Broken Wings (Broken Wings 1)

After being sure no one was around, I opened her purse and sifted through it. As I expected, there was money folded, crushed, and crumpled. I took it out slowly and unfolded the bills. I had nearly four hundred dollars in hand. I knew I was taking a very big chance, but I had to see Del. I had to begin to convince him that my fantasy could be a reality for us.

I hurried around to the French doors that opened from the sitting room to the patio on the west side of the house and slipped out, taking care to keep the doors from locking behind me, but making sure they looked locked. Then I ran as fast as I could down the driveway. About a half mile or so down our street, there was a gas station and a quick-stop store. I used the pay phone and called a taxi. Fifteen minutes later it arrived and I had it take me to the mall. I arrived just as Del was finishing his cleanup and closing down the ovens.

“Hey,” he said, seeing me, “I thought you were home in chains.”

“I was,” I said, “but I broke out.”

He laughed.

“I’ll just be a few more minutes,” he said, and I waited for him outside. Because so many of the stores were closed or closing, the mall was nearly empty, with just a few stragglers here and there. I saw none of my old friends, but I wasn’t upset about that. I didn’t want anything to distract me and Del.

“So,” he said, coming out, “how did you manage this?”

“I just snuck out,” I told him.

“Oh, no. They’re not going to have the police looking for you again, are they?”

“They won’t discover I’m gone. My mother is having a social and emotional crisis, and my father is locked in his den. They rarely come to my room when I close the door. I got a cab and came here, so my father can’t call the police and claim one of his vehicles has been stolen.”

Del shook his head.

“I’ve got to get home,” he said. “I’m worried. My mother was acting weird this morning. I can catch the bus in a few minutes.”

“We’ll just take a cab. I have money,” I told him, and showed him.

“Wow.”

“I can get more, Del. We can save it up as I get it until we have enough,” I told him as we walked out of the mall.

“Enough for what?”

“Enough to run off together. With Shawn and Patty Girl,” I quickly added.

He stopped and looked at me, a small, incredulous smile on his lips.

“Run off? To where?”

“I don’t know. We’ll plan it out. We can go almost anywhere we want if we have enough money, can’t we?”

“If your father went ahead and sent the police after you when you were gone a few hours, what do you think he’ll do if you left like that?”

“I don’t care. Once I’m gone, he won’t care, either.”

Del shook his head.

“Here’s a start,” I said, showing him the money again. “I have nearly four hundred dollars here. Take it and hold it safe for us.”

“I can’t keep taking money from you, Teal. How are you getting it?”

“It’s all around the house, like dust,” I said. He stared at me. “My mother doesn’t even know how much money she leaves about and doesn’t worry about it in the least.”

“It’s still stealing, even if it’s from your own mother, Teal, and if I take it, I’m an accessory to the crime.”

“It’s not a crime!” I insisted. “Oh, Del, don’t you see? It’s a real chance to be happy.”

“You’ve been with me only once, and you’re ready to spend your whole life with me and help me care for my brother and sister?”

“Yes,” I said as firmly as I could. “And stop shaking your head. It’s true, and it’s a good idea.”