Chapter Four

 

 

 

 

Tessa stared at the manila envelope her grandmother’s lawyer had handed her an hour ago. Tears threatened to pour from her eyes. Today had been rough; between the funeral yesterday and the lawyer’s visit today, she hadn’t had a break from the constant reminders that her beloved abuela was gone forever.

The lawyer had shown up and read her grandmother’s will in a monotone voice that still rang in her ears, mostly because of how bored he’d sounded. He’d acted as if he were reading a dull book rather than her grandmother’s last wishes.

Tessa felt the tears she’d been holding back while with her family begin to slide down her cheeks. Her heart hurt so much as she looked at the last communication she’d ever receive from her grandmother. She didn’t care about all the material stuff her sisters and cousins had received from her grandmother. No, this letter she’d been handed after everyone had left the room—the lawyer requested that each person receiving something leave the room after he read what they were receiving before he began reading the will—was more than enough for her even if it was only one last letter from Marietta.

Tessa stared hard at the envelope as she blinked, trying to clear the tears from her eyes. Her hand shook as she removed the tape that held it closed. She might as well get this over with, she mentally lectured herself, because not reading it wouldn’t bring her grandmother back. Tessa sat down on the edge of her bed feeling the urge to curl into a little ball and cry herself to sleep. Anything to avoid the reality of life without the only person who’d ever truly understood her. With a heavy inhale, she blinked the tears away, turned the envelope over, and grabbed the edge of the flap and ripped.

“Shit!” she cried out before sticking her bleeding thumb into her mouth to help with the slight sting. Damn, why did paper cuts hurt so damned much? As injuries went they were minor but sometimes they hurt worse than actual cuts. Tessa watched as blood dripped onto the abandoned envelope now resting in her lap. She realized she was avoiding opening the letter and sighed. Damn, she needed to man up and just read the damned thing. It was the last letter she would ever receive from the woman who was more like a mother to her than a grandmother and she was afraid to lose that final tiny connection to her. She couldn’t wait forever, she supposed.

Tessa pulled the paper free of the envelope and stared at the papers she had removed. A hard sob escaped her when she looked down at the words written in the familiar shaky handwriting.

 

Mi nieta querida

If you’re reading this letter, then I am gone from this world and am living in heaven with my maker. Tessa, mi tesoro, don’t be sad that I’ve left you because it was my time to go. Dry your tears and find joy in life. You of all people know that my life was long and very happy. Once when I was a young girl I met a man who became my world even though his views of the world were dark. He was hurt and he didn’t know how to fix that without removing himself and his family from the darkness he perceived the world to be filled with. This I never blamed him for because it was simply who he was but it didn’t allow for a granddaughter like you. It didn’t account for the unhappiness you would feel. This is why my last wish for you is that you don’t waste away in this compound without at least trying to live the life that will make you happy.

Knowing I didn’t have much time left on this earth and filled with worry about you, I hatched a plan. One like the plot in those books you love so much. It was fun, la nieta. I was like a spy setting up a new life with the help of my trusty lawyer. You would have laughed with me had you known about this adventure I planned for you.

These papers have a map and information on a bank you must go to. Everything you need to go to the bank is in this envelope. I urge you to leave, mi tesoro. A new life awaits you outside these walls and I hope it can make you happy. Everything is in the safety deposit box under your name.

Take this last gift from your abuela who loves you dearly. For years your sadness has been evident as you read your books and study the outside world and yet fear holds you inside these walls. They are home to us but to you they are a prison. Don’t allow your life to fade away with only unhappiness to keep you company. I want you to know happiness as I have known it. As they say, if you don’t try looking you will never find it. So mi tesoro, go and don’t look back.

 

All my love goes with you, and I will see you in the next life.

 

By the time she’d finished reading the last line she was sobbing, her whole body shaking. She gripped the papers tightly trying to contain the pain that ripped through her heart. The words she’d read were so like the woman who’d raised her that they jumped off the page and she could almost hear her abuela’s crackled voice speaking them to her. Tessa felt lost and so sad it hurt to breathe. She fell back on the bed letting the papers fall to the floor as she allowed the pain to blow through her. After a good long crying jag, she finally looked at the information her grandmother had left for her—her mind whirling.

Could she really do it, leave the compound she’d lived in all her life? She knew fear was what had been holding her here for years. Well, that and love for her family, but could she manage to make a life outside for herself? And if she could, didn’t she owe it to herself to try? What her grandmother said was true, she could always come back. It wasn’t like her family would refuse her if she showed up at the gate. Tessa let out a snort. Ha, it was more likely she’d have a hard time convincing them that she was allowed to stay in the world outside than them being unwilling to help her if she wanted to come home.

Decision made, she stood and moved towards the closet to pull out a duffle bag, her mind suddenly made up. She wasn’t going to allow her life to be dictated by fear of the unknown anymore. She was twenty-six, not five, and she wouldn’t let fear rule her life. It didn’t take her long to pack up her things and before she knew it she was slipping out of her room and heading towards the trucks that were parked by the gates, trying to avoid anyone who might tell on her for what she was planning to do. She walked across the yard, glancing over her shoulder to check that no one was following her.

“Hey, what cha’ doing?” Hanna asked from beside her, seemingly appearing from out of nowhere and making Tessa jump. Shit, how did the kid do that? Nope, forget it—it didn’t matter. She ignored her and continued towards the beat up Chevy that had seen better days so it wouldn’t be missed too much by her family.

“None of your business,” Tessa muttered as she stowed the bag on the passenger floorboard before flipping down the visor to grab the keys. One thing about living inside a walled and gated compound that was patrolled regularly was you didn’t have to worry about security.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you? Why are you taking such a big bag?” Hanna demanded.

“Like I said, it’s not any of your business. Now go away.” Tessa glared at the small girl with a dark glower on her brow. Hanna was standing there before her with her little hands on her hips and a frown on her face, looking serious.

“I know you’re not supposed to be leaving without anyone knowing! I’m gonna go tell your pappy. You can’t leave without talking to him—he’s your pappy,” Hanna growled, her little face screwed up into a tight frown.

“I’m an adult. I can do whatever I want,” Tessa insisted. “Now mind your own business.”

“Nun-uh. You have to talk to your pappy before you leave or I’m gonna tell him you’re leaving!” Hanna said, her foot stamping on the ground with her little arms crossed over her chest and a stubborn look on her face.

“Look, this isn’t anything you or my father need to worry about. It’s my choice.”

“Whatever. I’m telling,” Hanna said and she glared at Tessa for a long moment before she turned and started running towards the compound. Tessa felt her hands clench as she watched Hanna’s back as she moved towards the entrance.

Damn, the kid was going to blow it for her and she’d have to find another time to escape. It struck her as funny that she thought of leaving as escaping, like she really was in prison. It wasn’t, but she knew that her father and her uncles would fight tooth and nail to keep her here despite her being an adult. They wouldn’t really force her to stay but she didn’t want to deal with the arguments and the yelling for days before they finally agreed to let her leave. Hanna was going to make it difficult for her by tattling.

Unless she couldn’t.

Tessa didn’t hesitate, she just moved, and five minutes later she looked down at her handiwork and smiled. Hanna was struggling against the rope binding her hands behind her back while glaring at her maliciously. When Hanna fell forward landing face first in the grass in front of her, Tessa felt a little guilty for tying her up. Tessa sighed a little as she helped her sit back up.

“Don’t struggle so much and you won’t fall over. I wouldn’t have tied you up if you’d just minded your own business. Don’t worry, Marvin will be doing rounds in like ten minutes and he’ll untie you,” Tessa said, still feeling like an asshole for tying the poor kid up. After all, she wasn’t a whack job who abused kids. It would be okay, she assured herself silently. She would call to be sure that they’d found Hanna when she was fifteen minutes or so away because she didn’t want to put her in any real danger. Decision made, Tessa patted Hanna on the shoulder before she grimaced a little and turned back to the truck she’d put her bags into.

“I hhhm um.”

Hanna tried to scream or speak, making her glance back at her to see the girl’s blue eyes glaring daggers at her as she attempted to talk or yell something. Tessa felt her chest squeeze as guilt assaulted her again.

“I’m sorry. I can’t stay here anymore and you aren’t going to make this any harder for me by tattling to my father. I’m an adult and it’s my choice to leave, not theirs. Now sit tight and someone will be along to rescue you shortly.” Tessa turned and quickly climbed into the driver’s seat of the old Chevy. Her heart pounded as she looked out, seeing the little girl struggle against her bonds. She watched as Hanna fell to the side on her shoulder and winced. Ouch, that must have hurt but she wasn’t getting out and she wasn’t going to be a sucker and untie the kid. She closed her eyes briefly before she turned the key in the ignition, pulled out of the parking spot and headed to the gates.

As she pulled up to them still feeling like an asshole for what she’d done to Hanna, she gripped the wheel hard. Her hands were sweaty and her insides were quaking with nervous energy as she opened the window to smile at Tom, who was manning the gate today. 

“Hey, Tessa. Where are you headed?” Tom asked smiling.

“I just need to get out for a little while and thought I would do a little shopping,” Tessa said, her lips curling into a fake smile that only made her insides shake even more.

“You want to go shopping?” Tom questioned, looking a little surprised.

Damn, even Tom, who barely knew her, wasn’t buying that she wanted to go shopping. She just wasn’t like her sisters and everyone knew it. The smile slipped away and her heart began to pound in her ears as she racked her brain for a way out of this. She couldn’t believe she’d made such a huge mistake. Thinking fast, Tessa felt relieved as she thought of a way to convince him that she wasn’t lying, even if she was.

“Yeah, they said a new used book store opened in Huntersville about three miles from here. It’s supposed to take in used books and sell them.” Tessa smiled again.

“Ah, I see,” Tom said, his head nodding as he lost the confused look. “Well have fun and be sure to get back before dark.”

“Okay, I will,” Tessa agreed and rolled the window up as Tom opened the automatic doors on the gate to allow her to exit. As she waved at him and drove through the second set of gates, a sense of freedom rushed through her as she pushed down on the gas pedal and headed down the road.

After she hit the paved highway, she turned in the opposite direction and headed towards her new life with a sense of relief that told her she should have left home a long time ago. She stopped at a gas station to buy a prepaid phone so she could call about Hanna. She hadn’t brought her own phone because she knew they could track it. She was near a freeway that went four directions so she knew they’d have no way of knowing which way she’d headed. Tessa knew she would be safe even if they pinged the tower she was near.

“Hello?” Her father’s voice was curt, almost hurried, and she winced a little.

“Hey pappy.”

“Tessa, where the hell are you? I can’t believe you ran away from home. You’re a little old for that, aren’t you?” His voice was hard and she could hear the disapproval.

“I’m an adult. I hardly think it’s running away, pappy,” Tessa said dryly as she climbed back into the truck to sit.

“You left without telling anyone and you tied Hanna up to do it so yes, it’s running away from home, young lady!”

“Pappy, you and the uncles would have made me talk in circles for a week before you would let me leave. Maybe tying Hanna up was a little extreme but I don’t want to waste time talking when I could be living my life. I’m sorry, pappy, but I had to leave.” Tessa didn’t add that she felt like the compound was a prison or that she was unhappy there because she didn’t want to hurt him.

“You’re just grieving and you’re not thinking straight. You need to come home, lil’ bean.”

Tessa felt a little saddened by her father’s plea for her to return. “I can’t, pappy. I love you but I’m not coming back until I’m ready. I just called to be sure you found Hanna because I didn’t want her to get hurt or starve. Don’t follow me and I will call to let you know I’m okay in a few weeks. I will be fine and if I need you, I know where to find you.”

“Damn it, bean, don’t hang up. You don’t know what it’s—”

Tessa didn’t wait for further lecturing, she just hung up and tossed the phone into the trash bin next to the truck before climbing in and starting it. Guilt ate at her but she knew she wasn’t going back without at least trying to find somewhere she’d be happy. This was the first day of her new life.

Four hours later, she pulled into the parking lot of the tiny bank, her mind whirling. She climbed out of the truck after grabbing her wallet out of her duffle bag. Shutting the door, she stretched her back, it was aching a little from sitting for so long. She looked around before she headed towards the bank to discover what her grandmother had left her. She watched the people around her with interest. They seemed to be so normal, which made her smile a little because to her it was an oddity. Most of the people in the bunker had their quirks and normal wasn’t a word she’d use to describe many of the residents there.

There was a couple who sat on a bench talking. The woman was in her forties with brown hair and the man slightly older, both in casual clothes and they looked—well, normal. Tessa turned, seeing people moving in and out of the bank looking rushed. As she walked across the lot, she saw a man in a business suit talking on his cellphone. He was apparently upset about something the bank had done as he shouted into the phone about idiots.

Tessa couldn’t seem to contain the interest she felt seeing the way everyone went about their day. They weren’t worried about the end of the world or wondering how to get their hands on larger weapons caches or food supplies—no, they were just people going about their day. It was trilling really and she felt a sense of excitement as she watched them, thinking how great it was to be around people who wouldn’t try to teach her to shoot a gun or tackle a knife-wielding assailant.

Entering the bank, she moved towards a long line leading to a little desk, ready to ask about the deposit box. She pulled the key out of her pocket while she waited.

“You’re in the wrong line,” a harsh voice grunted from behind her.

Tessa turned, seeing the man in the business suit who’d been outside.

“Excuse me?” Tessa asked.

“This line isn’t for safety deposit boxes. You have to sign in and be seen like you did before when you opened the damn thing. Why are you wasting everyone’s time by waiting in this line?” the man growled, his angry frown reminding her of her uncle.

“I didn’t know,” Tessa muttered

“Well now that you do, stop being an idiot and go sit over there till they have time to help you so you’re not taking up everyone else’s time,” the man said.

“You don’t have to be so rude, young man,” an elderly woman who’d entered the line behind him said, smacking her cane on the floor.

“She’s an idiot. I was just trying to help her,” he muttered.

“No, you’re just trying to get her out of line so you don’t have to wait. You young people are always in such a hurry. In my day we waited our turn and were taught to be polite.”

“Whatever, old woman, I don’t have time to explain things to idiots,” the man stated as he pulled out his phone and proceeded to make a call.

He was just as rude when he started talking to the person on the other end of the call so Tessa tried not to take his attitude personally. She stepped out of the line, allowing the man to go ahead of her. He huffed a little and glared at her and the old woman while he complained to whomever he was talking to.

“You have to sign in on that ledger there, then have a seat and someone will help you, dear. Don’t mind him, he’s just an asshole,” the older woman said, earning a dark glower from the man on the phone, who’d apparently heard her. Tessa felt a smile curl her lips as she followed the woman’s finger, which pointed to a table with a book lying open with what looked like a sign-in sheet on it.

“Thanks for the help,” Tessa said

“Anytime, dear, anytime,” the woman said with a smile as she moved up when the line moved again.

Tessa signed in and took a seat, looking around at the fake potted plants and the gleaming decor. It wasn’t long before a woman in a light green business suit with greying hair and a sour face called her name. When Tessa stood, she was led back to the woman’s desk. Fifteen minutes after that, she was in a little room with her lockbox, her hands shaking and her insides twisted into knots as she lifted the top to peer inside.

Tessa found two sets of keys, another map, something that looked like a checkbook, and some paperwork. She also found another note, which immediately made tears spring to her eyes. Tessa felt her heart twist as she looked down at the letter. She was assaulted by the almost overwhelming urge not to read it because once she did, there would never be another one and that broke her heart. Wiping at the tears after allowing them to pour down her cheeks for a minute, she steeled her spine and gritted her teeth before she began to read.

 

Mi tesoro,

 I am so proud of you for taking this step. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since my death. Even if it has been weeks or possibly years, coming here wasn’t an easy thing and your bravery is without question. I have enclosed all the items you will need for living outside the compound inside this safety deposit box. Live life to its fullest and remember that your uncles and father will eventually find you if you left without their knowledge. You need to be strong when they come for you, mi tesoro. Never forget that finding happiness is always worth the struggles you have along the way.

Inside this box are the keys and deed to a house I bought for you. Don’t worry, it’s in my name so it will take Diego a while to figure it out because he won’t know to look for my name on the deeds. I had such a giggle over that little idea because I know when my son figures it out he will feel silly. He is so like his father, your papa. I have also set up an account for you to use for the same reason because those two things are the easiest way for them to track you but with my name on the account instead, well you see my point. You’re just an authorized signer, which means your name isn’t really on the account making it harder to find you. There is a car with a very dear friend of mine who helped me set all of this up. She lives a few miles from the bank and she will help you with anything else you need. I know you are in good hands because for fifteen years she was my best friend and before I met your grandfather we were inseparable. Now go start a wonderful and fulfilling life. 

Oh and don’t forget to get one of those credit thingies because Becky said you’d need one, that all the young ones use them and something called internet banking. All of that was over my head but I am sure you will understand because you are good with the computers.

All my love

Your Abuela

 

Tessa gathered the things her abuela left her and closed the box. Stuffing the keys into her pocket, she knocked on the door and exited the little windowless room when the bank employee returned. It took her about twenty minutes to get the debit card and add the cash she’d brought with her to the account. When she was finished, she left the bank to follow the map to Becky’s house.

Becky turned out to be a woman about four years younger than her grandmother, with wiry grey hair and a stout build. Tessa found herself laughing at the older woman’s jokes and when it was time to go, she felt a little less sad than she had when she’d left the bank. Crawling into a small blue Honda, she waved to Becky as she pulled away and headed to the house her grandmother had left for her. The Honda was old and not in much better shape than the Chevy, but at least it wasn’t a car her father and uncles would be looking for.

It took her a little over three hours to find the town where the house was located and another fifteen minutes to find the street she was looking for. When she finally pulled into the driveway in front of a little blue bungalow, Tessa climbed out of the car and stood in front of the house with a smile curling her lips as she took in the one story structure with white shutters and a grey shingled roof. It didn’t have concrete walls or a fifteen-foot high fence enclosing it. Instead it had a little garden which had seen better days and shrubs that needed to be trimmed and—it was perfect.

Grabbing her duffle, she locked up the Honda and headed inside to discover a bare house with little more than two beds to sleep on but that didn’t matter; it was hers and it wasn’t underground so it was better than her last home had been.

 

Tessa was beyond desperate when she walked into Hambone’s, a small bar that looked sketchy and frankly like they’d be desperate enough for help that they may hire someone without any experience because she’d bet not many waitresses applied here. Unlike the Denny’s or the Longhorn she’d applied at.

She stood in the doorway allowing her eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the bar. Tessa could see that the place was actually in better shape than she would have expected from the exterior of the place. A tall reedy woman with bushy brown hair stood near the bar wearing a leather vest with a logo of some local biker group on it. Several bikers were littered around sitting on stools or in booths along with several other men. Tessa wasn’t frightened by the large rough-looking men because she knew she could handle them if they got out of line. After all she’d taken Thomas down without trouble on more than one occasion. Thomas was larger than most of the men in this bar, even the large bouncer. Speaking of the bouncer, he was staring at her with a raised brow as he looked at her from his perch near the door.

“You lost, sugar?” the beefy six two man asked, eyeing her like a kid looked at candy.

His eyes traveled from her head to her toes before settling on her breasts. Tessa let out a little sigh. It still annoyed her that men outside the compound couldn’t seem to focus on anything except her breasts and it wasn’t because they were large and impressive, it was just that out here men were pigs. 

“No,” Tessa said stepping further inside, intending to ask the bartender for an application for the waitress job. The bouncer’s arm shot out in front of her and she raised her eyes to look at him when he stood.

“I think you might be lost. This isn’t the place you want to be looking like that,” the man said, nodding to her khaki pants and green sweater. 

Tessa wanted to tell the idiot to mind his own business but she didn’t know if he was the person she would end up interviewing with so she bit her tongue. Taking a deep breath, she smiled sweetly at him, her teeth showing as she gripped the strap on her messenger bag tightly to remind herself not to knock the son-of-a-bitch’s teeth down his throat.

“Is there something wrong with what I’m wearing? I didn’t realize that there was a dress code to enter a bar.” Tessa managed to keep her tone light and almost ditzy when she was really being snarky and a little bitchy.

“There isn’t. Just don’t think you realize that this isn’t the place for you,” he said, his arms now crossed over his large chest. She was sure that scowl on his face was meant to be intimidating but Tessa didn’t find it so because her uncles had this guy beat any day of the week. They were all big beefy men with bushy beards and sour dispositions and she was the one on the receiving end of their dark glowers and rude comments for years.

“Well that’s good, you had me worried. I’m here to apply for the waitress job,” Tessa informed him, still with the huge smile on her face. It almost hurt and wasn’t in any way an expression she wore often. She wasn’t a very friendly person and acting like she was didn’t come naturally.

“You can’t be serious,” the man said, a loud snort of laughter escaping him as he stared at her in surprise, his expression disbelieving.

“I am,” Tessa said, her smile slipping because she was gritting her teeth as she said it.

“Hey Patty, this girl wants to apply,” the bouncer said after a moment of studying her, his voice and look amused now. Tessa didn’t appreciate the laughter in his voice or the almost gleeful look in his eye as he spoke.

The woman at the bar turned around and walked towards them, her expression unreadable as she neared. Her eyes took in Tessa’s clothing and her smile before she stopped in front of her. Tessa waited for her to speak but the woman only stared at her for a long moment making her feel like a bug under a microscope.

“You ever worked a bar before?” Patty finally barked, her voice a husky cracked sound that grated a bit when she spoke.

“No,” Tessa replied, her hand gripping the strap tightly. “But I am a hard worker and willing to learn,” she added, hoping that maybe this interview would fare better than the last three had. They’d all wanted waitressing experience and she didn’t have any. As soon as she’d said that to the managers at Denny’s and Longhorn, they’d shut down and the questions they’d asked had been a mere formality.

“Waitressing?” she barked and Tessa felt her heart sink because she knew this wasn’t going any better than the last three interviews had.

“No,” she replied.

Patty studied her again her head titled slightly to the right, an assessing look on her face. “So you’re applying to be a waitress without any experience?”

“Yes, like I said I’m a hard worker and I learn fast. I could be an effective employee,” Tessa said, trying not to allow her desperation show.

“I don’t think we are the right fit for you. Why don’t you apply at the Denny’s right down the street?” Patty said, her hands on her hips.

“I did,” Tessa growled, her hopes of finding a job here dashed by the woman’s words.

“Sorry, hon. But I don’t really think you realize that I’m doing you a favor by saying no, this isn’t the place for your type. This is a biker bar,” Patty explained, a pained expression on her face.

“I’m aware this is a biker bar, ma’am,” Tessa muttered, her anger at being rejected again by a prospective employer without a chance making her tone snarly.

“But I don’t think you really understand what that means,” Patty said, making a little motion with her hand as she stepped back and turned to move away. Tessa wanted to throw a temper tantrum but knew it would do her no good. She was about to turn around and storm out of the bar when hard male hands landed on her hips, grabbing her. She didn’t think, she just reacted, likely because she was pissed off. Before she knew what she’d done, she was staring at the large bouncer lying on the floor at her feet blinking up at her in surprise that she’d just put him there.

Patty turned around at the man’s loud grunt of surprised pain as he’d hit the floor hard and stared in shock at her six-foot-two employee. Laughter could be heard from several of the bar’s patrons. Tessa felt her cheeks heat because it was obvious that they’d intended to remove her from the building.

“You all right, Devil?” Patty asked, an amused smile on her face as she watched him slowly get to his feet still looking shocked.

“Yeah,” he grumbled, a dark glare directed at Tessa.

“Sorry. I don’t like to be grabbed,” Tessa muttered.

“Well then. When can you start?” Patty asked her, coming to stand beside her.

“What?” Tessa asked, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest.

“When can you start working?” she asked again, her brow raised as she watched Tessa, who was still surprised to be offered the job because she’d thrown a man on the floor when he’d grabbed her.

“You mean I can have the job because I tossed your bouncer on the floor?” Tessa couldn’t help but ask, a little shocked that assaulting someone had gotten her the job she’d been refused.

“Yep, if you can toss Devil then you’re more than capable of handling the men who frequent this place.” Patty laughed, a husky almost hoarse sound that brushed along the senses like a knife’s blade. “Now how soon can you start?”

Tessa felt a real smile touch her lips as she spoke. “I can start today if you want.”

“All right. Well my other waitress will be in at one. Why don’t you come back then? I’m Patty by the way. I’m Hambone’s old lady and the manager of the bar while he’s in the big house,” Patty explained.

“Oh, all right,” Tessa said, unsure what she meant by big house but assumed she must mean prison.

“See you at one and don’t wear that,” Patty said, making a face as she motioned to Tessa’s outfit. Tessa frowned, unsure what they thought was wrong with what she was wearing. It was a professional looking outfit that she’d worn to all of her interviews. Dismissing the thought, she shrugged asking, “Jeans okay to wear?”

“Yeah, jeans are fine,” Patty said, looking relieved.

Tessa spent another five minutes talking with Patty before she left the bar, her excitement over finally getting a job making her almost giddy. She’d been over the constant search and she’d needed a job before the end of the month or she was going to start running out of money. Of course the pay wasn’t great but Patty had said that tips on most nights would make it almost fifteen dollars an hour, which wasn’t bad. At least it was something and with the small amount she still had squirreled away from the money her grandmother had left her, she would be fine.

Tessa climbed into the small beat-up Honda. She pushed the key into the ignition and heard the loud squeal it made as she started the piece of junk. Damn, how long would she be able to use this damned thing before it decided to die on her? A month? Two? She didn’t know but she hoped it was more than that because fixing it wasn’t going to be easy and would likely wipe out her small nest egg. She pulled out of the parking lot heading back to her house.

 

Fifteen minutes later she was unlocking the door and entering her home. She tossed her keys on the little table she’d bought last week from a thrift shop. The house wasn’t filled with much more furniture than it had been when she’d arrived three months ago but it was clean, even if it was bare. She walked through the empty living room to the bedroom, which was the only fully furnished room at the moment. She’d purchased the basics, a headboard for the bed, a small dresser and night stand, and a 20” TV that sat across from the bed, all of which she’d gotten from a second-hand furniture store. The only other pieces she’d bought were two barstools for the small built-in bar. She’d found that she enjoyed working in the small garden and it was filled with flowers and cleanly trimmed hedges, which made it feel like home.

Over the past few months she’d discovered that the world was much bigger than she’d first realized. It wasn’t that she hadn’t known how large the world outside her community was, it was just that she’d never really been a part of it. The world had seemed so much smaller when she’d been safely enclosed by the fences of her family’s compound. Life outside of the compound had opened her eyes in ways she’d never expected and she wasn’t ever going back to being penned up in that place again. She refused. Tessa wasn’t stupid; her uncles and her father would track her down, but she wouldn’t be going back with them.

Grabbing a pair of jeans and a pink v-neck shirt from her dresser, she changed her clothes and headed into the kitchen to see what she had in the fridge for lunch. She hadn’t gone food shopping this week yet but she’d ordered a few takeout meals. She would have to go shopping soon, she knew, or she’d starve. She liked going to the little market down the street instead of the large chain grocery that was closer because the food was mostly organic.

Grabbing the pizza box, she opened it to find two slices left. She smiled and placed them on a pan and set them in the oven to warm. She loved pizza. It was one of the things she’d never eaten because no one in the compound made it often or as well as the New York style pizza place she’d discovered did.

She turned on the TV in the bedroom and sat down with her pizza to watch Supernatural reruns with a little sigh. She smiled because she was doing better than she had been when she’d started her day today. She had a job so she wouldn’t run out of money for utilities or food by the end of the month. She was relieved to finally have some income and she just hoped she didn’t lose this job.