Page 17 of Mia Amata

“Good, I’m glad. Lauren and Eva said that everything is in the works for you to be moved soon.” Lauren had specifically told me not to give Audra details, other than that I need to move ASAP, to keep other information between the three of us, again for the safety of all involved.

“Yes, I guess it depends on when you say I can go,” Audra stated she wanted to give me a quick exam before we made that decision, so we went into the bedroom. We came back out after the exam, taking our seats again.

Audra looked at Lauren, “She is doing a lot better, but I would like her to rest for two more days if possible. Today is Tuesday, I would say she can plan on leaving on Friday.”

“That will be perfect,” Lauren stated. “We have a few things to finish up before everything is finalized, then she will be set.”

I looked at them, “I will never see any of you again, will I?”

“I’m afraid not,” Lauren said. “None of us can risk that.”

I nodded, I understood, but I couldn’t stop the tears. “I will miss you all. I won’t know anybody there. I’m terrified about starting over from scratch. I have a lot to learn. I am so grateful to you all. I don’t know how I will ever find words enough to thank you for all you have done for me.”

“Just live your life, be happy. As I have mentioned before, if you get the chance to pay it forward someday to someone else in need, please do so,” Lauren said.

We sat there, chatting for a little bit about what the future could possibly look like for me. Lauren and Eva told me there was a small backpack in the closet in the bedroom I could use, giving me permission to take whatever clothes, bathroom items, etc. that I felt I needed. Audra said she needed to get going but promised to stop on Thursday to see me before I left for one last quick checkup. I thanked her, giving her a hug, which was starting to feel more natural at least with these three women.

***

Lauren walked Audra out but came back down with a box in her hands. “Eva told me that you would like to learn to crochet, so I have a surprise for you.”

Eva stood up, “We have another surprise for you too, I’ll be right back.”

Eva went up the stairs, while Lauren came to sit next to me. She handed me the box, curiously I opened it up. Inside was a tote bag. I took it out, finding to my delight that it held a book with instructions on all the different crochet stitches, along with easy patterns for beginners. There was also some yarn in pastel colors with some crochet hooks of different sizes.

“I thought you could make a baby blanket after you learn the basics. The tan yarn is for practicing with. Crocheting is fairly simple, I think you can teach yourself, but tomorrow night when I get home from work if you need some help just let me know. I can come to spend some time with you to go over things and answer your questions.”

“Thank you, Lauren,” I said. “I can’t wait to start!”

Eva walked downstairs with a present. It was wrapped in baby shower paper. She sat down, handing me the gift. “This is from Mom and I,” she said.

“You both have given me so much that I can never repay. You really didn’t need to do anymore.”

“This was fun,” Lauren said. “I enjoyed shopping for this gift for you.” She had gone on her lunch break to shop for the gift, at Eva’s suggestion.

“I can’t remember anyone ever giving me a gift. I mean we received wedding gifts, but I don’t think I have ever gotten a gift for just me before.” I took off the wrapping paper and opening the box. Inside was another tote bag. I pulled it out, seeing that it was a diaper bag.

Inside the diaper bag were diapers, pacifiers, blankets, baby clothes, and a few other practical items I would need for the baby. “This is so sweet and thoughtful,” I exclaimed. “Look at how cute these are!” I was holding up an outfit with a pair of little socks.

We examined everything in the diaper bag, talking about babies. I thanked both women for the gifts. They headed back upstairs. After locking the door behind them again, I packed everything back into the diaper bag. I took both bags into the bedroom with me, tucking the diaper bag into the closet next to the backpack I would be using.

I took the craft tote with me to the bed, making myself comfortable in bed. I opened the instruction book, thumbing through it, reading sections here and there. I found a pattern for a baby blanket that looked reasonably easy to make. I took out the tan yarn with the appropriate-sized crochet hook for the blanket pattern, then practiced the stitches until I felt comfortable with them. I then picked out the color I wanted to start with, choosing a pretty yellow, then began to make the blanket.

I sat there, crocheting with the TV on and a movie playing quietly. Pretty soon I started to feel drowsy, I was making pretty good headway on the blanket, but I figured I better get some sleep. I tucked everything away in the tote, setting it aside. I brushed my teeth and crawled back into bed, leaving the TV on. I could get very used to this life, nice, quiet and… safe.

Chapter 10

I slept pretty well in spite of the fact I had a couple of dreams that were unsettling. I imagine this will be a normal occurrence for me for quite a long time. I decided that I wouldn’t dwell on them, there was no benefit in rehashing the past, and it would serve no purpose. I knew it was easier to say that than do it, but for my own sanity, for my future, I needed to try to look forward not behind. If I let the past control my future, it would be like letting him control my life still. It was time that I took that control back.

I climbed out of bed and went in, running myself a bath. It felt good to soak for a bit, I was still sore from the last couple of beatings, but definitely feeling better. The warm bath water seemed to help a lot. I soaked for a while until I decided I was hungry. Finishing off in the shower, washing my hair—which did not take nearly as much shampoo or conditioner as it had when it was long—then got out.

I looked in the closet and found a pair of shorts with a cute T-shirt to wear. I was rather tired of wearing pajamas and was ready to be dressed, like I was ready to face the day. I figured I would spend the day on the couch instead of in the bed—although I would not rule out the possibility of a nap this afternoon. I knew I needed to get rest today and tomorrow before I travel on Friday. I would rest and definitely do some crocheting today. Tomorrow I will pack for leaving.

I made some toast and coffee, then sat down to watch the news. I was not the top news story this morning although I was still a hot topic. The state police stated that they were unable to find the bodies of the thief/kidnapper or me. They were claiming we were considered dead, ruling the case closed. They showed a video of my husband leaving the police station with his head down, the perfect picture of a mourning husband.

I knew that he was not mourning my death, he was furious that I had escaped his control—no matter how I did it. I hoped that he would accept the state police’s decision and stop looking for me. A part of me suspected that he wouldn’t although I couldn’t see how he would proceed with looking for me. There did not seem to be any way that he could find out that I was alive or where I was. Part of me also knows that he is a cop, not just any cop but a well-decorated homicide detective.

I washed my breakfast dishes up, turning the TV to a different channel. Sitting on the couch, I picked up the blanket I was making for the baby and started working on it again. I was really pleased with the way it was going. It looked like the one in the instruction book, maybe not as neat, but it was definitely easy to see the pattern starting to take shape. The yarn Lauren and Eva gave me was so soft, it was going to make a nice baby blanket.

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