Page 71 of Liberty

Oh…He was gonna knock. “No, Fate.” He had no idea what he would be getting into here.

Too late, his fist was rapping on the door.

“Who is it?” a female voice asked from the other side of the door. “I got a vicious dog here and he will rip you to bits!”

Turning his head to look at us, he smirked as he replied to her, “It’s Fate.”

I shook my head. No way would she trust that response.

“Oh yeah, asshole?” the girl called out again. “So fate’s finally knockin on my door, eh?”

“He sure is,” Fate stated loudly.

“Well, I’m not impressed. Go away and take destiny with you!”

I laughed.

Fate wiggled his eyebrows at me. “I like this girl, already.” He turned his head toward the door again and said, “But what ifyouare my destiny?”

Silence.

Now came her response, “Then too bad for you, I guess.”

Fate laughed and he looked like he was enjoying this. “Look, you have the key to my happiness. And I need that key.”

“Aww, well, I guess you’re screwed then.”

Even Liberty laughed now.

“I think I’m in love,” Fate called to her.

“We have enough crazy here,” Briget called back. “So, go sell your cray-cray somewhere else, buddy.”

We all burst out laughing this time.

Stepping forward, I did our favorite secret knock on her door. Tap, tap ta-tapp, ta-tapp…tap, tap.Shave and a haircut…two bits.

The sound of lock chains and slide bolts ripped at the door then it was thrown open.

Suddenly, we all heard a growl. Bursting through the door was Daisy.

Fate stared down at the tiny Yorkshire Terrier tearing at his pant leg cuff. “This is your vicious dog?”

“Belle!” Briget screamed as she leapt at me and took me into a full on bear hug.

I hugged her back as tears filled my eyes. “I am so sorry, Briget!”

“I thought you were dead!” She cried.

“I was okay, I am okay.”

She wouldn’t let me go. “You better tell me everything. Cause I know it wasn’t what you said it was. And by the way, your mom is missing too, did you know that? So you need to tell me all of it!”

I nodded. “I will and my mom's safe. I need my key.”

She paused and pulled back enough to stare at me.

“I lost my purse and my phone,” I explained. “Then I was in sort of a lockdown situation where it was dangerous to call anyone or come into town.”