Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Ultimatum

Laurie was still at the hospital with Jacob, when Tobi walked into his room. Tobi had known Jacob his entire life, she and Laurie meet the day the Barber's moved to Newton. Laurie and her became fast friends, Jacob was only a toddler at the time. Tobi looked at Laurie not sure what to say, she was in shock seeing what her best friends life had become in the past year. She just hope when they moved things would get better for her friend. 

"Hi Tobi, sorry Andy has things to get done for the move in a few days. Thanks for meeting me here." Laurie said

"Laurie, it's no problem, Jake glad to see your doing a lot better. How do you feel?" Tobi asked.

"Yes, I'm better now Tobi, thank you. I just can't wait to get out of here tomorrow. I want to go home." Jacob said.

"Jacob you'll be home soon in no time. I'm going with Tobi for dinner now. Dad and I will be back here first thing in the morning, Love you son." Laurie said as she kissed his head. Jacob flinched still when she did that they all couldn't 100 percent put the pieces together of why.

Tobi and Laurie headed to the parking lots just normal chatter, although in the past year the friendship was extremely strained. This was like they where starting over at the beginning again. Laurie didn't mind, she had Tobi back, but she knew at dinner she would have questions, about, Jacob, Ben's murder, the trial, Mexico and the accident.

They joked a little on the drive, talking about old times when the kids where growing up. The bbq he neighbour hood used to have over the years. How Andy would chat but really, even Tobi said it Andy was always hard to read and gage. Laurie said Andy had a past she never knew about, that he lied to her their entire relationship.

"It still bothers me Tobi, it's like he couldn't trust me or my love for him in 17 years together. He didn't respect me to tell me the truth, I feel like he's lying to me about something more now." Laurie told her.

"Laurie, are you ok? I know it's hard but you need to let go of the past with Andy's father, don't let is destroy you both. Laurie can I ask what happened to cause the accident? You are a great driver it doesn't sound like you." Tobi asked her.

"Honestly, I only remember bits and pieces after the trial, I rather not talk about it all. I just the accident, Andy accused me of trying to hurt my son, I wouldn't ever do that Jacob or Andy." Laurie said.

"Why the hell would Andy say that to you, my god I better not here that again, or he can talk to me. You and I both know how Andy will be scared of that one." she said they both laughed. Andy did like Tobi but he knew she wasn't one to argue with.

"So where is Andy right now anyways?" asked Laurie.

"Like I said he has got things he needed to pack for the move, and papers to sign and get done he said. He got the key to the new place and said he was crashing up there tonight. He has been drinking a lot more, I know he stressed out with the move taking care of me and Jacob. He just been distracted and distant lately." Laurie said.

"I told him if he drinks he can sleep on the couch, I just don't know what to do Jacob, will wonder why tomorrow when he gets home. I don't want Jacob effected by Andy and I fighting a lot. He's been through enough already." Laurie told her.

"Laurie, so Andy's going through stressful times you all are this is where you guys need to let go of things, talk to each other. Promise to leave the past there your moving to Burlington, I get it's not far from all of this but it is a fresh start. I got an idea, I'll drop you at the new house you and Andy should have a first night in there together it might help." Tobi said.

"Tobi I don't know we hardly talk even, I just want him to back off drinking a little bit." she said.

"Ok than go to him, spend the night together breaking in the new house, I know you always said your sex life was ok, not all the time, but time to change somethings up." Tobi smirked at her.

"Ok Tobi while the hell not, it might help and Andy was not bad at that ever." Laurie said.

"Ok let's finish up here and get you home, you should pick out something sexy to take with you to Burlington, I'll drop you at the new house." Tobi said laughing.

"Oh Tobi, thanks but you such a shit head sometimes." she said as they were both laughing.

They left the restaurant and drove to the Barber's soon too be old home in Newton. They walked inside the house, boxes where all done being packed other than some clothes in the bedrooms. Laurie found her green nightie. Did her make-up and left with Tobi who was driving her to the new town and home. 

As the car drove to Burlington, Laurie felt a a weight be lifted from her shoulders. She was smiling and hopeful for her marriage and family. She couldn't wait for the move, she hoped Andy wasn't drinking too much, she figured the move would help with his problem. She thought tonight would be amazing and change everything for the better. She was shocked when they arrived at the new house and Andy's car was gone. She told Tobi to drop her anyways she figured Andy went for food or something and would be back soon. She walked into the house she had brought wine, pillows and blankets, some candles. She got all nicely dressed and waited for Andy. 

She woke to the noise of the front door opening, Andy walked in to the living room see Laurie lying down on the blankets waiting for him. Laurie looked at her phone and the time 7am. She just looked shocked wondering where he was all night.

"Andy I thought you where spending the night here where have you been?" She questioned him.

"Oh Laurie, sorry I went for a drive, ended up sleeping in the car, when did you get here?" Andy asked.

"Andy, where have you been all night, don't lie to me. Did you get drunk again?" She snapped at him.

"Ok sorry Laurie, ya I got drunk and fell asleep in the car, I thought it was better than driving back here." Andy lied to her again.

"ANDY THIS HOUSE THIS CITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW START FOR ALL OF US. GET HELP NOW OR I'M FUCKING DONE WITH YOU!" Laurie screamed at Andy.

She got up slammed the front door and going outside and called a cab, she went back home to get ready for the hospital to see Jacob. 5 minutes after Andy walked in the front door of the house. He put his phone down went upstairs to shower. Laurie didn't trust Andy she knew he was lying to her. That he was covering up his lies with more lies. She found I phone number on his phone she didn't know. She pressed the number and listen to it ring. 

"Hello, Andy we can talk later tonight I need to get to work." A woman's voice said. Than hung up the phone. 

Laurie was furious, who is this woman talking to my husband, she felt broken and enraged. She was going to find out was Andy was up too, and why. When Andy came downstairs she looked at him. She asked him if he was having and affair, to which he lied and laughed saying no he loved her. She looked at him, she knew he was hiding something from her she just didn't know what. She knew he wouldn't get it out of him. She was going to talk to Tobi, and get her help to do some digging on Andy. She looked him and said she loved him but he has a choice to make and very little time to do so. She had given an ultimatum.