Forever with His Edith

Unwanted Visitors

AN: (Not exactly a fluffy chapter...Sorry.)

Six Months Later

Eden

The phone rang at ten thirty for the fifth time that morning. The hushed marimba chimes of the ringtone caused my napping two-year-old to shift in her sleep in the arms of my husband and I decided that, if my daughter woke up, I would threaten the man calling with his life.

I stared at the number, knowing who was calling but fearing what he would say if I picked up. I took a deep breath and left the bedroom and ventured to the next room over, quietly closing the door behind me.

I paced the floor of my bathroom and let a sob escape my lips, feeling frustrated and angry, and rubbed a soothing hand over my growing belly. I allowed a few tears to drip onto my swollen cheeks. The phone stopped ringing and I hoped the man would get the message. I didn't want to talk to him and I didn't think I ever would.

When the screen of the phone flashed the number again, I cried out in frustration. Steadying my haggard breath, I accepted the call.

"What do you want from me?" I snarled.

"You really shouldn't ignore me," Adam spoke. His eerily smooth voice cut through the silence and I felt a violent shiver rack my shoulders. "You need to talk to me so that this plan will work."

"Says who? You? Forget that and forget what you're trying to make me do. Stop calling me. I will call the cops and I will tell Noah you've been harassing me."

"You won't do that. I haven't done anything wrong. And you won't tell your hubby because you don't want him to worry or stress."

My breath came in pants and I fought to stay composed. "I don't even understand why you're doing this. Why are you getting mixed up in this mess? They kidnapped me and tried to kill me. Both of them have had a restraining order. They shouldn't come within one hundred feet of me."

"And whose fault is that, Eden?"

"I don't freakin' know. My mother's? Theirs? Certainly not mine if that's what you're insinuating."

"My kids have changed. They are no longer under the influence of their mother. They have decided to apologize and I will not rest until all three of you are under the same roof."

"Why?" I urged. "They can't send a damn letter? Or even a text message? I'll remind you again, they kidnapped and beat me within an inch of my life. This was years after their mother had been sentenced to life in prison, so you'll never convince me that they are not under the influence of Shanie Morrison."

"Gabriel has asked me to do this for him. Gabriella is about to move across the country because of the remorse she feels for what they have done to you. They've been in therapy and now understand how messed up the things that happened to you were. I wasn't there for them as much as I should have been and look what happened. I owe it to them to make this work and I won't let you avoid this any longer."

"If I agree to come, my husband will be with me, it will be months and months in the future, and the cops will be on speed dial. And it certainly won't be under a roof, it should be in a park or something. Where people can see us in case those psychopaths haven't truly changed."

"We won't wait that long. As I said, Gabriella is leaving. I will make things right with my kids. You will participate."

I huffed, "But you can't force me to attend. I am not your family. I don't even know how you got my number. What if I just tell you I'm at peace and they can move on with their lives. Not that you'd care, but I'm happy and have finally come to terms with what they have done. I'm busy and need to go. I'll call you in a few months and tell you my decision."