Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
And I know, I know, vacuuming and dusting and putting linens on the bed isn’t exactly going to save my soul from hell, but at least it makes me feel like I’m busy.
Hattie does a lot of “helping.” There isn’t much else for her to do. My girl’s fidgety on the best of days and right now the days are bland. She loves the pool, thank God, and explores the grounds around the house, but sometimes she sits in her room and stares at the TV and it feels like she’s sinking into herself in a way I don’t like.
I stretch myself as thin as I can. Several nurses bring in a hospital bed and stock Marnie’s private bathroom with everything she might need. One of the guards installs handrails for the shower and another adds rugs, reasoning she’ll need better grip to keep from slipping. It’s cute, the way they want to pitch in, and I let them do what they can. At least they aren’t treating me like I’m carrying a disease as usual.
On the day of Marnie’s arrival, I’ve got too much adrenaline and energy. I burn it off by swimming with Hattie, doing laps around her and throwing her when she begs. Rafe is somewhere on the property doing very important work. I don’t know where or what and it truly doesn’t matter.
Marnie’s coming, and that’s all I care about.
“Ma’am, there’s a van coming.” It’s the guard who caulked the windows in Marnie’s room. He’s youngish, dark hair, a kind face. I have no idea how he got mixed up with people like my husband. He seems too normal. “I think it’s her.”
I rush from the pool and don’t have to peel Hattie out for once. She’s as happy as I am that Auntie Marnie will be staying with us. I dry the girl off and pull on clothes, heart racing with anticipation as I hurry through the house.
I’m chilly when I reach the front door, still damp from the pool and frozen from the air conditioning. I’m thinking I’ll show Marnie to her room as I step out onto the porch.
That’s when the shooting starts.
At first I don’t understand what’s going on. Men stand around the dark van, and where’s Marnie? Where’s her bed? Shouldn’t she be here? The men are spread out and carrying heavy automatic weapons which bark like fireworks, their muzzles spraying death and fire. Blood splatters on the wall beside me and I look over to see that friendly caulking guard’s head pulverized into a shiny smear of brain and bone. He slumps to the ground.
Ten seconds earlier. If I hadn’t been in the pool…
Someone screams my name. Rafe’s guards rushing to defend me. But why are they doing that? More bullets slam into the wall next to my head and it finally sinks in.
It’s happening again.
I throw myself back inside barely in time to grab Hattie. She screams, tears streaming down her face. “TOO LOUD!” she yells, covering her ears. “Please make them stop!”
I don’t answer. I sprint to the stairs as more gunfire breaks out behind me. Windows shatter, spraying glass. I feel some bite into my arms and legs, shards of it slicing my skin. I don’t slow as I reach the bottom step and hurl myself upward, Hattie bouncing in my arms.
I’ve never moved so fast. I keep my body between the men outside and my daughter. More guards are pouring in downstairs, but they get mowed down as the attackers burst in through the front door. There are screams, blood, and I grip Hattie hard and cover her face and ears to keep her from hearing and seeing this nightmare.
I reach the top of the steps and panic.
Where the fuck am I supposed to go? There’s no escape from up here. Marnie’s room—Hattie’s room—my room—
The closet.
I spring away. It’s stupid and I know it. The closet won’t protect us. But I hope it’ll keep us hidden long enough.
For what, I don’t even know.
I’m past thinking. I reach the room and rush in through the doors.
“Mommy! Mommy, stop! What’s happening, my ears hurt, Mommy!” Hattie sobs against my chest. I grit my teeth, hating this, hating myself, so angry I could burst to pieces, but she’s my priority now. I have to keep her safe, no matter what.
I throw myself into the closet and shut the door. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay, we’re going to be safe.” I look around desperately. “Listen, hide under that pile of clothes, okay?”
Hattie shakes her head. “No! Mommy!”
“Listen to me.” I grip her arms. I’ve never once touched her like this but now I have to be firm. I have to make sure she listens. Her little eyes go wide in surprise as I dig in my fingers hard enough to get her attention. “You have to hide. Please, Hattie, get under the pile and do not move. Don’t make any noise, don’t do anything. Stay in there until you hear me or Rafe tell you to come out. Can you do that?”