UNEXPECTED TURNS

"For what?"

"Speeding”. She replied quietly.

“Speeding?” he asked, confused. "Lily, they don't lock people up for speeding"

"Well..." She squeezed her eyes shut, hesitant to explain further, but Henry knew her better than anyone.

"You know I've been upset ever since Mom started dating Lewis Thompson six months ago," she added.

"That is no big secret."

“I couldn’t believe it was serious. I thought it was just a phase,” Lily’s voice cracked slightly, and she hoped Henry understood she wasn’t trying to hurt their mom. “How many times did I tell you it wouldn’t last?”

“I know, you were in denial,” Henry said, his voice softening.

“No one can replace Dad,” she said firmly, the pain still sharp.

"Then why agree to be in the wedding?" Henry asked, his voice laced with frustration.

"I didn't want to lose Mom... but I couldn’t go through with it. I was in my bridesmaid dress, staring at Dad's picture in my room, and I just knew I couldn’t do it. I would’ve dishonored him." She paused, a tinge of regret in her voice. "So I ran to the garage, just needed some air, some space."

Henry shook his head. "Really mature, Lily."

"I planned on calling Mom," she said, trying to explain herself.

"So why didn’t you?"

Lily winced, knowing the next words would sound awful. She forced herself to say it anyway. "I called Brielle instead. She told me the sorority sisters were having a party in Tucson, that what I needed was fun, alcohol, and guys. It sounded good at the time... it was easier than facing what Mom was doing."

"Yeah, that sounds really mature."

"Can you stop being sarcastic?" she snapped, taking a breath. "It wasn't easy. As I drove, I couldn’t stop the tears. I knew I was doing the wrong thing, but I just couldn’t stop myself. So I put in an earbud to block everything out, including my conscience.”

“I almost feel bad for you,” Henry said, his tone thick with disbelief.

“Please, Henry.”

“So, what happened?” he asked, curiosity edging his tone.

She replayed the whole thing in her head, trying to find the right words. The sheriff in this tiny, nowhere town hadn’t been part of her plan. She hadn’t heard the siren, and when he waved her over, she thought he was pulling over the truck behind her and just wanted her out of the way. She hadn’t realized how fast she was going, and then his attitude had set her off.

“Lily, are you there?” Henry’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Yeah,” she muttered, feeling stupid for even getting into this mess.

“What did you do?”

She took a deep breath, summoning the last bit of courage she had. “I tried to bribe him—offered the sheriff, or whatever he is, money to let me go.”

“You did what?” Henry sounded stunned, his voice rising. She could almost feel the lecture about to come through the phone. “Why the hell would you think that was a good idea?”

“Brielle told me she never gets tickets because she flirts with the cops and shows some cleavage. If that doesn’t work, she says money always does. Cops barely make minimum wage, so they’re always looking for extra cash.”

Lily cringed, realizing just how ridiculous it sounded now that she was saying it out loud. Why had she listened to Brielle in the first place? The sheriff hadn’t even noticed her cleavage, and to top it off, the guy turned out to be honest.

“And you actually listened to that airhead?” Henry”s tone was incredulous. “She’s always getting you into trouble.”

“Stop being so judgmental and just help me out of here,” Lily snapped.

“Where are you?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, frustrated. “Somewhere between Naperville and Tucson.” 'What had that smug sheriff called the place?'

"I need a name, Lily." His surprise quickly turned to irritation. “Were you even paying attention? Or do you not care at all? You just think I’ll drop everything to track you down and fix your mess. Typical Lily.”

He painted her as self-centered and spoiled. Maybe, at some point, she'd have to face that reality, but not today. "Hol something… yeah, that’s it."

There was a long pause before he responded. "You know what, Lily? Why don’t you get comfortable? After everything you’ve done to Mom, I’m not rushing to help you. It’s time for you to grow up and start thinking about others for once. Call me when you do. Maybe learn the name of the town you’re in while you’re at it."

"You wouldn't dare---"

The silence on the line was deafening. She knew he would. The urge to throw the phone crossed her mind, but instead, she sat on the lumpy cot and began counting to calm herself.

One. Henry would come.

Two. Henry wouldn’t leave her stranded in this godforsaken town, whatever it was called.

Three. She slammed the phone down onto the cot.

Her pride wouldn’t let her ask the sheriff for the town’s name. She had a limited view of the sparse office from where she sat, but she could see him at his desk, scribbling something. His Stetson was off, and a stray lock of dark hair had fallen over his forehead. His khaki shirt clung to his broad shoulders, and the sunlight from the window made his badge glint, like a warning light.

She noticed all of this, though a bit too late. He was a no-nonsense, straightforward lawman—somewhere between Clint Eastwood and Jimmy Stewart. Some women might find that appealing, but she thought he was a bore and a bully.

She shifted back to take a seat on the bottom bunk beds, she wondered if the sheet was clean. The lumpy mattress, pillow, and filthy brown blanket were on the steel bed. Across the soiled concrete floor, a roach darted. She jerked up her legs, shuddering. She had to leave here immediately. Fast.

She would make that haughty sheriff pay.

He wasn’t keeping her a prisoner.

Henry would come. He always did.