Till death

Surprises

Cara
Friday March 29, 2019.
Amelia and I stood outside the pick up area at Jacksonville international airport, both excited to see my parents. Amelia has seen many pictures of them and vice versa, but this is the first time she will meet them in person.
People started to exit the gates. We waited in anticipation for their arrival.
I saw my mom first and waved to her.
"Mom, over here." I said as I grabbed ahold of  Amelia's hand.
My mom spotted us and they made their way over.
"Oh sweetheart, you look fabulous." My mom said as she hugged me tight.
Tears were stinging my eyes.
"Oh my goodness. Amelia. You look just like your mother." My mom said bending down to hug Amelia.
"Everybody says that." She told her.
My dad hugged me. He got emotional which made me more emotional.
"Do you have luggage or just the carry ons? I asked.
"Just these. Shall we?" My dad said.
I should've figured. They were only staying the weekend. My parents took each of Amelia's hands on theirs as we walked away from the pick up area. On my way out the door the hair on my neck stood up and a chill ran through me. That was odd. I shivered and looked over.
I saw a man with thick dark hair. He wore jeans and a t-shirt and sunglasses. He had facial hair, but he resembled Tony a bit. I looked away to see where my parents had gotten to and when I looked over again, he was gone.
My mind must be playing tricks on me. He doesn't know where I am.
I ran to catch up with my parents and Amelia.
The car in the pick up lot not too far ahead.
When we arrived home my parents put their bags in my room. I told them for the weekend they could have my bed and I'll sleep on the sofa.
I wouldn't let them talk me out of it. I had made plans to take them to a nice Mexican restaurant place I found just 25 minutes south. Amelia likes their nachos. My parents and I were sitting in the kitchen chatting and Amelia playing in the room when knocking rapped on the door.
I walked over and opened the door. It was Kevin.
I invited him in. He knew my parents were coming and he wanted to meet them. So I guess this is a good time to tell them about us.
"Mom, dad, this is Kevin. He's the one I bought the house from." I said. He shook both my parents hands.
"Nice to meet you both. I've heard such great things."
"Thank you." My mom said. She stood then with a puzzled look on her face. Probably thinking, so why is he here.
"So. Kevin and I have been dating for two years." I blurted out.
My mother's mouth formed into an O.
She whispered in my ear. "Does he know?"
I smiled and nodded. "Yes." I said out loud. "Kevin knows about Tony."
"Kevin." My father said. "Cara is my baby. If I find out you do anything to hurt her-" My mom stopped him.
"No sir. I would never. In fact. I've been teaching Cara self defense techniques. I'm a trainer. Trust me. She could whoop my ass."
My parents chuckled.
"I just want to be happy and live my life. I know that once Tony is caught and is arrested and we can finally be divorced, everything will be right again."
That night Kevin and Bea joined us for dinner.
My parents liked Bea a lot. She is full of spunk. Amelia loves Kevin. He's been good for her.
"So Bea. Is Kevin's father in the picture?"
'Shit!' I said to myself. I forgot to mention that.
Bea cleared her throat. "No. My husband Daniel was killed when Kevin was young. It was a fishing accident. He fell from the dock while pulling a fish in and was attracted by a gator."
"Oh dear. I'm so sorry to hear that." My mother said as she put her hand to her chest.
Bea smiled. "It's quite alright. I raised Kevin right. He's a good boy."

After dinner Bea invited my parents to see their house.
"Oh you live real close. That's good." My dad stated.
As they stepped inside they oohed and aahed.
"Over they years I've had work done. You should've seen this house 20 years ago. Walls everywhere." Bea said throwing her hands out.
"Kevin has helped with some of the work. The. He bought the apartment that Cara lives in now after graduating college. He was going to flip it, but decided to keep it instead. I guess things just work out how they're supposed to."
After the tour, we all said Goodnight and I led Amelia and my parents home. Kevin gave me a kiss as I was walking out.
"Happy Birthday sweetie." He said.

                                         ~~~

Tony
I sat in the rental car I had and watched as my family was enjoying themselves. I gripped the steering wheel hard that my knuckles turned white.
Following them was easy. They didn't know I was there. Although at the airport Cara looked my way. I thought this was it. I was caught. But when she looked away for a second I ran. My heart beat so damn fast at that point I thought I would go into cardiac arrest.
I gritted my teeth as I saw her holding hands and kissing another man. Who the fuck was this guy?
I wanted to get out of the car and punch his face until it exploded. But that's not how this is going to go down. I will get Cara back. If it's the last thing I do.

                                            ~~~

Cara
Saturday March 30, 2019.
I woke to light tapping on my arm. I fluttered open my arms and stretched out on the sofa. Amelia was standing in from of me holding up a folded piece of construction paper.
"Happy Birthday mommy!" She yelled.
I sat up and brushed my hair out of my face.
Amelia say down next to me and handed me the paper.
"I made you a card." She said as her little hand placed it into mine.
"Thank you sweetie. I love it." I kissed the top of her head as I pulled her in for a hug.
The card was decorative of sequins and buttons. She drew 3 stick people on the inside. Herself, me and Kevin. It was the cutest card ever.
Amelia is the sweetest child ever. I'm so glad I made that decision years ago to leave home, and I don't regret it one bit.
The morning was great, we spent the day walking near the bay. The weather was gorgeous and warm. We found a park nearby and we let Amelia play for a bit.
"She's happy. As she should be. She likes Kevin." My mom said.
My dad went to play with Amelia and my mom and I took a seat on a bench, watching them.
"He's good to her. To us." I sighed deeply.
It's weird having feeling this strong for another man. But Kevin is nothing like Tony.
"I see that. I know I never told you this, but there was a time when I had this feeling. Something I couldn't understand, about Tony. Like he was hiding something. He always seemed to happy around us like he was faking it. I just shrugged it off."
I knew exactly what she meant.
"Mommy, mommy. Look what I got." Amelia came running toward us with grassy flowers in her hand.
It was cute. She has buttercups and dandelions.
My parents walked hand in hand with Amelia back to the house. As we were nearing the end of the street a black sedan was parked near the house. I couldn't see the driver and didn't know whose car it was. As we got closer, the car started up and peeled off towards the end of the street and turned right.
As I went to the door there were roses laying there. A card attached was electronically printed with the words Happy Birthday honey.
I thought that was sweet of Kevin, but I thought he had to train someone today.

Later that evening after spending dinner with my parents, Kevin, Bea and Amelia my parents decided to get to sleep before it got too late. They had a flight to catch tomorrow. They kissed me Goodnight and headed for bed. I gave Amelia her bath and put her to bed shortly after 9.
When I arrived back in the living room I found only Kevin.
"Mom went home. She was tired."
I sat next to him and snuggled up. I felt tired and closed my eyes. The last thing I felt was Kevin stroking my hair.
I woke up sometime after 2am to a sound outside. Kevin was still there in the sofa with me. I nudged him.
"Hey. I heard something outside."
Kevin opened his eyes and sat up straight.
"Front or back?"
"Front."
Kevin got up and peeked out of the window, looking left then looking right.
"I don't see anything. Maybe it was a stray."
"I guess. Sorry."
Kevin hugged and kissed me.
"I'm gonna get going my neck is cramped. I will see you sometime tomorrow. I have a meeting with a client at 11 and a new client at 1. Tell your parents I said it was a pleasure."
I double locked the door after he left and laid back down on the sofa.
"I forgot to mention the flowers." I said softly.
I closed my eyes and drifted back off to sleep.