Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Tie that Binds

The alarm went off early, Charlotte just rolled on her side seeing Andy there, all she could think about was protecting him, his family at her own cost. She had everything now figured out in her head. She was going try to track down Laurie today and talk. She loved Andy but she needed to keep them all safe. Andy opened his eyes realizing he would have to leave soon. He wanted to make sure she was ok.

"Hey there, did you sleep alright?" Andy asked.

She could tell him the truth she had hardly slept her mind racing. "Good Morning, yes I had a nice sleep. Andy why did you come here?" She asked him.

"You said you where sick, do you feel better now?" He asked

"I'm fine Andy, just tired you should head home. Jacob needs you." She said giving him a gently kiss.

"Ok babe, get some more rest I'll call you later." He said.

Andy got up and ending up leaving sooner than he wanted to, he wanted to stay. He felt like he was in a tug of war inside himself. Jacob was first for him and Charlotte understood that, just another he loved her.  He gave her a kiss on the forehead, since she was sleeping already again. He wasn't sure what was wrong with her. He just knew she definitely wasn't herself right now. He would try to talk to her later and get her to open up to him.

Charlotte heard Andy leave, she just stay in bed. For the next few hours. At one point he texted her check on her, she just responded with resting in bed for the day. Finally she got out of bed and ready. She headed out of the hotel hoping to run into Laurie and Tobi. She walked into Starbucks down the street and saw them. She grabbed a tea Laurie was watching Charlotte the entire time, even glaring at her. She made some comment to Tobi. Charlotte walked right up to the woman at the table.

"Hello Mrs. Barber can we talk in private please." Charlotte said.

Laurie was shocked angry she knew something was going on. "Alright, Tobi can you give us a few minutes."

Tobi left as Charlotte sat down she was baking and nervous, but she needed to do this for Andy. "Mrs. Barber, I know you don't like me, that you think something is going on. It's not ok."

"How do you expect me to believe you, your sneaking around with Andy, helping him on some quest to prove our son isn't a killer. Andy is losing touch with reality and becoming a drunk." Laurie snapped.

"Laurie, I have never seen Andy drunk at all. Look I know it looks bad for Jacob but please understand he didn't kill my nephew. I know who did. It's my fault." Charlotte said.

"What you have never seen my husband drunk, not ever snapping in a bad mood either. What do you mean you know the killer and it's your fault?" Laurie asked.

"Look someone from my past he was horrible to me, I left him years ago, I was engaged with a family of my own and happy. This guy he took that away from me. He got out of jail a month before Ben was killed. I know he did it, I'm not involving your husband anymore with this, I just wanted you to know that." Charlotte said.

"Does my husband know your leaving him out of this now?" Laurie asked

"No, look Laurie he needed and wanted the truth for you. He has that now ok, I'm going this alone this person took enough from my family. I won't let him do this to Andy and your family." Charlotte said

Laurie looked at her as she said the words and she just knew it. "Thank you, does this mean your done sleeping with my husband." Laurie asked.

Charlotte sank a little in the chair she wasn't happy with herself. "Mrs Barber, I'm sorry but I'm not sure what your talking..."

Laurie cut her off "do you think I am stupid, I know your sleeping with my husband. You just said you have never seen him snapping or drunk. Tell me are you in love with Andy?" Laurie questioned her

"Laurie, please ok, I'm sorry for the mistakes I have made. I need to do this for you Andy and your son. Your a family, I can't be the reason, I just can't." Charlotte said

"Your in love with Andy, I can see it on your face. You willing to sacrifice that for him. Thank you but don't do my family any favours ever again. Just leave us alone! I believe you when you say Jacob didn't do it. But you have destroyed our family, I hope your happy and go find the killer maybe he can do my family a favour as well." Laurie snapped in anger.

Laurie got up from the table she was angry. While she was dealing with a drunken miserable Andy. Charlotte was getting the kind loving compassionate man she had once loved and married. Laurie thought for a minute did she still love Andy, she wasn't so sure anymore. He had lied to her about his father for years, about the cases with Jacob. Now he was lying about investigating the cases still, and having affair. She walked wondering why now was Charlotte walking away. What was she hiding, she was willing to risk everything with Andy for Laurie family. She thought about what Charlotte had said, she mentioned everything to Tobi. They both where trying to think why would she sacrifice everything for them. The woman kept walking trying to figure it all out. Laurie remember Charlotte's words think she had a family of own once and the killer took that all away from her, a family did Charlotte have a child that was killed once as well. Laurie thought Charlotte was acting like Andy sacrificing everything for a child, but she had said she didn't have her family anymore it was taken away from her. That when it hit her hard like tone of bricks. Charlotte was about to protect Laurie's family sacrificing everything including another family another child maybe Andy's for Laurie's family. Laurie as much as she hated Charlotte and furious with Andy couldn't let that happen.

"Omg Tobi, that's what she's going to do." Laurie said

"What is that home wrecker going to do, just be happy she's walking away from your husband. Andy needs some help." Tobi replied.

"No Tobi, we have got to find her and stop her, she going to risk her life and Andy's child to save my family. I can't let her do that." Laurie said in a panic.

"Laurie you think she pregnant?" Tobi asked in shock

"Tobi she said, the killer is he took her family away once she wouldn't let it happen again." Laurie said.

"I did hear she was engaged her fiancé was murder they never found who did it. I remember there was a little girl involved with it too." Tobi said

"We need to follow her and stop her, maybe she is still at Starbucks" she said.

Laurie and Tobi got back there but she was already gone. She didn't know what to do, she wasn't ready to confront Andy about all this, her and Tobi agreed they needed to leave Andy out of their plan. Laurie and Tobi where going to spend that day watching for Charlotte, Laurie would offer her a plan to keep Charlotte safe and still away from her family. She hoped it would work out. It would be a secret and lie she would have to keep from Andy the rest of his life.
Laurie just didn't realize how far Charlotte would go for Andy, or how far She would go herself to protect Andy and Jacob. What nightmare Laurie would end up living inside herself.