AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, but I’m not sure she will. Anouk doesn’t think she’ll do well in the normal world.”
“Why?”
“She’s weird. People in the church don’t like her. She assumes no one in the real world would.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Tuesday asks, leaning closer. “Is she weird like Edith or like one of those giant-forehead people from your church?”
“She’s just awkward,” I say, protective of my older sister. “But her being odd kept men from wanting to marry her. She seems submissive in the wrong way. Well, that’s what the one young pastor said after their chaperoned date.”
“Man, I can’t imagine having someone supervise my dates.”
“Couldn’t talk so openly about jizz gargling,” Roxie mutters, winning a grin from Tuesday.
Tuesday settles on the arm of my chair and says, “Alexis has weird cousins who’ve thrived out in the real world of this particular small town. I bet we could free your sister from the shackles of her cuckoo prison and unleash her into a world willing to embrace her weirdness.”
I’m considering how to get to Anouk when Tuesday receives a call from her aunt Justice.
“What’s up, Auntie J?”
“Pig stampede!” Justice hollers over speakerphone. “They’re here for the fundie!”
“Wait, what?” I ask, getting to my feet.
“The fuzz is here for you,” Tuesday explains and grabs my hand. “We’ve got to hide you.”
“What about Ike?”
“We can’t hide him. He’s too large and manly.”
“If he’s in trouble, I should help him,” I insist as Tuesday tugs me out the back door and Roxie gives me a gentle shove from the rear.
“He can take care of himself,” Tuesday promises. “Don’t forget how he’s large and manly.”
As they rush me away from the house and into the brush near Stache Lake, I hear Justice screaming about rights and lawyers.
“She’ll fake a fainting spell soon,” Tuesday whispers as we hurry through the high grass to an unknown destination. “We’ll have you stay in the hidey-hole until we know what’s happening.”
Silently obeying, I wonder about Ike. Did my family stir up trouble for him? Shouldn’t I tell the police how things are with Ike and me?
Tuesday trips over every single rock on our way. Her flip-flops don’t help our speed, yet we finally arrive at a shack near a creek.
“This is where the boys keep their fishing crap,” she explains as we move through the doorway to the surprisingly roomy hut. “It has a little solar-powered fan in here, so you won’t pass out from the heat. Ooh, and snacks,” she adds after opening a cooler.
Over the next few minutes, Tuesday shows me all the hidey-hole’s fun features. Finally, she moves toward the door.
“I’m going to oh so casually find out what’s happening and then ever so casually text the info to Roxie.”
Her stepdaughter frowns. “You’ve never done anything casually in your life.”
“Well, today is a new day, so just stay here until I know if you can come out. If you don’t hear from me, feel free to assume you’ll live in the hidey-hole forever and react accordingly.”
After the two of them finish fussing at each other, Tuesday disappears out the door and goes to do her “casual” snooping.
“Don’t be scared,” Roxie says as she settles on a little bench.
“I’m worried about Ike.”
“I used to worry about my dad when he’d go on a job,” she says, skipping over explaining how he was a hitman. “One time, we were living in Greenwich, and a bunch of police showed up in mass. I thought they were coming for Dad, but it was a drug thing in another apartment. So, I understand your fear.”
