My life became a routine of sorts.

Mason left for work fairly early, but never missed leaving roses on the nightstand waiting for me. He called the cell phone he gave me whenever he could, sending vulgar messages back to back.

 

We clicked. He made my life easy. He didn’t lock me inside anymore; I spent a large part of my day outside with the dogs. I wish I could say everything was perfect, but that was far from the case. He was hiding something from me, and it became clearer every day. I kept my mouth shut, waiting for him to slip up, but he never did. He was always so careful; it was like everything he did was planned beforehand.

Sometimes, I worried that whatever was between us was nothing but an act.  He still used sex to thwart my questions. My mother seemed to have disappeared as well. Every time I called the number I had for her, I was sent to voicemail.

What if they were working together?

No, I couldn’t go there. I didn’t know how I would deal with something like that.

A throat cleared from behind me, pulling me back to reality. Turning around, I saw the man who always ran the lawn mower standing with his hat in his hands.

He gave me a friendly smile and a little wave.

“Um. Can I help you?” It was the only thing I could think to ask.

“I’m Leroy, but you can call me Roy.”

“Okay, Roy. Did you need something?”

He took a small step forward. I stood from my lawn chair and took one back.

Don’t trust him.

“Hey, I’m not here to hurt you.” He held one hand out and continued to approach me, as if I were a wild animal that would bolt at any given moment. 

“I just started working here four months ago. No one lived here then. Now all a sudden you’re here all the time. A guy said if I had any questions I could find him in his office.” He continued slowly walking towards me, “Something isn’t right in this town. I saw you in the window the other day and knew I had to stick around. When did you get here? Why haven’t I seen you until now?”

I watched his eyes begin to drift over me; I was in a pale blue sundress. I knew he would see every cut and every hand shaped bruise – then, he would jump to conclusions.

“Leroy, I don’t know what you think is going on. Nothing bad is happening to me here.”

“Were you with the redhead? Are there more of ya? I tried to help her, but I don’t know if she got away. The police wouldn’t listen.” He ignored me completely, starting to glance around with a timid paranoia.

I didn’t know anything about a redhead, but I was aware this man knew more than he was supposed to. The thought of him bringing harm to Mason sent my heart into a tailspin. I had to get him away from here.

“You need to leave, right now.” I could feel myself beginning to panic.

“Fuck, lady. I’m not leaving you here! You don’t know what kind of crazy motherfucker you’re dealing with.”

“He’s not crazy! You’re the one who showed up –What the hell are you doing?” I screamed at him when he lunged forward and picked me up.

I was not going to be manhandled by the damn gardener. Unable to break free, I used my mouth, biting down on his shoulder.

“Ow, shit!” He unceremoniously dropped me onto the blacktop, glaring down at me as I crab-walked backward.

The warm sunlight beamed down on a little green pickup sat off in the corner of the U-shaped driveway, and he headed for it.

“Just go!” I yelled at him, wondering why he wouldn’t listen to me. Today of all days, I’d left the dogs inside. I could hear them going ballistic at the front door.

Roy charged forward, lifting me up again, similar to the way Mason had, and tossed me in the back end of his pickup. The air rushed out of my lungs. I sat up, just to fall back on my side again, rolling as he started the truck and peeled down the driveway.

The wind whipped at my face, bringing stinging tears to my eyes. I watched Mason’s house grow smaller the further Leroy got.

He sped around corners as if he forgot I was in the back. I held onto a black bar to stop myself from flying all over the place like a kite in the wind. All that was going through my head was that I couldn’t leave Mason.

Holding onto the side of the truck, I waited until he slowed, going around a bend, and jumped out.