“Soon, sweet pea. Let me just finish my tea and I’ll be right through.” I give her a smile and watch her disappear into the lounge area, where Sonny is watching TV.
My stomach is still feeling unsettled, hence the tea. The tiredness and nausea have got to be symptoms of stress from the case.
The not knowing will send me crazy if James Taylor goes another two days without contacting me. He’s probably busy charging me with insurance fraud as I sit here now trying to contain my sickness.
I tried giving him a call yesterday and the day before that, but had no luck. He seems to have dropped off the face of the earth now that he has my confession.
I only confessed because I wanted him to leave me the fuck alone and drop the case.
Caleb:How are things at home? Have you seen the car? Please let me know. Things here are quiet tonight so I should be able to come home if you need. Take care.
My heart fractures. He’s right about Sonny and Ellie. I can’t put them in danger. After probing about Caleb’s past, I see now why he’s so overprotective when it comes to his daughter.
I reply to Caleb’s text, finish the tea, and abandon it in the sink. I can’t keep my hair stylist waiting. But the nausea revisits nowthat I’m back on my feet. I slow down, grab the wall for a second until it passes, and slip into the living area.
“Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair!” Ellie exclaims.
I kiss Sonny on the temple on route to the chair she already has prepared for me.
“Why, thank you,” I giggle as she lays the makeshift cape over me—an old bedsheet that Caleb lets her use. “Lets keep our voices down, yeah? So we don’t disturb Sonny.”
This is one of those rare moments when he’s actually sitting down and not moving. Moments like these don’t come often. Sonny prefers playing to sitting down and watching TV like some of his classmates do. I love him for never being able to sit still.
I make sure the chair is facing the window so I can keep on guard—not like I’m much of a deterrent.
“I still don’t understand why we were sent home from school,” Ellie says, getting started on the braid. “Did we do something wrong?”
“No, of course not. Your teachers tell Caleb and me that you’re good students with a lot of potential. We just…” I stutter. I hate lying to the kids, but it’s for their own good that they don’t know about the stalker. “We felt you needed a rest, is all. You guys work so unbelievably hard.”
Ellie falls into deep concentration as she braids my hair. The relaxing feeling threatens to put me to sleep, but I stay on high alert. It’s twilight. That gives this man, whoever he is, the perfect chance to spy.
“Are you and my dad, like, a couple?”
“No, sweetheart,” I say gently, even though the question has my heart going a thousand miles an hour. My feelings for Caleb are still just as crazy and irrational. I hear both of our names spoken in one sentence and feel that same old yearning pull on my ribs. “Your dad and I are just friends.”
“That’s a shame.”
I see her reflection in the darkened mirror and notice her pouting.
Same, girl.
Another silence settles between us. I focus on Ellie’s soft fingers weaving through my hair and allow my eyes to shut for just a second. I get into the habit of opening them again in short intervals, just in case there’s activity outside. After repeating this pattern a dozen times, seeing nothing but darkness outside the window, I allow myself to sink into the relaxation for a little longer.
The past few days have exhausted me, but I go to bed at night wide-awake as usual. I’m an overthinking mess, and every time I see Sonny, I’m reminded that my days with him could be limited.
Up until now, I’ve been adamant about keeping Caleb and Sonny separate. Caleb doesn’t get to know about his son, because I don’t trust him to stay. There are times when I question the mistrust. I watch him and Ellie together and see how fucking serious he is about that girl, but I’m worlds away from trusting him again.
Introducing Sonny to Caleb will naturally bring us closer, which is a worry. Him finding out the truth will mean that we’re bonded, officially, as parents. And I’m still not sure about thistrust thing. But now, if I’m facing conviction and a possible prison sentence, Caleb should know the truth.
A white light pierces through my eyelids. I snap them open and shield a hand over my eyes, adjusting to the crazy bright light that’s strong enough to do brain damage.
“Ouch! That’s so bright,” Ellie says.
“Cover your eyes for a second, sweetheart.” I leap up from the chair. “We’ll resume in a moment, okay? Both of you—stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Grabbing my phone, I zoom into the kitchen and out the front door, where I’m blinded once again by the pair of headlights. Granted, there are no streetlights out here, but the full beam really isn’t necessary, especially when it’s shining straight into the windows of our house.
Is my father’s stalker finally choosing to reveal himself?
