Twenty-Four

        Where We Plot

        With Greenbrier behind me, I start to get nervous. I really have no idea what’s waiting for me where my family is. I don’t know what to expect or what I’m supposed to say. It’s clear my father is much, much worse but there’s nothing I can do to change it.

            In the distance ahead of me, dust kicks up. Squinting to see further, I see a car parked there that I vaguely recognize. My lips press into a thin line when I realize it’s blocking the road. With the ditches deep and holding a small amount of water on either side, there’s no way to get around. Going back is also not an option. I’d have to go through town again and take another set of back roads that I don’t know as well.

            Stones hit the sides of the Fastback as I step on the breaks, stopping only inches from the figure in front of me. Her arms are folded across her chest and her expression is blank. She doesn’t look the least bit intimidated by how angry and upset I am or the fact that I almost hit her, possibly on purpose.

            I roll down my window and barely lean my head out. “Move.”

            Lark shakes her head and saunters around to the passenger side of the car. I flick the lock button just as she grabs the handle and I fail. She opens the door and plops herself down beside me in the Mustang.

            “Lark,” I say in a warning tone.

            “Stevie,” she mocks, not looking at me. “What are you doing?”

            “You know what I’m doing.”

            Lark doesn’t move. “Yeah, you’re letting him win.”

            My grip tightens on the steering wheel. I open my mouth, quick to object but I can’t find the words. Lark is right and I can’t admit it.

            “You have the right idea, going there,” she continues. “But that’s only half the battle. You need a plan.”

            “Oh,” I reply sarcastically. “You mean the one where I save my mother and sister by showing up, defenseless?”

            Lark’s head snaps in my direction and her eyes are narrowed. “You have no idea how this is going to play out.”

            I turn my head away from her and drop my hands into my lap. “Get out,” I tell her half-heartedly.

            My best friend’s voice softens. “You may be helping your mother and Belle this time, Stevie, but what about all the times after this? Your dad isn’t okay,” she murmurs gently. “You don’t know what he’s going to not only them, but you. It’s never going to stop if you just give up and show up at his door. You need to save them. You need to save yourself.”

            Before she can see my tears I move my gaze to my window and watch the tall grass blow in the field beside us. Lark’s right but she doesn’t understand. Calling the police will just make my father run to who knows where.

            “That’s why we need a plan,” Lark says after I tell her. “Like a way to lead your father into a trap.”

            I face her again and shoot her a look. “We’re talking about my father. He may be crazy, but he’s not stupid.”

            Lark rolls her eyes. “I don’t mean like with a trail of chocolate and a box with a stick holding it up tied to string. I mean, just a general way to make sure we can get the police there in time. Do you think you could get him to stay in the house?”

            I lean back in my seat and chew on my bottom lip. Could I make sure we all stay in the house long enough for the police to come and get him? Could I make sure there was a way in that won’t be locked or barred off?

            “I can try,” I tell her honestly. “But I don’t know how well it will work.”

            Lark nods. “Okay. We’ll call the police two minutes after you get inside. That should be quick enough, right?”

            My face wrinkles in confusion. “We’ll?”

            Lark looks sheepish as she gestures towards her car, that I forgot she can’t drive, sitting in the middle of the road haphazardly. Carson is leaning against the back of it, barely out of sight.

            “My brother had to drive me,” she mutters, avoiding my eyes. “And Jacoby called me.”

            I feel my cheeks go red. “He called you?”

            Lark lets out a breath I didn’t realize she was holding. “Yeah. He said we needed to stop you and wouldn’t tell me why, but I kind of figured it out. He’s on his way here now.”

            My hands instantly fly back to the steering wheel. “Get out.”

            “Stevie,” Lark groans, throwing her hands in the air in front of her. “It’s not a big deal. He’s trying to stop you because he loves you. You just can’t keep running from your problems!” She tries to pry my hands off of the steering wheel but she fails and drops her own. “Calm down. It’s going to be fine.”  She gives me an assuring smile and links her arm through mine. “We’re best friends, Stevie. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

            “Yeah,” I mutter, checking the rear view mirror. Dirt clouds line the road behind us as a Camaro is speeding here, its engine rumbling. “You would.” Lark frowns and I take a deep breath. “Well, here we go,” I mumble before grabbing the door handle.

©

            I have to drive my own car so that my father thinks it’s only me coming. Lark and Carson park theirs on the side of the gravel road and climb into Jacoby’s, fighting for the back seat. I lead the way, constantly checking my mirror to find Jacoby staring right back at me, every time. I start to wonder if he’s even watching the road or just me.

            Rush’s Tom Sawyer blares through my speakers. The Fastback only gets three channels and has no IPod jack or even CD player, so I’m stuck with the classic rock songs, which as much as I hate to admit, I don’t mind. I’m pretty sure it’s so loud that everyone behind me can hear me but I don’t turn it down. Instead I keep turning it up every time I get scared, acting as if it can not only drown out every other sound, but also my thoughts.

            Country roads start turning into familiar paved streets, leading into the small town that I used to call home. Though I recognize everything, I feel out of place, like I never really lived here. And I guess to be honest, I never really did. My heart was always at my real home, back in Greenbrier at Greenwood Plantation. Maybe I never actually left.

            I slow to a stop on the edge of my street, making sure to be parked as far away from my house as I can. Behind me Jacoby does the same and he along with Lark and Carson climb out, meeting me at the back of the Mustang.

            “Let’s review,” Jacoby says sternly. Ever since he showed up he hasn’t said anything directly to me that wasn’t about our plan. Instead he hugged me and took every chance he could to put his arm around me or hold my hand. “Stevie, you’re going to make sure at least only entry point can be unlocked. Which one is that?”

            I feel like I’m on a TV show and Jacoby is the leader of our group. I guess he kind of is. He’s the only one who’s taken charge with such strength that it’s almost scaring me. “The back door.”

            “I’ll count two minutes,” Lark says next. “When it’s time Carson will call the police on his cell phone.”

            “Why two minutes?” I ask curiously, not thinking about it before.

            “Because your dad will be suspicious when you arrive,” Carson answers. His arms are folded across his chest and he looks tense. “When there’s not a wall of police officers behind you, he will probably calm down.”

            “I’ll be watching you.” Jacoby takes his hand in mine. “I’ll be right outside, making sure you’re safe. If anything happens, I’ll be right there, I promise.”

            I nod and gulp. I feel like this isn’t real. I always knew my father had problems after what happened to my mom, but I never thought I would be making a plan to arrest him. Reality sinks in and tears roll down my cheeks.

            “Stevie,” Lark sighs, cupping my cheek. “It’s going to be okay.”

            I turn my head away and stifle a sob. “I’m setting up my father for arrest. It’s not going to be okay.”

            Lark drops her hand and moves away, sending Jacoby a look I catch. She wants him to field this one. I don’t think Lark knows how.

            Jacoby turns me to face him and grabs my cheeks with both of his hands. He raises my head to face him and he bends over so our heads are level.

            “He hurt you, Stevie. He hurt your mother, hurt Belle. You’re doing the right thing. You’re making sure that they’re both going to be okay. You’re doing the right thing.” I shake my head and try to look away but Jacoby won’t let me. “When he’s gone, he can get help. You want him to get help, don’t you?”

            I nod and Jacoby wraps me in his arms. I’ve never felt him hug me this way before. Every inch of him is against me, holding me tightly in his chest. His head is between my neck and shoulder and mine is slightly lower than his.

            “I love you,” he murmurs, pulling away slightly so I can hear him.

            “I love you too,” I whisper as we move away.

            Carson and Lark are leaning against the hood of the Camaro, waiting. They both give me a small smile that though look unsure, comfort me anyways.

            I take a deep breath.

            “Let’s do this.”