The False Exit Page 27

  “Buddy? Kevin’s buddy?”

  “Yes, he insists that you need to go to the B and B. I don’t know about Clifford and all this Kevin stuff, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. Does that ring a bell? Do you know anything about Kevin’s Buddy? Did Kevin ever refer to anyone as his Buddy?

  “Buddy’s Bagels! Oh my God! I have to go!” Anna Marie dropped the call.

  54

  Most of the booths were empty and only a few people were sitting at the tables. There was no sign of little Annie. Anna Marie pushed passed the line at the counter. “I’m sorry, sorry,” she said as she made her way to the front. She recognized the woman who was taking orders and interrupted without hesitation. “I don’t know if you remember me, but I’ve been in here a couple of times with a little blonde girl, have you seen her this morning?”

  “Yes, she was here.” Anna Marie’s heart sunk. “I think I saw her leave with a man. I think that was about ten or fifteen minutes ago.”

  “Oh my God!” She nearly collapsed with fright. “A man! She left with a man!”

  “Yes, I’m pretty sure I saw her go out the door with a man wearing a black jacket. He was carrying a motorcycle helmet. Maybe the man wasn’t with her? He might have just been standing by her. I’m sorry. I’m not sure. He might have been walking behind her when I looked—” she stopped, “Oh, wait, isn’t that her?”

  Anna Marie turned around. Annie was walking into the building. “Annie!”

  The little girl ran up to her. “Ms. Suzanne said you were picking me up today! I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “Oh my God, Annie!” she threw her arms around her and let out a deep sigh. “We weren’t supposed meet here, Honey. Why didn’t you wait for Ms. Suzanne to bring you to me?”

  “I couldn’t. I didn’t want to be there anymore!”

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Jeremy tried to kiss me again. I tried to kick him like you said, but I couldn’t at first. He started to choke me, and he was pulling on my shirt. I finally kicked him in the nuts. Once I did that he stopped, but I was so mad that I kicked him in the nuts a bunch of times! When I saw his face, he looked like he was going to kill me. I ran, and hid in the house. I didn’t want to wait for you to pick me up, so I came here.”

  “Oh Honey! Did he hurt you?”

  “No! I hurt him! I kicked him way hard in the nuts!”

  “Good girl!” She hugged her again and stepped back to look her over. “How did you get here?”

  “I knew how to get here. Ms. Suzanne’s house isn’t far at all. I’ve just been waiting for you to pick me up.”

  “It doesn’t work that way. But, we’re going to get it all straightened out. Where were you just now? Did you leave here with a man?”

  “No, I went by myself. I got bored. I went to look at the puppies at the pet store over there.” She pointed to the building that was attached to the same strip mall. “My mom was going to get me a puppy before she had to go away. My dad said I could get one too. I just went to look at them in the window. Can I get one? I really want a puppy!”

  “I know you do,” Anna Marie said with a smile. “But I can’t get you one, not today. I’m just glad you’re okay. It’s dangerous to wander off by yourself!”

  “Don’t worry. It’s okay because my dad says he was watching me.”

  Anna Marie looked back at the woman behind the counter. She was talking to a customer. Had she seen Kevin? Was it possible he was there watching over her? She was tempted to ask the woman more but chose not to. The woman was busy, and it would make no difference. Annie was safe now.

  Within minutes after she called the case worker, two police officers arrived. Annie reluctantly climbed into the back of the squad car. Anna Marie assured her that she would be following close behind.

  She called Bill as she watched the car pull away, “All is well!”

  “You found her?”

  “I did, thanks to Clifford!”

  “No kidding?” Bill said.

  “She was at Bagel Buddy’s waiting for me to pick her up.”

  “Wow! Bagel Buddy’s? B. and B. Kevin’s Buddy. I don’t know what to say. That’s incredible!”

  “Yes, I have to go now to the main office to pick her up, properly. Could you please call Clifford right away and let him know that I’m so grateful that he got that message to me!”

  “I will. Poor guy! I think Mary was on her way to take him in for a mental evaluation. According to Liz, Mary was sure Cliff was losing his mind this morning.”

  “Oh my! Give him a call.”

  Bill pulled up Clifford’s number. “Hello?” Cliff answered.

  “Hey, Cliff. I just wanted you to know that Anna Marie went to Bagel Buddies and—”

  “— Kevin’s daughter was there!”

  “How did you know?”

  “How did I know?” he was irritated. “I have a connection with Kevin! That is how I know. As soon as his little girl was safe, he calmed down, and I was able to understand what was going on. I couldn’t get his message straight when he was all worked up. So, Anna Marie has the child now?”

  “She does. How are you? Are you feeling better?” Bill asked.

  “I’m fine now. Mary is here with me. I guess I just got a little worked up over Kevin’s message.”

  “I hate to hear that. I don’t like you to get upset like that. It isn’t good for your heart!”

  “I’m just glad the girl is okay,” he said. “She is okay, isn’t she?”

  “She is.” Bill assured him.

  “Good, I better hang up and tell Mary that everything I said is confirmed before she turns me into the crazy house. I’m not crazy, Bill! Not yet.”

  “I know, Cliff. I know you’re not crazy. You have to admit though, you have some crazy stuff happening to you. I guess we all do. I just don’t want to let it make any of us sick! You have to take care of yourself.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m just glad we got it figured out!”

  “So am I,” Bill said. “So am I. Thanks to you!”

  “Thanks to Kevin.” Clifford replied.

  “Yes, Okay, I’ll give that to you,” Bill said. “Kevin may have somehow helped, but let’s not forget—this is all his fault to begin with.

  “The past is past,” Clifford said. There was certain finality in his tone.

  “Okay—I’m just glad you are okay and Anna Marie has the girl,” Bill said.

  55

  When she arrived at the office, Anna Marie could see Annie through a large window. She was sitting in a wooden chair looking at a book. Annie spotted her and squealed. She tossed the book on a table and started to run toward her.

  “Not yet,” a woman in the child’s waiting room said. She put one hand up to stop her. Annie retreated. Her face filled with disappointment as she returned to her chair.

  Another woman ushered Anna Marie to Bernie’s office. She signed a stack of papers and was taken back to the main lobby. Annie was waiting patiently in the same chair. When Anna Marie passed the window again the little girl grinned and waved at her. The woman behind the desk walked into a small closet and pulled out a large black plastic bag. She handed it to Anna Marie.

  “What is this?” Anna Marie asked.

  “It’s her things.”

  “Her things? These are her things?” She didn’t know what she’d expected, but it wasn’t a large black garbage bag. She thought maybe the child would have a few suitcases full of clothes and some sort of a box to hold her favorite toys and stuffed animals. She certainly didn’t expect to be handed the bag. “A garbage bag? That's it?”

  “That’s how we do it, Ma’am. Each child gets to fill one bag. It keeps them from accumulating too much. She has more than most of the kids. This is a pretty full bag.”

  “It’s a garbage bag!” Anna Marie repeated again.

  “You could call it that,” the woman said, “We prefer to call them Belonging Bags.”

  “You can name it wha
tever you like. It doesn’t change what it is. It is grossly unsympathetic and impersonal. It’s a garbage bag!”

  “Yes well, these kids can be difficult,” the woman said. “That is why we’re always thrilled when they find a forever home.” She smiled with an insincerity that held a warning. “But, forever doesn’t always work out with these kids either. It’s never a sure bet. It is a good idea to keep her belongings down to a minimum for a while—just a suggestion. If you do bring her back, she can only keep as much as that bag will hold.”

  Anna Marie wanted to say more, but she was anxious to get Annie off of the chair and out of the system forever. “Can I have her now? Are we done?”

  “Annie,” the woman called for her. Annie kept her eyes on the woman. As soon as the woman released her she ran to Anna Marie and threw her arms around her.

  “That lady is really mad at me. She told me that I shouldn’t have run away, but I told her that Jeremy shouldn’t have tried to kiss me. I told her that I kicked him in the nuts! I think she thinks I’m bad.”

  Anna Marie looked up at the woman. “No! You’re not bad. I don’t want you to ever believe that! I don’t want you to ever run away from me though. You can run to me from now on. You were smart and brave to kick that boy!” She picked up the garbage bag. “I’d like to kick a few people in the nuts right about now!”

  “Oh, did that Bill guy try to kiss you?” she asked innocently trying to find the reasoning behind Anna Marie’s comment. The woman behind the desk had already stopped listening.

  “No,” she said. “I only said that because I’m mad about something else.”

  “Well, you can’t kick anyone in the nuts unless they try to hurt you!”

  “That’s right!” They started out to the parking lot. “Are you sure that boy didn’t hurt you?”

  “He couldn’t. He was a big cry baby after I kicked him where it counts. Ms. Suzanne got mad at me, and I didn’t want to say why I kicked him. I was scared of them because they were both mad at me. That is why I hid and ran away. Ms. Suzanne says I shouldn’t have kicked him, but she is not my mom anyhow. Are you my mom now?”

  “No,” Anna Marie said as she opened the trunk and pushed the garbage bag into it. “I’m not your mom. You know that. I’m going to be just like a mom though! Your real mom is waiting to see you. She misses you so much! Did you know that I saw her a few days ago?”

  Annie’s eyes lit up. “You did?”

  “Yes, I did!” Anna Marie opened the passenger door and Annie climbed in.

  “Hey, we had a car just like this,” the girl said. Anna Marie paused at the comment. She thought of the day Kevin had surprised her with the used car less than a year ago. She climbed in behind the wheel and the absurdity of her life continued to unravel as she watched Annie slowly click on her seat belt. She wondered how many times the girl had already done that in this exact same car.

  “What did my mom say?” she asked as she stared into her lap.

  “She said she loves you!” Annie smiled but kept her head down. “She misses you very much and can’t wait to see you.”

  “When do I get to see her?” She looked up with excitement, “Can we go see her now?”

  “No,” Anna Marie said, “we will get to see her on Tuesday.”

  The little girl started to cry. “I want to see her now.”

  “I know you do, but we can’t see her until Tuesday.”

  She started to cry harder. “She doesn’t even love me anymore!”

  “Oh yes she does!” Anna Marie said.

  “How do you know?”

  “I know because she is crying too.”

  “She is?” the girl asked.

  “Yes,” Anna Marie said, “she cries all the time because she misses you. I’ll bet she is crying now too because she has to wait until Tuesday to see you.”

  “My mom is sad?”

  “Of course she is. She is very sad because she misses you just as much as you miss her. She is also sad because you’re sad. She doesn’t want you to be sad.”

  Annie’s face was filled with confusion. “I don’t want her to be sad either.”

  “That is why we all have to be brave! When she knows that you’re not sad, she will also feel better.” She watched Annie think for a moment. “You know what?” she added.

  “What,” the girl asked.

  “She gave me a whole bunch hugs and kisses to give to you!”

  “She did?”

  “Yes, she did. She gave me lots of them. I’m going to give them to you whenever you need one, okay?”

  “Okay!” the little girl smiled. “I need one now, but I’ll wait. I don’t want you to crash the car,” she teased.

  Anna Marie watched Annie’s head turn as they passed Bagel Buddy’s. You sat there for a long time this morning. You never did get a bagel; did you?”

  “No, I just sat there waiting for you forever.”

  “Do you want a cinnamon bagel? We can stop.”

  “Can we get it to go?”

  “Yes, we can.”

  “I will put in the order and I will say—to go! Two cinnamon bagels to go to my new home!” she squealed with delight and they both laughed with excitement.

  Anna Marie turned the car around. Annie started asking her about her new home.

  56

  It was remarkable to Anna Marie that it was already opening night. It was also the last day of the first month that she’d gained custody of Annie. They’d made four trips to see Darci at the prison. The visits were emotionally difficult but had become progressively more natural. Annie had a healthy attitude and seemed to be adjusting to all of the nuances in her life.

  Claire stayed through the first few weeks and helped with the transition. She’d bonded instantly with the child. As soon as Annie called her Auntie Claire-Claire, she was sold on the idea of uprooting her life in Florida and moving to Kansas City. She made a promise to Anna Marie that she would refrain from contacting Jonny or any other man that might change her mind before the transition was complete. They’d made a deal that the next man she dated seriously would have to meet Anna Marie’s approval.

  Claire was also granted guardianship of Anna Marie’s heart. She suggested that she follow Bill’s advice and let things go until she was able to heal her wounds and settle into her new life with little Annie. They both supported the idea that they could lean on each other as strong, single and highly independent women for a period of time before they moved on.

  Spending time at the theatre was Annie’s favorite thing to do. The cast and crew fell for her charms, and she gloated in their attention. She quickly attached herself to Liz and proclaimed that she was going to be an actress—just like Liz when she grew up. The child undoubtedly carried the same charisma and talents that her father was blessed with. It was immediately obvious to Anna Marie that she would need to make it her mission to foster the child’s gifts in a direction that would serve her well.

  Claire pulled a beautifully wrapped box out of her closet and set it on the kitchen table. She called for Annie, “Annie, what are you doing in there?”

  “I’m making a picture for the next time we see my mom,” she said.

  “She is going to be happy about that! Do want to take a break? I have something for you.” When the girl emerged from her room Anna Marie directed her to open the gift.

  “It’s not my birthday!” Annie said.

  “I know,” Anna Marie said, “It’s a special day for me, though.”

  “Oh, opening night?” she asked.

  “Yes that—and it’s been one month since the day something very special happened for me.”

  “If it’s a special day for you, why didn’t someone give you a gift?”

  “They did,” she said.

  “They did?” the girl asked. “What did they give you?”

  “You!” she answered. Annie smiled but looked confused. “I’m glad you’re here with me. I like having you in my house instead of having to visit you at Bagel
Buddy’s with Ms. Suzanne.”

  “Me too!” the little girl said. She was eyeing up the package.

  “Go ahead, open it.”

  She tore open the package and pulled out a beautiful coral dress. “Wow,” she said, “can I try it on?”

  “Yes! Go put it on.” Moments later Annie came out of the room in the dress. “Oh! It’s so pretty on you!”

  “It spins!” she giggled as she turned and the dress swung into the air.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Yes! Do I get to wear it to opening night?”

  “If you like,” Anna Marie said.

  “Will you braid my hair into a fish braid?” she asked.

  “Oh boy,” Anna Marie said, “I’m afraid that one is over my head. I bet if we get there early, one of the girls backstage will know how to do it.”

  “Can we go now?” she asked.

  “Silly, it’s not time yet!”

  “Can Liz braid my hair?”

  “Maybe. We can ask her.”

  “When can we go?” the girl asked.

  “Not for a few more hours.”

  “Can I go finish the picture for my mom?”

  “Yes, of course,” Anna Marie said.

  She started toward her room. She turned back and threw herself into Anna Marie’s arms. “Thank you for the pretty dress! I love you, Miss Anna Mama.” She spun around again.

  “Anna Mama?”

  “Can I call you that?” Annie asked.

  “Anna Mamma?” Anna Marie grinned, “I like it!”

  “Me too, Anna Mamma!” She started back to her room.

  “Hey!” Anna Marie called to her, “I love you too, Pumpkin!”

  “Pumpkin?”