Saving Ms Gothel, page 11
part #7 of Middleton Prep Series
Hank’s patience had been lost days ago and he wasn’t about to let an old man keep him away from the woman he loved. He put his hands up in a placating gesture. “I only want to talk to her.”
“From what I understand, you’ve done enough talking.”
Hank threw his arms in the air. “I haven’t spoken to her in three days! I’m trying to fix things but nobody will let me. Her mother won’t let me near her and Zellie’s not answering her phone. I want to work things out, but I have to actually be able to see her.”
Max furrowed his brow. “You’ve been trying to get a hold of her?”
“Yes!”
Max snorted. “That’s not what I heard.”
Hank rolled his eyes. “Then you were misinformed.”
“It was Zellie who spoke to me.”
Hank stilled. “What do you mean?”
“Zellie told me you two had a misunderstanding and she asked for space. You were supposed to talk to her a few days ago but never contacted her. She took your silence to mean you weren’t interested.”
“No,” Hank growled. “I love her and I’ve been trying to talk to her, but she won’t take my calls.”
Max frowned. “Something isn’t right here. She said you didn’t ever call.”
“I’ve called dozens of times!” Hank said in exasperation. “Can I just see her, please?”
Max shook his head. “She’s not here. Took a few personal days.” Max dropped his arms. “I got the impression she was nursing a broken heart. She’s staying with her mother and who knows what nonsense that woman is filling Zellie’s head with.”
Hank ran his hands through his hair. “What am I gonna do? Her mother won’t let me anywhere near her.”
Max rubbed his jaw. “We might have to be sneaky about this.”
Hank dropped his hands. “Sneaky? Like what?”
Max pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow. “Have you thought of doing it the old fashioned way?”
“Meaning?”
Max shrugged. “Back in the day, we boys threw pebbles at windows. It was a lot more romantic than texts through a phone.”
“Throwing rocks at a girl was considered romantic?” Hank scoffed.
“Got the job done,” Max raised a brow.
Hank studied the older gentleman for a moment. “Why exactly are you helping me? I’ve always gotten the feeling you didn’t like me.”
Max rubbed his chin. “I can’t say you’re my favorite person, but Zellie, well, Zellie seems to love you.” His eyes bore into Hank’s. “That poor girl has been raised by a nutcase, but she’s still sweet, kind and wonderful. So if she wants you in her life, I won’t fight it.” Max took a step forward. “But if you hurt her again, I won’t be so helpful.”
Hank closed his eyes and shook his head. “Thanks ... I think.” Folding himself back into his car, Hank drove home to plan his evening.
Hours later, under the cover of darkness, Hank drove toward Zellie’s house. He parked his car a block away and carefully walked to his destination. Good thing she doesn’t own a dog. He thought as he slipped through her yard toward the back of the house.
Crouching in a bush, Hank studied the back windows. “Which room is hers?” He grumbled, looking back and forth. He knew the kitchen and family room were in the middle of the house. One side held a master suite while the other had two smaller bedrooms. But which is which? “Idiot,” he mumbled under his breath. “A little planning would have gone a long way.”
Taking a chance, he crept toward the only window with a light still on. Surely Z stays up later than her mom, right?
Hank stood to the side of the window and tried to peer in through a small crack in the curtains. He could see a silhouette moving around. But who is it? A body walked right past the window, making Hank jump. After a moment he took a deep breath. Ahhh! Flowers! Zellie always smells like flowers.
With a grin, he tapped lightly on the window. The person inside stilled. Hank tapped again. “Z?” Hank put his mouth near the window. “It’s me, Hank. I need to talk to you.”
CASSIA CURSED AS SHE heard Hank’s soft plea at the window. “Will he never learn?” She grumbled to herself. Shaking her head, she hurriedly tried to figure out how to get rid of him. Spotting her phone, she grabbed it and dialed emergency services.
“Z?” Hank called from the window again.
“Just a moment,” Cassia softened her voice to try and mimic her daughter. She walked to the other side of the room so Hank wouldn’t hear and spoke to the operator on the phone. “Yes, I’d like to report a trespasser. My name is Rapunzel Gothel and a man is in my backyard. I’m afraid he’s going to try and come into the house. I’m scared.” She paused and listened. “Yes, thank you. Please come quickly.”
Cassia hung up the phone and snickered. “Maybe Rapunzel sending him to jail will do the trick.”
Walking back to the window, Cassia stood to the side and turned her head to speak. “What do you want?” She whispered to the glass.
“Z, we’ve got to talk. There’s been a big misunderstanding. Please let me explain.”
Cassia rolled her eyes but kept her voice pleasant. “I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. My mother was right about men, after all. Leave me alone ... please,” Cassia tagged on the last word to sound more like Zellie.
“I can’t do that, Z. Please just give me a chance to talk to you. I love you.”
Ugh! This kid is an idiot. “I don’t know ... “ Cassia let her voice trail off. Hurry up and get here already!
“Can you just open the curtain? Let me see you’re all right?”
“I don’t know.”
There was a pause before Hank spoke again. “Why aren’t you back at school? Max said you were taking time off.”
“How long does it take to answer an emergency?” Cassia grit her teeth.
“What?”
Oops. “Nothing. I just. I just needed some time.”
“Z, please—Hey! Oof!”
Cassia could hear scrambling outside her window. Finally. Quietly she walked to the front of the house, trying to get to the door before anyone knocked and woke up Rapunzel.
Walking outside, she found two police cars and a handful of officers. A large man walked with Hank handcuffed in front of him, before helping him into the backseat.
“Are you the one who called in the emergency, ma’am?” A policewoman walked up to Cassia.
“No. It was my daughter, but she’s too frightened to come out right now.”
The policewoman’s eyes darted toward the house before going back to her notepad. “We’ll take him to the precinct for questioning and keep him overnight. Do you know if your daughter wants to press charges?”
“I’m sure she does. This boy was trespassing and standing at her window, frightening her.”
The officer nodded. “Have her come down tomorrow and fill out the paperwork when she’s feeling better.”
Cassia nodded. “Will do.” As the policewoman walked away Cassia looked to where Hank sat in the back of the car.
His glare was enough to melt glass and Cassia had to hold back a chuckle. Instead, she simply raised a triumphant eyebrow, wrapped her sweater around her and waltzed back into the house.
“She’s mine,” she said proudly as she closed and locked the door.
CHAPTER 15
Zellie arrived at school the next day in a foul mood. Slamming into her office, she threw her bag and coat on her desk before landing with a huff in her chair.
“What’s eating you?” Max boomed as he walked in behind her. “I thought after last night, you would be feeling much better.” He raised a brow and studied her. “Welcome back, by the way.”
“Thanks,” she muttered before her mind registered on what he said. “What do you mean after last night?”
Max shrugged. “Why don’t you start by telling me why you’re so angry, then I’ll explain.”
Zellie threw her head back with a groan. “Mother is driving me crazy.” She sat up and threw herself forward, pointing a finger at Max. “She’s angry that I want to forgive Hank. Even went so far as to hide my cell phone from me for the last few days.” She fell against the backrest. “She throws a fit every time I want to leave the house and other than Monday when I came to tell you what was going on, I’ve stayed put just to keep the peace. I finally found my phone in a drawer last night and hid it in my room so she couldn’t take it again. Then this morning I snuck out early so she couldn’t try and stop me.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure Hank will even talk to me at this point. I mean, he hasn’t texted or called, but maybe he’s been waiting for me to make the first move.” She slumped down as if exhausted from her rant.
Max’s eyebrows were almost level with his hairline as he listened to her story. “Something has got to be done about that woman,” he grumbled.
“Yeah. Starting with me never living with her again.”
Max nodded. “That’s a good start. But about last night ... “
“Oh yeah. What were you talking about when you said ‘after last night’?”
“Well, it just so happens that—”
“My dear, it’s horrible! Simply horrible!” Mrs. Merryweather, the school secretary burst into their office waving her arms.
Zellie’s eyes widened and she sat back in her chair. “Uh, what is Mrs. Merryweather?”
Walking over, Mrs. Merryweather took Zellie’s hand and patted it comfortingly. “But don’t worry it will all work out all right in the end.”
Zellie frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s in jail, dear.” Mrs. Merryweather explained.
Zellie’s eyebrows shot up. “Who’s in jail?”
“Hank. He was taken in last night.”
Zellie ripped her hand out the secretary’s and stood up. “What do you mean he’s in jail?”
Max stood up as well and rubbed his hands down his face. “The idiot went and got himself caught.”
Zellie turned to her friend. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Max held up his hands in the air. “I didn’t know he was in jail, but,” he shrugged, “it may have been my suggestion that he try to go see you last night.”
Zellie’s frantic movements stilled. “He came to see me last night? I never heard anything.”
Mrs. Merryweather stepped into Zellie’s view again. “It was your mother, dear.”
“How could she have put him in jail?”
Max shrugged. “He must have knocked on the wrong window.”
Zellie threw her arms in the air. “Are you kidding me? You told him to come knock on my window? Who does that anymore?”
“Hey!” Max’s chest puffed out in defense. “It’s romantic.”
Zellie rolled her eyes. “Men!” Grabbing her coat and keys she hurried out of the office space. “Max, take over for me, will ya?”
“Got ya covered!” He yelled back.
“I’ll tell Principal Grimm,” Mrs. Merryweather offered as Zellie ran out the gym door.
“Thank you!” Zellie hurried through the cold to her car. Gunning it, she raced to the police station. Let’s hope they aren’t watching for speeders coming to them.
Once there, she hurried inside and raced to the front desk. “Was a man brought in here last night?” She panted out the words as she leaned forward.
The office manager raised an eyebrow and looked Zellie up and down. “Men are brought here all the time. I think you’re going to have to be more specific than that.”
Zellie nodded. “Sorry. I’m looking for Hank Fitzherbert. I was told he was brought in last night.”
The woman clicked away at her computer for a moment before nodding. “He was, but he was released a couple of hours ago.”
“What?” Zellie cried.
An officer walked by. “You’re looking for Fitzherbert?”
Zellie turned to him. “Yes.”
“And your name is?”
“Rapunzel Gothel.”
The officer’s eyebrows rose up. “You still wanting to press charges?”
Zellie was wide-eyed as she shook her head. “I don’t want to press charges. I never did. I don’t even know what’s going on!” Zellie threw her hands up in the air.
“All right, calm down now. Your mother spoke to the officers last night and said you would like to press charges, but were too frightened to do it last night.”
Zellie scowled. “No, I am not pressing charges.”
The officer furrowed his brow and watched her for a moment. “Okay then. He’s not here anymore. He was bailed out a few hours ago.”
Zellie’s shoulders fell. “Thanks.” She turned and headed back towards her car.
“Are you the one who made the phone call last night?” The officer called out behind her.
Zellie stopped at the door and turned. “No. I had no idea anything had even happened until this morning.”
He grunted. “Someone used your name on the phone last night when calling it in.”
Zellie closed her eyes and her lips tightened into a small, white line. Mother. Without another word, she pushed open the door and went back to her car.
Once inside she paused for a moment. “Where would Hank go? Home? Or with whoever bailed him out? And why would mother say she was me and try to have me press charges?” Zellie grit her teeth. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Starting the car, she pulled out of the parking lot driving only slightly above the speed limit this time. She headed the opposite direction of her home. I need to fix this with Hank and make sure he’s okay. There will be plenty of time to confront Mother later.
Zellie stopped in Hank’s driveway and looked at the house for a moment. Will he even want to see me? Does he really think I reported him to the police?
Cautiously, Zellie stepped out of her car. Just as she pushed the door shut, the front door slammed open.
“Z!” Hank’s voice was hoarse and sounded tired. He was across the driveway in two steps, wrapping Zellie in his arms and lifting her off the ground.
Tears pricked Zellie’s eyes as she wound her arms around his neck and anchored herself against him. “Hank,” she breathed into his neck as she nuzzled her face into the crook there.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
Zellie raised her head and Hank slowly put her on the ground. “Am I okay? You’re the one who has been in jail!” Her eyes darted all over him as if to search for physical injuries. His clothes and hair were rumpled and his eyes had dark bags under them, but otherwise, he was whole.
Hank shook his head. “I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep. But you’ve been held prisoner for days.”
Zellie scowled. “She wasn’t holding me, prisoner. What are you talking about?”
“Z, I’ve been trying to text, call and see you for over three days. Your mother has managed to fend off every one of my attempts. Right up to putting me in jail last night.”
“Yeah, about that. Coming to my window was pretty risky. Since you didn’t even know which one was mine.”
Hank shrugged. “Max said it would be romantic.”
Zellie rolled her eyes. “Max also blew up his turkey at Thanksgiving. I would watch what you believe from him.”
Hank chuckled then pulled Zellie in close again. Leaning down, he took a deep whiff of her hair before whispering in her ear. “So noted.”
Zellie shivered at the intimate contact, then stepped back. “Come on,” she tugged on his hand. “Let’s get you inside before you freeze to death. You don’t even have any shoes on.”
Hank let her lead him inside. Once indoors, Hank led the way to the couch, where he pulled Zellie onto his lap. Framing her face he leaned in. “I’m sorry about what happened last week.” He gave her a small kiss. “I was stupid. Can you forgive me?”
Zellie smiled softly and put her hand on top of his. “Of course!” She rubbed her nose against his. “I’m sorry I walked out. I was in shock and hearing Victoria talk about you, hurt. I needed some time to process, but I forgave you days ago.” She leaned in for a more proper kiss, but Hank pulled back.
“Days ago?”
“Yes,” Zellie murmured as she moved to his jawline since he was talking.
“Z, I’ve been texting and calling since Sunday. If you forgave me, why didn’t you take my calls?”
Zellie sat up. “You didn’t call.”
“Oh, yes I did. Dozens of times.”
Zellie frowned. “None of them show on my phone.”
Hank’s face mirrored hers. “How can that be? One dropped call happens. Dozens?”
Zellie pulled her phone out of her coat pocket and began scanning. Her eyes widened. “Your number is blocked! Who did that?”
They looked at each other. “Mother,” they said in unison.
Hank cleared his throat and stared at their laps. “Uh, that’s not the only thing you should know about your mother.”
Zellie waved a hand. “Yeah, I know. She tried to have me press charges against you.”
Hank rubbed the back of his neck and leaned back on the couch. “Uh, no. That’s not it.”
Zellie looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“How much do you know about your father?”
Zellie tilted her head and frowned. “I already told that story.”
Hank shook his head. “It’s not true.”
“What do you mean?”
“The story that woman fed you is not true.”
Zellie stiffened. “How would you know?”
Hank’s cheeks turned pink and he rubbed the side of his face. “After I got released from jail this morning, I came home and did a little research. I couldn’t figure out why Cassia was willing to go to such great lengths to get rid of me. Even for a man-hater, it made no sense.”
Zellie watched him warily but didn’t speak.
“I discovered some things about your past that I don’t think you know. Like who your father was and the real reason Cassia is trying to keep you by her side. Including,” he cleared his throat, “who Cassia really is.”
“What did you find?” Zellie’s voice was small and vulnerable. Has mother been lying to me my whole life? What’s going on?
