Happily Forever After (Book 4 in Nemi Forever Series)

Chapter 27

Nick

Seven days. The longest seven days of my life. The seven days of my life that I can't hardly remember, but I know I'll never forget. For the last seven days I have moved like I was a zombie, like I was just existing & not living. I didn't feel like living. I missed my wife. I haven't seen her in seven days & I didn't even know if she was alive. In my heart, I felt like she was alive, but my brain faced the reality that she could be dead. I tried not to let my brain think that way. I tried to believe with all my heart that I would see her again. I believed with all my heart that I would be holding her in my arms very soon. Maybe even by Valentine's day, which was four days away.

The police did get help from Demi's fans, which I didn't doubt at all. I knew they would come out in droves to help their girl. Several sightings of Demi off of Highway 1 or on Highway 1 told the police that the abductors were heading north & also that they had dumped the van. Knowing where they obtained a new vehicle also helped them look into all the cars that were reported stolen in that area. So the new car was either a dark blue SUV or a red Chevy Impala. The police were pretty convinced they took the SUV, since it was roomier. There were either 2 or 3 abductors. Two were spotted on the video footage, but they weren't sure if maybe a third person was driving & not seen.

I was grateful for my brother, Joe. He was my hero through all of this. He was out there with the search parties, when he could be. He was speaking to reporters. He was making sure someone was with me at all times. He was communicating with the police & FBI about everything that was going on. I was in no shape to help anyone. I was moving in slow motion, like I was in a thick fog. I couldn't stop thinking. Thinking of Demi. Thinking of what I could have done, differently, the night she was taken. Thinking of what the abductors could be doing to her. Thinking of what I will do to the people. who are responsible. if I ever get my hands on them. Thinking of what I would do if Demi never comes home to me. That thought was one I tried to not think, but it came anyway.

Today, day seven, I got a surge of hope. I snapped out of my fog. I came to my senses & decided I was bringing my wife home, if it killed me. I decided it was time for me to be the hero. I needed to step up & be the husband & father I was supposed to be. The kind who would die for his family. I didn't wake up feeling this way, but a visitor that evening brought me some hope.

Joe had just gotten back to my house, from organizing a search party, that was going to start searching the next day, along Highway 1, for the SUV that the police suspected was the vehicle they were in now. I was hoping they would turn up something. Joe was trying to bring me out of my funk, yet again. He tried everyday, bless his heart. Right now, we were sitting in my dining room alone, eating some pizza he had brought back with him. I was picking at mine, mostly. I had to force myself to eat to keep my sugar from dropping too low. I had no appetite. Food didn't taste good when your heart hurt. Or my entire body was just so numb that I couldn't taste anything. Who knows.

Joe & I both looked up when we heard a loud female voice asking in a panic where either Joe or I was. Joe looked at me & shrugged his shoulders before he stood up. As he got to the kitchen doorway, Olivia came into view, followed by Agent Lombardi & Officer Petit. Olivia looked panicked. She nearly ran into Joe & sighed with relief when she saw both of us.

"I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner." She said, breathlessly, coming to the table as I stood up. She hugged me & then it hit me that she was smaller than the last time I hugged her. She had her baby & I didn't even realize it. I felt her wince when I hugged her.

"Sorry." I said, letting go of her. "I guess you had the baby a little early." My tone was so flat, but I couldn't really help it. I felt a tiny flicker of pain in my chest, thinking of my own babies.