Page 3 of Infinitely Mine

But that didn’t mean we could stay here. It wasn’t safe. Dag would wake up and remember I hit him with the bat. He’d want to silence me about Kate. There was no way I would stay here and risk my son’s life.

I had to run and get as far from Palmdale, California, as I could. I didn’t have much money, but I would drive until the funds gave out. At some point, I would stop at an ATM and withdraw every bit of cash my limit allowed.

Maybe I should have gotten a credit card. It would have made survival a lot easier without worrying about cash. I cursed my luck and went inside, shutting the door and locking it.

I pulled every curtain and twisted the rod on all the blinds closed in every window. The place was sealed tight. I left a light on in the living room, one above the stove in the kitchen, and my bedroom.

My thoughts scattered as I refused to dwell on Kate.

I couldn’t do a damn thing to help her now. My focus had to remain on Jacob and sneaking away before Dag and his friends showed up on my doorstep. I didn’t trust the police. They couldn’t protect me from Dag. No one could.

It didn’t take long to pack a couple of suitcases. I brought all the essentials and the few sentimental items I owned that I could never leave behind, like Jacob’s scrapbook of his first year and the framed photo of my parents. I packed two big bags for Jacob and a diaper bag full of treats and toys.

Everything I owned that meant anything to me went into my car inside the garage. I loaded it with a cooler and drinks, some bags of groceries, and the big carry-on bag I picked up last month with all of our stuff from the bathroom.

I managed to fit everything inside and surveyed the house, giving it a final check to be sure I left nothing behind. Furniture and plants could be replaced. Those things weren’t necessary right now.

I crept into my son’s room and watched him sleep. He turned six five days ago, and I couldn’t believe how fast he’d grown. He was sharp, too. He was way more intelligent than the average child, or maybe I just thought of him that way. He spoke with a maturity rare in kids his age.

I sat on the edge of his bed as the light spilled into his room from the hall and brushed the dark hair back from his forehead. “Jacob.”

He mumbled in his sleep but didn’t rouse.

“Jakey, baby. I need you to wake up for a minute.”

“Tonopah,” he mumbled, blinking.

“What?”

“Tonopah. That’s where we’re going.” He opened his eyes and pointed to the drawing on his nightstand.

I followed his gaze to the sheet of paper with a drawing. Me, Jacob, our car full of boxes and bags, and a sign that read TONOPAH.

I didn’t even know where that city was located.

California? Nevada? I never heard of it.

“Don’t worry, Mama. I know where we’re goin’.”

He climbed into my lap and reached for his drawing, holding it to his chest.

“We have to go now.”

I didn’t ask how he knew. I never did.

My son drew things on paper that most would never believe. But they were always correct. If Jacob saw Tonopah, I was supposed to go there. I’d use GPS once we left town.

I rushed to the garage and buckled Jacob into his highbacked booster seat, covering him with his Superman blanket. He hugged his stuffed Batman to his chest and gave me a sleepy smile. “I’ll put this drawing with the rest.”

He nodded as he yawned. His eyes fluttered.

I didn’t check the other drawings in his backpack, but I knew they held more secrets, more hints about our future. I didn’t have the time to look at them now.

Urgency pushed me to sweep the house one last time, taking any other artwork of Jacob’s, his Hot Wheels cars, and the last few things I missed. When I had it all in the car, I closed up the house, locked it, and took my place behind the wheel.

I glanced in the rearview mirror, swallowing as I watched him sleep. No one ever explained how parenthood would change my life.

Once you had a child, your life took a backseat to the precious one entrusted to you. I would sacrifice anything for my son. He was my first and highest priority.

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