Page 8 of Real Shadows
I had also sent Karla one last text from my phone telling her he’ll never find me in Indiana. Even though I used a throwaway phone, I was careful with my texts. Any conversations Karla and I had that included details were done over the phone. Our texts didn’t give off any information about where I was going ever. They were mostly checking in and asking if I was okay. If he were able to get to my texts, he would just think Karla was checking on me.
I left the phone in the car in Indiana and didn’t bother to purchase a new one. I was lucky enough that the last bus I caught went through Brant, and while it didn’t normally stop in such a small town, the driver had made an exception for me. I quickly discovered that, with Brant being such a small town, there were still functioning phone booths scattered around the town. I had called a cab and given him Karla’s address. I figured if Karla’s plan worked out, I could throw a car and phone into the deal and live off the grid, but still be able to live.
And now, it was Friday evening, and I was paying and tipping the driver as I looked up at the lovely cottage looking home that Karla lived in. After the cab driver took my money, he got out of the car at the same time I did and went around to grab my bags from out of the trunk. I had two suitcases, one duffle bag, and a carryall bag. I didn’t own much and the carryall I had strapped across my body had all the money I had in it.
I reached for the suitcases, but the driver slapped my hands away. “Don’t you dare, Miss Fallon,” he scolded. “That’s not how we do things here in Brant.” When he had pulled up to pick me up, he had gotten out and opened the door for me. He had also introduced himself as Jacob, as he took his hat off and actually dipped his head. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen manners like that.
I smiled because he was just so sweet. “It’s not?” I teased.
He shook his head. “Absolutely not,” he emphasized. “My momma would come clean out of the grave and whoop my ass if a woman ever carried anything around me.” I smiled because he looked to be in his late fifties, but the respect he had for his mother long passed was sweet. “And I don’t need that mean, old woman coming back from the dead.” He looked up towards the Heavens. “Lord help little Black babies everywhere because there’s nothing like a pissed off Black woman who takes her child rearing seriously.”
I laughed and I couldn’t recall the last time I expressed such a genuine laugh. “Well, then, by all means, Jacob,” I said with flourish. “The last thing I want to do is get you in trouble with your momma.”
“Amen,” he muttered before we made our way up the path and to the front door.
Jacob set the suitcases down and turned towards me as I knocked on Karla’s front door. “I’m not the only cab driver in Brant, but if you need anything, you just give me a call, Fallon,” he offered, handing me his card. “It’d be my pleasure to get you around town.”
I wanted to hug this man.
This complete stranger, who was doing nothing but being a kind, decent human being, I wanted to hug. The only reason I hadn’t was because I didn’t want him reporting me to the police on my first day in Brant. But mostly, because I feared if I did, I’d fall apart in his arms.
So, instead, I smiled up at him and said, “Thank you, Jacob. You will definitely be on my speed dial as soon as I get a phone.” He tipped his hat and turned back down the walkway as the front door opened.
“Fallon!” Karla squealed as he wrapped me up in her arms. And-right in my left ear-she yelled, “Hi, Mr. Jacob!”
“Hi, Miss Karla!” he yelled back right before I heard the motor of his cab rumble.
Karla pulled back, and with her hands gripping my shoulders, her eyes ran the length of me. When her pretty hazel eyes moved back up to mine, they were shiny with unshed tears. “It’s so good to see you, Fal,” she breathed out softly. “I missed you.”
I wanted to bask in this moment, but the underlining fear that shadowed my life was still there. “I missed you, too,” I told her. “Why don’t we…” I jerked my chin towards her front door.
Her face softened and understanding dawned in her eyes. “Of course, Fallon,” she said before reaching for one of my suitcases. I grabbed the other one and followed her inside.
We headed inside and I stepped into the living room, looking around at Karla’s home. You could tell right off that it was a home and not a house. It had personal touches everywhere.
“You have a lovely home, Karla,” I told her.
She smiled and it reached her hazel eyes. “Thank you, Fallon,” she replied as she glanced around the room. “It’s…I’m happy here.” I nodded and the moment passed. “Let me show you to your room.” I followed behind her, and she led me down a short hallway that was lined with photos of Karla and her husband. There were pictures of vacations, outings, etc.
We got to the first door on the left and Karla opened the door. We walked in and it was a cute set up. It looked exactly like a guest room should look. “Here it is,” she beamed as she placed my suitcase on the floor next to the full-size bed.
I placed the suitcase I was carrying next to the foot of the bed and dropped my purse, duffle bag, and carryall on top of the bed. I turned to face Karla. “Thanks, Karla.” I shook my head. “You don’t have any idea how much this means to me.”
She threw her hand up to stop me. “Fallon, I know you feel guilty for coming here. I know you think that you’ll somehow bring drama to my life, but I don’t care. You’re my friend and you’ve been handling this on your own for way too long.” Her words caused a pang in my heart. “I can’t count how many times you saved my life and my sanity growing up. Let me do this for you.”
I took a deep breath and nodded my head. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I saved her life growing up, but when you grow up in a world where no one wants you, it’s easy to contemplate ending it all. I imagined that’s what she meant.
I smiled for my friend. “Thanks, Karla,” I replied. “Hopefully, your plan works, and we’ll all be drama-free.”
“Well, I’ll let you get settled, and then we can catch up on everything we’ve missed.” She smiled again as she said, “I already spoke with Xander, and he’s agreed to come over tomorrow afternoon, so you guys can meet.”
I inwardly cringed at her words.
Karla’s plan was simple. She claimed her husband’s best friend was the most honest man she knew, aside from her husband, and her plan was sound. See, her plan was that this: Xander Raynes would put my entire life in his name financially, and that way I could live life off the grid and the odds of finding me would diminish greatly. Karla promised he was a decent guy and I could trust him not to make off with everything I owned-but didn’t own.
Over the past six years, I’ve managed to save about eighty-thousand dollars, and I was looking to buy a small home or use most of it for down payment on whatever I could find. I planned on finding a cheap, used car, but even then, I was finding Brant to be small enough that I might be able to get away with not having a car. Of course, I needed a job first before most everything else.
For years, I’ve fought this…invisible monster on my own. And the first time I agree to lean on someone for help, it’s a complete stranger who owes me nothing.
