Page 68 of Tangled
“I told you before that I’m pretty good at knowing what’s important. You’re important. Our baby is important. The rest we’ll deal with. I also learned a lot by watching my mom and dad. They had to raise Mitch and Cody, neither of whom was an angel. They managed to keep their sanity while also keeping them both alive without hemming them in too much. As much as I sometimeswantedmy brothers to bedifferent, as an adult I wouldn’t have them any other way. It’s been a good lesson in picking your battles and learning to let life unfold.”
“Very Zen of you.”
He chuckled. “I don’t know about that. I can tell you, though, that if something were to threaten my family, especially you or the baby, you’d see a different side of me.” He paused as he dug his thumb into the arch of her foot. “We’re not that different, you and me. You may be anxious now, but you don’t have the kind of job you had for as long as you had it without being able to keep some perspective and a cool head.”
She tilted her head and looked at him. “It’s weird to think about my former job. I’ve only been stateside for a little morethan four months, but that’s the longest I’ve been in the country since I graduated with my nursing degree.”
He considered her words, then asked a question he’d thought about often but hadn’t given voice to. “Did you do aid work because you liked it or because it gave you some sort of escape?”
She didn’t pretend to not know what he was asking. Some people traveled the world constantly for adventure, for education, for work. But sometimes, they did it to run away. To escape from something or someone. Or in Scarlett’s case, to escape from a lot of “someones.”
“I don’t know the answer to that, as it’s not black or white,” she said. “I loved what I did and had some amazing, life-shaping experiences. I’ve seen things—both bad and good—that most people can’t even imagine. I’ve traveled to places many people don’t know exist or if they know, they still can’t pronounce it. And the nature and wildlife I’ve seen…” Her eyes took on a distant light, as if sifting through all her memories. “The world is a remarkable place,” she continued. “Filled with so much natural beauty. Timeless and ageless beauty. I used to like to watch the sunrise every morning. And every morning, especially when we worked in rural areas, I couldn’t help but wonder about the generations of people who came before me. The people who stood in the same spot and watched the same sun rise. As you said, it gives you a perspective on life that’s pretty special. Or at least I appreciate it.”
He heard a “but” coming, and he remained silent. A full minute passed before it came.
“But when I started, I was definitely running. Running from the neighborhood I grew up in and the violence there. Running from the death of my parents that I never gave myself time to mourn. It was easier to stay on the go than to slow down and risk having some of those demons catch up to me. I think, over the years, I’ve worked through a lot of the trauma of growingup where I did, including losing my parents the way I did. But I don’t know…getting pregnant, knowing I’m having a child of my own—thatwe’rehaving a child—is bringing some of it all back. I know our baby will grow up in a very different world than I did. I’m grateful for that, so grateful. But I also don’t know how to operate as a parent in this different world. The role models I had were great, but they were limited—by language, by culture, by finances. I want to be a good parent. I want to be a good partner. And in retrospect, I wonder if I’d slowed down a little bit more, led a more balanced life, if I’d feel more prepared?” Her gaze drifted toward the now-darkened sky visible through the slider. “Then again, is anyone ever really prepared for parenthood?”
He smiled and started to answer, but the ringing of her phone cut him off. She glanced at the number. “It’s Jessica,” she said before connecting the call and putting it on speaker.
“Are you all right?” she asked by way of answering.
“We’re all good. I’m at Gracie’s apartment with Luz,” Jessica answered. “And you can tell Chad, his shadow isn’t very discreet. He did a good job of blending in, but he still managed to stand out.”
“I don’t think Chad intended for him to be all that discreet,” Brad countered.
Jessica made an indecipherable sound. “Luz is thinking about moving into the apartment,” she said. “She told me that Gracie introduced her to a social worker who manages a clinic and shelter nearby. Luz likes her and has been staying there a couple of nights a week. She dislikes feeling like a charity case, though, so the idea of having her own place appeals to her. A place close enough that she can visit, but not have to take up a bed.” Jessica paused, then added, “For as much as Luz has been through in her life—as much as she’s going through—she has a strong sense of fairness and no interest in mooching off of anyone. I think choosing to be homeless was her way ofcoping with that trait. If she only has herself to take care of—no home, no pets, no friends—then she doesn’t have to worry about keeping her mental karmic scales in balance. She’d never be putting anyone out, so she didn’t need to feel guilty about not being able to reciprocate.”
“It’s hers if she wants it. You know that, right?” Scarlett said.
“Yes, and that’s what I’ve relayed to her. That Gracie would have wanted her to have it. She’ll have to figure out the finances for utilities and food, but I’m thinking the social worker might be able to help her. Get her on SSD or something like that.”
“That would be amazing. Do what you think is best, and if you need anything more from me, let me know,” Scarlett replied. “Gracie didn’t have much money, but there is a little. I’d intended to use it for Luz but hadn’t figured out the best way to do that. It’s there when she needs it.”
“Hold on,” Jessica said. They heard a muffled conversation before she returned. “Luz is going to check out the block, then come back and let me know if she wants to stay.”
“Thank you for doing this,” Scarlett said. “Gracie loved her sister. Their lives took them on separate paths, and they weren’t always close, but Gracie was always there for her, and they always loved each other.”
“If any good can come of this situation, then I’m happy to help,” Jessica answered.
“Speaking of the situation, have you learned anything?” Brad asked.
“Oh, yes,” Jessica replied. “Rathwell did track Luz down just as we’d theorized. He initially only wanted to know where Gracie lived. She used a PO for all her mail and bills and those sorts of things, so was more or less off the radar.”
“She was a very private woman,” Scarlett confirmed.
“Luz said she didn’t like him. Not because he arrested her—which she remembered—but because, as she said, his eyes weredark. And she didn’t mean the color. She told me he reminded her of the bad ghosts from the stories she heard as a child. I’m not sure which stories those were, but from what I gathered, they were a Mexican version of Grimm’s fairy tales—the darker ones. Not the child-friendly, later versions.”
“So how did he manage it?” Scarlett asked.
“The old-fashioned way, terror tactics,” she answered. “He threatened her with more jail time, then threatened to arrest Gracie. She never said what it was that finally got to her, but I think he triggered her PTSD from the sexual abuse she suffered growing up. She eventually gave him the address and the key. But as soon as he left, she tried to find Gracie to tell her. It took her a day, but she managed to get to a phone and leave a message. She wanted Gracie to know and hoped she’d change her locks. But Luz didn’t speak to her so doesn’t know if she ever got the message. For as damaged as her mind is, she has some very lucid moments.”
“At least we now know for certain that he had access to Gracie’s place. Do we know if he ever took advantage of it, though? Have you had a chance to talk to Ruth Cowen, the neighbor?” Brad asked.
“That’s next on the agenda,” Jessica replied. “I didn’t want to rush anything with Luz, so as soon as she makes a decision, I’ll either get her settled here or take her back to her tent. I’ll talk with Ms. Cowen after that.”
“I haven’t heard from Ava today about whether Rathwell was in the station when Gracie went to bail Luz out. Based on what you told us, though, I think we’re safe in assuming he was,” Scarlett said.
“Ava got pulled into something else today and promised to check tomorrow. But, yeah, he made the connection somehow, and that’s a pretty good bet as to how,” Jessica said.
