Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Obsessed

That night I couldn't sleep at all. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her holding a baby in her arms. Holding Ben, imaging how much she loved her nephew. I spent hours on line researching her, I found out Charlotte had left Newton 8 years ago, when she was getting married and her fiance was killed, his murder was never solved. She had left escaping back to Baltimore Maryland where she had grown up. She was Dan Rifkin's sister in law. I kept waking in sweats shaking, I couldn't escape my thoughts in my dreams. 

I went, to the shower and get cleaned up, when Laurie, was standing at the door to our bedroom. 

"Andy, where were you? Did you sleep at all. I woke up and you weren't in bed." Laurie asked.

I told her "I got up early and went to the community centre to go for a swim." I lied to her. She believed it as I would do that a few times a week.

"You didn't shower at the gym than?" she asked looking at me funny.

"No, I wanted to get home, clean up and drive you to your appointment,  go see Jacob." I responded to her.

"Oh ok  Andy, well get cleaned up so we can head to see Jacob. Find out if the doctors will tell us when he can come home." she said.

I went in the bathroom, my brain was over thinking, I was coming up with a plan. I would make another appointment for myself this week. I was going to get there early before my appointment, to talk to Charlotte, bring up Ben a tiny bit. I wanted to figure out who she thought killed Ben. That's all my mine was thinking, was to protect Jacob and Laurie. I push down my indecent thoughts.

I was longer in the shower, than usual, my mine racing with all kinds of thoughts. I felt the walls closing in fast. My heart was racing, I was trying to take deep breathes and calm myself. I got out of the shower. Laurie was in the bedroom, my mind was elsewhere when she came up to me and kissed passionately, I took her to the bed and for the first time in months my wife and I where all over each other fucking. 

When it was all over I felt different than I had before, I felt like I had to have sex with Laurie to seem normal. Something inside of me wanted different. I did want my life back. I was angry, I wanted to know who killed Ben, who started this ripple effect that was destroying my wife, my son, my marriage and now me.

We left the house, got into the Audi and drove the car. I drove our car living in my own personal hell again. I wanted to escape the car screaming, I wanted ask Laurie something, on my mind. I doubted she remember so I pushed back down my thoughts. 

"Andy, what's on your mind?" Laurie asked.

"Huh? nothing, just hoping Jacob's doctors have more information about his health." I said coming out of my thoughts.

Just as Laurie was about to open her mouth, I heard the voice. "Good morning Mr. Barber, nice to see you again." there was Charlotte stand next to our table smiling.

"Hello, do we know you?" Laurie asked.

"Oh Mrs. Barber, nice to finally meet you. My names Charlotte, I work for Dr. Brown your therapist. I look forward to seeing you next week at your appointment." replied Charlotte.

Charlotte looked smiled at me and turned away, went to sit down at the front counter in the diner and eat. I notice every so often she was looking over at me, while eating her breakfast. I was hardly eating my eggs and pancakes. 

Laurie kept looking at me puzzled at me, like she was thinking something. I was already thinking of what to say to get out of it. Here came what she was thinking.

"When did you go see Dr. Brown, why did you go see my therapist without me." she asked me.

I froze what was I going to say. I didn't want her to know I wanted her memories gone, but something inside me was screaming to know why, why did she throw out Jacob's baby book, why didn't she answer my phone calls in the car.

"I just wanted to see how Dr. Brown could help you, I want you to be ok. I love you my job is to protect you." I responded.

"Oh ok Andy, I love you too. Thank you for being there for me and Jacob always." She said. 

"I think it would help you to go see Dr. Brown as well sometimes, you doing everything for us, but you had a lot of stress to honey." Laurie said with concern.

I agreed, we got up from breakfast, I paid left a generous tip. Just as we where leaving, Charlotte got up and said "it was nice meeting you Mrs. Barber. Dr. Brown is the best at what she does." as she walked out the door to her car.

I helped Laurie into the car being the good husband, I turned to walk to the drivers side door, as Charlotte's car drove past she smiled as me and left. My phone went of with a text. I looked at the Iphone, seeing the text, "We need to meet and talk, I know you and I thinking the same thing, who killed Ben. Thanks for looking at my facebook page." the text was from a number a didn't know. The end of the text said nice seeing you again Charlotte, with a wink and heart at the end.

My heart raced, I got in the car, started to drive to the hospital. Laurie looked at me "Everything ok with you today honey?" she said.

"I'M FINE STOP ASKING ME THAT!" I yelled at Laurie. Instantly I felt horrible. "Honey I'm sorry just stressed out lately I'm sorry." I said to her.

Laurie looked at me in shock, "It's ok, just promise me, you talk to me more, I know you hiding something for me. I can feel it." She told me. 

"I told you at Joanna's office with Jacob before the trial, I don't want anymore secrets between any of us."she said.

I just starred in shock, Laurie remembered more than she was telling me lately. We got to the hospital, but I didn't say anything after Laurie questioned me. My mine was elsewhere I needed to meet with Charlotte. When we got to Jacob's room he standing and walking around more. Laurie went and hugged Jacob he smiling, telling us the doctors said he can go home in a week or so. As they talked I got on my phone and texted Charlotte "Name the place and when to meet, I need to talk, I'm obsessed with finding Ben's killer. Thank you for helping me"

She responded right away, "Tomorrow night at 7pm, Union Street restaurant and Bar." wink face 

I needed to go see her, to find out answers to so many questions, worse I wanted to see her too. I said to help my wife, Jacob and get my normal life back once and for all. I knew if we could work together, my family would be happy and normal again. That's what I needed nothing more. I told my mind.