Bed & Breakfast

Ch. 10 Snooze and Lose

*** Lou's POV ***

Putting all of my baggage with Melody out there felt good. Like I told Andie, folks knew bits and pieces but not everything.  Well now she did. I wanted her trust. She was guarded. Unsure. Maybe a little inexperienced.

I had no problem going at her pace,  although I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't quickly becoming obsessed with her. Every touch and taste just added fuel to the flames. I was ready to consume her. I saw that desire in her eyes, but she held back from acting on it.

She decided to head back to her place to freshen up before dinner. I was charged with convincing my sister that it would be fine for us to go out for dinner. Paula didn't look refreshed when she came out of the bedroom.

"Wilson?"

"No, I was up considering Andie's terms." She confessed. Something about the way she said it made me take notice.

"What is there to consider, Paula?" I  questioned.

"Maybe we should just keep moving. I don't want to risk bringing trouble to her door and..."

My anger got the better of me because this was classic Paula. "You don't want to tell the kids! You're pissed because she's making you do what you should have done the second you decided to leave!"

"Fuck, Lou! Keep your damn voice down!" She whisper-yelled, grabbing my arm and pulling me back into the bedroom. Wrong move, especially when I saw that she had her bag out and half packed.

I shook her off. "You're a fucking coward! She's right to make that ask of you! The longer you wait, the more harm you do and if you don't tell them, I will!"

"It's you who put the idea in her head!" She screamed back at me. Our family wasn't known for quiet discussions when conflict arose.

"They all deserve to prepare themselves to have the best chance of survival should something happen! None of them asked for this!" I shouted her down.

She paused, her eyes widening. She whispered. "It's not like I did either."

Fuck, now I felt bad. This situation was rotten all around. I reached out for her, but she recoiled away. I sighed. "I know, but now that we're all involved we need to be honest and upfront. You know what he's capable of, Paula."

She nodded and spoke softly. "I think I should go. Take Wilson and disappear. Without witness protection, if they're going to drag their feet."

"Paula. You can't leave Parker and Riley." I growled. She was grasping fir any option that avoided her having to tell them.

"But..."

"He'll use them to get to Wilson. You know he will." I stressed. "Please, think clearly about this. Witness protection is the way, but you need to update the kids. They'll be upset, but they'll eventually understand."

Her face crumpled and she started to sob. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her to my side as she melted down. Eventually she quieted down.

"I want to get the kids out of the house for the night." I decided to put it out there.

"What? No!" She automatically protestsed.

"Paula, they're angsty and miserable. We're going for pizza. It'll be fine." I assured her.

She stewed for a minute or two. "Fine, but I'm going to stay back with Wilson. The kids really do need a carefree night with you."