Page 13 of Einar

Iwould have ...Rubyis mysister.

Herwords strike a chord within me because she’s right.Everythingshe just said is right andIknow it.

“Thenlet’s do this because that dick can’t touch us if we stick together.We’llrest and get you healed up, and then we’ll figure out our next steps.Butat some point, we’re going to discuss the ‘why’s’of you waiting so long, and the ‘what’trigger it took for you to finally say enough is enough.Fornow, enjoy these moments of peace.Youescaped, baby sister, and the hardest part is already behind you.Together, we’ll find our purpose in this world,Ipromise ya.”

Apparently, that’s all she has to say because she reaches over and turns the radio up, effectively ending our conversation.

I’mthankful for the reprieve.She’sgiven me a lot to think about.

But, if there’s one thingIknow about myself,Iwouldn’t ever go back toRobertvoluntarily unlessRuby’slife was in danger.That’stheonlyreasonIvoiced that option earlier.BecauseIknowRobertwould finally kill me.Mymiserable existence would end, andRubywould be free of the responsibility she feels toward me.It’smorbid, but true.Theburden on my sister would be gone… but considering how pissed off she is at me right now,Idon’t think shewantsto be unburdened.

Hourspass asRubydrives.Weboth made sure we went to the bathroom right before getting in the car so we wouldn’t have to stop for a while.Edithwas kind enough to pack us lunch, so we didn’t stop for a midday meal either.

I’mon edge when the truck stop finally comes into view.Notthat you could miss it.Thebuilding is huge and there were multiple signs informing drivers about it on the way here.I’vebeen counting down the miles with every sign we saw and my anxiety has done nothing but build with each passing mile.

Rubypulls into the parking lot and eases her way to the front of the building, winding theSUVthrough the overwhelming number of cars coming and going.Ittakes a bit, but she finally finds a spot out front and parks.Sittingthere, we both look around for several minutes.Rubystarts to unbuckle her seatbelt to get out when a woman approaches the driver’s side and motions to forRubyto roll the window down.

“RubyandRowan?”

“YesMa’am, that’s us.”

“I’mJanet.Edithcalled to let me know what you were driving.Ineed you to pull around back and park in spot number eleven.We’llleave your car here for a few days, just to make sure they’ve not found a way to track it.”

Thewoman,Janet, doesn’t wait for either one of us to say anything before she turns and walks off.Slidingthe gearshift into reverse,Rubychecks her mirrors before backing out and heading around back.Itdoesn’t take long for us to find the designated spot andRubypulls the front of the vehicle up, almost kissing the sign that says “eleven.”Theclick of a seatbelt gains my attention, andIseeRubyreleasing the strap across her chest as she gets ready to exit theSUV.

“Rowan, do you want me to go in alone, or are you coming with me?”

“Ifit’s okay,Iwould prefer to stay in the car instead.”

Itwould only draw unnecessary attention to us ifIwent in.I’mstill covered in bruises and hiding behind a hoodie in the bright sunlight will also draw attention our way.

“Iwon’t be long.”

Assoon asRubygets out,Iimmediately lock the doors.Itdoesn’t matter how reassuring she is.Irefuse to take any chances, especially whenI’malone.Rubyhesitates slightly before walking through the side door, her steps full of sassy confidence.

Iused to be like that.Fullof life with a pep to my step.

HowdidIend up like this?

Abroken, worthless woman who was too trusting and far too gullible.Iwas so desperate for love thatIallowed myself to be trapped by a soulless predator.

Wasit so wrong thatIdidn’t want to be alone, thatIdreamed of a loving husband and maybe a child or two?

I’mpulled from my inner self-flagellation when a turd-brown minivan pulls up in the spot next to me.Thecolor makes me crinkle my nose just a bit.

Whovoluntarily buys a vehicle the color of poo?

Reachingup to pull my hood further across my face, the woman gets out andIrecognizeJanet.Shecloses her door, walks to the back of the van andIsee the rear hatch go up.UnlockingtheSUV,Iease to the rear of theSUVand do the same.Janetglances over at me and her eyes linger on my battered face for a few seconds before she speaks. “Let’sget your stuff transferred into my van.Quickly, now!Weneed to be on our way as soon as possible.”

Noddingmy understanding,Iget to work moving bags from one car to the other.Rubycomes around the end of the car and snags the last bag, tossing it intoJanet’svan.Oncethat task is complete,Iwalk around the side of the van and get in the back seat.Relieffills me asIease down onto the seat.

I’mstill in quite a bit of pain and moving around too much takes a lot out of me.Lookingaround,Isee a comfy-looking blanket folded on the seat next to me.Easingmy hand out toward it,I’mpleased to find it feels just as comfortable as it looks.Snatchingit up,Iwrap it around myself trying to ward off the chill that seems to have settled deep inside me.Rubystarts talking as soon as she climbs into the passenger seat. “Janet, we swapped my car for this one a few states back.Doyou think it could be returned to its owner?Wedidn’t steal it, but the man knew we were in trouble.”

Yes, it would be wonderful if we could give that nice man his car back.Hesaved our lives and didn’t even know it.Janet’snext words ease a bit of the guiltI’vebeen carrying since we bought theSUV.Iknow we paid for it, but he could have gotten more money for it than what he sold it to us for.

“We’llsee what we can do in the next few daysYouguys sit back and relax because it’s a couple hours’ drive from here.”

Withoutwarning, seventies music fills the interior of the van.It’sa catchy, upbeat tune, andIcan feel my toes tapping along with the beat of the music.I’vealways loved music in most of its forms, butRobertexpressly forbade me from listening to anything unless it was a political speech he wanted me to study.

---