Rules of Escape

Chapter 32 - Evan

Joe leans back in his chair and laughs after looking over the plans Ro has shown him. "Oh that's good, Ro," he says. "Really, it's just grand. How long will it take for you to get the house set up?"

"Six months, tops," Ro replies. "More like three, hopefully. By summer, it should be up and running."

"And what will I have to do?"

"Nothing. You're the landlord. You take the rent cheque and do landlord things."

"I can do that."

"Jesse said he'd help, too, if you need it."

"Well, that's great. Sounds like you have a well thought out plan. So once you get approval, you let me know. If I need to make changes to the house, let me know that, too. There's a little guest cottage in the back. I could move into that if it helps. And the garden, I want to get that planted and sell extra produce. We could make a little money here."

"I was thinking along the same lines. I'd like to make use of your solar panels, too. Maybe set up a couple of wind turbines."

"That was my dream a decade ago." Joe looks down at his hands, lost in the past.

"Let me show you my official proposal to the Ministry," Ro says. She takes a file out of her shoulder bag and hands it to Joe.

"It looks like you really know what you're doing," Joe says in surprise after rifling through the file and reading a few pages.

Evan motions to Ana to follow him outside. They have been sitting in the living room listening to Ro and Joe discuss group home plans since Ana and Ro arrived.

Evan, this is bad, Ana says. How can you even consider Ro's plan?

She's not that bad, Evan replies. Peter was telling me more about Ro. She has a lot of skills and knowledge. She might be able to help us.

Outside, the first spring bulbs are just starting to push their way out of the dirt. Another couple of weeks and flowers will bloom making the backyard look like blankets of white and purple have been tossed about. The "natural look" Grandma had called it. Flowers are social she had told Evan, they like to grow in groups, not rows and especially not alone. She had called flowers her special friends, her girls and boys, her ladies and gents. It wasn't surprising that February, when her first visitors arrived, was her favourite time of year.

Bullshit. Ro wants to control us, Ana says.

Well, she asked Peter if he wanted to work here. I don't think she would do that if she wanted complete control over us. Peter said she even wanted to hire your Diane.

Diane? She talked to her? What did Diane say?

I think she refused.

See. Diane hates her too. Diane thinks Ro is mean and angry that's why Ro looks the way she does.

Ana you're exaggerating. When was the last time you felt threatened by her?

I don't know. Maybe a month ago, but she irritates me all the time.

So nothing for a month?

Ana shrugs. I guess not.

Has she hurt you or made your life more difficult?

Ana sighs. No.

See, I'm right, Evan says, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. He's not sure if he is right about Ro. He's trusting Peter's opinion of Ro, even though his first instinct is to trust Ana.

Maybe you're right, Ana says. As long as there are other people like Peter here as well, maybe we'll be okay.

Many people will be watching Ro. All of us, our families, Peter and the other staff. Plus, she will want to keep the funding so ministry people will be checking in on us. We can always tell them if we have a problem with Ro. She'd just be one of many people who would be helping us.

When could I move here?

In a few months, I think.

Do I have to pass a test? Show I can read or anything?

No. You see, that's the best part. Peter says, technically, it will be a group home. So you don't have to prove you can be independent or get a job. And we still get some of our funding so we will each have some money to spend as well.

You make it sound so good, Ana says. But it will only feel like we are independent. It will seem like we have freedom and choices, but it won't be real.  Ana stomps away from Evan, towards the forest at the edge of the large back yard. Sunlight streams through the tall, dark pine and cedar trees like pointers, brightening small patches of soft moss and ferns and narrow well worn animal paths.  

Ana wait! Our freedom will be real!  What won't be real is the group home. Peter said they'd make it look like a group home, but really they would just be helping us live the way we want, following our lead.

Ana stops and turns to face Evan. I really hate her, Evan. I don't trust her. Why does she want to help us? What's in it for her?

Please Ana, Evan begs. He looks down into her eyes and sees her fear and suspicion. If you agree, everyone else will. We'll all be living here by summer. Our dream will be real.

She has some motive. What is it? We'll be dependent on her. If it turns out she's terrible, and she's forced to leave, what happens to us?

Evan takes Ana's hand and presses it to his lips. I don't know all the answers. Together, we are stronger. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Please, give it a chance.

Ana pulls her hand away from Evan and walks back towards the house, into the vegetable garden. She stops at the struggling sage bush to pick a leaf and crush it to release the fragrance. Most of its green leaves are tinged with brown.

This is our chance, Evan continues. Let's take it.

Ana runs her hands over the sage leaves. Evan sits down beside the bush and picks off the dead leaves like Joe had shown them how to do. Ana sits down beside him to help.

Joe calls this pruning, Ana says. We should weed the garden when we're finished with the sage bush. Joe says it's best to keep the garden neat and tidy, free from weeds.

Fallen sage leaves flutter away with a gust of wind. Evan zips up his sweatshirt and pulls the hood over his head, wondering how long they have before it begins to rain again. Maybe the dark clouds will blow away and they can stay outside without raincoats on. The chilly garden is better than being inside listening to other people plan their futures.

Grandpa said he likes you coming here because you do good work, Evan says. He notices the half smile that Ana tries to hide. He said, you and me – we're going to be the gardeners, here.

Ana moves into the garden and begins pulling weeds that are spouting between raspberry stalks. The sun shines brightly between clouds and warms the cold damp earth, making it steam. The sudden heat feels good on Evan's back. Ana closes her eyes and turns her face towards the sun.

Okay, Ana says, finally. I won't try to stop her.