For the beginning chapters of this adventure click below:
The social worker was right behind Alex, her eyes were also wide. "I'm so sorry, I don't know how she found out we were going to be here."
Alex knelt down in front of Angie, hugging her tight to his chest. "It's okay," Alex said in his overly polite walking on glass voice. " Can you make sure she doesn't um follow us in here and that we don't run into her on the way out, please?"
The social worker was already nodding.
"I uh, don't mean to be a burden, I just don't know what she'll do." Alex finished letting Angie go. As he did, Angie grabbed his hand. Alex hated to ask anything of anyone. He was one of those people who felt like just his existence was a burden to others.
I watched mutely and could tell by the social worker's expression she expected someone was already taking care of the request, but supposed double-checking was a good idea. She seemed to be reliving memories of a time when she hadn't double-checked and it had gone badly or envisioning a horrible nightmare of what might happen if 'She' was still out there.
"I'll be right back," the social worker said quickly exiting her face tight with concern.
Angie's eyes never left her dad's face. She seemed to be drinking him in. She'd missed him the last seven months. She didn't ask questions though which surprised me.
Later, I would learn she had a far better grasp of the situation than I did.
The social worker came back her body relaxed. "She's already been escorted out, and they don't see her vehicle in the parking lot.
Alex was still tense.
My stomach growled and Angie needed to eat more than a few Cheetos for lunch. I also couldn't help but worry that whatever happened in the courtroom may have increased Alex's blood pressure beyond a tolerable level.
It was time to leave the thick cinder block walls and hallways filled with police ready to take down any threats.
The social worker walked us out of the building and followed us to the parking lot. There was a heaviness to the situation, Alex's eyes never stopped scanning for threats. The social worker also anxiously glancing around got the rest of Angie's things out of her car and handed them to us.
Alice and Messy were waiting. Messy eagerly jumped into my arms. Angie and Alice talked for a moment. Alice tried to remind Angie of the last time she'd seen her but Angie clung to her dad unsure of Alice.
Alex was in a hurry to get out of there.
Alice didn't like driving in the cities and while Lowell Indiana was a far cry from a city it was still unfamiliar to her. Knowing Angie needed time with her dad by the way she clung to him and knowing Alex was anxious to get Angie away from the courthouse and the imminent threat to Angie, I took control.
"I'll drive so you and Angie can spend time together," I said before the social worker finished saying goodbye to Angie and Alex. "Alice are you hungry? I'm starved," I said hinting she needed to get in the car and we needed to get on our way. I half expected the building to explode or armed terrorists to come out with bullets flying any second.
Alice looked at me through glasses. The lenses needed cleaned and the frames seemed a little small and tight to be fashionable on her face. Part of me thought about taking her to an America's Best to check out frames. I knew we didn't have time but it would have been fun. Her thick dark hair shown like a raven's wings in the sun.
I wished again my hair was anything but ordinary dirt brown.
Alice offered to drive with reticence. Instead of doing the formal bandying about of who went where and did what etc, I gave orders like a drill sergeant.
Once everyone was seated and the doors were closed I pulled out of the parking lot. When we were a few blocks away and there were no signs we were being followed I sighed in relief.
Alex found a drive-through on his phone and gave directions. Alice queried if we could find a place to go in and sit saying Angie would enjoy that more but Alex and I firmly squashed the idea.
"Not until we are out of Indiana," Alex said his shoulders tight at just the idea of stopping. He glanced from Alice to Angie and then once again behind us. He'd been periodically also checking to be certain we weren't being followed.
As much as he was worried though he was even more delighted just to have Angie sitting beside him. It was hard to watch the road with such by play going on in the rear view mirror.
We arrived at a small McDonald's, I relished a moment of accomplishment. Angie was at last reunited with her dad and I played a small part in that. It was something I filed away in my most proud of things list as I soaked in the look on her face while waiting for the cars in front of us to move.
I wanted to ask Alex about what went on in the courtroom, I wanted to know how serious the danger was. I wanted to know what Angie's 'Grammie' did that caused an armed guard to stand watch outside the door. Mostly, I wanted to know how far we needed to go and what we needed to do to keep Angie safe, but I didn't want to bring these concerns to the attention of someone who was just seven years old with a pixie face.
Once we got our food, I drove with a singular goal. The gas tank was full and I intended to empty it as quickly as possible getting as far away as possible because until I knew what was going on, I didn't want to stop.
Alex sighed in relief once Indiana was in the rear view. As we crossed state lines, tension began to fade returning at times but in diminishing waves.
Alex let me know it was okay to stop when only a quarter of the gas tank was gone. I felt uneasy but after a few more exits I saw signs for restaurants and pulled off thinking about Alice's idea that Angie would enjoy going inside some place to eat.
With the heat Messy couldn't stay inside the car and despite my hemming that I didn't mind staying outside with her Alex asked the manager if we could bring her in with us. The diner given the circumstances obliged.
The social worker was right behind Alex, her eyes were also wide. "I'm so sorry, I don't know how she found out we were going to be here."
The social worker was already nodding.
"I uh, don't mean to be a burden, I just don't know what she'll do." Alex finished letting Angie go. As he did, Angie grabbed his hand. Alex hated to ask anything of anyone. He was one of those people who felt like just his existence was a burden to others.
I watched mutely and could tell by the social worker's expression she expected someone was already taking care of the request, but supposed double-checking was a good idea. She seemed to be reliving memories of a time when she hadn't double-checked and it had gone badly or envisioning a horrible nightmare of what might happen if 'She' was still out there.
"I'll be right back," the social worker said quickly exiting her face tight with concern.
Angie's eyes never left her dad's face. She seemed to be drinking him in. She'd missed him the last seven months. She didn't ask questions though which surprised me.
Later, I would learn she had a far better grasp of the situation than I did.
The social worker came back her body relaxed. "She's already been escorted out, and they don't see her vehicle in the parking lot.
Alex was still tense.
My stomach growled and Angie needed to eat more than a few Cheetos for lunch. I also couldn't help but worry that whatever happened in the courtroom may have increased Alex's blood pressure beyond a tolerable level.
It was time to leave the thick cinder block walls and hallways filled with police ready to take down any threats.
The social worker walked us out of the building and followed us to the parking lot. There was a heaviness to the situation, Alex's eyes never stopped scanning for threats. The social worker also anxiously glancing around got the rest of Angie's things out of her car and handed them to us.
Alice and Messy were waiting. Messy eagerly jumped into my arms. Angie and Alice talked for a moment. Alice tried to remind Angie of the last time she'd seen her but Angie clung to her dad unsure of Alice.
Alex was in a hurry to get out of there.
Alice didn't like driving in the cities and while Lowell Indiana was a far cry from a city it was still unfamiliar to her. Knowing Angie needed time with her dad by the way she clung to him and knowing Alex was anxious to get Angie away from the courthouse and the imminent threat to Angie, I took control.
"I'll drive so you and Angie can spend time together," I said before the social worker finished saying goodbye to Angie and Alex. "Alice are you hungry? I'm starved," I said hinting she needed to get in the car and we needed to get on our way. I half expected the building to explode or armed terrorists to come out with bullets flying any second.
Alice looked at me through glasses. The lenses needed cleaned and the frames seemed a little small and tight to be fashionable on her face. Part of me thought about taking her to an America's Best to check out frames. I knew we didn't have time but it would have been fun. Her thick dark hair shown like a raven's wings in the sun.
I wished again my hair was anything but ordinary dirt brown.
Alice offered to drive with reticence. Instead of doing the formal bandying about of who went where and did what etc, I gave orders like a drill sergeant.
Once everyone was seated and the doors were closed I pulled out of the parking lot. When we were a few blocks away and there were no signs we were being followed I sighed in relief.
Alex found a drive-through on his phone and gave directions. Alice queried if we could find a place to go in and sit saying Angie would enjoy that more but Alex and I firmly squashed the idea.
"Not until we are out of Indiana," Alex said his shoulders tight at just the idea of stopping. He glanced from Alice to Angie and then once again behind us. He'd been periodically also checking to be certain we weren't being followed.
As much as he was worried though he was even more delighted just to have Angie sitting beside him. It was hard to watch the road with such by play going on in the rear view mirror.
We arrived at a small McDonald's, I relished a moment of accomplishment. Angie was at last reunited with her dad and I played a small part in that. It was something I filed away in my most proud of things list as I soaked in the look on her face while waiting for the cars in front of us to move.
I wanted to ask Alex about what went on in the courtroom, I wanted to know how serious the danger was. I wanted to know what Angie's 'Grammie' did that caused an armed guard to stand watch outside the door. Mostly, I wanted to know how far we needed to go and what we needed to do to keep Angie safe, but I didn't want to bring these concerns to the attention of someone who was just seven years old with a pixie face.
Once we got our food, I drove with a singular goal. The gas tank was full and I intended to empty it as quickly as possible getting as far away as possible because until I knew what was going on, I didn't want to stop.
Alex sighed in relief once Indiana was in the rear view. As we crossed state lines, tension began to fade returning at times but in diminishing waves.
Alex let me know it was okay to stop when only a quarter of the gas tank was gone. I felt uneasy but after a few more exits I saw signs for restaurants and pulled off thinking about Alice's idea that Angie would enjoy going inside some place to eat.
With the heat Messy couldn't stay inside the car and despite my hemming that I didn't mind staying outside with her Alex asked the manager if we could bring her in with us. The diner given the circumstances obliged.
I hoped for a moment alone with Alex to discuss the situation but Angie and he were inseparable. She had him walk her to the bathroom not trusting Alice or I to not take off with her.
I explained a little of what went on to Alice while they were gone but not knowing much of the situation there was little I could tell her.
When Alex and Angie returned I noticed she kept glancing wide eyed at the openness of the restaurant. She clung on to her dad as though expecting at any minute he might disappear.
Messy however gave Angie a distraction. Angie stole Alex's bacon to bribe my sweet little cotton ball getting her to do tricks, but even with my adorable little pup dancing and jumping and doing her very best, every time Alex moved Angie was grabbing onto him.
I watched Angie covertly trying not to make her uncomfortable but wondering what she'd been through and how long it was going to take to recover from.
I had no idea how big of a role I was about to play in her life, no idea how my life was about to change.
I explained a little of what went on to Alice while they were gone but not knowing much of the situation there was little I could tell her.
When Alex and Angie returned I noticed she kept glancing wide eyed at the openness of the restaurant. She clung on to her dad as though expecting at any minute he might disappear.
Messy however gave Angie a distraction. Angie stole Alex's bacon to bribe my sweet little cotton ball getting her to do tricks, but even with my adorable little pup dancing and jumping and doing her very best, every time Alex moved Angie was grabbing onto him.
I watched Angie covertly trying not to make her uncomfortable but wondering what she'd been through and how long it was going to take to recover from.
I had no idea how big of a role I was about to play in her life, no idea how my life was about to change.
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