Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Wheeling and Dealing

Laurie and Tobi stayed in Starbucks for hours, they where waiting for any sign of Charlotte to comeback. She never came into the coffee shop. They where getting nervous thinking what she was doing or could've already done. They finally went to Charlotte's hotel, they even asked the clerk at the front desk for her room number, the man told them they had no guest under her name. The woman where confused did she check out the her room, or had she used a different name. Laurie had sinking feeling and asked if there was room under the name of Andy Barber. Again the clerk told her no, even saying isn't that the name from the Newton murder case. Laurie just ignored that question she wished that hold thing would go away. They waited in the restaurant for another hour again no sign of Charlotte. Tobi and Laurie looked at each other not sure what to think, they hoped she was just resting upstairs in her room. They went back to their hotel and figure they would talk to Charlotte again tomorrow that Laurie would put a deal on the table to keep Charlotte and everyone safe.

Charlotte was just lying in bed, she had her plan for Cliff set up in her mind. She was going to take care of everything herself. Andy, Laurie Jacob everyone even Dan her own family she feared for them all. She felt this was all her fault Cliffs stupid obession with her over the years since she broke things of with him. She had lost her fiance her child her nephew because of that monster she wasn't about to let that happen again. She had hardly texted Andy all day, after talking with Laurie she wanted to do the right thing. She would take care of Cliff and if she survived she would leaving Andy going back to Baltimore never coming back. She would keep her secret from Andy the rest of her life. She felt horrible she loved him so much, but she was loving him enough to let him go and fix his family he already had, she started crying at the thought of losing him. 

Andy sent Charlotte another text, again no reply from her. He was getting nervous and anxious he hadn't heard much from her. He left her that morning, she was sick and he didn't like the idea of her being alone in the hotel room when he could be there looking after her. She did say she was going get check by the doctor but when he asked her that morning she just said it was stomach bug nothing more. He couldn't help but feel she was up to something and pulling away from him. He knew she had issues with their affair, he knew she felt bad. Andy just needed to get past this week Laurie was gone and than they would talk, he would show her the proof of Cliff and maybe even Derek being involved in Ben's murder. Laurie would see that and have closure finally on this whole past year, he would than tell her he couldn't do this anymore. Honestly is hurt him to end his marriage, but is was beyond repair now, he thought Laurie would want this as well. Still an hour later Charlotte has not responded, it was night time Jacob was sleeping his nurse was at the house as well with them. He got up off the couch and grab his jacket, he wasn't about to let her push him away. He headed for her hotel, but the time he got there is was 11pm. When he walked in the room, he saw she was already sleeping in bed. She looked upset for some reason he thought to himself. He had brought her some juice, and tea. He climbed into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her from behind holding her. 

"Andy what are you doing here?" she jumped at his touch waking up.

"Charlotte, just get some sleep, I wanted to make sure your ok. You didn't talk to me much today." he said.

"You need to go home, your going to end up getting sick from me." he said.

"Baby, I feel fine you won't get me sick at all ok. I'm staying here for the night and heading back in the morning. This will be all over soon and we won't have to hide from anyone again." he said.

Charlotte tried to hide her tears but was failing. "Andy ok I love you, please know that." she said as she fell asleep on his chest with his arms around her.