Key to His Heart (Sequel)

Patience

The trek was nearly 2500 km. They bought an older car for cash from a retired couple and converted the rest of their cash to Canadian dollars along the way. It took them three days of driving all day long to arrive, including a short trip on a large ferry across the Saguenay River. Apartments were scarce in the area, so they ended up in a two-bedroom house that someone wanted to rent out off the books for cash.

"You aren't going to insist that I sleep in a different bedroom again, are you?" Jake asked mirthfully. "Because if I must apply for a position in bed next to you, I am ready for my interview." He pulled her to him and stroked her cheek.

"No. Only Jake with no memory has to sleep in a separate bedroom. Since you remember me, you can stay." Hope giggled when Jake pretended to frown at her before hugging her tightly.

"We're home, my love. Do you think we'll manage here?"

"Here, somewhere else, all that matters is being together."

Their first order of business was to find places to hide in or near the town. During winter, the nearby ferry terminal would be closed. There was a small movie theater that was only open Friday evenings through Sunday afternoons. There were several businesses in town closed on weekends; they felt satisfied had all their bases covered in as many directions as possible.

Next, they visited sporting supply stores. They bought equipment for every season, which wasn't suspicious as there were many outdoor activities to participate in locally. The friendly shop owners recommended groups they could join with other enthusiasts, Hope and Jake smiled and thanked them profusely, promising to look into it. But they were not planning to mingle; they weren't there to socialize and get noticed. Not to mention there were military bases in the area and they weren't quite comfortable with associating with anyone who might be informed to look for them.

That said, nobody blinked an eye about them buying weapons. Hunting knives, crossbows, bats, and golf clubs. Tools, like screwdrivers, pruning shears, axes, hammers, and nail guns, could do damage at close range. None of these items required licenses as guns did, and none raised red flags in such a rural area. They also got their hands on a small, used boat with an outboard motor, secondhand kayaks, and a gently used snowmobile. Another key purchase was generators since the house came with none.

Both of them also knew how to build single-shot guns out of household items. The antique firearms they bought from a collector, along with the bullets, weren't required to be licensed or registered. In this remote countryside, if you bought from private parties, nobody seemed to much care about what you got and whether you were allowed to buy or sell it, so long as you had cash. One scruffy man even claimed his neighbor worked for the Mounties but didn't mind him shooting in his backyard so long as he didn't hit people with his bullets.

And then the training started. They brushed up on their combat skills. They worked hard on cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. Jake and Hope did timed trials along each escape route, stashed emergency kits everywhere, then worked on stocking up their extra freezer with food that Hope pre-cooked and their pantry with as many dry goods as it would hold. This area commonly had temperatures below 0℃ in winter. While they had gear for these temperatures, they would rather avoid going out in it unless they were doing training exercises.

It was all very calculated and organized, performed over time and with discretion in mind. But to Hope, it felt frenzied and stressful. It was a lot of change and adaptation, both of which were things her autistic brain didn't care for.