Page 22 of Bound By Consequences
“We have that red stuff in the back of the cabinet,” I called out.
“Maybe I want rum instead. It’ll work a ton faster.” That she knew where it was because it was both of our favorites. Something else we had learned about since making our escape. Indulging in adult beverages from time to time was not a bad way to spend an evening.
“Make me one with orange juice.”
Katie smiled. “See, you need booze to get through it too.”
“Shut it and hurry up. You’re gonna miss the best part!”
“Great, the happy tree, happy forest, and happy trolls who love to hug and dance and sing… Yeah.” Katie came into the room, her tone completely hilarious.
“You know you love it.”
She handed me the drink and then sat next to Remy on the couch. Remy, of course, had the popcorn in her lap. We all shared together.
“Oh great, the spoiled brat who needs to be slapped across the face,” Katie groaned. “I need to be one of those goons who eats those little shits.”
It was my turn to burst out laughing.
Movie nights were something we started when Remy was very young. Back then we could choose whatever we wanted to watch and not have to worry about little ears. I wanted my little girl to have traditions. Things that we could do year after year and build upon them. I also didn’t want to shelter her from the world in such a way she would be shocked if she were to see something. The way Katie and I grew up was like living in a bubble. Everything we had exposure to was controlled by our father and the community we lived in. No outside influence ever.
The movie night was more than once a year, but it still became a routine thing.
Growing up, we didn’t have things like that. Movie night was an absolute no unless it was something the prophet wanted us to see. Only then would it be okay to watch movies.
Especially not something as colorful and upbeat as this movie. That was a big no go.
“Could you imagine watching this back home?”
Katie’s hand paused heading to her mouth with a wad of popcorn in it. “No way. M-O-M.” She spelled out the word because it was something we didn’t say in front of Remy. She’d never know my mother, and I never wanted to give her the impression that she would. Never would I trust my mother with my daughter. “Would let us. None of the M-O-M-S would. They’d rather throw themselves on a burning fire than tell D-A-D anything that would make him angry.”
That was a complete understatement. Our father ruled with an iron fist. Literally. One step out of line, and he’d beat the hell out of you. I still had scars to prove that fact.
“Who would’ve thought we’d be out to live the life we want when we want to live it. Did you ever think we would be free of all that?”
Katie chewed the popcorn in her mouth as I took a drink from my glass. “No. Never. I never saw a way out of there. You at least got to go out with Ari.”
“Snuck out was more like it, and it was only twice.”
“Right. But you had some idea of the outside. Me, that life was all I knew.”
“Yeah, I had a small taste of it, but I never saw myself living that life even before I snuck out.”
Katie leaned back and put her head on the couch, turning to face me. I followed suit. This happened regularly when it was movie time with the Trolls. The next thing would be Remy taking our popcorn away and moving to the floor so she could hear the movie.
“What did you see in your future then?”
“I never saw myself marrying anyone there. Ever. One husband and one wife. I never wanted to share something that should be precious.”
“M-O-M liked that.”
“Did she really? She never smiled. She never showed an ounce of being happy—ever.” I pulled in my lip, then popped it out. “She was always mad, especially when the other M-O-Ms had their alone time.”
Katie sighed loudly just as Remy got up and moved to her spot on the floor. She knew the drill.
“Yeah. So you saw yourself out of there?” Katie asked, genuinely curious.
“I did. You know I hid some books in my room.” Katie nodded. “Well, inside those stories was where I wanted to be. I wanted a partner who was hard on the outside and soft on the inside. The heroes were always tough, but in their hearts they loved their wives with everything they had. One wife, I mean…”
