Chapter Three #2
“Tell him to stay there until he hears from you.” She nodded and took the outstretched cell phone from his hand.
The phone hadn’t even rung once before her twin’s familiar, monotone voice sounded over the line.
“This is Ash Nelson. Who am I speaking to?”
“Ash, it’s me—Ivy.”
“You are not calling from your number.”
“No, I’m not. I’m…using a friend’s phone.”
“This number has a San Diego area code. You don’t have any contacts saved under this number.”
“Well…” She drew the word out, not sure how to explain without worrying Ash. “It’s a friend I just met.”
“Ivy, that is a stranger.”
“I fell leaving the home inspection and he helped me.”
“You’re not supposed to talk to, touch, or trust strangers. Spell his name.”
“J-U-D-E.” She glanced up at him, looking for confirmation on his last name. He’d said it earlier, but she’d forgotten with all the other stuff going on.
“H-A-Y-E-S.” He spelled out his last name, and she relayed the information to Ash, who was undoubtedly searching for any information he could find on the man in question.
“Ash, I have a favor to ask.”
Another ringing sound gave her pause. She had Jude’s phone and her phone was dead. She glanced over her shoulder, and he was digging through his backpack. He withdrew a second phone. Who had two phones? Like before, he answered with his last name then turned and walked farther away from her.
“You want me to call the police?” Ash’s statement brought her focus back to the call.
“No. I’d like you to stay at Jess’s condo until you hear from me.”
There was a long pause. “You want to bring the stranger Jude Hayes to the apartment and have privacy.”
She was glad Ash couldn’t see her expression, because his words made her rear back in surprise.
She’d never brought a man back to the apartment.
The number of dates she went on were few and far between.
“No. I think someone is following me. Someone who might be mad because I overheard something I shouldn’t have.
I lost my fanny pack, so my wallet and keys are missing for the time being.
I’m afraid if the wrong person finds them first, they’ll come looking for me at the apartment and I don’t want you to be there if that happens. ”
“I sleep at Jess’s house on Thursday nights.” Their old couch creaked, and she could picture him standing up, tucking his phone between his ear and shoulder, and crossing his arms over his chest like he sometimes did when their mom started to annoy him during their weekly calls.
“I know.” This might not seem like a big deal to others, but for Ash it was.
He loved his girlfriend, and they had a great time together, but changing up his schedule without warning was taking away the predictability he thrived on.
Routines and expected patterns gave Ash a sense of safety, and she hated she was disrupting that for him.
“You want me to stay there today.” A familiar rigidity entered his tone. “Today is Sunday.”
“Yes,” she answered directly.
There was another extended pause. “Sunday night at six o’clock we have pizza and work on the puzzle.
” She could hear his heavy footfalls through the apartment.
He wasn’t angry, but when Ash needed to process something, the sensory input he gained from stomping along the wood floor helped to ground him.
She was always mindful to rent first-floor apartments knowing they’d disturb the tenants below them, otherwise.
“I understand, but this is a special circumstance. We both need to be flexible to stay safe. Can you call for a cab or find an Uber on the app?”
Weight landed on her shoulder, and she turned.
Jude was still on the phone, but he held it away from his ear for a moment.
“My friend, Mason Williams, is on his way to the apartment. He’ll go to the door, knock, and show his identification.
He has red hair and a beard. He’ll take Ash where he needs to go. He’s about ten minutes out.”
“Did you hear that, Ash?”
“Yes. A stranger is going to pick me up at the apartment.”
“You can ask for his I.D.” She had to look up to meet Jude’s eyes.
“You don’t have to share any personal information with him, but you can trust him to get you to Jess’s condo.
I trust Jude to get me home when it’s safe, but you’ll need to stay with Jess until you hear from me.
Otherwise, you can continue your weekly schedule, just from Jess’s condo. I love you. Please be safe.”
“I’ll let Jess know there’s been a change in plans. I love you, too.”
Ivy bit her bottom lip. Ash had become so independent over the years, and she rarely worried about how he’d navigate his environment or deal with the people he encountered.
When they were kids, the smallest of changes to his routine or environment would have a profound impact on his ability to regulate his emotions.
To say she was proud of his growth was an understatement.
She just hoped she hadn’t created a challenge that would set him back.