Page 107 of Nave
Not wanting to lose my momentum, I just shoved them in my cleaning kit and finished up.
Then it was the hallway, the kitchen (including every cabinet and the whole refrigerator) before cleaning my way through the main living space, which meant shooing the boys and Edith outside.
When I was finally done, I was sweaty and red-faced, my fingertips aching like they used to every single day when I’d been captive.
But this was for the last time.
“All set?” Nave asked as I stepped out into the fresh air, breathing deep to clear the chemicals from my lungs.
I glanced back at the house as Nave took the cleaning supplies from my hands—vacuum included.
“Yes. It’s done. And I got a surprise,” I admitted as I followed Nave down to where Junior was waiting, tiny Edith nestled in his giant arms.
“What’s that?” Nave asked, loading everything into the trunk of the car.
I reached into the cleaning caddy and drew out the envelopes.
Junior let out a whistle. “How much is there?”
“I haven’t counted yet. But I’m hoping maybe it’s enough to get some things for the baby. And maybe pay some of you guys for your services.”
“I’m getting paid,” Junior said. “And I’m not takin’ your money.”
Nave reached for one of the envelopes, fanning the money out, and I could see the calculations going through his head.
“About ten grand.”
Ten grand times five was… more money than I’d ever seen in my life.
“Guess we gotta take a trip to the bank when we get back to Navesink Bank too,” Nave said, passing all the envelopes to me.
We all made our way to our doors, and I stopped to stare at the glass house.
I saw myself inside, staring out, wondering if I could ever be free. I remembered seeing Nave for the first time—his all-seeing eyes, his concern, his promise. And, yes, finally, I thought about the day of the escape, of all the fear, adrenaline, and hope.
I knew then where I was going.
Navesink Bank.
Just like I was now.
Not just a pit stop toward a new life.
Now itwasmy new life.
Full of people who cared enough about me to kill for me, to bury bodies for me, to sit in a hospital emergency room all night and lie with me.
And, of course, I had all those things and more in Nave.
“We’re never going back there, girl,” I told Edith as I reached out to pet her hair. I pulled a small twig out of her curls and smiled to myself at finding it there, at not even knowing how long it had been there.
So much had changed in such a short period of time.
No more obsessively wiping, brushing, and washing her. No isolation and lack of vet care.
Sure, I knew that our future involved moving off the homestead and away from her new dog friends. But we could visit. I could get her a younger sibling.
I could do anything I wanted.
