Free Not What She Seems by Victorine E. Lieske

marriage seemed like a dream. He took her to fancy parties at the country club his father owned, and she felt like a princess. But then things started to get strained. He started drinking heavily when things weren’t going so well at work. He would only hit her when he was drunk, but he was getting drunk almost every day near the end. He was drunk the day he died.
     
     
    ******
     
     
    Connor chatted about the movie while they drove. Steven smiled as he listened to Connor talk about the different parts of the show. He was such a bright child. Emily has brought him up well. Half way home, Connor quieted down, and Steven stole a glance at him. He had fallen asleep in his car seat.
    Emily sat in her seat, unusually silent, and Steven wondered what she was thinking. They were almost to Emily’s apartment when Steven decided to break the silence.
    “A penny for your thoughts.” He grinned at her playfully.
    “Oh, I was just thinking about my Aunt Edna.”
    “You have an Aunt? Where does she live?”
    “She lives in Oregon . She wants me to come visit her.”
    “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Steven said, disappointment tugging at him a little. Honestly, he didn’t want her to go. “How long do you plan on visiting her?”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” She glanced down at her hands. “I haven’t seen her in years.”
    Steven sat silent for a few moments. “What about school?”
    Emily hesitated. “The next semester doesn’t start until after the holidays. If I do go visit my aunt, I’d be back long before it starts.”
    Something tugged at the back of his mind. Had she just taken his money for a vacation? He shook his head. No, he was being paranoid. She hadn’t even asked him for the money. He’d offered it to her.
    “Well, give me a call and let me know if you decide to leave. Let me give you my cell phone number, so you can reach me.” He turned into her parking lot and stopped beside her car. He pulled a piece of paper out of the glove box and wrote his number on it. Emily took it and shoved it into her back pocket.
    After he got Connor’s car seat all buckled into her car, he turned to Emily and she kissed his cheek. He would have pulled her close, but she stepped back too quickly. “Goodbye,” she whispered. She grabbed Connor’s hand and hurried into her apartment.
    “I’ll see you,” he called after her, still feeling the warmth of her lips on his cheek. He drove his truck back to his apartment, wondering if he had imagined it, or if she really had tears in her eyes when she had said ‘goodbye’.
     
     
    ******
     
     
    Emily shut the door and wiped the tears from her face. Richard couldn’t see her crying, or he would ask too many questions. She would miss this town, she knew that. But most of all she hated what she was doing to Steven. He really was a nice guy. She went into the bathroom and started a bath for Connor. If she was going to successfully get away from Richard, the next twelve hours were crucial.
    “Did you have a nice date?” Richard asked, standing right behind her. She jumped. She hadn’t seen him come out of his room.
    “The date was fine. He wants me to meet him at the Children’s Museum in the city tomorrow afternoon.”
    Richard’s eyes narrowed. “Why isn’t he picking you up?”
    “He has a dental appointment in the morning, so he’ll already be in town.” The words were well rehearsed in her mind, but stuck to her tongue as she actually said them.
    “When is he giving you the money?” He spoke softly, giving her chills.
    “He should have it by this weekend.”
    “You should start to pack your things then.”
    “I will, Richard,” she said. She held Connor’s hands while he got into the bath. “I have to bathe Connor right now,” she said, indicating that he should leave her alone.
    He folded his arms and stood silent for a moment. “I think I will pack your things for you,” he said, his eyes dark. Emily clenched her teeth, and he turned and