Foster 1

JJ Foster

300209171

Title TBD

TW: Mentions of sexual assault, abuse, potential underaged girl marrying and grown

adult, and death.

“But I’m in the trees, I’m in the breeze, my footsteps in the ground. You’ll see my face in

every place, but you can’t catch me now. Through wading grass, the months will pass. You feel it

all around. I’m here, I’m there, I’m every where, but you can’t catch me now. No, you can’t

catch me now,” “Can’t Catch Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo flooded the bakery as Olivia prepared

for the day. Everyday she gets to the bakery around 5 am, so she can prepare all of the baked

goods that were going to be sold that day. Olivia went over to the pantry and got all her dry

ingredients. She measured her dry ingredients and went over to the fridge and got out the wet

ingredients. Once she had all her ingredients measured, she mixed all the cookie dough and

cupcake batter that she needed. Once she was finished, she put all the cookie dough in the fridge

to chill, and the cupcake batter was poured into pans and baked. The only thing that she didn’t

need to do was make the buttercream for the cupcakes. She also made sure to bake the bread that

she prepared the night before. While Olivia waited for the cupcakes to finish, she did office

work. By the time she got the office work done, Olivia had two hours until her employees got

there.

Olivia ran the bakery with her two best friends, Theodore, and Donatella. Olivia was the

boss; she owned the bakery and worked the most hours. She does all the baking and stays behind
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the scenes during the day. She hired Theodore just after she opened the bakery. She needed

someone who was good with people, and that could handle the busy rush. Theodore worked

behind the counter. Now if Theodore needed help or went on break, Olivia would look after the

front counter. Donatella was hired three months after Olivia hired Theodore. As the bakery

began to gain popularity, Olivia needed another person to keep up with the demand. Donatella

was a good worker. She got along with just about everyone and was patient with the customers.

Donatella mostly made drinks while Theodore worked the till. Both of them worked wonderfully

together. Olivia never regretted hiring either of them.

Once Olivia was done with her prep, she started inventory. She went into the pantry and

cleaned out the containers to make room for the truck. She brought the older ingredients to the

front and so she can put the newer ingredients behind them. Once that was done, she went to the

fridge and did the same thing. Then Olivia went over to the other fridge where the produce and

cold meat was kept. She did the same thing that she did to the other fridge. She was clearing

boxes and bring the dolly over to the door when she heard a voice.

“Hey Liv!” exclaimed the voice, “Sorry I am late, there was traffic on the highway. A

road closure.” Olivia turned around and saw Theodore.

“Hey Theo, no worries. It’s fine,” said Olivia, “you are just in time to help me bring in all

the boxes.”

“Not that I don’t want to help you, but isn’t Tella here already? Wouldn’t the two of you

be finished by now?” asked Theodore.

“Normally yes, but the truck was late this morning, so Tella decided to make sure the

front was stocked and cleaned,” said Olivia.

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“Oh, ok,” Theodore said while nodding, “how heavy are those boxes? I don’t think I will

be able to lift those.”

“Well, it is a good thing you don’t have to lift them,” said Olivia, “there is a dolly against

the wall we will use.”

“Oh, that's great then,” said Theodore enthusiastically. They both worked on bringing the

boxes of ingredients, cups, lids, and everything else that the bakery needed to run. It took them

half an hour to finish. After that, Theodore went to help Donatella in the front.

Suddenly, Oliva heard a knock on the back door. She went over to the door and saw a

girl, opened the door, and asked, “Hello, is there anything I can help you with?”

“You don’t remember me? Noa, you don't remember me?” asked the girl, “please I need

your help, I left, and I have nowhere else to go.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” said Olivia, “my name is Olivia not Noa; you

need to leave.”

“Please, Noa, it is me, Emmy. Please, I need help,” pleaded Emmy.

“I am sorry, but there is nothing else I can do for you,” Olivia said as she closed the door.

She felt bad for the girl, and she did remember Emmy. But she couldn't have helped her. If she

helped Emmy there was the risk of Them finding her. She couldn't have that. A few tears fell as

Olivia heard Emmy’s pleas. Olivia couldn’t help but wonder if it was a trap. She wondered if

They sent Emmy, to try and get her back. Olivia knew ignoring the girl was not a good idea, but

the bakery opened in twenty minutes. If Emmy really needs help she will come back.

Half an hour after the encounter with Emmy, Olivia opened the bakery. Normally when

she opens the bakery there is one or two people waiting outside, but once Olivia opened the door
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ten people walked in. Olivia went back behind the counter to start brewing coffee and tea, while

Donatella and Theodore helped customers.

“Good morning, Olivia!” exclaimed Joanne while she waited for the coffee to brew.

“How are you?”

“I am doing good! How about you?” asked Olivia.

“Good thank you. Wow it is busy,” said Joanne.

“I know, it is never this busy this early in the morning,” said Olivia as she handed Joanne

her coffee, “is there anything going on in town today?”

“Not that I am aware of, said Joanne, “Thank you have a good day!”

“You too!” said Olivia. Ugh small talk. I hate small talk. This is why I stay in the back.

Olivia thought. Olivia has hated small talk ever since she was little. Growing up with Them, all

she did was have small talk with people. She doesn’t like it, especially when she was with Them.

“Liv are you ok?” asked a voice. Olivia turned around to see Donatella with a worried

look.

“Yeah, I am fine Tella, I just hate small talk.”

“Then why did you open a bakery?

“I like to bake, and I have always wanted to run a business. That is why I stay in the back

and do all the baking, so I can avoid small talk. A little bit of small talk won’t kill me.

“What ever you say Liv, what ever you say. Donatella shakes her head and walks away.

Olivia knew that Donatella wouldn’t get it. She wouldn’t get the effect that small talk had on

Olivia. Being forced to have small talk with a person who has been known to assault people

leaves a lasting impression.

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Olivia went to the back to start frosting the cupcakes. Emmy coming messed up her

timing. Normally everything would have been done by now and she would be cleaning up the

back. Now all everything on her to-do list was pushed back. She got to work to finish frosting

her cupcakes. She has six different types of cupcakes. The flavors are chocolate, vanilla,

chocolate and vanilla swirl, red velvet, mocha, and earl grey. The frosting base is the same, so all

Olivia has to do is fold in the flavoring and coloring. Once that was done she frosted the

cupcakes and put them in the showcase. She just entered the kitchen when she heard a knock on

the door.

“Hello,” she said as she opened the door, “how can I help- Emmy. I told you I can’t help

you.”

“I know but please listen Noa. Please. You don’t have to help me. Just listen. Please,”

pleaded Emmy.

“First of all, my name is Olivia not Noa. You would have to come inside. We can’t stay

out here.”

“Ok, that’s fine.” Olivia led Emmy to the office and went to tell Theodore she is busy in

the office. Once she is back in the office, she locks the door.

“What do you need to talk to me about?” asked Olivia.

“It all started when I turned seventeen. My dad decided that it was time for me to get

married. I didn’t want to. He wanted me to marry Mike, my dads forty-eight-year-old right hand

man.”

“Wait Mike?”

“You remember him?” she asked.

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“I do, my dad tried to get me to marry him when I was seventeen as well. My mom had

more of a backbone, so I never did.” I said, “anyway you were saying.”

“Right so, my mother does not have a backbone. I was on my way to marry him. When

my dad approached me with Mike, telling me I was to marry him, I flat out refused. He didn’t

like that answer, so he hit me. Right across the face.

That’s when I knew I had to leave. Not because I had to marry Mike, but because my dad

hit me. They taught us that using force was not necessary. Violence was ever a way to solve

something. But then my dad hits me, and expects me to comply. I was shocked.

I just kind of stood there. I didn’t know what to do. This is the only life I’ve ever known.

I was scared, but I planned my escape. I thought that my wedding day would be the perfect way

to escape and the perfect fuck you to my father. When everyone was at the main chapel waiting

for me to walk down the isle, I made a run for it. My dad didn’t walk me down the isle, so it was

easy. I was the only one waiting in the lobby of the chapel. I had only the clothes that I was

wearing under my wedding dress and a few essentials.” Emmy said after letting out a long

breath.

“Wow. Um. That’s a lot. Are you ok? How did you find me?” asked Olivia. She had a lot

of questions.

“I am fine, I guess. Honestly finding you was pure luck. When I left the chapel. I ran out

the gates and found a bus stop. I had some money that I stole from my mother. I took the bus all

the way from Montana to Boston. I honestly didn’t know you owned the bakery. I just thought

that I would find someone who would help me. When I saw you, I knew you wouldn’t help me

right away. You probably were and still are paranoid. Which I understand.”
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“You are right I am paranoid. I am scared that He is plotting to get me back and sent you.

But if I am wrong, I am scared you will be on your own. Can I have some time to think about

it?” asked Olivia.

“Of course. Take your time, will you have an answer by the time the bakery closes?”

Emmy asked.

“Yes. I will”

“Ok,” Emmy asked as she stood up, “Can I sit in one of the booths in the front until

then?”

“Of course you can. Can you go out the back and then go through the front though? I

don’t want my coworker’s asking questions,” Olivia asked.

“Sure,” said Emmy.

After Emmy left the office, Olivia cried. She wanted to help Emmy. She really did, but

Emmy was right. She was paranoid. She was paranoid that her father was going to find her and

give her hell for leaving. Legally there was nothing that Olivia could do. Emmy was still a

minor. She could let Emmy stay with her, but if Emmy’s father came knocking on the door, she

would have to hand Emmy right over. She had to do something. Emmy couldn’t afford to wait

until she was eighteen. If Emmy went back, she would be facing a lot worse than a slap across

the face.

Olivia knew sitting in her office crying wasn’t going to fix anything. Crying wasn’t going

to solve her or Emmy’s problems, but she needs to get it out. She has a business to run. She can’t

start crying in the middle of helping a customer. Olivia needed to figure out what to do. She had

to something. So, Olivia wiped her tears and got on her computer. She played music. Most
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people don’t play music when they are trying to help someone escape a bad situation, but music

calms her.

“Give me the keys, I’ll bring the car back around. We shouldn’t be in this town. And my

so-called friends, they don’t know. I’d drive away before I let you go, so give me a reason and

don’t say no, no. There’s a chain ‘round your throat, piece of paper where I wrote “I’ll wait for

you”.” Run (Taylor’s Version) By Taylor Swift began to play. Olivia started researching ways to

help Olivia. She started by researching the laws about minors. Which led her down a rabbit hole.

Which confused her even more. She needed help. She was thinking about who could help her

when there was a knock on the office door. She opened the door and there stood Theodore.

“Hey boss, I am going to go on break,” he said, “what are you working on?”

“Yeah that’s fine. You can make yourself lunch if you want,” Olivia said distractedly,

“Oh um, nothing really.”

“Then why are child custody laws on your screen?” he asked.

“Curiosity?” said Olivia. Theodore was not convinced. He looked at her and raised an

eyebrow.

“Curiosity? Really Liv. You don’t have children.” He rolled his eyes.

“Alright fine. Close the door and sit down. This is going to take a while.”

“Can I at least make myself a sandwich?” Olivia nodded and Theodore went to make his

sandwich. Olivia could trust Theodore. She knew he could help her and Emmy.

When Theodore got back, he handed her a sandwich and closed the door. “Alright what

crazy shit are you up to Liv?”

“I need to help a friend escape a cult.” Olivia looked at Theodore waiting for his reaction.

“A cult.”
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“Yes, a cult.”

“Why would this friend come to you about escaping a cult?” Theodore looked confused.

He had every right to be. Olivia had never been open about her childhood.

Olivia took a deep breath. “Because I escaped the same cult.”

“WHAT”?!

“Theo not so loud.”

“Right sorry, I think you should start from the beginning.” Theodore looked at Olivia to

make sure he didn’t cross any lines. When Olivia began to talk, he knew he was safe.

“I was born into a cult. This cult is in the deep woods of Montana. I left five years ago

when I was eighteen. My father wanted to marry me off to this forty-eight-year-old man when I

was seventeen. I didn’t want to, and my mom didn’t want me to marry him. She told my father

that and he killed her.

I never ended up marrying the guy so that’s good. But anyway, my mother was gone. She

was taken away from me. She was one of the only people keeping me there. But she was gone. I

needed to leave. I needed to wait until I turned eighteen. As long as I was seventeen, I couldn’t

leave. If I left and they found me, I would have no choice but to go back. Once I was eighteen,

they couldn’t do anything thing.

The day I turned eighteen I left. I packed the essentials and I go out of there as fast as I

could. Once I got a safe distance away, I changed my name. I changed anything that my father

could identify me with. I died and cut my hair.” Olivia looked at Theodore. She was worried he

thought she was crazy. She was worried he was going to laugh at her. But he didn’t. His eyes

softened as he looked at her.

“Holy fuck Liv. That is fucked up.”

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“Believe me I know, that is why I left.”

“Is your friend, the girl sitting alone at one of the booths? She looks about seventeen,

brown hair. Hazel eyes?”

“Yeah, that’s Emmy. She came over by the earlier this morning begging for my help, but

I refused. I was so scared Theo. I didn’t know if my father sent her to find me. I told her I

couldn’t help her. I turned her away. Then she came back. It was after the store opened, maybe

around 11?”

“That is when you took the conference call?” Olivia nodded at Theodore.

“She didn’t ask for my help this time. All she wanted was for me to listen. So, I did. She

told me why she left and how she left. I told her by closing I would have an answer about

whether I can help her or not.” Olivia starts to cry again.

“Hey, its ok Liv. I will help you figure it out. That is why you told me isn’t it? You

trusted me enough to tell me this. I am not going to let you or Emmy down. We will figure it out.

Even if it takes us all day. It isn’t busy anymore. Tella can handle it out there.” Theodore tries to

comfort Olivia and I works. She looks up at him.

“Ok, thank you Theo, this means a lot to me.”

“No problem, Livvy. what are friends for.” Theodore smiled at Olivia.

The two of them got to work. They spent an hour working on this when the store got busy

again. Theodore went back to help Donatella and Olivia was left alone again. This gave her a lot

of time to think. I want to help Emmy. I really do, but there are so many things to consider. She

is still a minor and based off her story, she just turned seventeen. She can’t afford to wait until

Emmy is eighteen. Most of the things I did to change my identity so they wouldn’t find me, Emmy

can do. The one thing that she would need to do, is change her name. She can’t change her name
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without a parent’s permission until she is eighteen. Faking her death is not an option. There are

so many things that I need to think of and figure out. I should tell Emmy that I want to help her,

but she also needs to understand that it isn’t going to be easy. Olivia sat in her office as she

though about all of this.

Olivia didn’t want to waste anytime, so she stood up and went to the booth where

Theodore said Emmy was sitting. When she got to the booth she saw a sandwich and a water.

Olivia smiled. She knew that Theodore had done this. Olivia went to sit down and Emmy’s head

shot up.

“Noa, I mean Olivia. What are you doing here? It isn’t closing. You still have a few

hours.” Emmy looked confused.

“I don’t need a few more hours to decide if I am going to help you, Emmy. I want to help

you. I really do.” Olivia looked at Emmy and saw her eyes light up.

“You mean I don’t have to go back?” Emmy looked at her with hope in her eyes.

“That is wat I am going to try for. I am going to be honest with you Emmy. It is going to

be a lot of work to figure out the how you can stay with me.” Emmy looked confused again.

“What do you mean?”

“As long as your dad doesn’t come looking for you Emmy, everything will be fine. But if

he comes knocking, you are going to have to go with him. You are still minor Emmy. I can and

will fight for you, but it is going to take some time. Are you going to be ok with that?” Olivia

waited for Emmy to answer.

“Yes, I am going to be ok with that.” Olivia smiled at the girl.

“I have to get back to work now. I need to start prepping things for tomorrow. You are

more than welcome to stay here, or you can sit in the office.”
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“Thank you, Olivia. Truly. Thank you. I never want to go back there.”

Emmy decided to go back to the office. While Emmy was sitting in the office, Olivia was

prepping for the next day. Like, the morning Olivia played music. After all she went through

today, she needed to calm down. She needed to relax. Music helped her relax. She found a

random playlist and hit shuffle. “Jackie and Wilson” by Hozier began to play as Olivia put on her

apron. She began working.

The prepping didn’t take as long as she thought. Normally at this time of the day it takes

two to three hours. This time it took her only an hour and a half. By the time she was done

prepping and cleaning the back, it was time to start closing. She went out front with Theodore

and Donatella and they worked on cleaning the front. Theodore flipped the “open” sign to

“closed”. With them all pitching in, cleaning didn’t take that long. Once the cleaning was done,

Olivia said goodbye to Theodore and Donatella and went to the back to get Emmy.

Once the back was all locked up and the alarm was set, they went to Olivia’s car. Emmy

got in the car while Olivia locked up the front door. Then they went home. On their way home

Olivia reflected on the past thirteen hours.

Olivia made the right decision. After it was all said and done, she knew that helping

Emmy was the right thing. When Olivia first told Emmy no, it broke her heart. She felt terrible.

Emmy was her sister after all. Once she finally came to her senses, she realized Emmy actually

needed help and this wasn’t a plot from her father to get her back. Olivia knows that it is going to

be a long journey to get Emmy into her custody. Olivia will do whatever it takes for Emmy to be

safe. She wants Emmy to grow up and live a happy life.

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