Ties That Bind
15. Freedom’s PriceJust as Zac finished, he leaned down and gave Beth another kiss. Which was promptly interrupted by someone knocking on the bedroom door.
“Zac, Derek’s here to see you.” Nikki called through the door.
Zac groaned and got out of bed, Beth following suit a moment later. Both dressing in silence.
“Come on babe, time to be neighborly.” Zac smiled and put his arm around Beth, leading her from the bedroom.
As soon as they entered the living room, Derek immediately stood up from the couch, walked over and greeted Zac.
“Hey man. Just wanted to let you know we are heading out of town in a few hours and needed to know if you were still going with us?”
“Yeah, what time are we pulling out?” Zac asked, still keeping his grip around Beth’s waist.
“Can you and your family be ready in two hours?” Derek asked.
Zac nodded.
“Alright, we’ll meet you out front in two hours then.” Derek affirmed, shaking Zac’s hand again before leaving.
Zac turned towards the girls and the kids while announcing.
“Let’s clean and pack up this place. We are back on the road in two!”
“Alright I will start with the kitchen and load the stuff into my car.” Nikki said as she walked to the kitchen.
Zac looked down at Beth.
“Let’s go pack our stuff and the kids.” he affirmed, leading Beth into the back of the cabin where the bedrooms were.
*
Everything was completed in an hour and a half. Zac lead his family outside, where Derek and his family were already waiting. Zac guided Beth off the porch as he walked over to talk with Derek.
“We’re ready if you are.”
“Yep, but we have to take care of the second car you have. I could take it into town and try selling it off.” Derek suggested.
“Could we get more if we junked it?” Zac asked.
“Not really. It’s worth more cause it’s in great condition and it’s still drivable.” Derek shook his head in disagreement.
“Not sure how we can sell it off, it’s a rental.” Zac began, until Beth spoke up.
“It’s not a rental, it’s Cameron’s car.”
Zac looked down at her, then back to Derek with raised eyebrows.
“The cops will be on the look out for it. I say we junk it.”
“My wife and I got you alternate pink slips, insurance cards, and license plates to match the other documents we gave your family. So we can sell either vehicle without a problem. I already swapped out both license plates for you.”
“Alright, then sell it.” Zac agreed.
Derek got in the car and drove it to town, returning a short time later with a wad of cash for Zac.
“Here you go, six grand. No questions asked.”
Zac smiled as he took the money from Derek.
“But I think it’s time we head out of dodge.” Derek suggested, looking around.
“Everyone load up and don’t forget to put your sunglasses on!” Zac called out. His party immediately, getting into Nikki’s Jeep, each putting sunglasses on.
Once the keys to both families cabins were turned back into the office. The fugitives were back on the road and heading for wide open freedom.
Four hours later, the cars pulled off on a rest stop. Zac pulled Derek aside and whispered something to him, before everyone headed inside to eat.
Derek made a phone call before they left the rest stop.
*
An hour later the two cars pulled over again, this time it was in front of a rackety weathered white building that resembled a barn.
Zac got out of the car, dragging Beth behind him.
“Is this it?” Zac questioned lowly.
“Yeah, he said he would see you right away so we could get right back on the road.” Derek affirmed.
“Good. Let’s do it then.” Zac said before turning and walking back to the car, still hand in hand with Beth. He bent down and stuck his head in the window, speaking to Nikki.
“Bring the kids inside.” he ordered. Nikki nodded in response as the kids were already climbing out of the car, Nikki following behind silently.
Once inside the barn, the occupants were rushed into a tiny religious filled room.
“What are we doing here, Praying for our souls or something?” Nikki cracked a laugh. Zac turned and gave her a dirty look.
“Shut it. Beth and I are getting married.” Zac answered her retort with an annoying tone of voice.
Beth and Nikki turned quickly towards Zac at the same time. Shock clearly evident on both their faces.
“We’re what?” Beth uttered.
“Getting married. You have my kids, so I need to do right by you. Marriage is just our next step in this relationship.” Zac informed her.
“But couldn’t you pick a nice church or something? This is a barn…” Beth trailed off.
“It’s not a barn, it is a church. Derek called in a favor to a family friend so we could be married on short notice. Now smile and stay quiet.” Zac squeezed her hand for emphasis before walking up to the alter, plastering on a smile, he turned to Beth who returned his smile.
A mere five minutes later the couple was married.
“I just need to have the two of your witnesses to sign the two marriage certificates. Then you will be all set.” the preacher said, looking to Zac.
“Nikki is signing for Beth and Derek is signing for me.” Zac answered, then dragged Beth off to a bench in the front row of the church to sit down.
Beth turned to Zac.
“Why do we have two marriage certificates?”
“One for our aliases the Roosevelt’s and one under our real names, so either way we are really married. It‘s official.” Zac replied dully, then added. “Just remember one thing, if we ever get caught by the cops, a wife can‘t testify against her husband. Since we‘re married now, well you know what that means for any case you might try to make against me in court for the kidnapping and hostage charges.”
Before Beth could utter another word or question, the preacher called out. “Mr. and Mrs. Hanson can you both come sign your marriage certificates now.”
Zac stood up, tugging lightly on Beth’s arm indicating her to stand. Which she did a moment later.
The couple walked up to the preacher’s podium.
“Sign here as Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt. Franklin, your first.” the preacher instructed, pointing to a line at the bottom of the certificate above Nikki and Derek’s signatures. He handed Zac the pen first, after signing in his spot, Zac handed the pen to Beth, who then signed her name. Once that was completed the preacher laid the second marriage certificate down.
“Ok, now sign as Mr. & Mrs. Hanson. Elizabeth, your first.” the preacher smiled, gesturing to the paper. Beth put the pen tip to the paper, but didn’t move the pen. She couldn’t bring herself to sign her life away. Not this way.
Zac noticed her hesitance.
“What’s wrong? Sign it.” Zac’s eyes darted from Beth to the paper.
“Zac, please. I don’t want to be married, not like this.” Beth pleaded looking up into Zac’s eyes. Zac scowled, grasping Beth’s arm and leaned in whispering in her ear.
“Too late, we’re already married and if you don’t sign that paper - I’ll just have your signature forged on it. So, either way you aren’t getting out of this.” Zac’s eyes squinted in anger, hoping that Beth would see he was serious.
Beth could only sigh and sign her life away on the dotted line. She dropped the pen in defeat, just as she did - Zac pulled her into an embrace as he whispered, “I love you.” into her ear sweetly.
*
A month passed, as the fugitives ran from the law, but were successful in remaining undetected. The two families had stopped at another cabin campground to rest before moving on, in Mayport, Texas.
Zac sat in a chair across from Beth at the kitchen table, watching her push her food around.
“What’s wrong?” he asked sweetly.
“Nothing, I’m just not very hungry.” Beth replied looking down at her food.
“You haven’t been eating much at all lately. I think we should take you to see a doctor, maybe Derek knows somebody.”
“I don’t think I’ll need a doctor for another few months yet.” Beth whispered.
“What do you mean you won’t need one for another few months? If you are sick, I want you checked out before it becomes serious. I am not going to lose you again!” Zac began to get upset.
“You won’t , this will pass and I will be back to normal in a few months. I promise.” Beth affirmed, giving Zac a knowing smile.
“You’re scaring me. Please tell me what’s wrong with you. Do you have a disease or something?” Zac asked as he reached his hand across the table to hold Beth’s hand.
“Yeah,” Beth answered dully.
“You do? What is it? Is it curable?” Zac rattled off a line of questions rather quickly, no doubt his heart racing from the sudden news.
“It’s fine. No big deal really. The last time I had it - I had twins.” Beth revealed, looking at Zac for his reaction.
He looked at her confused.
“Twins?” He uttered, then his eyes got wide. “You’re pregnant? Oh please, tell me you’re pregnant again!” Zac begged, squeezing Beth’s hand.
“I’m pregnant again.” Beth confirmed, smiling at Zac.
“Ohh baby!” Zac jumped out of his seat, running over to Beth and throwing himself onto her, hugging her tightly. “Mmm, you make me so happy, baby doll.”
“Uh Zac, stop squeezing me or I’m gonna throw up on you.” Beth managed to choke out, from within Zac’s tight grasp.
“Oh, I’m sorry honey. I’m just so excited for our new baby. I wonder what we‘re having this time.” Zac answered, still smiling widely.
“It doesn’t matter to me just as long as it’s healthy.” Beth responded.
“I couldn’t agree more. Now, I have to tell the warriors.” Zac said before he rushed outside, in search of the twins.
Nikki, walked into the house a few minutes later, standing over Beth, who was still sitting at the kitchen table trying to eat.
“So, slut - is it true, are you really pregnant with my man’s kid?” Nikki blurted out, folding her arms in front of her.
“He’s not your man anymore. He married me.” Beth rolled her eyes at Nikki.
“It’s only a piece of paper, I can still get him whenever I want.” Nikki laughed darkly.
“You are a really sick person, you know that. If Zac really wanted to be with you, then he would have chosen you months ago when he had the chance. But he wanted me, and he’s proven himself to me in the last two months we’ve been together.” Beth began to explain until Nikki was quick to cut her off.
“What do you mean - he’s proven himself to you?”
“He’s been sweet and romantic towards me, he’s not rough and heartless like he was before when we had sex. Something within him has changed. I noticed it the first day we had sex again. I am not sure what caused his change but I see that he’s not such a bad guy, I think I could make it work out with him for our kids sake.” Beth smiled at the thought.
“WHAT!” Nikki screeched. “Not rough with you? What the fuck is going on here? You can’t honestly be serious are you? I mean - falling in love with your rapist. YOUR RAPIST for Christ’s sake! The man forced himself on you, got you pregnant with twins, stalked you, went to prison over you. Then five years later, he tracks you down, kidnaps both your kids, then kidnaps you, holds you against your will. Makes you marry him and gets you pregnant again and NOW you say he’s not a bad guy??!! Are you delusional??”
“No, I’m not. I believe that people can change and I’ve seen it. He’s not the creep he used to be. Zac‘s been a great husband to me and the perfect Father to the twins, I think he‘ll be just as good with our new baby.” Beth looked up to Nikki and smiled again.
Something within Nikki snapped. She jumped on Beth, knocking her out of the chair and put her hands around her throat and squeezed.
“AHHHH! Bitch, die, bitch! DIE!” Nikki screamed as she continued choking Beth, who tried her best to fight Nikki off her, but was losing quickly.
“NIKKI! What the fuck, psycho. Get off my wife!” Zac yelled out as he ran over and pulled Nikki off of his battered wife. He bore deep into her eyes. “What the fuck has gotten into you?”
“You, all I want is to be with you. Leave Beth and be with me. I can love you better than she does!”
“No! I told you already, Beth is the only girl for me, why do you think I married her! And why do you think I got her pregnant again. I want her to be the only Mother of all my children.” Zac spat.
“Too late for that, baby.” Nikki smiled devilishly.
“What?” Zac’s eyes got wide.
“You heard me, too late for that. I’m pregnant by you too. I love how it only took three times for us, instead of the six times it took you to get Beth pregnant.” Nikki confirmed, smiling sweetly at him.
Zac immediately scowled and grabbed Nikki’s arms tightly.
“What the fuck? You lied to me about being on birth control?” Zac uttered, still clearly pissed off.
“Oh, that patch - yeah it was a smoker’s patch. I was trying to quit. But it got me what I really wanted didn‘t it?” Nikki shrugged.
“Cunt! I was clear with you about lying to me and that I didn’t want kids with anyone else but Beth and you had the nerve to say you love me and want to be with me but coerced me and tricked me into getting you pregnant anyways! I want you out of our lives forever! You have one hour to pack up and get the fuck out!” Zac yelled, gesturing towards the front door.
“But, but..” Nikki stuttered. “What about our baby?”
“We don’t have one, I only have three kids with Beth! Get out!” Zac bellowed, repeatedly pointing to the door while giving Nikki a death stare.
Just then Beth spoke, “You cheated on me? But I -” Zac rushed over, bent down and put his arms around his wife.
“Never, baby. I would never cheat on you.” he reassured lovely.
“But she’s pregnant, it’s your baby, how can she be pregnant with your baby? I don’t understand?” Beth asked, rather confused at the entire situation, that was just sprung on her.
“I was with her for only one night, before you came back to me. I haven’t been with her since - I swear to you that you are the only girl for me. I love you and my kids.” Zac explained, but Beth just pushed him away from her, got up and walked quickly into the bathroom. Zac was hot on her heels.
He turned to Nikki, “Get my kids in this house and start cooking dinner. I need to talk to my wife.”
Zac was able to stop Beth just before she got to the bathroom door, he reached out, grabbed her arm and pushed her gently against the wall, as he put both his hands on each side of her - essentially trapping her there.
“Baby, you gotta know that I love you. Being with Nikki was a mistake. I was just frustrated and needed some relief so I slept with her. She swore to me she was on birth control. I only want kids with you, I swear.” Zac tried to explain his actions as he looked lovely into his wife’s eyes.
“Zac, I really don’t care right now. The damage is done, she’s pregnant, it’s your baby too and now you need to figure out what you are going to do.”
“I don’t care what she does with herself or the baby. She lied and tricked me into getting her pregnant. I only want to be a family with you. You believe me don‘t you?” Zac caressed her cheek gently.
“Yeah, I guess.” Beth replied sadly. She had so many emotions coursing through her at that moment. She was beginning to have feelings for Zac, she wasn’t even sure if that was even possible two months ago and here they were - a family of seven now, due to Zac’s indiscretions. She only wanted it to be the five of them and for the third and fourth wheel to be gone for good. Beth could only hope Zac would stick to what he threatened Nikki with and she would leave them alone forever, with or without Zac‘s illegitimate child she was currently carrying.