Wishes, Gems, and Disasters by Martha Wickham (books to read this summer .txt) 📕

Wishes, Gems, and Disasters


Nine Lives
by
Martha Wickham


Copyright 2009 Martha Wickham
ISBN: 978-0-557-05787-0


1. Anywhere Else


Her husband Ivan didn’t pay any attention to Peggy Brooke and that’s why she packed a suitcase and went to the nearest motel, not only because she felt bored but because she didn’t think she was safe. It wasn’t Ivan’s fault she didn’t feel safe but she felt afraid of a man she used to date and the idea he may want revenge because she left him. He loved her and she dumped him for Ivan.
Peggy called her mother and told her the situation. “I think I’m going to move to the east or some other country. It feels like I’m haunted by my past every where and I can’t sit still. Will you help me find a way to get away? My ex-boyfriend called me back there and Ivan doesn’t talk to me. I’ll think about where to go. I never should have moved my stuff from your house. I just want to go some where else.”
“Okay I’ll call you later and talk to you,” her mother replied. “Can you give me the number there?”
“Okay.” Peggy didn’t mind giving out the number there at all and she did. Her husband was the only friend Peggy had but she knew she had plans to go to veterinary school and was ready to follow her dream. She had already found the school she wanted to go to in that state. As she sat a man she never met, Dan, wondered California for her ex trying to figure out where Peggy went, but couldn’t. And he was wanted by the police. Hopefully his next target would not be any one or Peggy Brooke.
Right away she decided she would feel safest studying veterinarian work in another country and planned to drive to South America in two days.

Her mother, Celia, sat worried on her couch with her new boyfriend watching her. “I have to call my daughter Peg again. I want to make sure she’s safe from Dan and his friend.” She picked up the phone and called Georgia. No one answered the phone. A feeling of fear shot through Celia as she wondered what could have happened to her daughter. The idea was to keep calling the houses until she was found. She even called Peggy’s house and got her husband on the phone but Ivan told her Peggy was gone and he didn’t know where. Celia told Ivan that Peggy left to a motel so he would know because he explained he didn’t know where she was either. All these times she had called for her daughter she left messages on her past work phone in Georgia but they were not returned with a call from her and Dan was still out on the prowl.

On a winter day when the snow began to melt a little Peggy’s father had finally answered his phone. “Where’s Peggy?” Celia asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “As soon as I figure it out I’ll call you.”
“Is she okay? How do you know?” Celia asked in a panic.
“I’ll bet she’s fine. Calm down and don’t worry,” he replied.
“Okay when was the last time you saw her?”
“A week ago,” he answered. “And she was fine. Said she had to go out of Colorado. She took all her stuff and left. I’ll bet she’s moved again if she’s not back in Georgia. She said she wanted to move because Ivan’s house was scary and your house wasn’t safe. She did look a little afraid. Please try not to worry.”
“Okay Hank,” Celia said to her ex-husband. At the moment she really liked Hank and almost wished she never divorced him but her new love interest Kyle loved her thick black shiny hair and emerald green eyes. Celia looked most like her daughter. “She does have a lot of junk in her small house. I wonder if that’s another reason she didn’t want to stay there. Okay thanks Hank. I may be calling you again some time about her. Let’s just hope she’s well.”
“I just saw her not long ago. I know she’s well. If she comes here I’ll tell her to call you.”
What Celia heard was good news and filled her heart with a little happiness. She knew her daughter was alright.

One week later Celia hoped Peggy was out spending wildly her lottery winnings when the phone rang. She looked at it and answered.
“Mom,” Peggy shouted from a public phone. She needed to shout over the noise.
“Peggy where are you?”
“I’m in Brazil, South America with a friend. We met up together and we both feel safer in another country. We are happy, feeling well, and more relaxed than before. We like it here and are going to go to college. We’re even picking up some Spanish.” Peggy watched the people pass by.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“We’re fine. We’re sharing a three bed room apartment. It’s large and we’re both going to college full-time and working part-time weekends actually, in a pet store. The same store company we worked before. Let me give you our number and address.”
Celia wrote it down. “I feel better too Peggy. Just stay there okay and be safe.”
“I think I may be here about six years, so I should come visit you.”
“Well don’t do that until I tell you its okay. This guy is wanted and I think he wants you.” Randy the ex-boyfriend had really had a change of heart but Dan didn’t. They were safe because no one could find them there. They had great times meeting new people in school, going to the beach, and exploring the new culture. Brazil was new to them because they had never been there before. “Did you sell your old house in Washington?”
“Yes the one I lived in before I got married. It went quickly. I was tired of the little thing anyway.”
“What’s your major in college?” Celia asked.
“I’m going to be a veterinarian but animals are not my only love. I’m taking early childhood studies classes to get enough units to work in preschools but I meant my other love is taking care of people so I’ve considered nursing and social working. I have a friend who is studying to be a social worker. I’ll call you later and we can talk more.”
Her friend sat watching her hang up. Everything seemed perfect except she already missed her husband Ivan the man she fell in love with and couldn’t put him off forever. She decided to call him and tell him where she lived and what she did.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Randy before? I could have protected you,” Ivan said on the other line. He sounded like he missed her too. Peggy had explained everything about her life earlier except the fact she dated Randy.
“I didn’t want you to leave me. I’m sorry.”
Ivan sighed on the other line.
“Are you mad? Me and my friend think her boyfriend is,” she said.
“What do you mean? Can’t you tell I wasn’t?” he asked.

Tammy, Peggy’s 8 year old daughter, sat on her brown and yellow couch thinking of a way to get involved with catching Randy and Dan so her Mom could live in peace. She remembered the words she promised her mother, to stay away from trouble. But Peggy was living in South America and someone started a fire that burnt a corner of their old house. But who? She wanted more than anything to break her promise and watch his confession. Maybe he’d confess to where the arsonist lived and he’d get caught and it would all be over. She decided to move into the burnt house and try to get kidnapped.
By the looks of the situation to her it looked like Dan did not get caught starting the fire. She correctly assumed he was trying to kill her and if he wanted her dead he would most likely kidnap her too.
“Can I get Peggy’s phone number?” Tammy asked her father Ivan. He gave it to her without any trouble and in the same day she was on the phone talking to Peggy.
“There’s a guilty person on the loose I’m sure you know. Can you get anything out of Randy? Convince him to turn himself in or something? I don’t want to have to move like you. How’s Brazil by the way?” Tammy asked.
“Brazil is wonderful and beautiful. Thanks for asking. Okay Tammy that’s a good idea. I promise I’ll give Randy a call and try to convince him to turn Dan in if he can.” That did it. Tammy had done all she could do until the criminal got caught.
“Can I call you later to see what he says?” Tammy asked.
“Of course. I would be glad to tell you what he says. In fact I think I’ll record the conversation to make sure I have proof of what he says.” Peggy hung up. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before,” Peggy said. “What can I bribe Randy with now?”
“Are you going to lie and tell him he won’t get in trouble?” Her friend asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll call him now.” Peggy picked up her cell phone and called him. In seconds she had Randy on the line. When he said hello he sounded glad to talk to her.
“How can you let somebody get away with this? They burned a house. What do we do now? Can you report them?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I thought you changed. Don’t you want justice? It wasn’t a big fire. They probably won’t get into too much trouble.”
“Are you begging me?” He asked.
“Yes, I am. Don’t make me drag it out of you.”
“You’re out of luck. I’m not going to tell on someone for any thing.”
“So you’re letting him get away. You called them so how do you know you won’t get in trouble for that?” Peggy asked.
“I already did. They took away my chance for parole if I ever get arrested.” He was only being sarcastic.
“Please don’t do it again. Do you think turning yourself in is worth it?”
“Every minute of prison is worth it yes. It’s not so bad in there.”
“I really want them to get caught. I won’t forget this. I’ll remember they’re free and we’re in danger until they’re found.