Sharing Annabelle

Chapter Eleven - Annabelle

Part 11

Annabelle

"Where do you think he went?" I ask Jesse.

"Probably to the gym. It's where he usually goes to clear his head." Jesse pours himself some coffee. "He'll be back in a few hours."

I shake my head. "I don't think so."

"Just trust me," he says, trying to assure himself as much as me. "He'll be... fine."

I don't believe him. "I've never seen Nico so upset."

"Anna, trust me. I know Nico better than anyone," he says. "He's really shaken up, but he's just going to go lift heavy weights for awhile. Maybe have a go at the punching bag."

I keep quiet.

"He's going to be fine. He'll be back before dinner," Jesse says.

"Okay."

An hour passes. Then another. Jesse takes a few calls from work and I think he's a little bit in trouble for bailing on the retreat. I watch as he downs cup after cup of coffee and pretty soon he's shaking as he holds the phone to his ear.

"Yes, I'm feeling much better, thank you, Sir," Jesse says. "I don't think I'm going to make it back to the retreat, but I'll be back in the office on Monday."

Jesse paces between the living room and our bedroom.

I take out my phone and send a text to Nico.

Annabelle: Where are you? Please tell me you're okay.

I don't expect him to get a reply. But, about ten minutes later, one appears.

Nico: Don't worry about me. I'm fine.

Annabelle: Where are you?

Nico: Driving.

Annabelle: I'm worried about you.

Nico: Then you should have told me about the letter as soon as you got it.

Annabelle: Would that have really been better?

No answer.

Jesse wanders back into the kitchen after ending his call.

"Jesse, why didn't you give Nico that letter when he first got it?" I ask.

He sighs out dramatically.

"We should have been honest with him," I point out.

"I don't know. I mean, I don't think there was a good way to do it," he says. "But I thought that after last night, he was comfortable and relaxed. I thought it was the best option."

"I think we should have been honest with him."

"Disagree. We tried to ease him into it."

"I'm not sure," I argue. "I think that half the reason he's driving to the desert is because we tried to hide it from him. We should have treated him like an adult instead of hiding it from him."

Jesse shakes his head.

"Anna, you weren't there when he was attacked," he says. "

He's right. The attack happened before Jesse and I got together. Before Nico and I had ever met.

"You didn't get that call from the hospital," he says. His eyes glaze over. He's about to go someplace dark, remembering what happened. "He almost died. He lost so much blood."