Chapter 5
Richy allowed Willow to give him a ride home that evening. It was the first time since she met him. Honestly, she was surprised by how nice his home actually was. When she pulled into the driveway, she expected to see some rundown trailer home. It was a single-family home, but on a lot of land, and had a beautiful large oak tree in the yard.
“Wow, this is a nice home.”
“Yeah.” He scoffed. “Looks nice on the outside. There’s nothing but toxicity on the inside, though.”
He sat in the front seat of her car with his arms folded across his chest and had the meanest look on his face. It made her feel bad, but she couldn”t understand how such a beautiful home held such ugly spirits.
“Are you going to get out?” she asked. “This is your house, right?”
“I hate it here.” He sat there staring up toward the porch. “I wish I could just run away and never come back. When I turn eighteen, that’s what I”m gonna do.”
She couldn’t imagine going through what he was going through. He looked miserable. Willow’s heart ached for him. So much so that she asked him if he wanted to sleep over at the cottage for the night. Of course, he had to make sure things were fine with his parents first.
“Are you serious?” his eyes wide after she asked.
“Sure,” she nodded. “You can take the couch. There’s food, a huge TV, it’s close to the beach. Maybe we’ll get up early and have a beach day tomorrow.”
“Ok! Great! I’ll be right back.”
Before she could ask him to introduce her to his parents, Richy jumped from the car and took off toward the front door. She thought about getting out to follow him, but she stayed put. She figured his parents would come out and greet her after he asked them if it was okay for him to sleep over. She was shocked when he returned to the car with a bag and no parents.
“Did they say it was okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Willow was skeptical at how quick he replied, but knowing how much he hated it there, she started the car and left the driveway.
“Are you sure your parents said you could stay over?” she asked again. “I don’t want there to be any problems between us.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I stay out all the time. Sometimes I don”t come home for days and they never even notice I”m not there.”
She felt so bad for him, so she dropped the conversation and headed home. He was in good hands with her anyway. She wasn’t some crazy lady who kidnapped kids or anything. Besides, it was better he be with someone he trusted than out roaming the streets all night.
Before they got back, Willow stopped and grabbed a couple of pizzas and some junk food. She also bought whatever funky juices Richy liked to drink. Junk food wasn’t something she ate often, but if they were having a sleepover, they had to have some kind of excitement. Right?
“Do you like horror movies?” she asked.
“Love them,” he said. “What’s your all time favorite scary movie?”
She thought long and hard about that one. Willow loved scary movies so much she didn”t think it was possible for her to have a favorite.
“Umm, I would have to say… Fright Night. I love that movie.”
“Wow,” he laughed. “You really are old school. Mine is Evil Dead. The newer one. The gore in that movie is insane!”
Evil Dead was a movie she had seen over and over. Countless times. She hadn’t watched the newer version of it, however. When she thought about it, she hadn”t watched many movies at all since she met Charlie.
A lot of things changed in her life after she met him. Some good, but mostly bad. And then terrible. Talking to Richy about simple things like movies and the beach, Willow realized she wasn”t the same person as she was before she got married. The last few weeks it had been coming to light, but the reality really set in as she was doing things she enjoyed again.
“Are those detectives are still following you?” Richy spotted them as soon as they pulled into the driveway. “I thought they would have been gone by now. Either that, or they would arrest you.”
“I thought the same.” Willow sighed as she opened the back door of her car to get the pizzas out. “I’m kind of glad they didn’t leave, though. I got a strange package delivered the other night.”
When they got inside, Richy made himself right at home. He looked happier than he did to be at his own home, that was for sure. Willow didn”t get onto him about leaving his shoes in the middle of the floor, or tossing his bag down wherever he saw fit… she simply went behind him and picked things up to place them where they should be.
He was a kid having fun. His freedom at home wasn’t the same as anywhere else. His expression of self was tainted inside the walls of his own home, so she figured she could allow him a bit of a different life for at least one day.
“What kind of package?”
“A sketchy one. From Charlie’s sister.”
“You never told me Charlie had a sister?” he plopped down on the couch and stuffed his mouth with pizza while she poured herself a glass of wine. “Or about the package she sent. What was it?”
“A bloody shirt and a love letter.” Willow plopped down next to him and snagged a slice of pizza from the box between them. “She says she’s looking for him too and wants me to stay away from the police until she finds him. Pretty much.”
“Doesn”t sound like a love letter to me,” he said.
“I was being sarcastic.”
She found the movie Evil Dead on Prime and shut off the lights for an even spookier effect. Right away, Willow thought the movie was cool. It started out cool, anyway. She was already a little scared, but overly invested. So much so that she could barely keep up with Richy’s conversation about Charlene.
“Whose bloody shirt did she send?” he asked. “And what did you do with it?”
“I gave it to the sheriff. It was Charlie’s shirt. I remembered seeing him wear it the last night I saw him.”
“Why would his shirt be bloody?” There was a confused frown on his face, like he was deep in thought and trying to piece things together. “Did she beat him up or something?”
“I’m not sure who did what to him,” she said. “My mind has been running wild with the possibilities. She said he owes her money, so I can”t see her wanting to kill him. At least, not until she has the money she’s after. Seems like he owes a lot of people money.”
Somehow, in the midst of everything, she forgot about Mark. Talking to Richy made her wonder if Mark and Charlene had any kind of connection. Did they even know each other? Maybe they were related somehow, or maybe they were dating. Married?
“Are you going to tell me how much money is in that offshore account of yours?” he asked.
“Why?” Willow chuckled. “Do you think I’d be able to keep it once this is all over?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “You never know. If the cops can’t trace where it came from, it might be legitimately yours.”
She never thought about whether the money was legit or not. She always thought it was part of Charlie’s scam and the cops would seize it and keep it for themselves. Or return it back to whoever the owners were.
“I doubt it is,” she said. “Nothing connected to Charlie has ever been legit.”
They talked all throughout the movie. Willow only caught a few bits and pieces of what was really going on. After a few more slices of pizza and more talk about Charlie, Richy fell asleep with his phone in his hand. He was surfing the web for more information. It made Willow smile to see him resting peacefully. She imagined how restless he must have been at home. It felt good to be able to give him a peaceful night of rest even if it was only for one night.
Instead of going to bed herself, she poured another glass of wine and sat outside on the lanai. The air was cool. The stars were shining bright and the moon was full and high in the sky. It was a great night to sit out and catch some fresh air.
Her phone started to ring. It was after midnight, so she was surprised to see Monica’s name on her phone.
“Can’t sleep tonight, huh?” Willow asked.
“Not at all,” she said. “I think it’s this full moon that’s got me restless tonight. You?”
“Same. I”m not sure why I”m still awake. I”m usually asleep by now. I’ve got this kid over though. Poor thing has a terrible home life.”
Monica was surprised to hear that Richy was sleeping over. She called Willow “the orphan mother” for allowing him a place to rest his head. It was a funny joke, but it made Willow wonder what would happen to Richy when she left Sanibel.
“Do you think you’ll have children of your own someday?” Monica asked.
“Oh geesh!” Willow laughed. “I’m not sure about that. I’m kind of traumatized by relationships to think that far ahead. I don’t know… I don’t know if I”ll be able to fully trust someone again.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Monica chuckled. “I feel the same way most days. But when I see other women with their babies and toddlers, it makes me second-guess myself. Maybe one day, we will find our true loves, and have beautiful families.”
Willow looked back at Richy through the sliding glass door. His phone had fallen down onto the floor in front of him, and his feet were sprawled out all over the couch. He looked completely comfortable. Like he didn’t have a care in the world… He was just a kid, and it felt nice to take care of someone.
“I hope so,” Willow said.
“Someday we will. Until then, let’s try to enjoy life. Is there anyone you’ve been interested in lately?”
One man sprung to mind. Willow smiled to herself, wondering if she should let Monica in on her secret. “I met a man who I think is very cute. And maybe it’s the wine, but I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” she giggled, “…but I think I have a thing for the sheriff.”
“Sheriff Tommy?” Monica gasped and a genuine laugh escaped her lungs. “Not bad at all. In fact, he is pretty handsome. Grumpy and can be a bit uptight, but I think he means well underneath that badge and uniform. Maybe you two will ride off into the sunset once this is all over. You never know.”