Baby Doll(74)

She pushed him inside the house.

“I’ve been awful to you, and I’m sorry. But I love you. I love you and I love David. I need you to know that.”

He pulled her close, kissing her until she was breathless. They quickly stripped, leaving a trail of clothes throughout the house. They fell into bed, discovering each other’s bodies the way they had when they were teenagers, except now there were no ghosts haunting their bedroom. It was just the two of them.

Hours later, exhausted, Abby lay in Wes’s arms as he shared his dreams with her.

“I put a bid on some land. For a house. I want to build us a house. And I want us to travel. We’ll take David to Disneyland for his first birthday. And if you play your cards right maybe you and I can take a honeymoon.”

This was the first time Abby had ever let herself think about the future, and it made her feel alive. She wanted to do all of those things and so many more. She hoped it would be possible but she couldn’t be sure. Not yet.

Wes dozed off and Abby found herself studying him, wondering what she’d done to be loved by someone so good and kind. She got up and scrawled a note. She kissed him and then she quickly dressed. Abby slipped into the garage, pulled out a gas can from the back of Wes’s pickup, and headed out.

Moonlight illuminated the highway as Abby drove. It was a crisp winter night, but she didn’t notice the chill. She was too focused on the task at hand.

Abby climbed out of her car and grabbed the gas can, pouring gasoline all over the outside of Rick’s cabin. She was careful to avoid the brushy areas. She wasn’t out to destroy the land, only this horrible, horrible place. She kept pouring and pouring until the can was empty. She took a book of matches from her pocket and struck one. The match ignited, and Abby flung it at the building that had held her sister captive. Whoosh! The match ignited with the old, dry timber and began to burn.

Flames danced, a joyous movement to them. Abby wished Lily could see this, that she could see the wood splintering, the frame slowly beginning to crumble. In Abby’s mind, every degradation Rick inflicted upon her sister was burning as well. Abby wanted to stay until there was nothing but ashes and embers left, but she couldn’t get caught. Large plumes of smoke were rising up into the sky. She was going to have to call the fire department soon if she didn’t want a massive forest fire on her conscience. She’d already purchased a pre-paid phone. She climbed back into the SUV and drove, dialing as she hauled ass down the road.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

Abby kept her voice low.

“I saw flames out near Highway 12. I think there’s a fire.”

“Okay ma’am, where on Highway 12?”

“Right off the interstate. I can see the fire.”

She quickly hung up and tossed the phone into the woods.

It was nearly five o’clock in the morning when Abby returned home. She tore up the note she’d left and checked on everyone, including David. All still fast asleep. Abby showered and slipped back into her pajamas. She stopped to look at David one more time and she found him wide awake in his crib, staring up at his circus mobile, happily playing with his feet as if they were the best invention he’d ever seen.

“Hey, little man, you’re up early.”

He squealed, reaching out to grab her, his tiny hands and feet flailing. Abby picked him up and settled back into bed. The sun wasn’t up yet, but the birds were chirping, signaling that night would soon be coming to an end. She held David close, inhaling his sweet, fragrant baby oil scent, and drifted off.

At some point, she woke, searching for David. She glanced up and saw Lily at the changing table, putting a new diaper on him.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead. It’s almost seven thirty.”

Abby shot up like a jack in the box, not wanting to be late. But she stopped, doing a double take as she stared at Lily. Her sister’s beauty wasn’t showy. Lily’s red bob was sleek and smooth, a silver barrette holding back her bangs. Her tailored gray pants and white silk blouse gave her a polished, confident appearance.

“I must have missed my alarm. Can you get David fed? I’ll be quick like a bunny.”

“I’d be honored.”

Lily tickled David, who giggled happily.

“Come on, handsome. Let’s get you some breakfast.”

As they headed downstairs, Abby fought to control her nerves. She stood in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear. She scanned her wardrobe, dozens of options to choose from, but in the end she chose a similar pair of gray slacks and a black V-neck sweater. It was a sweater she’d considered burning a million times. A sweater that had, in her mind at least, caused so much of their suffering. She hadn’t worn it but she’d kept it as a reminder of what she’d lost. Abby slipped it on, realizing that she had lost so much weight it fit perfectly. After all these years, she told herself, this sweater would be her armor. Today it would protect them all.

Abby made her way downstairs and into the kitchen, and found Lily and Mom glued to the morning news.

“Abby, did you hear? Someone burned down Rick’s cabin last night,” Lily said in disbelief.

Abby stared at the TV, watching the news report as they showed the charred remains of Rick Hanson’s “torture den” and speculated on who might be responsible.

“Can you believe it?” Lily asked.