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CHAPTER FIVE *EVERLY*

        I would no sooner leave Julian of my own free will than fly to the moon. Julian is my life- he's The One- and I know in my heart he's the man I should grow old with. No, leaving him was something I did under extreme duress. I could only hope someday he would forgive me for it.

        I would not put him, or his family that I call my own, in jeopardy. A threat is one thing. Murdering family pets and planting my college ring, a different thing altogether. And then that picture of Julian came. Even if it hadn't had a threatening message attached to it, the fact that it was clearly taken in person, that someone so deranged was anywhere near him and his precious heart...well. I had to figure out what to do. That ring. Tate had had that ring since he gave me his in college. He'd once worn it on a chain around his neck. When I'd graduated and he got the job he last had, it'd been relegated to a box on his bedside table. But I knew he'd been in possession of it when I moved to Butler.

        So whoever it was that was looking to scare me and harm those I love most had access to Tate's things. Unfortunately, that could be any number of people. So I was still at a loss. They were succeeding in one thing, though- I was scared. I was sleepless night sitting in the dark willing them to come at me...just me...scared.         

The texts became more frequent in the month between New Years Day and the beginning of February. I started saving them in case. Just in case. As whoever my stalker was crept closer and closer to the Sawyers, I started giving serious thought to going to the police. I knew how upset Julian and his family would be that I'd not come clean earlier. But if it meant keeping them safe, I would have to accept that.

        And then I was late.

        I couldn't believe it.

        We had used condoms faithfully. And while I was aware that they weren't as effective as other means, it had been many months and I was lulled into a sense of security. At least as far as pregnancy goes.

        My head was spinning with all that I was juggling. I was worried all of the time and the fact that Julian didn't seem to notice my constant surveying of our surroundings, searching for any hint of intrusion, was just telling of what a good actress I was becoming.

        Then things became different. I didn't have an issue with putting myself between Julian and a threat- a fact that would have driven him mad if he'd been able to read my mind. But Julian's baby...that was not up for discussion. I hadn't taken the test the night he'd found it. I'd taken it a full week earier, keeping it hidden. Ironically, I had finally thrown it out to keep him from finding it until I decided what to do.

        In the week between that positive test and our last day together, I'd wake and stare at his sleeping face, his hand on me protectively even in slumber. I'd study the arch of his brow, the fullness of his lips, the way his hair tipped up at the ends. I'd stand, unbeknownst to him, in the garage bay door watching the muscled expanse of his back ripple as he lifted heavy machinery, strong neck bent to finish a repair. I'd look at his endlessly blue eyes as he watched me with unadulterated love, the light that shone from within stirring my own heart.  The quickness of his smile, the perpetual flush of his cheeks.

        And I would die for him. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would take the blow from anyone trying to do him harm. This baby, though- Julian's baby- altered my plan. It was no longer easy to be so cavalier about what I would do.

        I could no sooner put this child in danger that I could it's father.

        It was time to make a move.

        Unfortunately, this decision came on the night I got the image of Julian sitting on our back porch drinking a beer in his jacket, petting Bo's head. Clear enough, close enough to see the color of his eyes.