When we woke up Saturday morning, I asked Harry, "Are you...okay?"

He was lying there awake, staring at the ceiling, seemingly in his own little world. Finally he said, "Yeah, I'm okay."

"It scares me when you do what you did yesterday," I told him. "When you start talking like a little kid again. I think I understand why you do it but it still scares me. Like I wonder if you're somehow breaking with reality."

"I know," he whispered but he didn't add anymore. I leaned over and kissed him and then got up to shower. I really didn't know what we were supposed to do for the weekend while we just waited for Monday to roll around. I just couldn't believe Theodore was going to walk after his arraignment. My dad said that the news was reporting that "it wasn't immediately clear" who was responsible for the shooting (i.e. MY shooting) but he also suspected that Theodore was a very well-respected and powerful man who had a number of higher-up government and police officials wrapped around his finger. Boy did he have that right! 

I honestly feared for Harry more than myself. He had been under Theodore's control all his life and I was afraid he was really going to revert back to that child-like man for good so he wouldn't have to deal with the heavy reality awaiting us. We needed to get him in to see the psychiatrist as soon as possible, but when we had called to make an appointment, they said they were scheduling new patients for after Christmas. That was still two months away. And I sure as hell didn't want to admit him to a psychiatric hospital knowing what a freak show those places could be. An environment like that could do him more harm than good. I just had to make sure to give him as much encouragement, love and support as humanly possible.

But I was scared, too, and part of me wanted to run away and pretend that none of this had ever happened. I wasn't sure if I could be strong enough for the both of us.

Mom and Dad convinced us to go out and do something for the day instead of remaining cooped up in the hotel room. It wasn't easy, but once we were out, it was actually great. The weather was still mild for early November in Canada. The sun was shining and the last of the colors had lingered to make it a vibrant day.

We went out for lunch at a fantastic fish and chips place. Then we went to Granville Island, where I had done much of my shopping on my few days off. Instead of hitting up the Kids' Market - I even asked Harry if wanted to and he said no - we explored more adult-friendly shops that sold hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, clothing and more. I set my mind on the holidays and thought about what I wanted to get for my family for Christmas. And Harry, too, of course. It was actually a pleasant diversion for the day.

I hadn't really checked my phone all day, but when we arrived back at the hotel, I noticed I had several missed calls. My sisters were wondering how I was doing. They had been getting their updates through Mom and Dad and didn't want to add to my stress by making me go through every detail of my captivity and escape. But now they were both eager to talk. I called each of them and we tried to keep the conversations light. Harry was happy to see Helena when I FaceTimed her, they chatted for a bit and she expressed her gratitude that we were both safe. Then I called Katherina and introduced her as well, and when my parents called Oscar to check in, they introduced him to Harry over the phone. They didn't typically use Skype or FaceTime as much as we did, but I promised Oscar that Harry and I would Skype him some time soon.

When we finished all those calls, there was one final voicemail from a number I didn't recognize. I hesitated to listen to it, being afraid of the unknown, but I broke down in tears when I heard Clive's voice. "Hello, Juliette, it's Clive. I got a new phone but I hope you have the same number. Anyway, I just got back in town and I need to see you and Harry as soon as possible. Please call me back."

I waved Harry over and let him listen to the voicemail; then we called Clive together.

"Hey, it's Juliette," I said when he answered.

"And Harry," Harry piped in.

"Oh my god, you two! I'm so glad you're alive and well. I had no idea what happened after I escaped but I'm so..." I could tell he was getting choked up as he struggled to continue. "...so glad you're both okay and that you're finally out of that hellhole."

"Thank you so much, Clive," I said softly. "The same goes for you. We were afraid that you'd been killed."

"I'm so sorry," he said and his voice was trembling with sorrow. "I don't know how I looked the other way for so long but I just...I really don't know. There's a long story behind it and I'll tell you everything soon, but all I can say is that I'm sorry I didn't get you out sooner." He sobbed on the phone and Harry and I waited until he regained his composure. "So as soon as I was out of the hospital, I started doing some research on Theodore and his corporation and I found so many things that just didn't add up. For one, Harry's original nanny, Mary?"

"What?" I asked, afraid to hear the answer.

"She just...disappeared."

"Oh my god," I whispered. "He killed her, didn't he?"

"No one knows yet," Clive said. "That's what I suspect but she was listed as a missing person for years. They investigated Theodore but he came out clean. They just eventually stopped looking for her. Now the case is cold but I'm determined to find out what the hell happened to her."

"Oh my god," I repeated, in shock. I looked at Harry to see how he was handling it, knowing Mary was one of his favorites. It didn't look like the news registered on his face.

"I'm sorry," Clive said. "I know that's not the kind of news you wanted to hear, but I also have good news. Fantastic news, actually!"

"What is it?" Harry asked, now seeming to perk up.

"Well, I really need to come by and tell you in person. Can you give me the name and room number of the hotel you're staying in?" 

"Sure," I said, giving him the name, address and room number.

My parents walked in just as I said good-bye to Clive. He told us he'd come by in about an hour. "Who was that?" Dad asked.

"Clive Barrows," I answered. "He was Theodore's driver for years. He was the one who tried to rescue us."

"Are you sure he's safe?" Dad wondered, looking uneasy. He sat down across from us. "You don't think he's still 'working' for Theodore, do you?" He asked, making air quotes around the word.

"No," I said impatiently. I knew Clive. He was a good man.

Wasn't he?

"No," I repeated. "Why would he have tried to rescue us? And he let me get into Theodore's files to find out more about Harry. He wouldn't have done that if he was still on Theodore's side. Would he?"

"Theodore Blake is a very smart and very manipulative man," Dad said. Mom sat next to him, absorbing some of his worry. "What if Clive really has an ulterior motive?"

"No!" I said for a third time and stormed out of the room. I went to mine and Harry's room and fell onto the bed, my mind now swirling with what-if's. What if Clive really was working for Theodore and was still loyal to him? What if this was all a trick to get to us? I couldn't handle that reality if it were true. I had trusted Clive like my own family.

Mom came in a bit later and sat next to me. "Don't worry, honey. I think maybe Dad is just being overly cautious. When Clive gets here, we'll make sure it's safe." I had no idea how they planned to do that. But when a knock sounded on the door of the suite, I found out. Dad told us all to stay back and he looked through the peephole. Then he loudly said, "Please take off your jacket and show me that you don't have any weapons." He watched and seemed satisfied. "Okay, now empty your pockets." Again, he seemed placated. "Lift your pant legs," He instructed. Sheesh, was my dad a former CIA agent or something? I actually chuckled a little bit at his thorough investigation of the man at our door.

Finally he opened the door and Harry and I rushed into Clive's arms. Dad shut the door right behind him and locked it while the three of us wept at our happy reunion. Finally Clive said, "Harry, I have something to tell you and I think you should sit down."

"Okay," Harry said warily and took a seat. I sat right next to him.

"When I thought back to the accident that killed your parents, some things just didn't add up. If the crash killed your father, who was in the driver's seat, but you were untouched in the back seat, I wondered how your mother happened to die, too."

"What?" Harry gasped. "I was in that accident?"

Clive nodded sadly. "I was their driver but your father wanted to take a drive with the family that day. Your car seat was always behind the driver's seat. And your mother always sat in back with you, meaning she was on the passenger's side in the back seat. It didn't make sense to me that the two people sitting in opposite quadrants from each other could have died while you, a little baby survived. I mean, I suppose it's possible but it just didn't feel right."

"What are you saying?" Harry said, his voice cracking with anticipation.

"I did some searching and found out where your mother was from. And I went to her hometown in England," Clive said.

"And...?" Harry's eyes filled with tears.

"Harry, your mother is still alive."

* * * * *

How many of you figured that out before now? ;) Short and happy chappy! :)