The Price of Trust (11 page)

"Carly! Joe! We wondered if you were ever going to come on in," bellowed Tom jovially, as they walked into the kitchen.

"I didn't think Joe was going to let me," Carly answered, smiling. Joe pushed her lightly, and Tom laughed.

They were all seated at the table talking animatedly while Penny warmed up some potato soup for everyone. Joe led Carly to a seat and sat beside her, pulling his chair close to hers.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Carly called from the table.

"You could set the table for me," she answered cheerily. Carly got up to get the dishes, and Joe followed. They set the table as best as they could, Joe bumping Carly every chance he got, and Carly threatening him with the spoons.

They all ate hungrily and teased continually until the end of dinner. They quickly cleaned up the kitchen and went to sit in the living room around the fire. Todd and Kelly sat in the love seat, Tom and Penny sat at one end of the couch, Carly curled up in the recliner, and Joe lay at her feet near the fire.

Todd smiled mischievously as he put his arm around Kelly. "Hey, anyone want to play a game?"

"What game do you want to play?" Tom asked.

"How about Twenty Questions?" Kelly called out.

Joe groaned, rolling his eyes at his parents. "This is a set up. She's been asking me to tell her about Amy all day, and now she'll hear the whole thing." He winked at Carly.

She smiled ominously at him. "Oh yeah. Let's play Twenty Questions. I'm dying to know about the competition." He smiled and took her hand, bringing it down to his chest. Carly was a little nervous that they were holding hands in front of his parents, but no one seemed to mind.

It was settled that they would play the game, and the usual, trivial questions were asked. Then things started getting a little more complicated.

"This one's for Joe," Todd called out for everyone to hear. "Is it true that you sucked your thumb until you were fifteen?" Joe glared at him, and Carly laughed heartily.

"No," he answered, kicking Todd's foot. "I was only fourteen." He grinned.

"Carly," Joe called out. She stopped laughing and tried to hide her smile. "Is it true that you were once engaged to a very rich business man?"

Penny and Tom stared at them both in surprise.

"Yes," she answered, still smiling slightly, but not sure where this conversation was going. "Joe, this question is for you. Were you miserable to live with when you thought I was avoiding you?"

"Yes!" everyone shouted before he had the chance to answer. They all laughed hysterically at the surprise on his face.

"I'll admit. I was a little hard to live with," he answered. "Mom. This question is for you. Do you like Carly more than you liked Amy?" Carly blushed, embarrassed.

"Yes," she answered, surprised at his question. Joe grinned mischievously, a twinkle in his eye.

"Joe, this is yours," Penny said. "Do you like Carly more than you liked Amy?" They all got quiet, waiting for him to answer. Carly squirmed. She didn't like being the center of the attention, especially about something like if Joe liked her or not.

"Yes," he answered, smiling up at her. Carly continued to look away, blushing profusely. "I like her more than I've ever liked any girl. She means the world to me, and I'm glad that she's going to stay."

She stood up hastily. "May I use the ladies room please?" she asked with an uncomfortable smile.

"Of course, dear. It's down the hallway, second door on the right," Penny answered, surprised by her abruptness.

"Thank you," Carly stayed in the bathroom for a few minutes, trying to still her panicky nerves.

"I hope I didn't offend her," Penny said, worried that they had somehow hurt her feelings.

"I don't think you did, Mom," Joe said, standing up and stretching. He sat down in the recliner, waiting for her to come back.

"What did you mean about Carly going to stay?" Tom asked. "Was she going somewhere?"

"Yes. She's been running from place to place because she's afraid that her ex-fiancé is coming to find her," Joe answered simply. Todd, Kelly, and Joe told them some of the details of Carly's experience with Ian before she got back.

"How awful," Penny whispered.

Tom was thoughtful. "What are you going to do?" he finally asked. "You know, with a man like that, there could be quite a bit of trouble."

"I know, she keeps telling me that there's going to be trouble, but I want her to stay anyway," Joe answered as she came back in.

"And just what do you think you're doing? That's my seat, buddy," she said playfully, sitting down at his feet.

"Watch out, Carly, he's been wearing cowboy boots all day, and those things probably smell awful," Todd teased.

"Here, switch with me. I'll sit on the floor," Joe said, his face bright red.

She laughed, pushing him back into the chair. "No, I'm fine. Really. Just sit. I'm fine."

"Carly, the kids here were telling us about some of your past. I'm awfully sorry to hear about it," Tom said kindly.

"I hope you're not upset with us," Kelly said hastily.

"I'm not upset. It's okay. I don't have anything to be ashamed of," she answered, soothing her friend's fears.

"Is there a possibility that he will come find you?" Penny asked. Carly hesitated. She was afraid that Joe's family would have serious reservations about their relationship if Ian could come back, but she couldn't lie to them.

"Yes," she answered finally. "He's found me everywhere I go."

"Why don't you go to the police?" Tom asked thoughtfully.

"Ian's very rich, and he's got contacts everywhere. Even in the police force. Money talks more than honesty, I'm afraid. I've hidden pretty well before, and it doesn't usually take him long to find me."

"Do you mind talking about it?" Tom asked her quietly.

"It's not my favorite subject, but it feels kind of good to have someone to talk to about it."

"How bad was it? The kids just told us that he beat you. What did he do?" Penny asked sympathetically.

"At first, he'd slap me around. He was afraid of leaving bruises. Then as things got worse, he'd punch, kick, pull my hair, slap. Anything and everything."

Joe leaned forward, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Tell them the worst that he's done to you."

Carly shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "I really can't tell you the worst. I think he was terrible when he broke my arm, when he blackened my eyes, when he'd just scream at me for no reason, when he took over my bank account and wouldn't allow me to have any money unless he gave it to me. I don't know which is worse. I can't answer."

"How did he take over your bank account?" Tom asked incredulously.

"After we were engaged, he said it would be better to build credit with something that had both of our names on it. He said it would be easier to do it right away, but I had no idea that he had it fixed that I couldn't take out any money without his being aware of it. If I went to the bank to withdraw, they would call him before I even left and tell him how much I took, and what time I was there. It was eerie. I didn't realize what he was doing until it was too late."

"How have you survived so long without money?" Kelly asked.

"When I left, I had about four hundred dollars that I had squirreled away without him knowing. I took that and saved as much as possible. When I thought I was far enough away, I'd stay a little while, find a job, and save every penny, until he found me. Then it would start all over again."

"What's the longest you've hidden before he found you?" Todd asked. Joe leaned forward to see her face.

"This is definitely the longest I've been able to stay at the same place," she replied.

Joe and Todd looked at each other.

"But," Joe interrupted before she could continue, "she thinks he's found her again."

Penny and Kelly gasped in surprise.

"Why?" asked Tom quietly. He was watching Joe and Todd. He had seen the look that passed between them and he was curious.

"I don't know really. Just some prank calls, a weird customer, but mostly just instinct. I always get a feeling right before someone shows up that Ian has sent."

"What do you mean, that 'Ian has sent'?" Kelly wondered, pulling closer to Todd.

"Ian doesn't come for me himself, he sends someone to bring me back. I've been forced into a strange car twice before I learned to listen to my intuition. Now I try to act first."

They were all quiet. Tom leaned forward speculatively while Penny moved nearer to him, rubbing his back.

"Well, that's good for me then," Joe finally said, trying to lighten the mood. "We don't have to worry about him, just watch out for strange cars and people."

Everyone was apprehensive, and she was sorry for it. Maybe God didn't want her to stay after all. Maybe He wanted her to leave.

"You know what; it's okay." She stood and gave them a bright smile. "This is a lot to deal with, and I completely understand. I tried to tell Joe I was just going to cause trouble. Thank you for being so kind to me. I've got to go." She left so quickly, they didn't realize that she was going until they heard the door close. They all sat in bewildered silence. Except Joe.

It was dark and cold out, and Joe had a hard time finding her at first. Finally, he caught sight of her out on the road.

"Carly!" he shouted, jogging to catch up to her. "Wait!"

She kept walking. He finally caught up to her and walked beside her for a while, catching his breath. "You got far," he panted.

"I'm good at running. It's the only thing I know how to do," she answered flatly.

"Why are you out here?" he asked quietly. "Where are you going?"

"I'm out here because I'm going home," she said tiredly.

"Come back. I'll give you a ride into town," he took her arm. She pulled away from him and kept walking. "Carly, stop it!" he said angrily, grabbing her arm again.

She spun to look at him. "What, Joe? What do you want? I don't want a ride, and I don't want to cause you or your family any more trouble than I already have, okay?" she answered, frustrated.

"What is the matter with you?" he asked, surprised. "Where did you get the idea that you've caused us any trouble? Can't you see that we want to help you?" He took her other arm, pulling her to him. "I'm not the only one here that cares for you. I've seen how my mom and dad talk to you, how they treat you like family. Todd admires you almost as much as he adores Kelly, not to mention how much Kelly likes you. Why can't you see that?" he asked kindly, looking down into her face.

"I'm terrified. Everything that I've cared about is gone. I've got no one. I've been running for so long, I'm afraid that this is some sort of dream, and I'm going to wake up and you'll all be gone and I'll be back to nothing," Carly blurted. "I'm afraid that once I belong somewhere or with someone, I'll lose it all." Joe held her close for a little while, letting her relax against him.

"Come back, and I'll drive you home," he answered quietly. She sighed and allowed him to lead her back to his house. "You know, I can't speak for God, but I can speak for myself and my family. We don't want you to hurt anymore, or be afraid to love somebody again." He stopped, taking her hand. "I'm not planning on going anywhere without you, Carly. If you left, I'd look for you, and I'd hunt for you just like Ian, but with different intents and purposes. I'd find you wherever you went, so you might as well stay and make it easy on me." She could hear the smile in his voice.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, thinking about the uncertain future and praying to God that somehow he'd make it all right.

"Carly!" Tom bellowed good-naturedly as they walked back in. "Where'd you run off to so fast?"

Carly blushed, ashamed. Joe saw her discomfort, and came to the rescue. "She was walking home," he answered lightly.

"What?" Penny asked in surprise. "It's too far for you to walk all that way."

"I'll give you a ride home," Kelly chimed in. "I figured you knew that I would seeing as how I brought you here. Are you ready to go?" she asked, standing up.

"Whenever you are. Don't rush for me," she said hastily, feeling stupid.

"Oh no, I need to be going anyway. I've got Uncle Charlie's truck, and he'll be worried about me if I don't get home soon." Todd helped her on with her coat and walked her to the door, waiting for Carly to say good-bye.

"Well, thanks for the wonderful evening," she said politely.

Tom shook her hand affably, and Penny gave her a hug. "You come back, you hear? Don't you be a stranger. You're always welcome," she said affectionately. "If you need anything, or just need to talk, give me a call, okay?"

"I will. Thank you for being so good to me," Carly said around the lump in her throat.

Joe walked her to the truck and opened the door for her. "Thank you for coming today. I'm really glad you did," he said, leaning on the open door, smiling at her.

"Thank you for letting me," she replied shyly.