The Night I Flew

Chapter 11

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ana, happy birthday to you." I heard Alex's family sing to me. I opened my eyes to a freshly iced cake with the words "Happy 20th Birthday!"

"Thank you so much Holly. You really didn't have to make a cake." I smiled happily at her. "Of course I did sweetheart." She said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I felt Alex's hands slipping down to hug me until his face was next to mine. From behind, he kissed my cheek.

He lifted back up to stand up straight, but still had his hands on my shoulders. I placed my hand on top of his as Goldie started talking. Goldie is 9 now. She still carries her teddy bear but it now lived on her bed most of the day.I feel like it's been no time at all but two years flew right by before I knew they were there.

For the past two years I've been telling my father that I'm in a very exclusive woman's group. This little lie has kept me from having to explain my absence from the house. I still saw Alex almost every day and we still wrote letters to each other. I still wore my necklace. I had never been asked about it by my father, which I was thankful for.

"When are you two going to get married?" Goldie asked bluntly. Her question did shock me quite a bit but I can't say I blame her for wondering. Most couples our age got married at about a year at most and most of them were arranged.

While I tried to think of a way to explain to a child that my father was awful and I was waiting for him to die, Alex started talking. "There are some things keeping us from being able to marry, so we are waiting for those problems to be resolved first."

I squeezed his hand, a way of nonverbally saying thank you for saving me from that situation. "Goldie, can you go out to the garden and water the plants for me?" Holly asked, clearly feeling the tension in the room.

Rosette gave us a face. I knew that face very well. You see, over the past two years Rosette has become the closest thing I've ever had to a best friend. "What's wrong Rosie?" I asked, smirking at her. "I know why you haven't married yet but why not at least speed up the process?" She asked, crossing her arms.

I knew exactly what she was saying but clearly I was the only one. "What are you implying?" Alex asked her. "Poison. That's what I'm implying, Alex." She sighed. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't had the exact same thought a couple times. Think about it though Rosie. Wouldn't people be suspicious if my father randomly dropped dead?" I asked her.

"You could say he had a heart attack. He's old and frail. It makes sense. I just want you two to be happy and that old bastard is getting in your way. He just really gets on my nerves." She exclaimed. Reggie hadn't said a word but I had a feeling he agreed with her and I did too. I looked up at Alex to find his big blue eyes staring back at me. He was wanting my opinion. They all were.

"I'll only do this if the poison can't be traced back to any of us and she never finds out. Understood?" I said, looking over to the window where we saw Goldie watering the plants. "Ok. I know a guy. He can get any kind of poison we could want and none of it can be traced or detected." Reggie finally spoke up.

"Ok then I guess we're really doing this. I'm really going to get to marry you. I'm going to be your wife!" I jumped up and hugged Alex. He wrapped his arms around me. There it was, my protection from the rest of the world. This was my safe place, this house. The warm comforting place I loved. I was safe. Emphasis on was.

After that Reggie went out to town and came back with a small vile. "Just place it in his drink and he'll be dead by morning." Reggie placed the small container on the table. I stood up and hugged him. He was like a little brother to me. Reggie was no longer the stupid teenage boy I first met. Well, stupid when it came to some things but he was 16 now.

"None of this would be possible without you. You know that right? I am forever in your debt." I said, pulling away from him. "Call it a family discount. After all, your like an extra sister." He smiled at me. I pocketed the small vile and headed off. Well not without hugs and giving Alex kisses.

Goldie had come back inside while Reggie was gone but Holly sent her off to do a chore in the back yard. It was better to keep her away from this altogether. She was still a child after all.

When I got home that night father was waiting for me. "Father. I'm sorry the meeting for the women's group lasted longer than usual this time." I tried to escape to my room but was stopped. "I have guests coming so please be presentable soon.", "Who are the guests?" He hadn't mentioned this earlier. How was I  supposed to poison him now?

"His name is Ryker Henderson. Your age. His parents are coming too. He actually works for my business." He looked at me with a deadly stare. At least it was only a business meeting.

"You are to be engaged to him. No ifs ands or buts. Do you understand?" He recited coldly. I ran to my room, homing to find the same comfort in those walls as I did in Alex's home. It didn't work. I was completely and utterly alone here. Trapped. I need to leave. I need to escape. Tonight.