Page 80 of Out of the Dark

"Yes. We just need to figure out a plan. It’ll probably take at least a week of me playing along to lull them into a false sense of security. We need to get your legal documents from Dad’s office, and then we need to figure out when to pack and leave without anyone noticing."

Grace nods. "I’m all in. Just let me know what I need to do and when."

After a few minutes of companionable silence, we make our way to the front of the church, and my parents walk out with my eldest sister, her husband, and their three kids a few minutes later. We exchange friendly hellos, but that’s about the extent of the conversation before we all split off. Grace and I get into the backseat of my parents’ car, and we head back home.

I’m mentally preparing myself for another mini-sermon from Dad once we get inside, but when we pull up to the house, a familiar car is parked in the driveway.

My heart races as my father mutters under his breath wondering why there’s someone in our driveway. I say nothing, but as soon as we come to a stop, I jump out of the car and race toward the house.

My mother calls after me, but I don’t slow down. Because there, standing at the front door, are the three people I want to see most in the world.

Mark, Dani, and Shane are here.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

CLAIRE

I sprint across the yard and leap into Mark’s open arms. He lifts me easily and squeezes me so tight I can hardly breathe. Burying my face in his chest, I inhale his scent and realize just how much I’ve missed it. How much I’ve missed him.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, pulling away just enough to look at him. My eyes are brimming with tears.They’re really here.

"I’m getting back the woman I love. And I’m really hoping she forgives me for being such an ass." His gentle smile melts away all the negativity that’s been raging inside me, but I still have to make sure he really means this.

I lock eyes with him. "I’ve spent my entire life being promised a love I’ve never felt. I don’t need that from you too. Are you sure about this?"

"More sure than I’ve ever been about anything. I love you,Claire, and I’ll spend every day showing you just how much."

I smile. "Then yes, I forgive you. How did you guys find me?" I look between the three of them, noting just how out of place they look here—especially when everyone else is in their Sunday best—and Shane answers.

"Turns out you can get anyone to talk with the right amount of bribery, cops included."

"Oh my goodness," I laugh. They came for me. They cared enough to bribe the freaking police for my address and drove hours to get me. I can’t believe it.

Dani grins at me and pulls me into a hug. "I’m so happy to see you," she whispers. "But that’s the ugliest damn dress I’ve ever seen."

I laugh through my tears, just now realizing that I probably look ridiculous to them in my modest high-neck, floor-length dress.

Everyone’s gazes lift to focus on what’s behind me, and I stiffen. This is going to be rough. I turn to face my family, noting my father’s angry expression, my mother’s panicked one, and my sister trailing a few feet behind them looking more hopeful than I’ve ever seen her.

"What exactly is going on here?" My father seethes when he’s within speaking distance.

Mark pulls me beside him in a protective stance and opens his mouth to speak, but I lay my hand on his arm to stop him. "I got this," I tell him.

My heart feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest as I step forward to stand up to my father for the first time in my life. Fear grips me, burning through my body as my fight or flight response kicks in. Unfortunately, I usually happen to have one of the other, lesser-known responses to the adrenaline rush—fawn. Make things better by appeasing himand turning into the docile, obedient daughter he wants. Smooth things over by making everyone happy at my own expense.

But not this time.

"I’m leaving, Dad. I’m sorry, but I’ll never be happy here, and I hope you have it in your heart to forgive me eventually."

His jaw drops and his face turns a concerning shade of red. "You dare abandon your family and the path that God has set you on? Just what exactly have these people been teaching you?" He spits the word people as if it’s an insult, enunciating the word like a swear.

I’m shaking as I answer, "They’ve been teaching me everything I should have learned before. How to express myself and set boundaries, how to grow as a person in an environment free from harsh judgement, how to love and be loved unconditionally."

"Now let’s just pause for a moment—" my mom says in her placating voice, but my father interrupts.

"We’ve given youeverything. I’ve provided food, shelter, clothing, and guidance from God’s word for you and your siblings your entire life. How ungrateful and spoiled—"

Now it’s my turn to interrupt. "No. Stop right there. Your job as a parent is to provide the necessities, and those things are the bare minimum; That’s what you committed to when you chose to have children. You have no right to try to make me feel guilty for that. I’m not spoiled for needing food, shelter, and clothing."

---