“It would be in everyone’s best interest to be quiet,” he said. He was calm, calmer than I’ve ever seen him before.

“Mason, this is nuts,” I whispered. “What do you think this is helping?”

“Kendall, stop talking and sit down,” he ordered, ignoring me now.

Mason motioned the female bank teller over.

“Miss, do me a favor,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” she said near tears. Her face was pale.

“Are you a good liar?”

She hesitated, shoving hair out of her eyes and shook her head yes.

“Good. I want you to pick up the phone and call the police department. Tell them you’re being held up by some crazed lunatic. Tell them there are about fifteen hostages. Make it good because Gusby doesn’t always do their job,” Mason told her. He sat down on the floor beside me.

I shook my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you! Why would you do this, Mason?” I started to cry.

Mason threw his arm around me. “Kendall, calm down. I’m doing this for you,” he said, kissing my cheek. He wiped my tears, not concerned at all that everyone was looking at us.

“How could any of this be for me?” I sobbed. I was sure he’d lost his mind.

I waited for him to say something, but before he could, the blaring sirens filled the air and police cars pulled up one after another outside the bank. Doors flew open and guns were drawn.

I felt my freedom slipping away from me. Mason stood up, then took my hand and helped me up.

“Kendall, I love you,” he whispered in my ear. He got behind me and wrapped an arm around my neck, using my body like a shield. His body pressed tightly against mine.

“Mason, please don’t do this,” I begged. “I don’t want to be killed.” Panic was taking over and I pulled at his arm, desperately trying to get free.

I didn’t want to be shot. I didn’t want to die this way.

I wanted to go back to my Mom’s. I was hoping we had a way out of troubles. I was confident that things were looking up for once. I didn’t understand why Mason didn’t feel the same way. I didn’t understand why we were now involved in a standoff with the Gusby police force.

We’d been home for days and no one had spoken a word of our predicament. No one knew.

“Sir, they want to talk to you,” the bank teller said, extending the phone to Mason.

He moved us backwards and took the phone. “Yes. My name is Mason Vaughn…you’re correct,” he said.

The room was eerily silent as Mason spoke to the officer on the other end as he sealed his fate. “I am willing to let some of them go…yes, sir.”

He pointed at the woman and the baby. She quickly scrambled to her feet. She ran to the door and fought with the lock trying to open the door. Once she got it open, she quickly raced out of the bank. She was sobbing as soon as her feet hit the sidewalk.

“All right now. I’m hanging up. Anything else you want to say, you’re going to have to holler,” Mason said. He tossed the phone over the counter and focused on the windows.

“All the women…you’re free to go,” he announced.

That brought the hostage count down to five men. I couldn’t believe this was happening. There was nothing I could do or say to stop him. I still wasn’t afraid that he’d hurt me. I was more afraid that he’d hurt himself.

One of the cops appeared at the door. He showed his hands so Mason knew he meant no harm.

“Now, Mason, what is it you want? If you can help us help these people we might be able to help you out.” He kept his eyes trained on Mason.

I looked past him to the guns, all of them fixed on us. I knew if I made one wrong move, I could be shot.

“My name is Mason Vaughn. I’m not sure if you’re aware of who I am, but I’m sure if you look it up you’ll see I am wanted in just about every state,” Mason confessed.

I closed my eyes, devastated at his confession.

“Sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I do remember you. I remember when you were little. I know your grandparents. We were just talking about you last week at church,” the officer insisted.

Mason’s breathing sped up, he squeezed me tighter. This upset him. I didn’t have to look at him to know this.

“Just look it up!” he yelled at the officer. He wasn’t in the mood for heartwarming stories about his family.

“My name is Mark,” the officer said. He used his walkie-talkie to share the information Mason had given him. He wanted someone else to look up the information so he could keep his eye on Mason.

“Well, Mark, I want you to know this is Kendall,” he explained, gripping my shoulder as he introduced me to the law.

I cringed, digging my nails into his arm.

Mark nodded, his eyes taking only a second to glimpse into mine before returning his focus on Mason.

“I remember both of you,” Mark said.

“None of that matters,” Mason said. “Kendall is a hostage, right?”

Mark knew he just needed to listen to what Mason had to say.

“She doesn’t want to be here. She has nothing to do with any of this. She’s been with me for quite some time now—always against her will,” Mason revealed. It was rehearsed, probably something he’d planned for days.

“Okay. That makes perfect sense to me, Mason. What can I do to help?” Mark asked him.

Mason pressed his face against my cheek and pulled me even tighter to him. He was trying to hug me. His heart was pounding like a drum against my back.

“There is nothing you can do for me. I just want you to help her,” Mason told Mark.

“To do that, Mason, you would have to let Kendall go. Does that sound like something you’re willing to do?” Mark caught my attention for a brief second. I wasn’t sure if he was confused by my calm behavior.

Mason’s body began to shake. He was crying, I was sure of it. And I wanted to hug him so badly. I wanted to turn around and tell him we were going to be okay. That we could get through this. We always got through everything.

“I’m willing to do that. I’ve never been more willing to do anything in my entire life,” he said. He squeezed me tightly.

I squeezed his arm, entrusting the feel of his skin against mine to my memory.

I just wanted to remember what he felt like if it was years before we saw each other again. I didn’t know what was to come.

“Mason, I love you,” I said over and over again. He slowly let me go, the warmth and feel of him disappeared and now I stood there alone. I turned around and looked into his eyes. His eyes glistened with tears that streamed down his handsome face.

He smiled at me, taking in short, shaky breaths, trying to keep himself in check as he fell apart right in front of me.

I grabbed ahold of his face and kissed him. I didn’t care what anyone thought.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this. And I hate you for it.” I wiped at his tears, pressing my forehead against his.

He cupped the back of my head, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I’m not leaving you. I will be right outside. Okay?” I clutched the back of his neck, keeping him close. I didn’t want to let him go. I was afraid to let him go.

“I know why I am doing this.” He kissed my forehead, stroking my hair. I started to cry. “Because you deserve it, because I love you. Because I’d never know what to do without you, and I’d rather never find out.” He kissed me again.

I touched his hair, pushing it away from his eyes. He was frightened, deep down I could see the fear. No matter how brave he wanted to look, I knew he was afraid.

“Kendall, please go back to Joy-Ann. Don’t hang around,” he told me.

I shook my head no.

“Remember what I said, Mason?” I knew he did. We talked about it every time we saw each other, every new beginning, every new adventure throughout the years. “We can get through anything. And I’ll never let you down. I’m not going to break that promise. It’s me and you…like always.”

Mason shook his head, pulling away from me. He pushed me toward the door, no longer caught up in the emotions.