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Lilly bounced up from the chair and skipped toward the door. It was probably a delivery man or woman arriving with a package. Rarely a day went by without Tyler ordering a teat sample of a new surf wax or something along those line.
But to Lilly’s horror, it wasn’t a delivery driver. It was the police. And as she listened in horror to what they were saying, Lilly suddenly felt the color draining out of her cheeks in mega quick time.
Apparently, the grump who’s cycle she had taken by mistake had a change of heart. Not only had he reported Lilly to the police for stealing his bike, but he also said that Tyler had threatened and intimidated him.
‘Lilly, he’s pressing charges,’ the police officer said, a serious but empathetic look on his face. ‘I’m sorry. Same goes for Tyler.’
‘But… that’s not fair! That’s a big old lie!’ Lilly pleaded, her bottom lip wobbling as she spoke. ‘The old sourpuss is being a bad person!’
‘I’m sorry, Lilly,’ the police officer said. ‘I don’t make the rules. I’ll come back later though when Tyler is around. We can go through things then.’
With that, the police officer turned and left.
Lilly’s head was spinning. If the charges against her were upheld, it would surely mean that no YA publisher would touch her with a bargepole. How could she ever be marketed as an author for impressionable young people if she had a criminal record for theft?
But Lilly also thought about Tyler. If he ended up with a criminal record, then his surf school would be under serious pressure. How many parents would send their kids to be taught by a man with a police record for intimidation?
This was atotal disaster.
‘Jester! What shall I do?’ Lilly said, tears flowing down her cheeks. ‘This isn’t right. I wouldneversteal from someone! Daddy would never intimidate someone like the old grouch is saying! Tyler is a good man.’
Lilly picked Jester up and gave him a big squeeze. But there was no comfort to be had, not even from her bestest stuffie. With the reality of the situation weighing down on her and with Tyler presumably halfway up the Stallion Valley mountain range, Lilly couldn’t see a way out of this.
I can’t deal with this.
It’s all too much.
I need to… I have to… leave Stallion Valley.
In a state of sheer panic, Lilly scrawled a handwritten note for Tyler…
I’m leaving Stallion Valley. It’s all gone bad. It’s over between us. Sorry but there’s no other way now. Goodbye Daddy, Little Lilly
Lilly placed the note next to the vase on the kitchen table and hurriedly packed her candy-striped pink backpack.
As much as it pained Lilly, it was time to hop on her bicycle and leave Stallion Valley forever.
* * *
Lilly had managed to get off the main route out of Stallion Valley and onto the back routes. The plan was to make a quiet exit, not see anyone who might recognize her. Lilly didn’t want to cause a fuss or make anyone unduly concerned. Her plan was to simply slip away.
There was, however, one problem…
Lilly didn’t know where she was cycling. Not really. Not only that, Lilly also felt all wobbly on her bicycle, the emotion of the moment getting to her in a way that was hard to handle.
Why me!
When everything was going so well?
This is all one big pile of stinking doo-doo!
So many emotions were running through her head, it was a miracle that she didn’t crash and send herself and Jester flying across the road.
In fact, it was actually a very dangerous situation. Lilly was a good cyclist, but she wasn’t exactly a natural. Over the years she had fallen off her cycle plenty of times. Usually, there was always someone there to pick her up and make her boo-boo feel better.
But not this time.
Tylerwouldhave been the person now. But that wasn’t possible. Lilly’s mind ran wild with thoughts of what Tyler would say if he knew what she was doing. He would probably be totally mad, the kind of scary angry that would make anyone feel all afraid.
