Casually passing by a travel agency, Elizabeth decided to take a chance and enter. There was no harm in exploring some destination options and prices. Of course, she couldn't plan her escape with a travel package, but she liked to think that it might offer ideas for secluded beach getaways.
"And what options do we have that don't require a visa?" she asked the agent. This was a crucial point. In an emergency escape, she wouldn't have time to obtain a visa. She already had a passport, and she only needed to get one for Lia.
"We have Canada..". she pondered, it was too close.
"Mexico..". they don't speak English, she reflected.
"European countries like England, Germany, France..". it sounded nice, but too obvious, she concluded.
"Italy..". a tempting option, considering their Italian heritage, she considered.
"Australia..". Bingo. English-speaking, far away, and not as common, she concluded.
"Tell me about the beaches in Australia. But nothing too common. We prefer more remote places with fewer tourists".
"Oh, we have an amazing package for Lucky Bay in Western Australia: Located in Cape Le Grand National Park, Lucky Bay is famous for its turquoise waters and white sands. It's common to find kangaroos on the beach".
"How incredible. And what would be the cost?"
As she looked at the price, Elizabeth realized that she would have to work for at least 20 years to afford the package. But it was worth dreaming. Just the act of envisioning her future plans gave her the breath she needed.
"One step", she thought. "One step at a time, and I'll get there".
——
The final exams were approaching, and Elizabeth found herself amidst endless chaos: studying, assignments, tests, taking Lia to her mother's, managing the household, grocery shopping, setting up her clinic—her life was filled with highs and lows that left her utterly exhausted.
On some occasions, Elizabeth allowed Lia to sleep over at her grandparents'. For the little girl, it was great fun, and for Elizabeth, it provided much-needed relief. Keeping Lia away from Mason was her primary mission.
This afternoon was one of those occasions. After bidding farewell to her daughter with lots of kisses and tickles, Elizabeth drove back home, mentally reviewing the procedures for the Maxillofacial Surgery exam scheduled for the next day, when she spotted a firetruck coming her way.
Her heart raced. Whenever she saw a firetruck, she imagined it might be Simon, but that never happened. He probably had been transferred from El Cajon already. If he was looking for professional growth, he would seek out any advantageous opportunity.
As she approached her home, she noticed smoke in the area. She thought it might be the usual summer wildfires caused by the heat. Recently, a fire had engulfed El Monte County Park, so it could be something similar. Nevertheless, uneasiness gripped her heart.
Upon reaching the entrance gate of the property, she saw it was open, and smoke billowed out from her house. Fear took over her body, but then she remembered that Lia was safe at her grandmother's place.
She accelerated the car and hurriedly went to find out what had happened.
"Mrs. Elizabeth, I'm glad you're here", Greta said tearfully.
"What happened, Greta?"
"I tried to warn you, but your phone was off".
The phone battery had died, but Elizabeth was at ease, knowing that Lia was safe at her grandmother's, so there shouldn't be any emergencies. Until she saw her house.
"Yes, but tell me, what happened?"
"I was heating up the oil when I got distracted and came outside to sweep. You know how your Mason hates leaves on the veranda".
"Yes, I know. Go on".
"Then, I took longer than I should have. The oil got too hot and caught fire. When I noticed, I rushed out and threw water".
"And the fire spread", Elizabeth finished.
"Yes", Greta said, sobbing.
"Calm down, Greta. Is anyone hurt? Are you both okay? And Luca?"
"We're fine. No one was injured. But the kitchen is destroyed. Your Mason was very angry. Thank goodness he answered the phone and called the fire department".
"I can imagine. But don't worry. Mason will calm down eventually".
Elizabeth reassured the maid and went inside to check the kitchen.
Nothing. Nothing was salvageable. It was a blessing that no one was hurt. The only thing she could think of now was how fortunate she was to have left Lia at her grandmother's. What if the little girl had been in the kitchen at that moment? She couldn't even bear to think about it.
She would have to contact the insurance company and hope they would resolve everything quickly. In the meantime, she needed to buy food from somewhere or, kindly, use the caretaker's kitchen to supply the main house. Mason couldn't go without food. His mood couldn't handle it.
As she mentally planned strategies to resolve the problem, Greta entered the kitchen and said:
"Here, Mrs. Elizabeth", handing her a card.
"The firefighter who attended to me left this card. He said that if you need information for the insurance or any help, you could call him directly".
Elizabeth held the card, and her hands trembled as she read:
Heartland Fire and Rescue Department - El Cajon
Simon Marks
Captain
She could barely read the letters as her vision blurred. Before she could even fix the name in her mind, the card was snatched from her hand.
"Simon Marks. Is he, our savior? I will personally thank him", Mason said, turning around and heading towards the living room.
Elizabeth couldn't move.
Past and present.
Face to face.
This might be her end.
YOU ARE READING
The Price of a Secret
RomansaShe is shy, quiet, and hides a painful secret. He is handsome, charismatic, and conceals his true self. Together, they will live a toxic relationship in a dangerous game of life or death. In a world of luxury, secrets, and forbidden desires, Elizabe...
