Page 102 of The Escape Plan

“Wow, tell me how you really feel, Aoife,” I say, but I can’t help it—I’m smiling.

“We don’t need you to take care of us, Becks.” Mam’s eyes soften. “For a long time, I know that you focused on putting us first, put your own happiness aside to look after everyone else. But guess what? You’ve been gone half the summer and we’re all still standing.”

“Barely,” I joke.

Mam glares at me. “Hush with that. We don’t need you to be here to take care of us, Beckett. We just need you to be happy. And this Keeley clearly makes you happy.”

Mam’s words are sweet. Sincere. And they remind me that my family loves me. No matter where I am or what I do, they want the best for me.

“She makes me very happy.”

“Are you in love with her?”

“I am.” I nod again. “And I know she loves me. But I don’t know if that’s enough.”

“I swear, sometimes I feel like I’ve raised a bunch of halfwits!” Mam’s voice changes to match her fiery eyes. “Of course that’s not enough! Love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a commitment. A decision. Something you need to fight for. You can’t just sit there on your laurels, you need to fight for her, son! Don’t run away. Stand strong and fight for what fate has put in your path. The gift of love that’s been given to you. Don’t let history repeat itself.”

“What do you mean?” I frown at her slightly blurry image on the computer screen.

She gives me a pointed look. “I think your Gran spun you wee ’uns fairy tales and superstitious stories and folklore galore because it was easier, sometimes, for her to live in fiction than it was in fact. It’s my belief that your Gran had a good and happy life, but that she didn’t face up to some hard realities, and this caused her some regrets.”

Hearing this surprises me. I always thought that my gran lived with no regrets, always wore her heart on her sleeve… but knowing that she and Douglas broke each other’s hearts when she left, Mam’s words make me realize that Gran made a choice, and that choice had consequences.

“I don’t want that for you, son. While I totally understand that we all have to do what we have to do to get by, I encourage you to live your truth, Beckett. Fight for whatever makes you feel something real.”

“Thanks, Mam,” I say—the most sincere thank you I’ve ever uttered. Because she’s right.

I love Keeley.

I want to be with Keeley.

IchooseKeeley.

And I’m going to do everything in my power to show her that. To fight for what I know we have.

“We love you, Beckett,” Mam replies. “And I know you always like to quote your Gran sayingwhat’s for you won’t pass you, but I came up with a new version for you to consider.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask.

Mam smiles. “When fate gives you what’s for you… don’t let it slip away.”

Chapter Forty-One

Keeley

“You look tired,”Ezra tells me when he pulls up outside The Serendipity to pick me up so we can head to Silver Springs.

This again.

But I know he’s not wrong—I saw a bit of a resemblance to the Swamp Monster when I looked in the mirror this morning. I didn’t sleep a wink last night, tossing and turning while my own sour words—it has to be this way—burned in my brain.

“Thanks, bro,” I reply sarcastically as I climb into his SUV.

“Seriously, though. Are you okay?”

I grimace. “Beckett leaves today.”

“Yeah, I know. Did you two have a fight or something?”

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