Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
It’s love at first sight.
It’s an old house, and I love old houses. It’s a little weathered, like myself, but nothing a lick of paint won’t fix.
It’s single-story, which will be ideal for when the baby is here and crawling around—no stairs to worry about.
It has a front yard, and after a little gardening, which I enjoy doing, it will be great. I can imagine sitting out here in the front yard with the baby, maybe even chatting with neighbors as they pass.
I walk up the path toward the front door, and the door opens up just before I reach it.
“Miss Ford?” an attractive forty-something blonde lady greets me with a glossy-red-lipstick smile.
I see the moment her eyes catch sight of the now-black bruise on my cheek because her smile falters.
Shame curdles in my gut. I tilt my head down, letting my hair fall over my face, covering it. “Yes. But call me An—” I catch myself. “Carrie,” I say clearly, scolding myself internally.
I really need to get used to calling myself Carrie.
Her smile comes back full force. “It’s nice to meet you, Carrie.” She reaches a hand out, and we shake hands. “I’m Marla. We spoke on the phone.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Would you like to come in and have a look around?” She gestures me inside to the small hallway and closes the door behind us. “Right then, follow me, and I’ll give you the tour.”
I follow her around the house, a smile on my face the whole time. I probably look like a crazy person, but I don’t care. I’m just so happy to be here.
The house is perfect.
There’s a large master that has its own bathroom, and the second bedroom, which will be the nursery, is also a good size and is right across the hall. And the main bathroom is right next door to it. The baby’s room also looks out onto the back garden.
The house is fully furnished, which means I don’t have to worry about furniture, only a crib for the nursery. And I just need to get some bedsheets for my bed and towels for the bathroom.
I have a really good feeling about this house. It feels … safe.
It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
A home.
I’m finally home.
“So, what do you think?” Marla asks me, stopping in the living room, back to where we started.
“I’ll take it,” I tell her without hesitation.
She smiles widely, showing me a full set of cosmetically enhanced pearly-white teeth. “Wonderful.” She claps her hands together. “So, I will need at least six months rent up-front, with you not having any references.”
“That’s no problem,” I tell her.
“Great. Well, I’ll just go get the paperwork out of my car.”
While she’s gone, I count out the money that I’ll need to cover six months rent.
Half an hour later, I’ve signed the lease, and I’m watching Marla as she pulls away in her shiny Audi.
I step back inside the house and close the door. Locking it behind me.
Then, I rest my forehead against the door and just breathe for a minute.
You did it, Annie. You got away from him. Your life starts now.
I take one last deep breath in before moving away from the door. I go and retrieve my duffel bag and then take it into the master bedroom with me.
I take out my clothes and toiletries and dump them on the bed. I take a few hundred dollars out and leave the rest of the money in there along with the ID card and birth certificate. I carry the bag over to the small walk-in-closet. I open up the largest drawer in the closet and stuff the duffel in there. I’ll figure out a safer place to keep the money once I’ve familiarized myself with the house.
I peel my days-old clothes off, turn the shower on hot, and climb in, enjoying the feel of the almost burn on my skin. Washing away my past. The water runs pale red—the remnants of the dye in my hair that I didn’t properly wash out in my rest-stop dye job.
I’m free.
Tears join the water, and I watch my past go down the drain.
I turn the shower off and grab the ratty old towel hanging on the rail.
I’ll buy some new ones when I go to the store.
I dry off and brush my hair, leaving it down. I dress in jeans and a T-shirt. I’m going to need some clothes. Preferably shorts, tanks, and cotton dresses.
I go into the kitchen and make myself herbal tea, using a tea sachet that I got at one of the rest stops. I fill the kettle with water and turn it on, and then I locate the cups while it boils.
I make my tea, and carrying it out back, I stand on the porch. I rest my elbows on the railing.
I could do with a chair out here, so I could sit down and enjoy the solitude. But, for now, I’ll stand and enjoy what I have.