The Haret (The Haret Series) (8 page)

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              Felicitas fear gave way to anger. She had never wanted to hate her dad. All during her childhood she searched for a reason to love him and to believe he really loved her. She continually made excuses for his behavior and lack of affection. For years she watched as he gave his attention and the best of himself to his church congregation all the while defending himself and his actions by declaring he was doing God’s work. Who could argue against that? Today however she gave way to her hatred. She stood from her chair ready to leave but not before she spoke her peace.

             
“I am not going to County Mental Health daddy and you can’t make me. This is where I draw the line in being an obedient daughter. You’re mean and spiteful and care more about yourself and that stupid church than any of us. I hate you daddy and the thing is I don’t want to. I want to love you but you have never given me a reason.”

             
She turned her attention to Sharon who sat silent, stunned at her daughter’s verbal onslaught. 

             
“Momma I can’t understand why you let him control you. I know you don’t agree with half the decisions he makes but you always go along with him and it hurts.  It hurts me to see you wilt away to some subservient woman with no voice. I am your daughter too. You should have a say in this. I’ve heard you cry alone in your room. I’ve seen the tear stains on your face when you think your make up has hidden them. You’re unhappy but you don’t have the courage to do anything about it. All you do is try and keep up appearances. I’m not like you and I don’t want to be like you. Not anymore.”

             
Felicitas bolted out of the room and down the long hallway to the door. Her heart raced as she anticipated hearing her father’s footsteps behind her. To her surprise it was the click of her mother’s high heels that she heard.

             
“Taz, dear slow down, talk to me.”

             
Felicitas stopped but did not turn around to face her mother. She placed one hand on the door handle as she took in a deep breath.

             
“There is nothing left to say mother. I’m pregnant and scared and I can’t lean on my parents because they are choosing not to believe me.”

             
“We all want to believe you Taz. All we want to do is help you but you’re not letting us. Don’t you realize what you’re saying is impossible I must agree, I find it difficult to believe.”

             
“Only because you’ve lost your wonder. You’ve settled mother and forgot you had a purpose once. The only thing you stand in awe over anymore is daddy and shopping and I find that hard to believe.”

             
Felicitas pushed on the glass door and made a run for the parking lot. Her heart pounded out of control as she dashed wildly down the street fearing a chase by the local police at any moment.  She had no intention of going to County let alone returning home; instead she crossed the street and ran a few more blocks before stopping to catch her breath. She pulled her phone from her purse; her trembling hands barely able to hold on to it let alone punch out a number. She steadied her finger long enough to hit number three on her speed dial list.

             
“What’s up?”

             
“Hey Lisette.” She panted while biting back the tears. “Daddy wants to have me committed to County Mental Health. He says I have to go there.”

             
“Are you kidding me? Why?”

             
“Because I told him about my dreams, and I think that’s how I got pregnant. He doesn’t believe me.”

             
“Well Taz you gotta admit it sounds pretty weird. But sending you to county that’s just mean. What about momma? What did she say?”

             
“You know momma, she has no mind of her own anymore. Will you just talk to daddy for me please? You’re the only one he’ll listen too. I don’t mind seeing a councilor I just don’t want to have to go stay in the crazy house ya know?”

             
“I know. I’ll talk to him but I am not sure he’ll listen. Where are you? You sound out of breath.”

             
“I ran away from the police station.”

             
“Oh my God I never thought I’d see the day when goody goody Felicitas became a fugitive. Where are you going to go, Esther’s?”

             
“No, that will be the first place they look.”

             
“Want me to come and get you?”

             
“No. I’ll figure something out. Just try and convince Daddy, then I will be able to come home.”

             
“Okay… Taz?”

             
“Yes?”

             
“Keep in touch.”

             
Felicitas ended her call and noticed a police cruiser slowly patrolling the street. No doubt they were searching for her. Lisette was right. She had become a fugitive. She darted into a small convenience store and contemplated hiding in a rest room but knew if the police came in searching it would be the first places they would look. She hid behind an aisle of trail mix and assorted nuts, keeping an eye on the street in front of her holding her breath as the cruiser slowed to a stop. Then to her disliking the car pulled into the lot. She scanned the small market, her heart racing. There was no way out except through the front door. She searched for a place to hide as two officers emerged from the car and headed toward the store. She crouched down a bit lower concealing herself behind the row of snacks. The tingling of the silver bells hanging on the door signaled the officers’ entrance. She held her breath listening to the sound of their heavy footsteps.

             
A gravelly voice whispered behind her.

             
“There’s a back door in the stock room.” Felicitas whirled around and stared into the face of a stranger and for a brief instant she thought she recognized him and then the familiar feeling dissolved.

             
“You lookin’ for a way out aren’t you?”

             
Felicitas nodded.

             
“I’ll make a diversion and you head to the stock room. You can escape through the back door.”

             
“But…”

             
“You want out of here don’t you?”

             
Felicitas nodded again.

             
“Then do what I say.” The unshaven man pulled a folded sheet of paper from his jacket and shoved it in Felicitas hand then with incredible strength hurled a solid round stone through the front window shattering the glass. The deafening sound drew everyone to the front of the store.

             
“Go now!”

             
Felicitas made her escape.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

             
Sharon waited at the dinner table for Melvin to get off the phone. She summoned the family for the evening meal only seconds before the call from Detective Russell came through. Lisette and Hayley reluctantly took their seats, neither one wanting to gather at the table with Felicitas place empty. They waited impatiently straining their ears trying to listen in on the conversation.

             
Sharon sighed; condensation formed on the outside of her glass, the ice was melting, diluting the sweet tea. The smoke rising from her chicken casserole had long since disappeared; if Melvin didn’t end his call soon dinner would be ruined. The logical thing to do would be to begin eating and let him heat up a plate in the microwave later. But according to Melvin that was disrespectful. The family prayed and ate together, no exceptions. Melvin was king of his castle. He provided well so he made the rules. He was the grandson of a man who made his fortune inventing a small latch. Melvin inherited a million dollars when he turned twenty-one then invested smartly and turned his million into millions. He never worked an ordinary job but spent his days shepherding a congregation.  A large percent of the towns’ population attended his church and looked to Melvin Rebold for guidance. Over the years Sharon had watched him counsel couples on the verge of divorce and comfort numerous people through extreme tragedy and misfortune. The members of his church adored him, in some ways he had become their way to God. He had done a lot of good for the people of his community; yet Sharon sometimes wondered if it was at the expense of her own family.

             
The Rebolds lived well on the outside; many women envied her and she knew it. Her husband was handsome, charming and well respected.  She drove a luxury car and wore fine designer clothes; her home was once featured in Southern Living magazine and Better Homes and Gardens. She was a member of the town’s exclusive country club and a regular guest at the governors’ mansion. She took two vacations a year traveling to exotic locations and was often asked to speak at women’s gatherings across the nation. Her subject: How to be a submissive wife and serve your man so he could be the successful. After all everyone knew that behind every great man there was a woman.

             
Sharon sighed and drummed her perfectly manicured fingernails across the table cloth. She avoided the rebellious eyes of her two daughters waiting impatiently at the table with her. She knew they were upset but she cared nothing about discussing the situation with them. Instead her mind continued to play over again the conversation she had with Felicitas moments before she bolted out the door and across the parking lot. Melvin had reprimanded her for allowing Felicitas to run away again yet what could she have done. Felicitas words had all but paralyzed her. She accused her of losing her wonder, not knowing her purpose. Sharon didn’t know why those words stung so badly but they had. They had cut her deep. For a brief moment while the words rung in her ears Sharon felt a bit homesick lost in a deep longing for something she could not explain. Felicitas made her escape while Sharon stood there too stunned too paralyzed to do anything about it.

             
“Detective Russell said the trail is a bit cold. Felicitas seems to have disappeared once again.”

             
Melvin’s announcement interrupted her musings.

             
“So what do we do now?” Sharon asked dipping into the casserole, laying the first portion on Melvin’s plate.

             
“We do nothing. We shouldn’t spend valuable time chasing after her when there are so many other people who need our time and attention. Felicitas is doing what she wants to do and is in a self-destruction mode and I think she like the prodigal son will someday come to the pigpen of her life and realize she needs to return home and come clean with her way of living.”

             
Lisette jumped to her sister’s defense. “What are you talking about, her way of living? Felicitas is a goody goody. I don’t think she has ever done anything wrong.”

             
Melvin swallowed a large bite of chicken and eyed his eldest daughter.

             
“She’s pregnant isn’t she?”

             
“Yea but she really believes she got pregnant in a dream maybe she needs your help instead of your discipline.”

             
Melvin took another large bite and shook his head.

             
“Impossible. Felicitas isn’t suffering from mental illness. She knows what she is doing. She’s a smart girl and knows how to play innocent. You need to be able to recognize wolves in sheep clothing Lisette. She has willingly shamed herself and doesn’t care that she has shamed her family as well as making a mockery of her purity club. She knows where she was last week and she has returned to her little sinful hiding place. That’s why the police can’t find her.”

             
“She wants to come home but is afraid because you are going to send her to the nut house.”

             
Melvin glared at his daughter. “How do you know that? Have you talked with her?”

             
Sharon listened intently. She knew Lisette wasn’t afraid of her dad. She didn’t know why but for some reason Lisette had always had him wrapped around her little finger. Maybe it was because she looked so much like him or because she was his parents’ favorite grandchild. For whatever the reason his favor always seemed to work to her advantage.

             
“She called me scared out of her wits 'cause you and that Detective were committing her to County. She said she would go to counseling but didn’t want to go to the crazy farm. Said she’d come home if you promised not to send her there.”

             
Sharon looked hopeful as Melvin continued to chew while contemplating his next move.

             
“Did she tell you where she was going?”

             
“No.”

             
“She trusts you Lisette. See if you can find out where she is.”

             
“If I do, are you still going to send her to county?”

             
Melvin washed his food down with a large swallow of iced tea then dabbed at the corners of his mouth with his napkin.

             
“Just find out where she is Lisette. Trust me when I say I love her and will do what I think is best for your sister’s wellbeing.”

             
He laid his napkin back down on the table then turned his attention to Hayley who hadn‘t said anything, barely picking at her meal.

             
“You’re exceptionally quiet Hayley. What do you think about all this? You think your dad is doing what’s best for Felicitas?”

             
Hayley shrugged her shoulders so Lisette answered for her.

             
“She’s scared daddy. Felicitas disappearing last week really upset her.”

             
“Is that true Hayley?’ Melvin asked

             
Hayley nodded and gave way to her tears. “Felicitas said she got pregnant in a dream. Do you think someone might have snuck into her room while she was sleeping and…..”

             
Melvin looked at Sharon. “You see what I mean? Felicitas lies have hurt and caused unnecessary fear in Hayley. No, dear, no one snuck in Felicitas room. In fact it was just the opposite. Felicitas snuck out of her room.”

             
“It just doesn’t seem like Taz.” Hayley’s statement was barely audible. “I mean…. Ian loves her, why would she run off with someone else?”

             
Sharon smiled. She knew her youngest daughter had entered high school and became boy crazy and Sharon was convinced Hayley had a secret crush on her sister’s boyfriend.

             
“Love makes ya do crazy things.” Lisette said

             
“Lust makes you do crazy things.” Melvin corrected then quoted from the book of First Corinthians chapter thirteen:

             
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres Felicitas wasn‘t dreaming during her late night escapades, she seems to be the widest awake while she’s sleeping.”  Confident in his words, He took another swallow of his iced tea.

             
“Is there desert?”

             
Sharon’s hands trembled at her husband’s last statement nearly spilling her tea. She forced a smile as she took his plate and headed for the kitchen. Her hands continued to shake as she placed the dishes into the sink. Her head was throbbing so she shook a couple of aspirin from the bottle and popped them into her mouth. She sliced a piece of pecan pie, poured a steaming cup of coffee, forced another smile and hurried the delicious treat into the dining room. This would keep Melvin busy for a few minutes. She returned to the privacy of the kitchen and sat at the small computer atop her desk. She clicked on the yellow pages then quickly scribbled down the number of a private investigator. She would call later and secretly hire a detective to locate her estranged mother.  Melvin’s last statement evoked a distant memory and made Sharon realize she needed to talk to her mother after all these years.