Page 74 of Under His Control

I want to comfort her but I remain seated, watching as she wipes at her eyes and blows her nose. She turns to face me again, her eyes and face pink.

“I change my mind. Please take me to the bus station tomorrow morning.”

I straighten in my seat.

The news about Fiona’s death this morning bothered me all day.

According to Cynthia’s cousin’s sister-in-law who works at Wenora’s police department, Fiona was last seen alive Friday night. The same night we hung out.

Paranoia whispered that it’s only a matter of time before everyone starts looking in my direction, even though I barely knew Fiona.

They’ll dredge up my past and whisper among themselves that maybe a guy once accused of sexual assault might commit murder too. Soon, reporters might show up.

When I saw on my camera that Penelope left the house with Elizabeth, I took that as a sign to leave Wenora. I would give Penelope the money and take her home, then I would start over somewhere new again.

Her plea to let her stay had felt like a helping hand pulling me back from falling off a cliff edge. I don’t want to examine why keeping Penelope feels like salvation, when only a week ago her reappearance seemed like a bad omen.

She steps closer. “Did you hear me?”

“Why did you change your mind?”

“Your sister called me a whore.” Her voice is unsteady. “If I stay here, there’s a strong chance I’ll prove her right. I don’t want to do that.”

I stand and approach her, wanting to hold her because she looks like she’s on the verge of tears again.

“Never mind what Elizabeth said. She’s wrong so it doesn’t matter. She’ll regret what she said when she calms down.”

“It matters. We were becoming friends, but I don’t think that’s possible anymore.” She wipes at her face and sniffles. “How I see myself matters too. I lost my car and my job, and I don’t even have two dollars to rub together. My self-respect is the only valuable thing I have left.”

“Cedric will take that and more if you leave tomorrow.”

“I’ll find another way to deal with him.”

“How?”

Penelope throws up her hands. “I don’t know! I’ll figure something out.”

“You’re letting pride put you in danger. Leaving doesn’t—”

“No, I’m stopping us from making a mistake!” She indicates the candy on the floor. “Look at what just happened! Your sister caught us and she left the house looking like she’ll never speak to you again.” She shakes her head, a sorrowful look on her face. “You and I… we’re not right. I don’t belong in your life because I only cause you problems. Let me leave.”

I don’t want you to.

I’m not ready yet.

“You still owe me a week.”

Her features twist into a scowl. “I don’t owe you anything! I don’t want your money anymore.”

“You said you wanted to stay so we could heal our relationship. That’s no longer important? Or was that a lie?”

“It is important. It wasn’t a lie—”

“Good. Then you’ll stay.”

She gives me a chilly, calculating look and it’s not hard to figure out what she’s thinking. Plotting. As soon as my back is turned, she’ll find a way to the bus station on her own.

“I warned you before, I’ll catch you if you run. Even if you run all the way back to Toronto before your time is up, I’ll drag you back here.”