Chapter 22
Eliza
“Is she gone?” Carmen asks against my chest.
“Yes,” I say, feeling horrible that this happened to her. My cousin has always been obsessive. That unfortunately extended to Dominic Oliver. She pulls back from me and we face Malcolm who looks as though his world has been taken from him. He fell hard for Danny. Who knows why? She’s uptight and agitating. I barely like her on a good day. She reeks of organization and sensibility. Look where that got her?
“Look, Malcolm, I’m not the type to give advice about love. But she is convinced that you are a fling. When she can’t get over you, she’ll come back,” Jake says. Malcolm chuckles.
“And I’ll want her?” Jake nods in understanding. Now that his sister has thoroughly screwed up, he can’t really defend her.
“It doesn’t matter,” Carmen says glumly. “Chelsea told me to tell her how I really felt about Dominic and I didn’t listen.” Jake shakes his head at my cousin’s ridiculousness. But I can’t help but think if you snooze you lose. That’s why I grab opportunities before they fly away. This very reason is why I’m standing in Malcolm’s living room. Jake may not want to see Dana, but I do. Mom and Dad are back at their hotel arguing. Dad most definitely doesn’t approve of her slapping me across the face. He’s also furious with me for punching her. My response hadn’t been the brightest. But that woman slapped me. She isn’t my mother and never acted like one. All of the ways that she has made my life miserable when dad wasn’t around. It makes perfect sense now. She hates me because her husband had an affair. The thought fills me with rage. Dad left me alone with a woman who didn’t even want me. What did he think would happen? Days of being locked in the punishment room causes nausea to coat my tongue. All of those lonely hours that I felt like I hadn’t been enough for my mother. It all makes perfect sense. She never wanted me.
“Carmen, despite what you think, you’ll get over him,” Malcolm says and my cousin gives him a hopeful look. Because I’m not one to waste time I say, “You’re not coming with me, Jake?”
“Eliza, Dawn is my mother. I don’t need to go seek out a woman that just let me go.” His response is predictable. Dawn Sanchez is the sweetest woman ever. She’s the type that will listen to your problems and bake your favorite dessert for your birthday. Ironically, I use to wish that she could be my mother.
“Carmen, what about you?” I ask. She smiles at me.
“Sorry Eliza, I’m not eighteen yet,” she reminds me. If Nathan doesn’t come along, I’m going to be all alone. The thought of visiting her by myself gives me the chills. I’ll have nothing to say to the woman.
“What’s this about?” Malcolm asks as he drags his fingers through his hair. Thankfully, Jake gives him a quick rundown.
“You’re going to ask my cousin to come?” Malcolm realizes. I nod. He sighs.
“My aunt and uncle aren’t going to like it,” he warns. My boyfriend’s parents can’t stand me. Whenever I come to visit, they pretend that I’m not there. Part of me hopes that the relationship will improve. But I can’t even get my own father to like me. The odds of winning the approval of two strangers are highly unlikely. After Malcolm’s outburst, no one seems to know what to say. Let’s face it, one of us are exactly friends with Malcolm. Danny kept him to herself. Jake and I barely talk. And let’s not forget about Jake and Carmen. He likes her well enough but they don’t really run in the same circles. In hopes of making this less awkward, I sit down on the soft couch. Jake and Carmen follow suit and Peter sighs. Honestly, I had forgotten that he was here.
“I’ll be in my room. Homework is calling my name,” he says before leaving us alone. Moments later, the front door opens and closes and I think that Peter has left the house. But then boots clamp against the kitchen floor and he is here. My heart fills with joy and relief when Nathan stands in the doorway. His dark hair is wild and his eyes are filled with fatigue. I launch myself at him like a rocket and he wraps his thick arms around me and I get on my toes to plant a gentle kiss on his lips. I breathe in his scent and squeeze him tight. He is my rock. I know that for sure.
“Hey,” he greets before kissing the top of my head.
“I need you,” I say against his chest. His arms tighten like protective bands and in that moment I know that I will be safe with him.
“What’s wrong, Eliza?” he asks. I pull back from him and caress his chin with my fingertip.
“I need you to come with me,” I blurt out.
“Where?” he asks.
“I don’t know yet. Okay, let me start from the beginning. My mother isn’t my real mother.” His mouth opens wide.
“Who’s you’re real mother?” he asks.
“Dana Johnson. She wrote me a letter and I want to see her. But the problem is that if Dad finds out that she has contacted me, he will make her life miserable. Apparently, he has gotten people fired before,” I explain. Nathan’s eyes grow dark with anger.
“So he bullied a woman into giving her daughter up?” he roars. Oh, my Nathan, he’s so easy to rile. I want to laugh at his thunderous expression. How often does the tick in his jaw make an appearance? I kiss his jaw and rub his shoulder.
“I want to see her. But I don’t want dad to find out,” I say. Seriously, I’m many things, but I’m not selfish. I can’t book a flight to where ever the woman is from and spend a few weeks there. Dad will definitely suspect something. The best thing for me to do is drive. Luckily, Dad gave me a range rover for my nineteenth birthday. He isn’t crazy enough to put a tracker in the car. I know that for sure. But he will keep track of my spending habits. I guess I’ll be hitting up an ATM before I drive.
“What do you propose?” he slowly asks.
“That you and I take a road trip.” Nathan’s eyes light up and he smirks. He knows that this will be a perfect time for him to take a road trip. He doesn’t start college until next fall. His father made a deal with Nathan after he graduated high school. For two years he can work and figure out what he really wants to do. But he would have to eventually “Wise up” and get an education. I’m not sure he has made up his mind yet. I have. Next year, I’m going to study pre-med. Wait until my mother hears that. Her idea of an education is going to law school. She won’t be happy to learn that I intend on becoming a pediatrician. But Dad will be happy that I have finally decided on something.
“Uncle Ben will see through this,” Carmen says. And that’s approximately when I remember that we aren’t alone. I turn to look at her.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“You love Chelsea. She’s the reason why you aren’t in school right now. Why would you suddenly take off?” she asks.
“Crap,” I mutter as my heart sinks. I’ve decided to put school off until next fall so that I could be close to Chelsea. Dad will find it funny that I’m suddenly gallivanting through the country with my boyfriend.
“Get married,” Carmen blurts. Nathan and I stare at her. She sighs as if the idea is just so simple.
“What?” is the only thing that comes out of my mouth?
“If you get hitched you can travel for your honey moon,” she reasons.
“Carmen, a wedding is forever,” Malcolm argues. His dark eyes are filled with worry and concern.
“I’ll do it,” Nathan says and my heart flutters. He will marry me if it’s what I need to go through with this.
“I’m in. What do we need to do?”
“Eliza, why can’t you guys be engaged? Maybe the trip can…” Malcolm stops speaking when Carmen shakes her head.
“This is unfortunately the only way. Without a marriage, you don’t get an inheritance. Without that, you can’t protect your mother if your father finds out,” she says gently. Nathan and I are both staring at each other. We have been together for two months. But I knew the moment that I saw him that he was the one. So what if we get married four years too early. Besides, weddings aren’t permanent. If things don’t work out, I have a way out. It seems that Nathan is thi
nking the same thing so he nods his agreement.
“I’m not eloping,” Nathan tells me and I nod.
“Your mother will be furious. I vote that we have a small ceremony at church. Carmen is my maid of honor,” I say and she smirks and claps her hands. Nathan frowns and looks at Malcolm He nods.
“Let me go get the ring,” Nathan offers before giving me a swift kiss and leaving the room. So it’s all settled. I’m getting married and will travel by car to see my birth mother. I will get to know her and will figure things out from there. I sigh and join Carmen on the couch.
“Eliza, are you sure about this?” she asks.
“What’s the harm in getting married? If it doesn’t work out, we can split,” I say. Malcolm glares at me.
“Eliza, marriage is serious. Don’t forget that.” I nod in agreement and pull my phone out of my purse. Then, Carmen shakes her head and gives me her phone.
“You need to buy a disposable cell phone,” she tells me. I nod. Dad can’t trace that. She calls Dana and passes me the phone. My heart is beating as the phone rings.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice says.
“Is this Dana?” I ask.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Eliza.” Dana pauses and sucks in a sharp breath before speaking.
“Oh, you got the letter,” she says.
“Listen, I had no idea about you. I want to come see you,” I announce.
“Really? Your father. He won’t allow that,” the woman squeaks.
“I know. That’s why he won’t know. Trust me, I have a plan,” I assure her.
“Oh.”
“I will buy a disposable phone and call you only from that number,” I tell her.
“This isn’t your number?” she asks.
“No. It isn’t,” I tell her.
“You’re a smart girl,” the woman says in a tone that’s full of pride. That makes me smile.
“I have to go. But I’ll call you soon for an address,” I tell her. We say goodbye and I look at Malcolm.
“She’s a lot nicer than my mother,” is the only thing that I can say. Everyone smiles.
“You should probably tell your parents about the wedding tomorrow,” Carmen suggests.
“What about you?” I ask, not thinking that she will be okay.
“I’ll be fine. Since Dominic isn’t up for grabs anymore, I figure that I will concentrate on something else,” Carmen declares. Jake, who has been silent throughout all of this, stares at me.
“Is this worth seeing her?” he gently asks.
“Yes, it is. And Jake, you’re more than welcome to tag along,” I tell him. Jake shakes his head.
“Just tell her I say hi. When you get back, I will talk to my parents about the possibility of seeing her. I don’t want them talking to Uncle Ben and tipping off that they now,” he says.
Good idea,” I agree. Nathan enters the room and grins.
“Eliza, will you come outside with me?” he asks. Although I know what’s going to happen, I stand and follow Nathan into the night.
The End of book one
Author’s note:
Thank you for reading ESCAPE, book one in the Philips’ Family Saga.
I’d love to hear what you think! Feel free to review the book and
Recommend it to friends. The second book in this series is called
SALVAGE and is available for download. If you have any questions,
Please contact me.
Email:
[email protected] Blog: debbiescivil.blog.com
Twitter: @debbiecivil
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