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I’m about to walk away withtwo entire years’worth of income in my hands.
Don’t worry, Willow-tree. We’ll go somewhere real nice and we’ll never go hungry again.
The cashier slides the stacks of cash to me. I stuff them inside my bag next to my flats. They feel so heavy and yet so light. With every bound stack of hundred-dollar bills I tuck inside my purse, I count another dream on the verge of being fulfilled.
Get out of Las Vegas.
Get out of poverty.
Get away fromhim.
I almost jump for joy when I realize: I never have to go back to that shack of a house ever again. I don’t need anything we left behind—I can simply buy replacements. New clothes, new toys, new furniture—heck, I can buy a whole new house!
“I’ll take that lump sum for the rest of it, if that’s okay,” I whisper to the cashier. I don’t know why I feel so embarrassed about it. Like I don’t deserve it.
She smiles warmly at me and nods. “Absolutely, hon.”
Maybe that’s what it is. I’m embarrassed because I’m afraid this is all just a weird fever dream, and I’m about to wake up next to Martin. He’ll ask me what the dream was about, then find some way to punish me for dumping champagne on a total stranger and winning more money than he’ll ever see in a lifetime.
It won’t matter that it’s all a dream.
He’ll find a way to punish me.
I’m going to wake up, and all this will be gone.
The cashier frowns with concern. “Honey… are you okay?”
I don’t realize I’ve started to have a panic attack until she says something. I’m gripping the counter and breathing hard, and for a moment, I completely forgot where I was.
Slowly, I nod. “Uh-huh. Sorry. Just… wrapping my head…” I twirl a finger in the air.
She smirks. “It’s real, hon. You are wide awake.”
“I’m free.”
I don’t realize I said that out loud until our eyes meet. There’s a sudden warmth of sympathy in her gaze, and I kind of want to hug her.
“Yeah, hon. You’re free.”
I swallow hard. Nod. Tighten the straps on my bag, make sure it’s zipped, and hold it close to my chest. Then nod again. “I guess… I guess I’m doing this.”
The cashier winks at me. “You’re doing this. And you’ll do just fine.” She leans forward and drops her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “May he choke on the dust of your tires.”
When women know, weknow.
Smiling in disbelief, I hug my bag and make my way to those ornate glass doors I’d walked through what now feels like a lifetime ago. They’re only a few yards away. A few yards away, past the crystal fountain, and Willow and I are getting the hell outta?—
“Miss?”
Two security guards suddenly approach me, then flank me. They’re stone-faced and grim.
“Would you come with us, please?”
I was so close to freedom.
6
CLARA
