Page 78 of Real Sexy
“Then let’s go.”I hold out my hand.“Keys?”
She drops the keys in my palm.
“All right.If we do run into her, you’re telling her you left something behind and had to come back and get it.She doesn’t need to know anything else.”
“I agree.I could be coming back for that ring.The one you left in the bar.That you got for Amber.It’s still here.I hid it so Brandy wouldn’t find it and hock it.I wanted to get it anyway.There’s no point in leaving it here.”
That engagement ring is basically the last thing I ever want back, but if we need an excuse, it’ll work.
“Fine, but we’re unloading it immediately.I don’t want it around.”
“That’s fair.We could sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.”
“Deal.Now, let’s get in there and get out.”
I climb out of the truck, shut the door, and walk around the front.Ripley’s beside me when I shove the key in the lock and turn.
Click.It opens.
“Oh good,” Ripley whispers as she follows me inside the bar.It’s dark and quiet, much like it was the day of the birdnapping.Ripley pulls a penlight from her pocket and flips it on.
“Really?”
She shrugs.“Seemed like a good idea so we don’t have to turn on all the lights.”She heads directly for the center of the wall across from the bar, zeroing in on the photograph of Willie Nelson.“Damn.I didn’t bring a screwdriver.There’s a toolbox in the office.”She steps away from the picture, but I pull out my pocketknife.
“I got this.”I move to the frame and use the tip of the blade to remove the screws holding it onto the wall.Together, we lift off the dust-covered picture of Willie.
Ripley flips it over, and at first, I see nothing but the back of a yellowed sheet that looks like it came in the frame.But when Ripley peels it away, another piece of paper falls free.
“What is that?”I squint at it as she focuses the flashlight on the faded handwriting.
“I don’t know.”She scans the paper and locks onto the signature at the bottom.“Holy shit.It’s a letter from my mama.”
She begins to read it out loud.
If you’re finding this, I’m guessing I’m not around anymore.There have been plenty of days I’ve thought about what it would be like to do the deed myself, but I couldn’t leave my little girl alone in this world.
Ripley blinks, tears shimmering in her eyes.“Oh my God.”
She deserves betterthan this life, and I’m trying to give it to her.I know everyone’s thinking the worst, but sometimes you have to let them smear you if there’s a bigger purpose down the road.I’ve never cheated on my husband.Not with anyone, including Gil.Despite what everyone’s saying, I’m not pining away, hoping he’ll leave his wife.I don’t feel that way about him.He’s just a nice customer who saw me with bruises one too many times and finally forced me to tell him what was going on.
It takes a lot out of a woman’s pride to admit she hasn’t walked out on the man who hits her.Gil wanted to help me make a future outside this bar, and I’ve been hoping that’s what my songs will do.I figured if anything happened to me, at least the money would end up going to my baby girl.
Whoever’s reading this letter, can you make sure she knows I did it for her?Who knows, maybe one of them will end up a number-one hit, and she’ll never have to worry about money for the rest of her life.All she has to do is talk to Gil, and he’ll make sure she gets what’s coming to her.He set up a fancy trust so Frank can never get his hands on a dime of it.
He’s gotten enough from me.
Blood.
Sweat.
Tears.
I’m done with it.
My bag is packed, and tomorrow I’m finally doing it.I’m leaving my husband, and I’m taking my baby girl with me.I don’t know what’s going to happen, but the feeling in my gut tells me that having a backup plan might be smart.
I just hope I don’t lose my nerve.
