Anger

Chapter Four

It was a week since I saw Isaac. I had managed to not run into him again since the bar and I wasn't going to question it. I had become nervous and paranoid. I checked on Henry at least three times an hour and locked all doors and windows. Nick told me He wouldn't come to the house but I knew better. The way he winked at me, and said he would see me soon... What did he mean when he said it was his town? I couldn't tell Nick anything, for fear of my secret being revealed to everyone.
Rian had gotten my phone number from Nicholas at the bar, and I would see her soon. It was good to see my best friend again, and introduce her to Henry.
Rian came to the house, making it feel like old times. When I opened the door it was like the old days when we would walk to school and spend the night every weekend.
Rian was tall and thin with golden curls to her elbows. She was more popular than me in high school but she was still my friend ever since elementary school.
I saw her standing at my door once again and she pulled me into a tight squeeze.
"Just like old times huh?" She let go and walked into the living room, spotting Henry and squealing.
"What a handsome young man! You look just like your mother!" She ran over to him and sat cross legged in front of him. He laughed and continued playing with his race cars, handing her a few.
"Are you my mommy's friend?" She nodded, keeping a giant smile on her face. I sat next to her feeling absolutely thrilled. Finally someone I didn't have to hide Henry from in this town.
"I'm Henry. Who are you?" My polite and adorable son held out his hand and Rian shook it.
"I'm Rian. I'm your mommy's best friend, and I'm close to her like a sister." She elbowed me and nodded. Henry looked at her confused and thought for a moment.
"So... you're not her sister but you're like one? Mommy told me about you a little and called you Aunt Rian." She looked at me, blushing and I nodded.
"Yes I did. I told Henry about Aunt Rian and Uncle Nicholas and grandma and grandpa Lovelace."
"I heard what happened. I'm sorry. You've been dealt sh---" She gasped and looked at Rian as he laughed.
"You almost said a bad word!" He yelled.
We all Sat on the floor laughing until Nicholas came downstairs. He was wearing a white button up with a tie and dress pants and his red curls neatly combed.
"Where are you going, Mr. Fancy pants?" Rian called out. Nick looked in a mirror making final adjustments before turning to us.
"Out with Hope. Turns out, even after high school i'm still a ladies man." He smiled and winked before going out the door.

Rian and I played with Henry, catching up on each other's lives. Finally Henry fell asleep and we could really talk.
"So, does Henry or Isaac know about each other?" She asked. I gave her a look replying to her dumb question.
"They will never meet. Henry doesn't need to know what kind of man his father is."
"So what do you tell him when he asks?"
I thought about it and felt bad. I felt like a bad mother for not telling my son about his father.
"I tell him to ask me when he's older."
Rian nodded in agreement.
"You should have kept contact with me, Juni. It fucked me up when you left. You should have seen your brother.."
I could only imagine what not saying goodbye to my own brother did to him. I regretted not saying goodbye but it was too late.
"Tell me." I said. She raised her eyebrows and shrugged.
"He was a wreck. He stopped hanging out with Jonathan, Hope, Mikael, and I. He finished the year with bad grades. Your parents were passed when they found out He knew you left."
"Holy shit. How did they know he knew?"
"They asked all of us where you were and they got the police involved. Nick told them you ran away but told them not to ask why. They stopped asking after a month."
"A month?" I didn't expect to have such an impact on everyone around me. I thought leaving would be good after what happened. Now I regretted it so much it hurt.
"After you left, eventually Nick left too. The bar the other night was the first time we had seen him in 5 and a half years."
I had no idea. Nick and I had kept in touch since I left but I had never told him where I was. He didn't tell me either. Before I could say anything else, The phone rang. No one had called except Nick and Rian since I got here; I wondered who it could be.
"Hello?" I asked picking up the phone.
"Hello, my dear."
It was Isaac. Immediately tears came to my eyes and I dropped to the floor. Now he knew I was back in my mother and father's house. He knew where I was, He could come at any time. How did I know he wasn't already here and calling me to torture me?
"What the fuck? Who is it, Juniper?" Rian came to my side. I still hadn't hung up; I felt frozen.
"What do you want?" I whispered.
"You know what I want. Or did you forget about us?"
"There was no us.." I whispered, my voice cracking. "You used me.. you lied to me.."
"And you trusted me. Who is really to blame here, Juniper?"
"Juniper, give me the phone now." Rian tried to pry the phone from me but I pushed her away.
"Me. I'm to blame. I've had to live with it every..." the tears started falling and I couldn't stop. "Every day of my life.." I whispered.
"You shouldn't have said no Juniper. When can I see you?"
Rian ripped the phone out of my hand and began talking to him. I cried and tried to stop her but she was stronger than me and held me down.
"I know what you fucking did Isaac. Don't come near Juniper." She hung up the phone and let me up. I started hyperventilating and sobbing. I couldn't breathe and the room was spinning.
"Do you know what you just fucking did, Rian? He's going to come after me! He's going to find Henry and take him from me! He's going to... he's going to..." I couldn't breathe or talk. Rian pulled me in her arms and rocked me back and forth. Nick came in through the front door, talking on the phone and laughing. As soon as he saw us in the middle of the floor he hung up and his smile faded.
"What did Isaac do?"