Pure Bliss

7.

I woke up to the sound of little feet running down the hall. Nick was just starting to wake up to. I got up from bed, and went to the bathroom connected to the room. I looked like a mess. I quickly splashed water on my face hoping to bring back some color to my cheeks. My eyes were puffy and red from all the crying last night. Today was going to be a long day. After trying to fix my rumpled clothing, and changing Nick's diaper. I opened my door to make it down stairs.

"Ms. Claire!" A voice stopped me right after I passed a bedroom door. I turned to see Sophie with bright eyes.

"Daddy told me something happened and you had to stay the night. Will you play with me?" She jumped from one subject to the next. I smiled thankful that he told her something, and didn't put me in that situation. I wouldn't of known what to tell her.

"Of course sweetie!" I walked into her room, overwhelmed by the pink walls. "What are we playing?" Nick smiled and clapped when he saw all the new toys around him to touch and put in his mouth. I laughed as he took off for Sophie. He wrapped his arms around her, surprising me. "Niiiiick!" The little girl giggled. He finally let her go when she handed him one of the few cars she had to play with.

"We're playing barbies!" I smiled and grabbed the closest barbie to me and began to play.

I don't know how long we had been playing when someone sat down beside me. I looked over and saw Keagon with a huge smile on his face. There was something different with him today. He had a light in his eyes. His shoulders were more relaxed, and he looked genuinely happy.

"How long have ya'll been up?" He asked, grabbing a barbie to play with us. I laughed as he started to brush the barbies hair. It was a funny sight for such a big man.

"I don't know. Maybe an hour. She spotted me as soon as I got up. I couldn't possibly tell her no!" I laughed again. Nick was now sitting in Sophie's lap trying to steal the barbie she was playing with. I felt sadness come over me again. This is what he needed. A family. I noticed Keagon looking at me with a confused expression and realized the sadness must of shown on my face. I quickly sent him a smile showing I was okay.

"Well Sophie,  that's enough for now. I made breakfast. Your favorite! " He said while standing up.

As soon as I picked Nick up from her lap she bounced up and down. "You made pancakes?!" She exclaimed.

"Yes darling." He looked at his daughter with all the love in the world.

And just like that Sophie forgot all about her toys and was out of the room as fast as her little feet could take her. He shook his head as if not knowing what to do with the little girl. I smiled.

Nick then began pulling my hair making me yelp in surprise. "Hey there little man, it's not nice to hurt your mommy!" Keagon joked while placing one of his hands on Nicks, and the other one on the strand of hair he had grasped in his chubby hands. I watched as he gently undid Nick's hand and then softly pulled my hair away.

"Thank you," I whispered, not knowing what else to say. He nodded and then continued down the stairs.

"So, I figured since today is a Saturday and the day care isn't opened. If you trusted Paige enough to watch your son, then it would probably be easier to clean up the mess and figure out if anything is missing." He started.

"Paige?" I questioned.

"Yeah, my sister. She lives right next door and works at the day care."

"Oh, I didn't know she was your sister!" I said surprised. "Yeah, as long as she doesn't mind since it is her day off. I trust her more than others. Heck, she is one of the few I actually talk to!"

"Actually I talked to her this morning and she offered." He told me as we came to the table. Bacon, eggs, and pancakes were set up. The plates, silverware,  and glasses had also already been placed.

"If I would of known, I would of helped with all of this. I don't know how to repay your kindness!" I didn't know what to say or do. I wasn't used to help.

"Claire, it's fine. I do this every morning. It was nothing to add two more plates, I promise!"

Again, I wondered how a man like him ended up alone. I kept my questions to myself though. It wasn't any of my business. I just smiled and nodded.

After breakfast, we headed over to Paige's, I kept telling Keagon that he didn't have to help me. I could do it by myself. He had done enough, but he insisted. I finally just gave up. And honestly, I could use the support.

Stepping into my house, tears filling my eyes. All the decorating I had finished were in ruins. Not a single thing was left untouched. In the kitchen, every cabinet was open, some hanging off the hinges, and every content was thrown on the floor and broken. Food was no longer in the fridge, but spilled and thrown carelessly around. I walked to my room to see the same thing but worse. Nick's crib was broken into pieces, unfixable. Both his and my mattresses had been slashed through with a knife. Pillow fluff littered the floor with all of mine and his clothing. Every single thing would have to be replaced.

What got to me the most was Nick's things. All of his stuff including toys and clothes were unrecognizable. Who would do such a thing? He was only a child. I didn't realize I was sobbing until I felt warm strong arms embrace me.

I didn't notice before, but every window had been broken as well. "How did no one hear this happen?" I asked out loud.

"I don't know. But I'm going to have every neighbor talked to. They have already dusted everything for fingerprints again. But I'm afraid the same people did this." He sighed loudly.

"Who would hate me so much? I'm not a mean person, am I?" I looked up into Keagon's eyes on the verge of another break down. He kept one arm around me, bringing up his hand and cupping my cheek. "No Claire. You're not. You are an amzing person." He then leaned his forehead against mine. I breathed in the sent of his cologne hoping it would calm me down. It was a warm and woodsy smell, and I loved it. "We will figure this out. Maybe it was just a regular robbery?" He tried to soothe me.

I shook my head. "No, you know as well as I do that this was planned. If it was just a normal robbery they wouldn't of gone through all of this trouble. I need to find out what is missing. I own nothing valuable!" He nodded his head, releasing me.

I made my way to the night stand noticing papers spilling out. Grabbig them, I quickly went through them automatically seeing what was gone. "Shit!"

"What is it?" Keagon asked, making his way back to me.

"I know what they took." I stated. He just kept looking at me, waiting patiently for me to continue. "They took the court papers. I guess you were right." I slumped to the ground, hearing glass crunch under my weight. I didn't even try to move, this was becoming way to much. I barely knew the guy for goodness sake. And because of him, all of this is happening to me.

I heard the crunch of more glass, letting me know Keagon was coming closer. He then handed me phone, before wrapping his arm around me again. Giving me some support he said, "It's time to call him."