I nod.
“I’m ready to start this new life,” I admit. “I’m ready to put the past behind me and look forward to a better future.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” my mother says as we have a group hug. “I’m looking forward to their party tomorrow night. Did you know their ranch is over two hundred thousand acres?”
My father whistles.
“Really? Are you sure you didn’t mistake what she said?”
“No Daddy,” I look up at him. “Ava told me the same thing. I cannot imagine owning that much land. They must be really, really rich!”
“Hmmm.”
“Karen told me it’s been passed down from first born son to first born son for generations. They raise cattle and horses, but most of the land is just left wild.”
“Can you imagine?”
“Even if they’re rich, they’re very down to earth.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing their ranch myself,” I smile. “At least I’ll have both of you with me. I’m not sure I’m ready to venture out alone yet.”
“Don’t worry,” my mother assures me, giving me a side-hug. “We’ll ease into this new ranch life and before you know it, you will feel normal again.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. All of those things you’ve had to deal with over the last eighteen months will seem like a bad dream. We just need to keep moving forward.”
“Thank you for coming with me,” I lay my head on her shoulder. “I don’t know if I could have done this without the two of you.”
“Nonsense,” my father breaks in. “You would have been just fine. You’re a strong young woman. Never forget that. You can overcome any obstacle, including this one.”
“Sometimes I don’t feel very strong, Daddy.”
“That’s okay,” he assures me. “You made it through that situation alive and you’ve started a whole new life with new friends and sort of new parents. He thinks you’re dead. Hell, he thinks we’re dead. He’s not going to come looking for you and this is about as far off the beaten path as it’s going to get. You are going to be just fine.”
“Thank you,” I look at both of them. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and what you’re doing for me now.”
“You’re our baby girl,” my mother kisses my forehead. “We will always be there for you, no matter what.”
“I love you,” I tell them.
“And we love you,” my mother replies. “Until you have children of your own one day, you’ll never really know how much. But one day you will understand that you would do anything … and I mean ANYTHING for your children.”
Faith
“Do I look okay?” I ask, my nerves getting the best of me. “I don’t want to look too dressed down, but I don’t want to look too dressed up either.”
I gaze at my reflection in the mirror and note the white camp shirt tucked into my jeans with my freshly painted pink toenails peeking out from my sandals. I’ve let my hair dry naturally this afternoon and it’s falling in loose waves around my face.
“Do I have too much makeup on?”
For months, I didn’t wear any makeup. I didn’t feel like putting in the effort, but eventually, I started applying a little mascara, sometimes some blush and lip gloss. It’s only been the last few weeks that I’ve pulled out my old makeup case and put the effort into looking like my old self again.
“You look beautiful,” my mother says as she enters the room.
“Would you like to wear my turquoise necklace and earrings?”
I look at myself in the mirror envisioning how the heavy silver and turquoise strands would look with the shirt.
“Maybe just the earrings?”
“That would be perfect. Let me go grab them for you.”
“You look really nice,” I call after her. “Like you’ve been living here your whole life.”
I smile. In some ways I wish I’d been living here my whole life.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“I guess so,” I smile pulling at the ends of my fingernails. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a party. My stomach’s tied in knots.”
“That’s to be expected,” my father smiles. “But your mother and I will be there and I don’t think your new friend, Ava will abandon you.”
“She seems like a nice girl,” my mother interjects.
“I think so too,” I agree, taking one last look in the mirror. “Okay, let’s go.”
I don’t say this to my parents, but in my mind I’m thinking the sooner I go, the sooner we’ll be back home. I can’t remember ever being this nervous about going anywhere. Frankly, I haven’t been anywhere without my parents since I got out of the hospital. The thought of separating myself from them at this party has my anxiety going through the roof.
I have to admit the knowledge of Daniel being behind bars and that he believes the three of us to be dead comforts my nerves and I’m not as jumpy as I used to be.
There’s no reason for him to look for a dead girl.
I also know how much he loathes the cold and though I’m not the biggest fan of winter, I welcome the colder months I’ll experience here in Wyoming complete with enormous amounts of snow.
I won’t be expected to go out and socialize as much in the winter months and knowing how much Daniel hated cold weather, just makes me feel that much more secure in the knowledge that he will never look for me someplace like Wyoming. He’s not exactly the outdoorsy type.
I follow my parents to their newly acquired used SUV. They took the relocation detective’s advice and purchased a used vehicle, so we would blend in better. It’s still luxurious on the inside and very well maintained with low mileage, but it’s also about four years older than one my father would have normally purchased prior to our new identities.
I stare out the window as we head toward this party. I’m not really prepared for the number of cars I see parked all along the road and on the front lawn of the ranch. It’s almost like when we went to the State Fair that one time. They even have guys with reflective vests directing the traffic.
“How on earth are we supposed to find Ava and her family?” I ask, gaping at all of the people milling about. “This isn’t like any kind of party I’ve ever been to.”
“Maybe they’re from Texas,” my father smirks. “You know how those Texans like to do everything big!”
The pit of my stomach flips at the mention of Texas, but thankfully not so much that I’m sick. That’s progress.
I immediately get a text on my phone from Ava.
“We’re on the front porch. Are you here yet?” She asks.
“Ava says she’s on the front porch,” I announce.
“Then let’s head over there,” my mother says. “Look at all the tables of food! I’ve never seen so much food! Is that a stage over by the barn?”
“I think that’s exactly what it is,” I say, my eyes widening at the long line of cars arriving for this party. “I’m not so sure I’m ready for this.”
My mother takes my hand and pulls me close. “You’ll be fine,” she assures me. “Your father and I are here and if it becomes too much, just let us know and we’ll head back home.”
I was getting ready to tell her that it was already too much, when an excited Ava runs toward me and grabs me by the hand.
“Come on!” she smiles. “There’s someone I want you to meet!”
I look at my parents who both give me a reassuring smile as I reluctantly follow my new friend to wherever it is she’s dragging me.
“I want you to meet everyone,” she says, her voice breathless. Her cheeks are glowing, whether from blush, exertion, or just excitement I can’t tell.