Running for my life

Tea and Lies

Chapter six

I felt a cold hand touch my shoulder, and I jumped it pulled me back into the prison. I looked up, and he was standing next to me. A chill ran down my back. He touched the bruise that was now visible on my skin. He looked at me and said, “You should not have visited me at work today. This would never have happened if you had just not come.” He looked like something was really wrong. “I would never have hit you. If only you had just stayed away.” Tears ran down my cheek.

His fingers started to play with the strands of hair at my neck, then brushed some off the side of my face. “I’m just looking,” he said so softly that I could barely hear him. I looked at him in the mirror. He still did not look like the man I now and loved, but there was something in his eyes—an emotion I did not recognize.

I wondered if he was always like this and I just hadn’t seen this side of him. Was I seeing him in a different light now? His hand fell from my shoulder; he looked so sad. I smiled weakly at him, hoping that could change that look. “I’m sorry I came to your office. I didn’t see anything. I did go out back, but I got wet in the rain, so I came home.”

I didn’t want to worry you, that’s all. I really hoped he couldn’t tell I was lying.

He smiled down at me and said, “I’m sorry. We’re okay now. We don’t need to talk of this again.” He softly kissed my cheek and left in silence. I listened for the door, and a minute later, I heard the front door open and close. This was my chance I needed to move fast.

I grabbed my suitcase and my handbag, checking to make sure my passport and ID were inside. As I ran down the stairs, I almost fell in the process. I reached the front door and stopped. I needed to make sure he wasn’t out there first. I looked out the window, but I wasn’t sure if it was him or his driver who had left. Quickly putting my bag in the hallway cupboard, I grabbed my gardening hat.

Okay, so if I go out there and he’s still out there, I’ll just say I’m going to work in the garden for a bit. I took a deep breath and headed for the door. As I opened it, a red car pulled into the driveway. My heart sank. It was my mother. That was all I needed right now.

She looked at me, and I knew why she was here to make sure I stayed home. She must have known. As she walked up the path, I felt more terrified. I forced a smile and said, “Hi, Mom. I was just going to work in the garden. Would you like to help, or would you prefer some tea?”

She smiled her “I know exactly what you’re thinking” smile and opted for tea. I turned and walked back into the house I was trying to escape from. I went straight to the kitchen, putting on the kettle. My mom sat on the stool next to the island with a strange look on her face.

“I thought I taught you to never lie. After the chat I just had with your uncle, I’d say you really needed that,” my mom said as she pointed to my face.

My blood went cold. “Why do you say that?” I asked, trying to buy some time to think about how I was going to get rid of her so I could leave.

Mother, as usual, couldn’t help herself but go on one of her long explanations—that things should always be done her way, and that I should be grateful for the man I had in my life. I knew this rant; it was one she had given me many times over the years. But this time, I saw it for what it really was—her trying to control me, to stop me from leaving and ruining her plan.

But what exactly was her plan? Why was I here? Why did she arrange our meeting? And did she really know everything about this man? Was my mother really that cruel—to put her only daughter in this situation? I didn’t know. I was frightened that she would want me to stay with him.

I had been listening to my mother go on and on. Now I finally had the courage to ask the question.

“What did he tell you, Mom?”

She looked at me for a long moment before answering. “Rex told me everything, and he is right—you really shouldn’t behave like that, not in public. Telling lies to a man like him and just showing up at his workplace.” She stopped to take a sip of tea. I waited to hear what she had to say next. “Lying is never good. Why did you feel the need to, though? I mean, if you had told him it was an accident, he would have understood.”

I waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. What did she think happened? I was about to speak when her phone went off with a call. She quickly answered it, leaving me no chance to talk. Before I knew what was happening, she told me she had to go handle something, and just like that, she was up and out the front door—leaving me with more questions.

She didn’t answer my question, did she? She talked and said things, but she didn’t answer it. Why is that, I wonder?