Wedding for Revenge

Chapter 5 – Safe escape

Alice Walker's POV

When Sister Amelia left me in her room to sleep, I sat on the mattress on the floor. Tears that I had been holding back for the last few hours began to flow down my cheeks. I cried my heart out till I felt somewhat relaxed. I lay down and as soon I fell asleep. I was woken up by Toby’s cry. I rubbed my eyes and it took me a few moments to realise where I am. I got up and took Toby in my hands and that’s when I remembered that he would be hungry. He hadn’t had anything last night. I looked at the old clock on the wall and it showed 3.00 in the morning. Everyone will be sleeping at this hour of the night but I needed something to feed Toby. I opened the door and walked in the direction of the kitchen. I did know where the kitchen is as I have helped in the past to prepare meals for the inmates of the shelter during special occasions. I tried hard not to make any noise. The only noise was coming from Toby who kept weeping silently. I carefully opened the door to the kitchen and that’s when the light in the corridor lit up. I looked back in shock and saw Sister Amelia walking towards me.

“I heard Toby crying and thought he would be hungry. Come with me, I will find something for him in the kitchen.” Sister Amelia said and entered the kitchen. I followed her and made Toby sit on a kitchen stool. Sister Amelia searched the kitchen and the fridge.

“I am sorry Alice; there is nothing except for this cold soup.” Sister Amelia looked at me helplessly.

“That’s fine Sister Amelia. I will just heat it up.” I said and started to heat the soup. Once done I poured it into a bowl and placed it in front of Toby. I helped him to drink the soup and then returned back to the room. After changing his diapers, I again put him to sleep. I saw Sister Amelia outside the room and I invited her in. She came and sat on a chair and I sat on the edge of the bed.

“I am really sorry Alice. You and Thomas were always there whenever we needed help. But today when you needed us, I was not even able to provide a glass of milk. Since it’s the end of the month, almost all the groceries are over. I don’t even have any idea how I will feed the inmates tomorrow. God, will show a way as always.” She said with a sigh.

“Sister Amelia, the bowl of soup you gave us is more precious than any expensive cuisine of the world. You gave us shelter for the night and also extended your help and I could say that I and my kids are alive because of you. I don’t know how to thank you for what you have done.” I said.

“Some of the inmates of the shelter work in a factory and a van comes to pick them early in the morning. The van arrives by 6.00. You can go in that van without being noticed because the van comes at the back gate. Even if Tessa’s men are outside the main gate, they will not see you leaving through the back gate. For now, you take a rest. I will come to you after my morning prayers.” Sister Amelia said and left the room after closing the door behind her.

Sleep didn’t come again to my eyes. I patiently waited for the clock to tick five so that I could wake my kids and get them ready before the van came. I took the bag in which I had filled Alinda’s dress. I rummaged through it and found the thing I was searching for. Its two piggy banks belonged to my kids. Thomas used to give them money to deposit in their piggy banks.  He always said that it will build the habit of saving from childhood itself. His habit of saving is going to help me and my kids to start all new. He made sure to secure our future as if he did know what’s going to happen to him.

I took the first piggy bank and carefully broke it without making much noise. I gathered the coins and the currencies and cleared the broken pieces of the piggy bank. I then broke the second one and collected all the money. After clearing all the mess, I started to count the money. I had three hundred dollars which is more than enough to reach Jacob’s home. I thought about Sister Amelia’s words about the empty kitchen. There are more than 30 inmates in this shelter home. She was really worried about their meals for the next day. Hundred dollars would be enough for us to reach Jacob’s place. I have already given him the money which I got from the secret locker. So, there won't be any problem booking tickets to Australia. I took the coins and currencies and took 100 dollars out of them. I took the rest and searched around the room to keep it somewhere so that Sister Amelia can find the money once she comes to the room. I am sure she won’t accept it if I give it to her directly. I took a paper and pen from the table and wrote a note of Sister Amelia. Then I carefully kept the money inside the pen holder on the table.

When it showed five in the clock, I first woke Alinda and then got her ready. She looked at me with puppy eyes. I knew that her sleep was not complete and she didn’t get the comfort of her soft bed either.

“I am sorry, baby; you have to go through all this. Mamma promises you that I will make everything alright. Please be patient for some more time. We are playing a real hide and seek game. We are hiding from the bad people and soon we will reach our new home. We will have our new home and you can go to your new school.” I said hugging my daughter. Suddenly she pulled away from me and said.

“No mamma, I don’t want to go to a new school. I want to go to my old school and friends. I already miss Melissa and Miss. Lilly.” Tears welled up in those small eyes threatening to flow down at any time.

“I am sorry my dear, but I promise you will make many new friends in your new school and you are going to love it there,” I said and she pouted and moved away from me. I know she is angry at me but I don’t have the time to tame her. She will forget about her life here after we move to Australia, she is just five after all.

I moved to wake up Toby and he started to cry as soon as his sleep got broken. I carried him to the washroom and got him ready. After getting ready he asked for his milk which is his daily routine. That’s when I remembered that I forgot to take his milk products as it was in the kitchen. I didn't even have his sipping bottle. Somehow I got him changed into a new diaper and clothes. That’s when Sister Amelia knocked on the door. She had two glasses of milk in her hand. She came inside the room and gave one glass to Alinda and the other to me and asked to make Toby drink it.

“Sister Amelia, where did you get the milk?” I asked.

“I have told you, God will always show us light. A dairy farm owner gives us milk once a week and he delivered it today. Likewise, he will provide for today’s meals also.” She said with a smile.

After giving milk to Toby, I went and got ready. I made sure to make Alinda and Toby wear their sweaters as it’s chilling outside this early in the morning. By 5.50, Sister Amelia came to take us to the van. She brought a man along with her to help me with my bags. I walked behind them to the back door. I saw a van waiting outside the gate. Some of the inmates are waiting to get inside the van. I held Sister Amelia’s hand and thanked her with my eyes.

“God bless you, Alice. I will pray for you and kids to reach safety without any problem.” She said and hugged me and then kissed both Alinda and Toby. I said my goodbyes and turned to leave and that’s when she stopped me.

“Wait Alice, do you have any money? The driver will drop you somewhere you can hire a cab. I will just go and get some money.” She said and was about to turn when I stopped her holding her hands.

“Sister Amelia, I have the money to hire a cab to Jacob’s place. You are right; God will always show us light. We just have to follow it. Please check your table after I leave.” I said and turned to bid her goodbye. The man had already placed all my bags in the van and it's now waiting for me to get in. I walked past the gate and got inside the van hoping that it would take me to safety.  I sat on the only empty seat placing my kids on my lap. The driver started the van and I prayed to God, to safely take me to my destination. I had Jacob’s address written on a paper that I carefully kept in the front pocket of one of the bags. The van moved through a remote road and after around ten minutes it entered a city road. It ran again for about ten minutes before it stopped in front of a cab stand. A man helped me to get my bags and he loaded them in one of the cabs. He smiled at me and I thanked him before they left in the van. I got inside the cab and told Jacob’s address to the driver. I put Alinda on the seat beside me and held Toby to my chest as he had fallen asleep. I leaned back on the seat with the hope to meet my savior soon.