Finding Us (Second Generation Book 1)

Chapter 17

HARLOW

Avoidance has become almost a point of survival for the last two weeks. I’ve been avoiding my parents the best that I can and avoiding any more talk about Lyle or him turning me into a delinquent or anything else they want to talk to me about. I go to work, but stay away from my dad and only communicate about things that are work-related. I attend church on Sundays and smile in front of the congregation at the end of service, but then I leave early from the post-service reception. 

Thanksgiving came and went. I wanted to spend it away from here, but Lyle said that he didn’t want me to cause too many waves. I knew he was right, it was too soon to leave and we weren’t ready yet. My parents may not think I’m still seeing him, since I haven’t had any long trips away from home, but he’s drive up here a couple of times and we talk every night. One of those nights we came up with a plan. It probably isn’t the best plan I’ve ever come up with, but I think it’ll get me out of here without losing everything.

Step one was moving a lot of my money into accounts that my parents didn’t have access too. Although I’ve been making my own money, the account I was using was still co-signed with my parents, giving them access. This is no more. I kept enough so that it didn’t notify my parents of the low funds, but that is all. I slowly started packing some clothes away that I’d like to take with me. The last couple of times that I saw Lyle, I took a bag full of clothes for him to take back to the ranch. I also have boxes of keepsakes in the trunk of my car. I know when I leave, I’ll pretty much just be able to take what I can carry.

Finally, we made a plan on when I would leave. My parents will be attending a winter formal next weekend and they will be gone for most of the night. Lyle is going to meet me here and help me move the last of my things and then leave. I’ll leave a note for my parents. I know they’ll be pissed, but once I leave here, that isn’t my concern anymore. 

I was sitting in the back of the church listening to the band play while I answered emails and organized the calendar for next month when my phone started to ring. I looked down and it was my sister Abby. I hadn’t talked to her much lately, purposely trying to hold her at an arm’s length. I knew she’d be an innocent victim in all of this. There is no way that my parents would be okay with her still talking to me and Abby would choose my parents every time. I put my computer aside and stepped out to the lobby to talk to her.

“Hey Abby!’

“I’m so glad you answered. I was going to just text, but kind of wanted to hear your voice.”

“I’m just hanging out listening to the church band while I work on the master calendar. It is a calming environment to work in.’

“Still struggling with Dad?”

“Yeah, but it is okay. What’s up?”

“Oh yes, I wanted to see if you’d get dinner with me tonight. Leo is going to babysit Steele for me.”

“Leo is Steele’s dad, Abby, it isn’t babysitting.”

“Fine, fine, whatever. The point is that I am kid-free tonight and I haven’t seen you besides at church so please come to dinner with me.”

“Where were you thinking?”

“Spinato’s, I want a chicken parm like nobody’s business and I’m finally down to my pre-baby weight so I’m going to overindulge.”

“You shouldn’t worry about your “pre-baby weight” Abby. You know you’re beautiful.”

“Thank you, but you have to say that, Low. So what do you say? Dinner?”