Seth drove up to Mark's house right after the sun had risen. Everything seemed off to him. He had called Marigold countless times but her phone had remained shut off the entire night. Maybe she had second thoughts about uprooting her entire life like that for a man she hardly knew but he doubted it. And even if she did, he wanted answers before leaving.

Mark came out of his house with his police uniform on. He might be the sheriff of this town but he didn't scare Seth. Seth knew the truth. He could have Mark's badge any day if he chose to move forward with this story. Not that he would do that to Marigold. Seth left his car and strode up the driveway.

"Mark!" Seth barked.

Mark sighed as he turned to look at Seth who stood there with his arms crossed.

"What do you want, boy?" Mark asked.
"I want to talk to Marigold," Seth answered.
"She's not here," Mark said.
"Bullshit!" Seth said firmly.
"We had to commit her again last night," Mark said.

Seth's arms dropped. That was not the answer he had been expecting.

"She's not mentally well," Mark said. "She has paranoid schizophrenia. She makes up stories that she truly believes. Apparently she thinks she's a victim of a fire that took place here many years ago. I personally watched that little girl leave with her adoptive parents back then. But once Marigold gets off her medication, she can't control it. Her brain takes over and makes up stories. That's why I was so angry last night. I discovered earlier that she wasn't taking her meds. I'm sorry, Seth."

Seth wavered. He wasn't sure whether or not to believe Mark.

"Where is she committed?" Seth asked.
"Up at the asylum," Mark answered. "You can visit her in a month. They're not allowed any visitors the first month until they get her under control and back on her meds. Last time she was there four months before I got her home again. Take my advice, Seth. Don't have children. There's nothing but heartbreak in that."
"I..." Seth felt confused. "I gotta go. I'm driving back today. I have to get back to work Monday. Tell her... Shit, I don't know. Tell her I'm sorry."
"Will do," Mark said. "Safe travel home."

Seth walked back to his car. He looked back at Mark who nodded in another direction. Seth turned his head to see Kane had come out of his house next door and was nodding back.

"You're fucking bullshitting me!" Seth growled to himself. "I know it!"

He chose to play along. He drove down the street and turned the corner. He needed the two men to think he had left. He parked the car and waited. He kept staring at the clock in his car. He waited 30 long minutes before turning the car around and driving back. Mark's car was gone and so was Kane's in the other driveway.

He left his car and walked around the house to look for a way in. It probably wasn't the smartest choice to break into a sheriff's house. If he found nothing in there, he would drive out of state as fast as he could. He picked up a stone and threw it through the sliding glass door. The hole was big enough for him to get his hand through, unlock the door and slide it to the side. He stepped inside and listened. Nothing but silence.

"Goldie?" He yelled. "Are you here?"

He moved quickly from room to room downstairs. He looked in every hiding spot he could think of. He ran up the stairs to continue his search.

"Goldie?" He yelled again. "Please, answer!"

He walked into what looked like her room. He threw himself down on the floor to look under the bed.

"Seth!" She yelled.

Her voice seemed to come from another room. He stepped out in the hallway again.

"Goldie? Where are you?" He yelled.
"Seth!" She yelled. "I'm over here!"

He heard what sounded like someone stomping their foot in the attic. He ran to the noise and stared up at the door. Those two bastards had locked her up there. He pushed the bolt lock aside and pulled down the stairs. She almost came tumbling down with the speed she set. He caught her in his arms so she didn't fall and hurt herself.

"You came for me," she said.
"Of course," he said.
"They won't let me leave," she said.
"They went to work. I think it's safe to say that we're far away once they come back and see you're gone," he said.

He pushed the stairs back up and the bolt lock back in place.

"Might as well mess a bit with them and have them search the attic for you," he said.

He took her hand and laced their fingers together.

"Ready to do this?" He asked.
"I got my wallet. They don't know I have it on me. They took my phone but I still got my credit card," she said.
"We'll buy a new phone once we reach Iowa," he said.
"And clothes. I don't wanna spend time packing. Sometimes they drive by while working or come home for lunch. Let's just get the fuck out of here while we still can," she said.
"Sounds good to me," he said.

He leaned down with a smile and kissed her. He wanted her final memory of this house to be a happy one. A kiss was all he could think of. He moved towards the stairs and pulled her with him. They made it to the broken glass door and she couldn't help but giggle.

"You broke in just to get me?" She asked.
"You're worth it, goldie. Didn't I say that when we first met? That you're made of gold and worth more than any other woman out there?" He chuckled.
"This is crazy," she said.
"I know," he said.

They hurried around the garden and into his car. He started the car and drove away. He looked over to see her chew nervously on a finger nail. He gently grabbed her wrist and pulled the finger away from her teeth before she would damage herself.

"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I'm scared," she answered.
"I know," he said. "But I promise you once we get over state line, Mark can't do shit. And he's a smart man. He won't come for you. He knows you're sitting on the biggest secret of his life and that you can blow his entire life to pieces. He won't do that. He's gonna admit defeat and let you go. But maybe change your surname to be on the safe side in case you decide to go on social medias."

She smiled at him, took his hand and brought it to her lips to kiss it.

"I'm gonna be alright with you in my life, aren't I?" She asked.
"Damn straight, you will," he grinned.
"Well, out with Calaway. I don't wanna go back to being a Simpson again. And it's way too soon to even be thinking about the Rollins name," she said.
"One day if you behave," he joked.
"Oh, shut up!" She laughed. "I'll figure it out. We got a long drive. We can test names as we go."

He caressed the top of her hand.

"Let me see what I got," he said. "Marigold Stevenson? Anderson? Jenkins? Harrison? This could be a fun road game actually."
"It could," she relaxed in her seat. "I'm gonna be alright. We're gonna be alright."

She nodded to herself and smiled blissfully. He knew everything he felt in his heart, she felt the same too.

"We're gonna be alright," he agreed.