Rhett lifted himself on the bed, cradling her body next to him. She buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around him.
“Are you okay now?” Rhett asked, passing his fingers through her hair. “They’ve checked you out, and you’re not in any danger?”
“I’m okay,” Tula responded weakly, keeping herself tucked towards his body. “It’ll just… take time for the bruises to heal. That’s all.”
They both let out soothing breaths.
“Rhett,” Tula began with some trepidation, “Is my brother still alive right now? No one told me anything about his status.”
“He’s alive,” Rhett said simply.
She made no motion to comment.
“Are you glad that he’s still here, or sad?” He asked.
“I don’t know. I love him because he’s my brother, but he scares me, Rhett.”
“After what he did, I’m sure he does. Don’t worry, Tula—he’ll be put away for a long time. And when he gets out, if he even thinks about coming near us…”
“Can we move away?” She asked, nearly pleading. “Far, far away where he’ll never find us?”
He pulled her up closer to him and kissed her gently on the mouth. “Whatever you want, Tula. I’d do anything for you. We’ll go away, and no one will ever be able to find us.”
This answer seemed to gratify her, and she smiled gently before closing her eyes for some rest.
Tula was eventually released and continued working at the bakery for a time. Rhett kept up his work at the garage as well, saving his money until the two of them would be released from the looming court case involving Max. Tula hated the thought of having to see him again in court, but with no way out of it, she showed up and did her best to make sure that she drummed up some pity for herself from the jury. Max was ultimately sentenced to ten years in prison for his crimes, which sent a lurching through both Rhett and Tula’s stomaches. The sentence could easily be stacked down to half the time with ‘good behavior’ while in prison.
They made their move to leave the country as soon as the verdict was called. Taking some darts in hand, they blindly threw them at a map on the wall to let fate help decide their future together. They ultimately settled on living in Thailand for a time, deciding to figure out how to make money and get their bearings while on the road. It didn’t really matter to either of them where they ended up—they only wanted to feel secure in the knowledge that they had each other, and were safe.
The marriage did happen, though it was much more simple than Layla or Tula’s mother might have liked. Rhett and Tula showed up to court one spring afternoon along with anyone who would have liked to witness the ceremony, said their vows, and then kissed in holy matrimony. They couldn’t have been more hopeful about the future at that moment, full of youthful abandon and joy. That night they left on a flight for Bangkok, not telling a soul where they were going.
As Rhett sat in his seat next to Tula on the flight, he held her hand as he gazed at her. She was sleeping, her reading light casting a strong beam on her features. There was a tired look to her, as if she had been carrying the world on her shoulders for the past two years.
Soon,
thought Rhett,
you won’t have to worry at all. The most we’ll be thinking about is whether to have mai tais or mojitos to drink at night. I love you, my darling. Max will be a distant memory, and we’ll live happily ever after.
Notes
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