STAY

Seventy Three

I sat on my deck overlooking the ocean. The evening breeze was beautiful, but it was doing nothing to soothe my sadness. I hadn't slept well the last few nights, I was uncomfortable, but I was also missing Jared. My heart ached. The first night, despite my fury, I had sent him a message,
~ Goodnight, I love you
~ Goodnight
Was all I got back from him. He was obviously very angry. I sent him another message in the morning,
~ Morning x
~ I'm headed out to a meeting
~ Okay, have a good day
No reply. I hadn't bothered sending him anymore that day. I waited for him to send me one that night, but nothing came. So I swallowed my pride, once again, and sent him one.
~ Goodnight
He didn't reply for hours, I had fallen asleep, crying, waiting for a response. I saw one when I woke up at 2 am.
~ I had a late meeting, night
He had sent it at 11.30 that night. Late meeting? With whom I wondered. I was starting to feel afraid that I was losing him. But what was my alternative? I couldn't accept being anyone's doormat, especially now that there was a baby involved. I had to make the right choices for her future as well. I was exhausted by the morning, I barely moved. I went to the kitchen, ate and went back to bed. I finally got up and forced myself to sit outside, my body begging for fresh air. I hadn't heard from him all day and my heart sank, I kept looking at my phone willing it to ring. I looked out watching a few people with their dogs, couples out for walk as the sun finally settled. My eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure, it was almost dark so I couldn't see a face, it was just a man in the shadows. He was standing on the beach, 2 houses down, I was almost certain he was looking up at me. I looked away, trying to ignore him, but when I looked back, he'd moved a little closer. My heart started beating furiously, fear gripping me. I hastily got up and went inside, locking the doors behind me. Then I went around closing all the drapes. I walked into the bathroom, taking a peek out the window, he was still there, closer again. That's when I panicked, I grabbed my phone, punching in Jared's number. I flipped when it rang out. I sent him a frantic message,
~ Please answer
I grabbed the panic button and pressed it, trying him again.

Jared's POV -
To my utter shock, Sofia had sent me a message a few days after the party.
~ Hey handsome, I wasn't joking when I said call me. I'd love to catch up, just like old times. It'll be our little secret, your wife will never know
The rest of the conversation had surprised me, I had honestly thought she had been joking. I felt so guilty for telling Gigi she was overreacting. It was then I realized maybe I wasn't acting the way I should, yet I always expected a lot from her. That's when I called my friend Neil, I needed advice. There was no better therapist than him. I was at his place, telling him everything that had occurred over the last couple of weeks. We stood in the kitchen as he poured me some water, he was now talking and I was listening. I was distracted by my phone ringing in the other room, it was Gigi. I knew this because, every week she would get on my phone and assign a new song to her contact details. Every other call was a generic ring tone. It was Mariah Carey at the moment, given Christmas was coming. I walked in to grab it but it stopped before I reached it. A message came through begging me to pick up. What the hell? It rang again and I answered immediately. "Thank God! I was on the deck and ... there was a man he ... " she was almost incoherent, panic stricken, my stomach dropped in fear. "Gigi, calm down I can barely understand you! Lock the doors, hit the panic button and call 911. I'm coming now, I'm ten minutes away" I said trying to keep the panic out of my voice. "I did, I did" she sobbed, "okay, I'll be there in no time" I could hear the terror in her voice as she hung up. I grabbed my keys, "I need to go ...." I said headed to the door. Neil had been standing there listening, he nodded, following me out. "Do you want me to come?" he offered. I shook my head. "No it's fine, I'll call you later" I said as I jumped in the car. "Stay calm and drive carefully" he said, I nodded sharply and gunned the car out the driveway and onto the highway. I was driving like a maniac, I ran a couple of red lights and cut in front of cars, trying to get there as fast as I could. I was there in less than ten minutes. Flying into the driveway, I parked and dashed to the gate. Punching in the security code and letting myself in. My hands were trembling as I unlocked the front door, finally steadying long enough to open it, bolting inside. "Genevieve!" I called out, I found her in the bedroom, cross legged on the floor next to the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was still gripping the phone and button tightly in her hands. "Let go Gigi" I said softly. She looked up at me confused, I reached down, taking them from her and putting them on the side table. I took her by the arms, lifting her up, pulling her to me. She started sobbing uncontrollably, "I'm here, you're safe, it's okay" I said trying to soothe her. I'd never seen her so distraught. I felt the baby kicking against my stomach and looked down, letting one arm drop and gently rubbing her belly. "Genevieve, stop, calm down, please. No one is going to hurt you, I promise" I said. We heard the gate buzz loudly, both jumping in surprise. "Come on" I said taking her hand and leading her down the hall. It was both the security and the police. I quickly explained what I thought had happened, the security tearing off to scour the surrounding area. One police officer following, the other staying with us and taking down some details. Gigi had finally started to calm down, deep shuddering breaths gripping her. I held her close, feeling her trembling slightly. Finally after what felt like forever, the security appeared. "Where's my partner?" asked the officer. "He has apprehended a suspect, he's cuffed him and is in the car" he said. He nodded and walked out, asking us to remain inside, he would come back. "Who is it?" I asked quickly. "It's a fucking photographer, he had a bunch of equipment hidden next to a big bollard, and he was snapping photos. We caught him red handed" he said in disgust. I was furious, the fucking papps, I could kill them. "Thank God, I thought it was ..." she whispered. "I know, I know, I did too" I said, both of us thinking the same thing, the asshole from her hospital. The officer came back in, "it was a photographer, he claimed to have been taking photos of the scenery. But one look at his camera roll proved otherwise. We've arrested him on charges of stalking" he said. I nodded, feeling her sag in relief against me, "Do you need my wife to make a statement?" I asked. "Yes, but given how late it is and her distress, I think it can wait until morning. He's not going anywhere tonight" he said grinning. I shook his hand, thanking him profusely. Doing the same to the security guys. They were going to sweep the area once more, just in case he had a partner. I closed the door, locking it and turned back to her. She looked dazed, the fear still visible in her eyes. "It's okay now Gigi, you can relax" I reassured her. She nodded slowly, but I wasn't convinced. She needed to calm down, I knew just what would do it. I took her hand leading her down the hall into her bedroom and sat her on the bed, flicking on the side table lamps. Then I walked into the bathroom and started running the tub, pouring in some of the strawberry bath bubbles she liked. I let it fill and went back out. "Come on" I urged her, standing her up and helping her undress. She didn't argue or refuse, she just stood there letting me care for her. "Your hair has got so long" I said scooping up handfuls of it and piling it up into a bun. "It's heavy" she sighed, finally speaking. "It's beautiful" I said, "thank you" she replied softly. I led her into the bathroom and I turned off the water, holding out my hand to help her in. "You okay?" I asked her softly as she settled under the water, she didn't answer, her eyes closed. She looked exhausted. I sat on the floor next to the tub. Her round belly was poking out of the bubbles, I scooped up water and poured it over it. "My back and hips hurt today" she said finally. "Hopefully this should help" I replied, feeling guilty for not ringing her to see how she was feeling. I had been angry and petulant. "I'm sorry, Gigi I'm sorry I didn't ring you. I was angry and truth is, I have no excuse ..." I said. She didn't reply, I frowned, she wasn't going to forgive me easily it seemed. "Are you very mad at me?" I asked. She nodded. "You should be, I'm an idiot" I admitted. She let her head lean back on the bath pillow and just sighed quietly. I spread my hands on her belly, marveling at how big it was getting. The baby started to move and I laughed as it kicked, my hand pressing in lightly to feel it. "It's so amazing, feeling it kicking around. I can't imagine how it must feel for you" I said in awe. "Weird, it feels weird, but yes, amazing" she said softly. I saw her shiver and I scooped more water over her. "Are you cold? Do you want to get out?" I asked her, she nodded. "Yes please. I'm so tired" she said. "Come on then, let's get you warm and comfortable" I said. Not long after I had her tucked into bed with me. She shivered a little more as I pulled her close, covering us both with the duvet. "I missed you baby. We've never been apart this long since the day we met" I whispered. I heard her sigh yet again and she turned away, giving me her back. I guess I deserved her silent treatment, though it was hard to take. "Night" she said softly. I exhaled frustratedly, "night, I love you" I replied kissing her shoulder gently. I felt her entire body relax against me and I knew then, she was glad I was with her.
*
I was grateful he was with me, I'd never been so afraid in my life. But I was still angry with him. Before tonight, he hadn't messaged me, had only responded with brief one word answers. Hadn't asked me how I was feeling, nothing. I knew he was sorry, but I wasn't forgiving him so easily. That's what he expected and I refused to be his fool any longer. We needed to work this out if we had any chance of a future.