Finding Molly Parsons, page 1
Finding Molly Parsons
Alyson Root
Copyright © 2024 Alyson Root
©2024 Alyson Root
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
For permission requests, write to alyson.root@outlook.com
Interior formatting and cover design by:
Tara Sullivan, The Write Gal Co.
www.thewritegal.com
For everyone who found their chosen family.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Keeping Carmen Ruiz
Other Titles By Alyson Root
Acknowledgement
About The Author
Chapter 1
Faith
The relentless ticking from the clock on Faith’s wall sent her nerves through the roof. Normally indifferent to its presence, tonight, the clock became an unwelcome reminder of the daunting task ahead.
Faith had planned her escape for months. She was meticulous, acutely aware that any lapse in detail could spell utter disaster. With each passing minute, her heart quickened its pace, mirroring the march of time itself. So far, everything was going to plan. That was the one good thing about her parents. They were painfully predictable. But that wasn’t the reason Faith craved freedom. No, her reason for all the plotting and lying was for her life and the right to live it as she saw fit.
If Alan and Maureen Parsons ever found out who Faith truly was while under their roof, Faith would… well she dreaded to think what would happen. There was no point dwelling on the what ifs now. Faith was thirty seconds away from changing her life irrevocably.
Straining her ears, Faith listened for any sign that her mother or father were awake. It would be the first time in history that either parent stirred before 6 a.m. but Faith couldn’t take any chances. This was too important. The house remained silent, only the gentle creak of the wooden rafters pierced the stillness.
Stepping lightly, Faith gathered her backpack. With gentle steps she made her way over to her window. It had taken an hour to jimmy the lock open earlier in the evening, all the while trying to stay as quiet as a mouse. If her dad heard anything out of the ordinary, he was guaranteed to burst through her door.
She lifted the window gently; thankful it didn’t snag or squeak. Taking one last look over her shoulder, Faith slipped her pack through the narrow opening, before climbing out as quickly as possible. As much as she hated this house, she was grateful it was a ground floor bungalow. Having to scale down a wall didn’t appeal and there was no way she would have been able to do it without disturbing her parents.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, she eased the window closed and swiftly took off. Skirting the edges of the yard, Faith avoided the gravel. Now all she had to do was make it to the back of the garage. After a quick look behind her, Faith set off, praying the security light she’d relieved of its bulb had gone unnoticed by her father.
With no blaring light to illuminate her escape, Faith smiled. Luck was on her side tonight. Maybe it was divine intervention? A glance at her wristwatch reminded Faith she had to hurry if she was to succeed with the next part of her plan.
At the back of the family garage sat Faith’s trusty bicycle. Her father had refused to let Faith get her driver’s license, insisting she only cycled. Faith knew the reason was to prevent her from leaving. Alan Parsons wasn’t a stupid man. Faith wondered how he would feel when he realized that by enforcing the rule, he’d given her the perfect way to escape. Bicycles were silent, unlike cars.
Wheeling the bike to the road, Faith placed one foot on the pedal and used the other to push off. Summoning all the energy she could, Faith peddled. There was no time to admire the moonlit streets or the twinkle of the stars. Faith had to remain focused on her goal. Getting to the bus station within the next five minutes.
With labored breaths and sweat on her brow, Faith made it with one minute to spare. Rushing over to the ticket desk she gave her name and collected her pass. Leaving her pre-purchased ticket at the station had been the right choice. Faith never knew when her mother would overturn her room, looking for contraband.
The bus rumbled to life just as she threw herself onboard. The driver drew up his eyebrows as she puffed and panted. Only when she waved the ticket in his face did he turn away. Inhaling deeply, Faith made her way to the middle of the bus, choosing a window seat. There wasn’t time for her to get comfy though. Her ticket might have read “Destination Dallas,” but that was not where Faith planned to leave the bus.
When her parents found her missing from her room, they would come for her. Faith had no doubt in her mind. The first place they would look would be the bus station. Once they found out her ticket information—and they would—Alan and Maureen would be hot on her tail.
So, to keep them in the dark, Faith would change buses prior to Dallas. With all the bobbing and weaving she planned, it was going to take her days to reach Seattle, her final destination. The stops and changes were a must though.
Closing her eyes, Faith mentally ran through the rest of her plan. It wasn’t complicated but it would stop her parents from getting law enforcement involved. That’s the reason she had waited until she turned eighteen. God knows she’d wanted to escape for years but without the law on her side, it would have been foolish and deadly to have left.
Now though, she was a legal adult. She’d even managed to sneak her birth certificate out of her father’s office. With her documents safely stowed away in her backpack, Faith finally allowed herself a reprieve from the anxiety she’d suffered with for months.
Maybe a bit of sleep would help? No, don’t fall asleep, stay vigilant.
The bus was nowhere near full. There were a handful of people, most of whom were snoring. One passenger caught Faith’s eye. A girl who looked to be around the same age as Faith was sitting at the back of the coach, eyes closed, bopping her head and silently mouthing the words to her music. Faith saw the AirPods and naturally became curious. What is she listening to? Stop Faith, stay focused. No distractions.
Admonishing herself for her wandering eye, Faith turned back to face the window.
◆◆◆
The bus had barely stopped before Faith was up and out of her seat, heading for the door. Thankfully, the bus had made good time, leaving Faith with ample opportunity to buy her next ticket—with cash of course.
The sleepy bus station only had one ticket operator, who clearly detested his job. Faith was a naturally shy person who avoided confrontations at all costs, so when she heard the ticket clerk arguing with a customer, she wanted to hide away. Raised voices were a trigger. In Faith’s experience, a swift backhand usually followed.
When the irate customer finally purchased her ticket, Faith stepped up to the window. “One way to St. Louis please.”
The ticket agent sighed and bashed his keyboard dramatically. Faith wasn’t sure why he behaved that way and frankly she didn’t care. As long as he gave her the ticket he could do as he pleased. Faith smiled sweetly as she waited. Finally he shoved the printed paper through the little slot. Faith thanked him and left. With an hour to wait, Faith prepared the next stage of her plan.
Alan and Maureen would go straight to the cops and say Faith was missing. To make sure that didn’t happen, Faith entrusted her best friend Alice to deliver a letter to the sheriff at first light. The letter stated that Faith had left town of her own free will. Hopefully, that would be enough to stop him from looking for her. It wouldn’t deter her parents.
Pulling out the burner phone she’d picked up yesterday in town, Faith sent a message letting Alice know she was okay and to make sure her letter got delivered. As soon as she got a reply, Faith turned off the phone and dumped it.
Waiting was the hardest part. If she wasn’t moving, Faith felt vulnerable. To stave off the inevitable anxiety that came with stillness, Faith paced the station. After a few restless minutes, a stomach rumbling gave her the perfect excuse to find somewhere to eat. A diner was a better option than driving herself insane walking in circles.
The smell of coffee and grease slapped her across the face as soon as she opened the door. Normally, the smell would be nauseating, but Faith was too hungry to care. In fact, her mouth salivated. Taking a seat at the counter, Faith scanned the board.
“Hey, honey, what can I get you?” The woman behind the bar was short and stout. She had an infectious smile and her golden curls bounced as she moved. Faith didn’t know many people who could sport a genuine sm
“Coffee and pancakes, please.”
“Coming right up.”
Faith let out a little giggle. This would be the first time she tried coffee. Caffeine probably wasn’t the best thing in her current state, she was already wired but screw it. This is why she’d left, so she could make her own decisions and try new things. Her reasons for leaving ran a lot deeper than coffee, but it was still a valid point.
Faith’s wristwatch beeped. She’d set it to go off at six. Like clockwork, Alan and Maureen would climb out of bed at 6 a.m. sharp. Her mother usually rapped on Faith’s door at two minutes past. Faith’s eyes were glued to the digital display.
As the numbers changed, Faith clenched her fists. They would know now.
“Here ya go, honey. Coffee and pancakes. There’s extra syrup just over there. Call if you need anything.”
Unfurling her hands, Faith placed them on the counter, closed her eyes and counted to ten. She was okay; she was safe. For now anyway. Not wanting her first experience tasting coffee to be marred by all the things that could go wrong with the upcoming travels, Faith shook out her body and smiled. The coffee looked like mud, which Faith was sure meant it wouldn’t be great. Yup, the first swallow almost made her cough a lung up.
“Eat your pancake, it will help,” a soft voice said from beside her. The unfamiliar voice poured from a familiar mouth—it was the girl with the AirPods from the back of the bus.
“Thanks, wow, yeah, that’s something,” Faith spluttered. The woman laughed, which made Faith smile.
“Do you mind if I sit here?”
“No, go ahead.” Faith shuffled in her seat.
“I’m Nathalie,” the woman said, holding out her hand. Faith gripped it lightly and shook.
“Faith.”
“Are the pancakes any good?”
Faith cut a small bite and popped it in her mouth. Warm butter spread across her tongue causing a delighted moan to leave her mouth. Nathalie laughed. “So good,” Faith mumbled.
“Hey, can I have the same as her, please?” Nathalie asked Liz. Faith had spotted her name badge.
“Sure thing, honey,” Liz called.
“So, where are you off to?” Nathalie asked. Faith’s defenses rose instantly. It was silly, Faith knew there was no way Nathalie had any knowledge of her plans or reasons for leaving Kentucky. That didn’t stop her body from visibly reacting. Nathalie must have seen Faith stiffen because she quickly changed the subject. “Ugh, I hate traveling by bus. My back goes into spasm. I’m only nineteen. That shouldn’t happen right?”
“Definitely not,” Faith laughed, thankful for Nathalie’s understanding.
“Well, these pancakes should help,” Nathalie smiled as Liz placed her food and coffee down. The women fell silent as they ate. Faith wished she had better social skills, maybe then she would know how to traverse these kinds of interactions. Unfortunately, socializing was not important according to her father. As long as she could be polite when spoken to, that was all that mattered. If it weren’t for Alice, Faith would have been completely alone and friendless.
Faith didn’t even have the respite of school. Maureen Parsons had homeschooled her. Well, she’d taught her daughter the basics, never straying into anything remotely liberal. As long as Faith could read, do basic math, and recite the Bible by heart, that was a job well done in Maureen’s eyes.
“I… I saw you listening to music on the bus,” Faith stuttered. Was her face red?
“Oh yeah. God, I couldn’t do without music. What sort of stuff are you into? I love everything. Honestly, my playlist is a mixed bag.”
Great, another uncomfortable question. Faith didn’t know music unless it was for the church. Her parents didn’t even have a radio. “Oh, I like everything too. I don’t really have a preference.”
“That’s cool, I like a woman who is open-minded.”
Something stirred in Faith’s stomach. Butterflies. The real reason she’d run from the only place she’d ever known. Her attraction to women. And, boy, was she finding herself attracted to Nathalie. Tall, fit, and gorgeous blue eyes. Yep, very attracted.
Instead of replying, Faith smiled shyly and finished her food. As much as she’d like to pursue this flirtatious chat with a gorgeous woman, Faith had to keep on task. With her pancakes eaten and her coffee drunk, Faith stepped off her stool. “Um… it was nice to meet you Nathalie, safe travels.”
“Wait, before you rush off. Let’s see if we can turn your cup of mud into something palatable.” Faith watched Nathalie signal to Liz. “Hi, can we have these coffees to go?”
“Sure thing.”
Faith played awkwardly with the strap of her bag. There were literally no words in her head. Nathalie was so calm and collected. And hot. Liz interrupted Faith’s internal meltdown, placing her to-go cup on the bar.
“Here,” Nathalie began, sliding over the sugar and cream. “Pour a good glug of cream in and add a couple spoons of sugar. It makes all the difference.”
Faith watched Nathalie scoop in three large spoons of sugar and a dash of cream. Curious, Faith added both condiments, gave it a stir and took a tentative sip. “Oh wow, that’s so much better!”
“Yup! I couldn’t let you go without knowing the joys of a good, okay, semi-decent cup of coffee.”
“Um, thanks Nathalie.” Popping the lid on her cup, Faith cradled it to her body. Would it be weird if she kept the empty container forever? Probably, but at least she’d have something that reminded her of this wonderful woman. “I really have to go.” And with that, she hurried out of the diner and towards the bus station.
Faith stood in line waiting for the driver to allow the passengers to board. Once again, she wouldn’t complete the journey to her ticketed destination, she would hop off before.
Choosing the back seat this time, Faith settled down. This leg of the journey would take longer than the first. Knowing she needed to catch up on some much-needed sleep, Faith set the alarm on her watch.
Resting her head against the back of her seat, Faith allowed herself to indulge in the memory that was Nathalie’s lovely face. She wondered what Nathalie’s story was. Where she’d come from and where she was going? The comment about liking open-minded women played at the forefront of Faith’s mind. Did it mean Nathalie liked women?
A smile trickled across her face as she pondered Nathalie. Could she dare to believe that one day she could have a Nathalie of her own? A woman who was beautiful and interesting? The thoughts left her a little breathless. Thank God her parents couldn’t read her mind.
Faith was twelve when she first realized that boys held about as much appeal as contracting scabies. The girls in their Sunday best were the ones who stole her attention. Faith quickly learned that her feelings were not to be divulged to anyone within the church community. It took one innocent question about girls liking girls and Faith had found out how angry her father could get. Safe to say, Faith never brought up the subject again.
Any fantasies she had of living her truth had been firmly put to one side until she was sure she could be safe—far away from her parents. The knowledge that Alan and Maureen would know she’d left was niggling. Faith replayed her every move, making sure she’d covered her tracks well enough.
Flashes of Nathalie smiling helped quell her fears. No matter what, Faith would be free. A sliver of regret settled in her stomach. If she’d just had the confidence, she could have asked Nathalie for her email or something. Would Nathalie have thought she was nuts?
Chuckling at her internal monologue, Faith calmed her mind. Falling into slumber thinking of Nathalie was a much better option than worrying about her parents.
Faith jolted awake as her watch beeped repeatedly. The dream she was ripped from was an unfamiliar experience. Something that made her clench her thighs together. The dream had been so vivid, she wouldn’t have been surprised to learn she’d been writhing around on her seat.
“Wowzer,” she muttered to herself as she straightened her clothes. Clearing her throat, she took a long pull of water she’d packed in her bag. Craning to see out the window, she noticed the bus approaching the station where she planned to get off.
Giving herself a little pep talk, Faith steeled herself to repeat her earlier actions. She’d be doing it for a while yet and even though changing buses was already tedious, she knew it had to be done.
