20
ZOEY
“You know he’s got cameras all over these trees?” Xanny points out one of them.
Up close to the house, it’s all open with perfectly mowed grass that has those fancy lines in it. There are flowers and bushes placed all around. Some run along the house while others line the driveway. I’d noticed the pink ones out back that surrounded a bird bath. I mentioned how pretty they are to Leone one morning when eating breakfast. Now they line the entire patio area. Those are the things I’ve been noticing. Not the cameras in the trees.
“I don’t see them.” I squint, trying to see what she’s talking about.
“Yeah, most people want you to know they’ve got cameras to deter you, but not Leone.”
I mean, there is a giant gate with guards on it. I think that makes it pretty clear he doesn’t want people trespassing, but I don’t mention that to her.
“But you said you saw it.”
“I knew what I was searching for.”
I fight to not roll my eyes. I came out here to listen to what she had to say, and I need to do that.
“Honestly I like that he has the cameras. He’s keeping me safe.”
“This is bad, Zoey.” Xanny drops her hand.
“What? Why? That’s what you’re not getting. It doesn’t have to be bad. Leone can fix it.”
I wish for once she’d see me as a woman and not the little girl she has to take care of. That she would realize I have my own opinions, and I also have my own dreams.
“I can fix it too!” She raises her voice. “I’m sorry.” She takes a deep breath.
“You don’t have to be sorry, Xanny. You’re allowed to shout at me if you’re mad.” She shakes her head in response, not agreeing with me.
“I’m not a child anymore, and you’re not my mother.”
“You’re still a bit of a child, Zoey, and I’m not saying that to be mean. It’s partly my fault. We might live in a trailer park, but I sheltered you because we didn’t have much of a choice. We couldn’t let people know about you. You did all your schooling online ‘cause we couldn’t send you in case we got busted. You lost out on getting to know people and interacting with them.”
“Are you saying I’m gullible?”
“Those cameras. The ones outside your room are new and overkill. He had them added. Not to keep you safe, Zoey. To keep you in.”
I’m not sure what to say to her about that because I don’t care. “So he kidnapped or is keeping me captive for what?”
“To keep you!”
“I want him to keep me.”
Xanny closes her eyes and drops her head back in frustration. I’m not sure what to do. We’re going in circles here, and she’s about to blow. When Xanny loses it, everyone needs to get the hell out of the way.
“He’s not a good man, Zoey.” She tries again.
“He’s a good man to me. No, strike that, he’s a great man.”
Xanny ignores me and keeps going. Leone listens to me too.
“We can get out of here. You’ve always wanted to live on the beach. We could get a little house on one. We have the means to do that now.”
“Youwanted to live on the beach,” I remind her. It’s always been her dream, I just kind of went along with it.
“We both did.”