Stealing Grace (19 page)

Alex thought he had kept Howard here long enough for Pam to definitely be long gone on her bus and untraceable.

“What about you anyway? You left Pam home alone after you told me yourself she’s been...difficult.”

Howard’s forehead and eyebrows were furrowed like he hadn’t thought of that.

“Yeah, I guess I better head home.”

As soon as the door shut behind Howard, Alex was on the phone with Roger, corroborating an alibi for Elena. And then he was at Elena’s side, pulling her to him and hugging her tight and long. They stood saying nothing, just holding each other and being thankful to both be ok and happy to see the other safe.

“I’m so glad you’re home. I was worried,” Alex broke the silence, framing her face with his hands.

“Me too.”

“How did it go?”

“Great. Great, Alex. You should’ve seen her face,” Elena said fighting the tears. “She was so...grateful.”

Alex pressed his forehead to hers. He wanted all the details but not right now. He just wanted to hold her, understanding what they had just gone through. They had done it. They had pulled it off.

They stood in the kitchen like that for a while, not even caring the water had begun to boil.

Later, Alex received the call from Howard he had been waiting for. Howard sounded plain mad, sadly, not a hint of worry or concern.

“She’s gone! You were right about her. I should have never left her here alone. She’s just gone! She didn’t even take any of her stuff, just took off. How come no one saw her leave?”

Alex assured him if they heard anything they’d would let him know and that he should definitely call the town hall in the morning to report the incident. Howard had agreed and hung up. Alex knew he had called every man in the neighborhood, not really wanting her back per say but just not being able to let go of his pride.

That night, after Roger had called and gotten all the details and congratulated them both, they were laying in bed, both still, looking up at the ceiling.

She told him all about what happened with Pam. She cried some more and they eventually fell asleep.

When they woke the next morning, Elena was already bringing things back up from yesterday. She had gotten so worked up over it last night, Alex decided to move to a less stressful, more pleasant topic.

“What’s your favorite color?” Alex asked.

She smiled at his subject change.

“Blue. What’s yours?”

“Green.”

They both knew they were recalling the others eye color and he smirked while Elena giggled.

“What’s your favorite flower?”

“Daisies. What’s your favorite 80’s band?” she asked and kicked her leg out of the sheets.

“Mmmm, that’s hard. Queen? You?”

“Definitely Journey.”

“What’s your favorite food?”

“My grandma’s fried chicken, you?”

“Your grandma’s chili.”

“Really? Hmm... What’s your favorite movie?”

“Dirty Harry’s, hands down.” She looked at him and twisted her mouth mockingly. “What? Give me some credit. I am a guy, and only in my 20’s. What’s yours?”

“Well, there’s a lot but if I had to pick one, Pride and Prejudice; the one with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, not Colin Firth. What’s your favorite thing to do on Saturdays?”

“Besides you.” He glanced over at her and burst into laughter as she poked his ribs. “I like just relaxing, BBQing, watching a movie, dinner with friends. I’m just a homebody. I just like hanging out with you.”

“Dang.”

“What?”

“You stole my answer.”

He turned to face her as she bit her lower lip. He smiled, rubbing her arm.

“Well, as much as I’d like it to be Saturday, it’s a Tuesday. I’ve got to go to work. You want to come with me?”

“Yeah. I feel so much better, I think I’m completely recovered.”

“Good, we can stop and grab some breakfast if you want.”

“Sounds good.” She kissed him and turned to leave but he grabbed her.

“Nuhuh, get back here,” he demanded playfully.

He kissed her again and again as she pulled and pulled away until she eventually was all the way up and pretending to run to the bathroom. He scrambled after her, bumbling his way, his leg getting caught in the sheets.

He chased her down the hall to the bathroom and turned her quickly to kiss her and she marched backwards into the cold floored room, leading him in with her as she giggled from his tickles.

* * *

Alex had heard talk around town about Pam but no would had any thoughts other than she had been left alone for too long and decided to make a run for it. The next few days were spent watching the weather, and trying to figure out which girls needed to go next, based on accessibility to them and the extent of abuse they were receiving.

It seemed wrong to pick and choose but, it was the only way at this point. Elena was even starting to feel sorry for the men. Seeing Alex and especially Roger, how they had turned around and made a life change. They had been brainwashed. Everyone had.

Could you technically blame someone for the only way of life they’ve ever known? How had Alex come to the conclusion that it was wrong? Could they all, or at least some, change as Roger had if shown the right way?

* * *

The hurricane was fast approaching. Alex seemed to think this was their best chance for optimum damage. Elena had spent her time trying to see a way to end all of this, but nothing seemed to fit. If the government was in on it, then who did you go to for help?

They had talked about going to the press, with proof anonymously, making a big stink, forcing something to be done for the publics’ eye sake. That may be their best bet but first they wanted the storm to pass and the local city news to have nothing to cover, so they would focus on the one story they had, theirs.

One day left, it was certain the storm would reach them by morning. This would have to be a midnight job. After Alex called the bus station to see what time the last bus out would be, 11:30 p.m., he called Roger over to work on a plan.

They were on a tight schedule, no slip-ups could be made. Elena was cooking some of Alex’s favorite chili when she heard the knock. She ran to greet Amy, not beating Alex.

Roger came through the door first and hugged Elena like it was nothing new, like they were old friends. She saw the smile cross Alex’s face. He was happy that his best friend was now free to love his wife, as friends did. It was no longer uncomfortable and awkward and unhealthy.

They were all friends now, more that that, accomplices for good deeds and they were in this together.

* * *

After the grace, the men scarfed the chili, and complimented on it, while the girls talked about Pam. Elena told them all the whole story about how Pam was resistant at first but only because she feared for Elena’s safety, how grateful she was.

Amy couldn’t help but cry. Elena saw Roger rub her thigh under the table to comfort her which made Elena tear up too. It never ceased to amaze her, the grace of others.

Once they were done with supper it was all business. The kitchen table was a floor plan of documents and maps. The den was a war room of sorts.

They chose the women to set free and marked the houses so they could see how best to reach them. Roger was to be the diversion this time so as not to draw too much attention to Alex, who would do the driving. They all felt that Elena and Amy needed to go with Alex to get the girls because they would need to persuade them quickly and another husband would only scare them.

Amy would call the husbands with the “distress” call to help Roger while the rest of them were already in place. It was all set. Everyone had their parts to play and they just waited for go time.

Amy practiced and rehearsed her phone call script before she made the call to Lewis and now was to use it two more times on Frank and John.

Since they were such a tight knit community, they all used each others services. Roger owned the mill, and they all bought supplies from him from cabinets, to plywood, to sheetrock, to concrete. They would go and help, if nothing else to keep from having to go into the city every time they needed something.

Apparently it wasn’t good for concrete mix to get wet so, Roger said they would come running. Roger put his business on the line to help get those women out tonight.

Elena and Amy worked fast to grab the three women, Alex waited in the truck for Elena as she got the two closest to them and Amy the one closet to her. Once everyone was in, Amy ran home in case someone called having heard about the ‘accident’ and Elena and Alex started the rainy drive to the city.

The storm hadn’t officially hit yet, but it was definitely starting. The rain was torrential, but in the truck they were ok, and they had more time this time so they felt secure. Elena explained on the way everything as she had done before with Pam. They were resistant but in the end all would have done just about anything to get out.

They all cried of course, and thanked Alex and Elena profusely, worrying about them getting in trouble or worse. Elena pulled the jackets and ball caps out for them to throw on and gave them their envelopes. Instructed them not to go back home and let the first one out to purchase her getaway.

One by one they got their tickets and hopped on their bus, whichever it was and wherever it was going, all giving one last glance as to say thank you.

The drive home was slow, the rain getting harder, bigger and standing on the road. Elena was snuggled up to Alex, his arm around her, both were incandescently happy and relieved. Elena’s cheeks were just now beginning to dry up. The women’s gratefulness was so overwhelming.

* * *

Alex loved the fact that Elena couldn’t see someone crying without crying herself. Not that he liked to see her with tears coming down, but it was real and honest and showed her compassion. She had even told him about how she felt sorry for the husbands, for not knowing any other life. Alex thought, she really is full of grace. That’s something you can’t fake.

* * *

The storm was in full swing when they finally got home and the power was already out, as well as the phone lines. Neither could sleep. Elena was taking a shower so Alex jumped at the opportunity and grabbed them wine, two glasses and some fruit and a knife.

He laid their comforter on the floor in the bedroom. The moonlight always shined through that window just right at night. He lit a few candles and was just sitting down when he saw her in the door way. Her hair was tossled and wet and laying across her shoulders. Alex’s button up shirt lay loosely on her body.

“What’s all this?” she said, looking pleased and surprised.

“Come sit with me. I knew you wouldn’t be able to sleep so I figured we’d have a picnic.”

“Wow,” she said smiling and bounced over to jump in his lap.

“So you like it I take it?” he said laughing.

“Um...yeah,” she jokingly said in her best fake ‘ditsy blonde’ accent.

They both laughed.

“And you’re happy here with me?” he asked looking right into her eyes and turning serious and sober.

“Yes, this is very sweet. Thank you.”

“No. I mean happy with your life...with me.”
“Of course I am. I love you, Alex.”

“No regrets?”

“No, no regrets. You’re kinda scaring me, babe.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and sat up straighter. “What’s all this about?”

She was not giddy anymore. She was looking wearily into his eyes.

“I’m not trying to scare you, El, I just want to make sure that this is what you want. That your not only here because of the girls. That now you feel you have a purpose. Because you feel obligated or just making a good situation out of a bad one, with me.”

“What? Why would you say that? If that were the case I could have run when I took Pam to the bus. I mean, I do feel for the girls, of course I do but, that’s not the reason I stayed, not the main reason. I love you, Alex and if we’d met at a gas station somewhere I’d still have fallen in love with you. You couldn’t order me away.”

He blew a thoughtful sigh and sat quietly for a moment before reaching into his front pocket.

“Well then, I thought...I might do this the right way.” He pulled his hand out, a silver petite ring in between his index finger and thumb.

He had a crooked half smile and was looking up at her from under his lashes, his chin down.

“Alex,” she breathed his name, glanced at the ring but couldn’t take her eyes off of his warm blue gaze. “I’m already your wife, silly,” she choked out, tears cutting off her force.

“Yes, but not by choice.” He looked down quickly, a flash of guilt across his face.

She knew any hesitation would only make him feel worse, make him think she was second guessing and besides, there was no need for any. She knew what she wanted.

“Yes, of course I’ll marry you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. Will you just trust me when I say that? I told you before, you couldn’t order me away now. You’re stuck with me. I couldn’t believe it myself in the beginning. I didn’t understand how I could love you, no offense, but I didn’t know how I was already falling in love with you, so soon. But it happened. And the reason isn’t because I had no choice. It’s because you are what I have always known was out there for me, but was afraid I would never find it or didn’t deserve it. I’m not going anywhere.”