, then outside chat with Alice about our love of agriculture.
Nothing can seem out of place.
Nothing can seem out of the ordinary.
On camera, he will be satisfied by what he sees. He'll see me head over to Alice as she walks by. He'll see me point towards the butterfly bush, motioning Alice to crouch down to inspect the roots beneath the surface.
He won't see my shaking hands. He won't see the wooden box mocking me as I whisper to Alice on the other side of the purple butterfly bush.
"Take this to my sister. Please." Even though I'm across the front yard from the cameras and my voice won't register on the surveillance, I whisper in the hot sun, my words serious. I point to the wooden box still buried in the bushes.
Alice's eyes are as wide as saucers.
"What do you mean -"
"Please. Her address is inside. She lives on the other side of town, maybe ten minutes from here."
Recognizing the urgency in my voice, Alice looks at me with her eyes full of worry.
"Bella, are you okay?"
I shake my head quickly.
"No." I answer, surprising myself with my own admission. "But I can be if you take this. Hide it. He's watching."
"Okay." She only hesitates for a moment before she reaches for the box and hides it beneath her shirt.
"Bring it back tomorrow with Rose's response, and we'll put it back in the same spot."
She nods in understanding, and we chat for a few more minutes once we stand back up. On camera, nothing seems odd.
The next day, when Alice and I are talking again in the yard, I reach down to read the letter Alice had gotten from Rose.
It's the hardest thing I have to do - read her response and act like I never have.
But the words on the paper almost make me burst into tears.
Stay put for now. I have a plan.
FINALLY! See you tomorrow!