Chasing Dragonflies (6 page)

“You look great,” came Patrick's voice from the doorway causing her to jump in surprise. “Sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I was walking past and saw the door open.”

“It's okay Patrick, it's just weird having other people around.”

“I can't even imagine,” Patrick looked at her sadly.

She sighed, “I can't seem to do anything with my hair.”

Patrick let out a chuckle and tugged on his dreadlocks. “Nah, me either.”

She looked back at him, dressed in a black button-up shirt and dark jeans. It was the first time she had seen him dressed in what she would call proper clothes. He usually wore torn jeans with tie-dyed tees, or a multi-coloured jacket. He looked nice. She gave him a smile.

“Don't scrub up too bad yourself Mister Harper.”

Patrick blushed, that made her giggle. She did not know him very well and it was odd to find herself living with him. It would be nice to have some company though, as she adjusted back to life on the outside.

“Well, ah...” he looked around the room, not making eye contact. “Asha text and said they have been picked up and should be here in about fifteen minutes. I'll wait out in the living room.”

“Okay, no worries,” she giggled to herself as he retreated, it seemed she made him nervous.

She finished up getting dressed, her clothes feeling like they hung off her and were probably outdated. It was so odd that her mum had kept everything in her wardrobe all these years. Handy though as she at least she had clothes to wear now. She had no idea of the current fashions. Years ago she had loved nothing more than scouring the fashion magazines and keeping up with all the latest trends.

That was her old life, before.

“Hey Sis,” her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Xavier. Patrick had said fifteen
minutes,
had she really been day-dreaming all that time?

“Hey Xave,” she smiled as she walked toward him, reaching up she kissed him on the cheek. Asha walked up behind them, her arm in a sling. She looked gorgeous in long boots, leggings and a long tunic, she hair swept into a bun, with curls hanging down framing her face.

“Oh Asha you look so pretty.”

“As do you,” the other woman returned. She knew it was not true, she looked sullen and washed out. But that's what people say isn't it?

“I need to get some new clothes and get a hair-cut,” she blurted, feeling the need to excuse the way she looked.

“When I'm a bit more mobile and things settle down, maybe we can have a girls day out, what do you say?” Asha suggested.

Xavier beamed down at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“That would be great Asha,” Maddie responded. Right now she could not imagine going to a shopping mall. Too many people.

“You ready to go then?” Xavier asked.

“Yeah, I guess so,” she sighed, following him and Asha out the door.

Xavier had arranged a limousine to pick them up for the service, and one by one they all climbed into the back. Asha and Xavier sat on one seat, whilst she and Patrick squished into the other along with Aunty Polly. At the end of driveway a news crew was waiting. As the car approached, the reporters launched themselves into its path. The driver honked and kept driving, leaving the reporters no choice but to jump free from the moving vehicle. She turned her face toward the window to see a camera pressed against the glass.

Aunty Polly's hand came across and squeezed her knee reassuringly. “They will get tired of you soon love, when the next big story breaks.”

I don't want to be a story
, she wanted to yell, but she kept her mouth shut and just nodded.

When they reached the funeral home, Patrick who was closest to the door, climbed out first and held his hand out to her to assist her, quickly letting her go to
help Aunty
Polly. Xavier helped Asha who seemed to be struggling with her one available arm.

A small group of people hovered near-by and when they saw her party arrive came rushing over to offer their condolences. Some faces Maddie recognised, most she didn't. Frank and Mary were there, they had called by and seen her in the hospital. She smiled and accepted hugs from a few well-wishers, but it was horrible. She wished she could be anywhere else but here. In the weeks since she had escaped the shed, she had been overwhelmed everyday by people and the general goings on of life.

In a quiet moment, when she thought she would be unnoticed she slipped off on her own and headed for the far side of the building. Leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes and listened to the birds chirping in the near-by trees. Minutes later a voice came filtering in, breaking her quiet reverie.

“Ah Maddie...are you ready?”

She looked up to see Asha standing beside her, holding her good arm out to her. Maddie looped her arm through Asha's and they headed for the building. Working their way to the front row, they each took a seat beside Xavier.

Xavier had opted for a funeral service with a private burial. As they were not religious, he had asked a celebrant to officiate. The celebrant greeted the small audience and began the ceremony. It was a double service, so the celebrant took turns in speaking about their parents individually, being careful of course not to mention anything bad. It must have been difficult for Xavier to construct the eulogy given there was so much bad. Dad had kidnapped his own daughter and held her hostage for years. Repeatedly beat his wife. The wife who knew he was holding his daughter captive. Then he had kidnapped his son’s girlfriend and they had only escaped when her mum had killed her dad and turned the gun on herself, managing to shoot Asha in the process. Not exactly something you sprout at a funeral.

Instead he talked about how they had met, about her and Xavier growing up. About Mum being sick with cancer, and how they both loved their kids. Even Asha got a mention. But he managed to somehow gloss over the bad parts.

Hearing soft sobbing she glanced around and saw a few people with tears in their eyes. She guessed a lot of them had not seen the same side of her parents as she and Xavier had. Peering over at Xavier, she noticed his cheeks were wet and she reached out, taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle reassuring squeeze. He responded with a sad smile.

When it was finally over, after what felt like hours, more people insisting on hugging her and telling her how sorry they were. As they returned to the limo more photographers appeared. Xavier politely asked them to leave when one whipped a microphone out and shoved it in her face.

“How do you feel now both your parents have gone Maddison?”

“You must feel relief that it's all over, do you Maddison?” Came another voice.

“That's enough, leave her alone.” Xavier boomed, wrapping his arms around her pushing her toward the open car door.

In the limo, she moved to the furthest corner. Her body trembling, she pulled her feet onto the seat and hugged her legs to her chest. Xavier came in next to her and pulled her close to him in a hug. She rested her head on Xavier's shoulder and her trembling began to subside.

“Do you want to go straight home?” he asked leaning forward into her face.

“No,” she shook her head. “I'll be okay. I just need a minute or two.”

They had planned on going to Xavier's club, Ex's and Oh's for the wake. Rather than have the funeral guests at the house. At least she had somewhere to escape to when she had enough.

Aunty Polly instructed the driver to take an alternative route back into the city, in an attempt to lose the press. The club was not open to the public at this time of the day and they had the driver deliver them to the staff entrance which was not visible from the road.

Maddie had heard about this club, but she was not prepared for what she would find. It was amazing, with beautiful long velvet drapes and comfortable couches. She could hardly believe Xavier had managed to set this place up all on his own. Who knew her big brother had such good taste?

She settled on one of the couches, Asha along with her friend, who Asha had introduced as Gemma sat in the couches beside her. Patrick brought her a long stemmed glass from the bar and she took a sip. After a few mouthfuls she felt a tingling starting in her feet and working its way up her legs. Whatever it was it made her feel better and when the first was finished she asked Patrick to fetch her another.

Several glasses of wine later, Maddie was thinking this whole thing was not turning out as bad as she had expected. Patrick was actually pretty funny, they had sat on the couch laughing and joking for some time. It had been many years since she had sat and laughed like that, she had thought she may never again.

As the afternoon wore on, people had stopped by where she sat and had wished her luck and good-bye. No one mentioned her being locked away, they seemed to skirt around the subject of her absence over the past years and carried on like it had never happened.

Several hours later, Xavier announced they were heading home. He had arranged for the limo to drop them back to the house. They wished Aunty Polly and Gemma good-bye and headed out the door, fending off more media who had found their way to the back door and thought it was there duty to report on her.

***

They all returned to the house. Patrick made himself busy in the kitchen cooking. Asha told her she was lucky to have Patrick there as he was an awesome cook. She would find out soon enough she guessed.

Sitting quietly in the living room, Xavier produced the letter he had been reading yesterday when she had got home.

“Mum left this for us, I guess now is a good time to read it.” He said quietly, taking a seat beside her on the couch and unfolding the hand-written papers. In a low voice he began reading.

To my dearest Maddie and Xavier

If you two are both reading this now, it means I am dead and if all has gone to plan your dad is too.

I am sorry it had to end that way, but I could see no other option. Hugh was never going to let Maddie go and I know she would have died out there, cold and alone.

I want you both to know I love you and I understand if you are both angry with me.

Please know I never wanted to hurt either of you.

To my beautiful precious boy Xavier, it makes my heart hurt when I think about not seeing your gorgeous face ever again. You have been a rock for me over these past years and I do not think I could have lived without you in my life.

Yes, your dad has issues and I am well aware. But he loves you, in his own special way, you have to believe that.

Please take care of your sister, I know I don't really need to ask that of you, because I know you have always held her close to your heart. I love you my darling son.

Maddie, my beautiful sweet baby girl. You came into my life like a whirlwind, whipping up a storm in your wake. I am angry that your father took you away from me. You had your whole life ahead of you and your father took that from you. I can only hope you can go back out there in the world and show them that he has not broken you, as he broke me.

The biggest regret I am taking to my grave is not having the guts to free you sooner. You have to believe me I did not know you were there until only a couple of years ago when your father let it slip one night during one of his rages. You know I have loved your dad since I was sixteen years old but I have also been afraid of that man for many years. As he has aged, he has become more and more unpredictable.

I still love him, but I have to take his life for you to be free. I hope you can understand that. He loves you both, but I know that sounds a little twisted. You have to believe he never wanted to hurt you Maddie, you were his princess and he was desperate when you wanted to marry Tom. He thought you would leave and never return.

I don't believe he meant to keep you as a prisoner. I believe it was a spur of the moment decision that he regretted. Then he was overwhelmed and when the police became involved, he could not find his way out of the situation. I think it got on top of him and he did not know how to deal with it.

If he confesses now and sets you free he will go to prison and that will kill him. I see no other option. This is the only way to let you both live your lives.

Please remember, I love you both with all my heart.

Always

Mum

xx

When he finished reading, Maddie noticed his hands were trembling and she looked up to see tears running down his face. She wondered if she should be feeling some kind of sadness too. She felt something. She felt angry at her mother for taking her father away. Her emotions were so mixed up and she knew it would take a while to unravel them. She had not cried over the loss of her parents. Was that normal in this sort of situation? How could anyone know, it was not exactly a normal situation by any means.

Snaking an arm around Xavier's shoulders she pulled him to her. He had spent time with their mother over the past years, so she could empathise with him over her loss. As far as she was concerned though, her family, other than her dad, had been dead to her for a very long time.

They shared a quiet meal together that evening, before Asha and Xavier headed back to the city. Maddie was grateful for the peace when they left and excused herself to her bedroom.

***

Alone in her room, she pulled out a shoebox from under her bed which she could hardly believe was still there. Her parents, it seemed, had touched nothing in the time she was gone. Wiping the dust off with her hand, she lifted the lid. A torrent of emotions hit her like a tidal wave as she saw her wedding invitation list.

The invites had gone out, the venue was booked, and her dress had been with the dress-maker. It was going to be the most amazing day of her life. What it had been was one of the worst. Her mind reeled back to that day in the shed.

“Guess who came knocking this morning Maddie?” her dad had said, as she rose from the rickety old bed, wiping sleep from her eyes.

“Who?” She had expected him to say Tom. It was their wedding day if she had calculated the days correctly.