An 'Old Friend'

CHAPTER 8: Please god.....

CARRIE

I was surprised to see them that day at Maurice's and the dinner I had invited Maurice to was a little awkward for some reason. However, since that night that was a couple of weeks ago, I feel like Hunter has been a little more involved in spending time with Bessie and I appreciate it but I feel like there's something more to it. I mean, maybe I'm overthinking it and need to just shut up and appreciate the time he's spending with us. 

At least that's what I thought until today when our daughter told me about someone she had seen at her school during recess and has seen even after school before I picked her up. After telling me about how it was some man that was watching her and causing her to become more uneasy, I felt like my paranoia and suspicion was real. 

As soon as we walked into the house after picking her up from school I finish making her a snack when I ask her about her day and that's when she blurts it all out.

"Mommy, there's a man that came to see me today. Said he knew Aunt Sam and daddy and was a friend of Maurice." Bessie tells me.

"What's his name?" I asked worried.

"He didn't say." She says before taking a bite from her sandwich.

"Sweetie, was this the first time you saw him?" I asked worried.

"No." She says and it's in that moment that I feel my heart drop to my stomach and feel scared and uneasy. 

"Okay, why don't you go upstairs and do your homework. I'll let you know when dinner's ready." I tell her with a smile so that she didn't hear the worry in my voice.

Once again, Hunter didn't come home for dinner so afterwards, I tucked Bessie in and kissed her goodnight before heading downstairs to begin cleaning up.

While washing the dishes, I hear the front door open and already know it's him and I can't help myself feeling anger.

"Sorry I missed dinner baby." He tells me.

"What the hell is going on?" I ask him as I turn to look at him. 

"What?" He asks. 

"You need to tell me what the hell is going on and you better tell me now or me and Bessie are leaving." I threaten him, although I know it's wrong to threaten him with that but in this case, I'm just needing to make sure that everything will be okay and that he isn't falling into his old life and old bad habits.

"What are you talking about?" He asks. 

"Who in the hell is Maurice? And what does he want?!" I ask him folding my arms across my chest.

He looks taken back a little bit and then takes in a deep breath and lets it out before answering.

"You know who he is." He begins to say. 

"Don't. I'm going to give you one last chance Hunter or I'm leaving." I tell him again as hard as it was to say.

He lets in a breath and lets it out as he scratches the back of his head.

"I'm taking care of everything." He tries to assure me.

"Okay. If you don't want to tell me that's fine because than me and Bessie will leave and stay at a hotel until you can tell me the truth." I tell him as I push past him to head upstairs.

He stops me and turns me to face him. 

"Wait. Please, I'm sorry." He says. "I'll tell you everything. Just don't leave." He asks with tears forming in his eyes. 

"You better tell me the truth." I warn him while he nods his head in agreement.

"Sam and I have actually known each other for years. I knew her through her cousin who used to be a member of my gang at the time, Maurice. Then after being kicked out, it made Sam have hatred and resentment towards me at first so I left. We hadn't seen one another for years until I met you."

What did he just say? 

"What? Why didn't either one of you guys tell me?" I ask him.

"Because we swore when we were younger that we would never tell people we knew one another for safety reasons."

"But why not?"

"It was protection from her cousin's father. He was the leader of the Mafia and not even me could ever go up against him. Once he heard I kicked his son out from the gang, he threatened to kill me and my family. His son eventually left the state and nobody heard from him for many years. Until recently. Sam and I couldn't tell you at first and I've been wanting to but Sam told me that I couldn't. We've been trying to think up of a plan to try and take care of this thing with Maurice and neither one of us has come up with anything because we don't have the numbers to our gang so..."

We both sit in silence for a few moments. I don't know what to do right now. Should I stay? Should I leave with Bessie? The mother in me tells me to get the hell out but the other half of my heart tells me not to leave him. We have a daughter together and are happily married and I know deep down inside that he's trying to do what's best for all of us and I believe him when I hear him say that he meant to tell me earlier about all of this. 

I just never thought I would ever be here again in this place. I'm so scared. 

"Bessie, told me earlier today that there was a man, during recess who talked to her and told her she knew who you, Sam and who Maurice were. He didn't tell her his name and I just..." I started crying and felt him put his arms around me and pull me closer to him so I could cry into his chest. 

"I'm so fucking sorry." I hear him cry. 

"I'm so scared." I cry out some more. 

"I know. I know and I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen, I swear." He tells me. 

"I know." I reply. "But you have to end this." I tell him. 

"I promise. I will." He assures me as he holds me even tighter and kisses me on the top of my head. 

Please god let everything go okay. I tell myself.

Next chapter will be posted soon! :)     I know I changed up what was in the Prologue a bit but in a way, the story had changed direction a little bit and hope you guys like this version. :)