help you deal with whatever Vinnie's got planned."
"Yeah," she says. "How bad do you think it will be?"
I shrug and wrap the towel around my waist.
"He likes to make a show of things," I say. "Lou says he's invited all five Families."
"Great," she says. "By the way, there's a big senior bash I'm supposed to go to but I don't want to go alone. Any chance you could go with me?"
"Do you think that's a good idea?"
"What's the worst that could happen?"
I don't answer her. She knows. People in this house have disappeared. I walk out of the bathroom into my bedroom and drop the towel. I pull on my clothes then turn back to LeAnne.
"I'm going to get us out of here soon," I say.
"How, Jans? You know he's never going to let us go. Where can we hide from him?"
"I've got a plan."
"I wish you'd tell me," she says.
"Soon," I say. "Now go get ready."
"What should I wear?" she asks.
"Dress nice," I say. "I like that lavender thing you wear once in a while."
"Okay," she says and walks out of my room.
I watch her go as the wheels in my mind turn. She's right, he can find us anywhere. Even if I get enough money to get us out of here and buy new identities we’ll have a life on the run. What kind of life would that be? What about if we have kids? The germ of an idea begins to form in my mind but I push it aside and let it percolate. This isn’t going to be easy.
LeAnne walks down the stairs in her dress and it feels like there’s not enough air left in the room. My chest tightens and my heart speeds up. I swallow hard forcing moisture into my mouth. She looks amazing, her hair is done up so that it hangs over her shoulders in loose curls and has this amazing shine and bounces as she walks. The dress is perfect, it leaves her shoulders bare and shows just a hint of cleavage.
She stops partway down the steps with one hand resting on the railing. She smiles shyly as she stands waiting for me to speak but I can’t say a thing. I’m choked up and unable to form words.
"You're beautiful," my voice is hoarse.
Her smile lights up the room.
"Thank you," she says softly.
I hold my hand out and she walks down the rest of the way taking it. This is dangerous but right now I don't care who sees us. We arrive at my car and I hold the door for her until she settles into the seat and then shut it. I walk around to my side, get in, then start the car and take off.
"So, where are we going?" she asks.
"I'm taking you to dinner," I say. "Just like a real date."
"Oh, Jans, are you sure? What if somebody sees us?"
"I got this," I say.
I drive to the restaurant and find a parking space. As soon as we’re parked, I jump out and run around to open the door for her. I hold her hand as she gets out and steps onto the sidewalk.
"This place looks fancy," she says.
I smile and lead the way to the door. As soon as we approach, it swings open and a man in a tuxedo is holding the door and smiling.
"Welcome, Mr. Manarchy, Ma'am," the man says. "Allow me to show you to your table."
The place is empty, completely devoid of other people I notice as we’re led to our table. I paid well for that privilege.
It's a small, intimate restaurant. The tables have lit candles which are the main source of light. The table I have chosen is in the corner and we're led to it. I hold her chair for her and push it in before taking my own seat. The waiter takes our order then disappears leaving us alone.
"Where is everybody?" she asks.
"We don't have to worry about being seen here," I say. "This place is ours, for tonight."
"Oh, Jans," she says.
"Do you like it?" I ask.
"I've never had anything so nice in all my life," she says.
"Well, that's going to change."
We hold hands across the table and we talk about our day. It’s small talk but I love every minute of it. The waiter brings her food and we encourage each other to try the different items on our plates. We laugh and for the first time in the two years that we've been together it feels
"Yeah," she says. "How bad do you think it will be?"
I shrug and wrap the towel around my waist.
"He likes to make a show of things," I say. "Lou says he's invited all five Families."
"Great," she says. "By the way, there's a big senior bash I'm supposed to go to but I don't want to go alone. Any chance you could go with me?"
"Do you think that's a good idea?"
"What's the worst that could happen?"
I don't answer her. She knows. People in this house have disappeared. I walk out of the bathroom into my bedroom and drop the towel. I pull on my clothes then turn back to LeAnne.
"I'm going to get us out of here soon," I say.
"How, Jans? You know he's never going to let us go. Where can we hide from him?"
"I've got a plan."
"I wish you'd tell me," she says.
"Soon," I say. "Now go get ready."
"What should I wear?" she asks.
"Dress nice," I say. "I like that lavender thing you wear once in a while."
"Okay," she says and walks out of my room.
I watch her go as the wheels in my mind turn. She's right, he can find us anywhere. Even if I get enough money to get us out of here and buy new identities we’ll have a life on the run. What kind of life would that be? What about if we have kids? The germ of an idea begins to form in my mind but I push it aside and let it percolate. This isn’t going to be easy.
LeAnne walks down the stairs in her dress and it feels like there’s not enough air left in the room. My chest tightens and my heart speeds up. I swallow hard forcing moisture into my mouth. She looks amazing, her hair is done up so that it hangs over her shoulders in loose curls and has this amazing shine and bounces as she walks. The dress is perfect, it leaves her shoulders bare and shows just a hint of cleavage.
She stops partway down the steps with one hand resting on the railing. She smiles shyly as she stands waiting for me to speak but I can’t say a thing. I’m choked up and unable to form words.
"You're beautiful," my voice is hoarse.
Her smile lights up the room.
"Thank you," she says softly.
I hold my hand out and she walks down the rest of the way taking it. This is dangerous but right now I don't care who sees us. We arrive at my car and I hold the door for her until she settles into the seat and then shut it. I walk around to my side, get in, then start the car and take off.
"So, where are we going?" she asks.
"I'm taking you to dinner," I say. "Just like a real date."
"Oh, Jans, are you sure? What if somebody sees us?"
"I got this," I say.
I drive to the restaurant and find a parking space. As soon as we’re parked, I jump out and run around to open the door for her. I hold her hand as she gets out and steps onto the sidewalk.
"This place looks fancy," she says.
I smile and lead the way to the door. As soon as we approach, it swings open and a man in a tuxedo is holding the door and smiling.
"Welcome, Mr. Manarchy, Ma'am," the man says. "Allow me to show you to your table."
The place is empty, completely devoid of other people I notice as we’re led to our table. I paid well for that privilege.
It's a small, intimate restaurant. The tables have lit candles which are the main source of light. The table I have chosen is in the corner and we're led to it. I hold her chair for her and push it in before taking my own seat. The waiter takes our order then disappears leaving us alone.
"Where is everybody?" she asks.
"We don't have to worry about being seen here," I say. "This place is ours, for tonight."
"Oh, Jans," she says.
"Do you like it?" I ask.
"I've never had anything so nice in all my life," she says.
"Well, that's going to change."
We hold hands across the table and we talk about our day. It’s small talk but I love every minute of it. The waiter brings her food and we encourage each other to try the different items on our plates. We laugh and for the first time in the two years that we've been together it feels
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