Oliver insisted we all drive to Mallaig for "safety", and though it sat ill with me, I agreed, as it made more sense. He was still quite tense, and that tension only got worse when I told him I'd ride in Callum's VW Beetle Whatever the two had discussed in Sally's and my absence had not eased him one whit, and he about blew a gasket when I said I'd ride with Callum. That's when I blew mine. "We don't have time for this," I said angrily. "Dad almost saw Sally and I, and when he works out I've slipped through his fingers again, he's going to comb the length and breadth of the Highlands till he gets his hands on me. Do you really want to stand here and debate semantics when my life is literally on the line?"
Oliver subsided angrily, and gunned the Kombi's engine mercilessly once he and Sally had gotten in. Callum and I exchanged looks as we peeled out, and as the Kombi fell in behind us, I felt sick. Dad being obsessed with me was bad enough; to have Oliver seemingly in the same mindset was even worse.
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We reached Mallaig at dusk, and another argument ensued about who would go across to the Isle of Skye. Callum had friends in Armadale, and he said quite firmly that he and I would be safe on the other side. Oliver disagreed.
"I know loads of places where we can hole up," he said. "I've been all over the country - I know places you probably wouldn't even think existed."
"I know this place like the back of my hand," Callum said. "You might've been all over the country in your Vomit Comet, but I was exploring the Highlands before you were even a twinkle in your dad's eye - God help him for not pulling out!"
Oliver's eyes flashed angrily - even I had to wince at how personal that last comment got (although to be fair, Oliver was being kind of a dick) - but Sally intervened. "That's enough," she said, dividing her glare equally between Callum and Oliver. "Oliver, you're married to me," she added firmly. "We've got our own future to worry about without getting tangled in Charlie's. Leave her be, and let her go with someone who's better able to protect her. We can't help her if we all get caught by Jim."
A horn honked, and we all turned, swearing en masse as the newer Escort we'd seen now approached, headlights like beacons of doom in the deepening twilight. Callum stepped up behind me and put his arms around my waist, holding me tightly as the Escort pulled up and Dad got out. "Your brother is an arsehole," he said angrily to Callum. "He's lucky I didn't have my rifle - I'd have put a goddamned bullet through his head twice fucking over!"
"Don't you know the meaning of the words 'let go'?" I said, just as angry - not just at Dad, but also at Oliver for delaying us with his stupid arguments. "I'm not coming back to you, ever. Get that through your thick skull and leave me the fuck alone already!"
Dad smirked in the chilly twilight. "Oh?" he said. "Alright, here's the thing." He pointed at Sally, who went sheet white. "I have papers," Dad said, his gaze swinging to her and making her go even paler. "Papers that will permit me, as your former husband, to know the moment you give birth to that brat in your belly. Furthermore, those papers also prevent you from putting anyone else on the birth certificate other than me. Should you defy these papers, you will immediately lose custody of your baby, and you'll never see the child again."
Oliver put his arms protectively around Sally, now white to the lips. "You can't do that," he said angrily. "You're not married to her - I am. That child is mine, and if you even think about trying to take them from me, you'll be the one with a bullet through your head."
"Not if I can prove this marriage was a sham," Dad said contemptuously. "You only married her because you couldn't have Charlie. She's now run into the arms of another man. Surely that must burn you up inside. I mean, you were engaged to her once - fate sadly conspired to tear you two apart, but now fate's given you a chance to have her back in your life again. All you have to do is divorce Sally, and then you can have Charlie again. I'll even stop pursuing her, just so long as I know there's a good man to protect her. You're a good man, aren't you, Oliver? I mean, you're still in love with Charlie - I can see it in your eyes. Divorce Sally, and I'll have you and Charlie married within a month."
I felt my blood run cold - not just at the horrible fate Dad was painting, but also at the fact he was calling me Charlie. He'd never called me that before - it was always my full name. For him to be using my nickname now was a sure sign he was out to manipulte and twist Oliver by using the name Oliver had used when we first met whaat seemed a lifetime ago.
Oliver shifted, still keeping a tight grip on Sally, who looked like she wanted to be sick. Callum had tightened his grip on me, and I pressed as close to him as I could. "Dad, stop," I said. "You can't do this; no court will issue such an order."
"They can, and they have," Dad said silkily. "Believe me, I have ways and means to get what I want. But I am willing to give you up and let you go, so long as you break off this ridiculous affair and go back to the man you really love. I'll even let you raise your cousin, if you so desire; I'm sure Sally will be spreading her legs within a month after that brat is taken from her."
"I am with the man I love," I said. "And we're going to make a future-- Sally!"
For Sally had gone even whiter, and a dark spot now appeared on her skirt. Eyes huge in the darkness, she looked at us, and I saw shattering terror in her eyes. "My water just broke," she said.
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