I took a cab to the bank where my father used to do all his banking. I stepped inside and walked over to the teller, handing her the folded piece of paper that I took from my purse. She walked me over to the safety deposit boxes, pulled the number that was indicated on the paper, and led me to a small room.
“Let me know when you’re finished.” She smiled. I stared at the box and the letter as the memory of my father’s death haunted me.
Dear Ellery,
If you’re reading this letter, that means one thing: that I’ve gone to be with your mother. I’m sorry for being such a lousy father to you. I tried to do what’s right by you, but the death of your mother was too much for me to handle, and drinking was the only way to kill the pain—at least for me. No matter how bad it got, you always stood by me and took care of me when I should have been the one taking care of you. You had to grow up so fast, and I’m sorry for that. I feel like I stole your childhood from under you. You should have been playing with your friends and having fun, but instead, you were home taking care of your alcoholic father because he wasn’t strong enough to help himself. I do know one thing, Ellery. I know that you grew into a strong young lady. I know you’ve endured a lot of heartache through the years and then having to fight cancer was unfair, but you did it, baby, and I’m so proud of you. If I don’t or didn’t get the chance to tell you that, I am now. I am so proud of my little girl. Your mother gave me the attached instructions before she died and asked me to hold it until you were 18. It’s the number of a safety deposit box that your mother had kept for you. I’ve been adding to it every year since your mother passed. When you’re ready, go and open the box and remember how much you’re loved.
Love always,
Dad.
My aunt, Diane, gave me the letter a couple of days after my dad had died. She told me he gave it to her for safe keeping, and if anything should happen to him before my eighteenth birthday, she was to give it to me. I held on to the letter all these years because I was never ready to open that box.
I carefully slipped my fingers around the edge of the top and lifted it slowly until it stopped. I looked down into the box with the black felt lining and pulled out a wad of cash that was sitting on top in a white envelope. I set it down on the table and pulled out a silver heart locket with an inscription on the back “Happy 18th Birthday, Love Mom.” I covered my mouth as the tears poured from my eyes. I opened the locket, and there was a picture of my mother on one side, and me as a child on the other. I wiped my eyes as I pulled out a video cassette tape that was labeled “To my darling daughter.” Lying at the bottom of the box was a stack of bonds with my name on them. I took a deep breath and composed myself before closing the lid on the box and leaving the room.
My phone chimed. I reached in my pocket and pulled it out. There was another text from Connor.
“Where are you, Ellery?”
I looked at his words, my heart aching, and I didn’t want him to worry, so I replied.
“Connor, I had to leave. My being at your place was hurting you as bad as it was hurting me. The only thing I can tell you is I’m ok, and please don’t worry about me. I have a few things that I need to do, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
I grabbed my things and handed the teller the safety deposit box and the bonds. As I was waiting for her to return, a text from Connor came through.
“What do you mean you don’t know when you’ll be back? Where the fuck are you going? You have treatments to finish. You better get the hell back here, right NOW!”
I smiled because even over text, he was yelling at me, but I loved him, and I was doing this for him—for us. A few moments later, another text came through.
“I will find you, Ellery Lane, even if I have to travel to the ends of the earth. Make no mistake that I will find you.”
I smiled and quickly replied.
“I know you will my stalker.”
I shut my phone off and took the money the teller handed me from my bonds. Combined with the cash in the envelope and with the money from the sale of my paintings, I had a little over one hundred thousand dollars.
I called a cab and had the driver take me to the airport. I stepped up to the ticket counter and booked a one-way flight to California. The flight didn’t leave for a couple of hours, so I sat down and turned on my phone. I dialed Peyton’s number, and she answered on the first ring.
“Ellery, where are you? I’ve been so worried; we’ve all been worried.”
“Peyton, stop and calm down. I need you to listen to me. You’re the only one I’m telling this to, so whatever you do, don’t you dare let Connor or Henry know, please.”
She hesitated. “Okay.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m flying out to California for a while, and I need you to throw Connor off my trail. I need you to talk to him every day and find out what he’s learned. I need to buy some time before he finds me.”
“Do you want him to find you?” she whispered.
“Yeah, I do want him to find me, because if he does, then I know we were meant to be together and everything I’m doing would be for something.”
“He’s pissed, Ellery. He was throwing things and swearing. You should have heard the things he was saying.”
“He’s angry, and he’ll get over it. Just try to be a friend to him. I have to go. I love you.” I hung up and threw my phone in the trash.