You & Me: The Complete Series (3 Book Boxset)

by Lisa Shelby

“Emmers, where are you right now?”

  “We’re in the car about five minutes from home. Why?”

  “Sis, I need you to head to mom’s.”

  “Why? Mick, did something happen?”

  He sounds somber when he says, “Mom’s fine, but I don’t want you and Ireland at the house right now.”

  “Mick, is everything okay? You don’t sound okay.”

  “Emmers…they got in the house.”

  “What do you mean? Who got in the house, Mick?”

  I don’t understand him. It’s like he’s talking in code.

  “Whoever is messing with you, Em. Em…I came home and Frank was sitting on the front porch because the front door had been left open. I went into the house and nothing was taken, but when I got to Ireland’s room…Em…they messed up Ireland’s room. It’s bad.”

  I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut and all the air in my lungs escapes me. I can’t breathe. On a whisper I manage to say, “What?”

  “I am so sorry. I hadn’t gotten to turning on that alarm system yet, sis. When I find who did this I am going to make them wish they were never born. Trust that, Em. This is going to end now,” He hisses.

  “How do you know it’s the same person who’s been threatening me?”

  “Em, they left a note in your room. It’s the same person. It says basically the same thing all of those damn text messages from the last week have been saying. Now, go to mom’s because I don’t want you guys to see this. I have detectives on their way over. We’ll get things cleaned up as best we can before you come back. Where did you get Ireland’s bedding? I’ll see if I can replace it with the exact same thing so it isn’t so obvious to her.”

  I can’t even reply to him. It’s so bad that he has to replace Ireland’s bedding. What have I done that is so wrong that my baby girl deserves this?

  “Em, you there?”

  Shit! I need to snap out of this. I have a little girl to take care of. If the last week or so of my life is any indication, I’m on my own in this world except for Mick, Mom, Alex and Cami. I need to get my head right and work with Mick and do whatever he says.

  “Yeah Mick, I’m here. Her bedding is from Target and I think it’s one they always have in stock, but I can go get it. You don’t have to do anything else. It’s my fault your house was broken in to. I don’t know what’s going on, Mick, but I am so sorry.”

  “Stop it, Em. This is not your fault and that will be the last time I hear you talk like that. Listen, get to mom’s and I’ll call Cami and have her meet you there, okay? We’re gonna figure this out, sis. I won’t rest until we do. Detectives are here, so I got to go. Love you, sis, and call me if you need anything or if you get any more messages, okay?”

  “Okay, Mick. Thanks.”

  That was an hour ago. Now here I sit, perched on the edge of my mom’s couch with Ireland draped across my lap. I can’t seem to sit back and relax into the couch. I’m sitting on the edge feeling like I’ll need to jump up and protect my baby girl at any moment.

  Cami is gently rubbing her hand up and down my back and trying to soothe me with reassuring words. I think she’s worried because I haven’t really said anything in the last hour. Nor have I cried or had much emotion at all. I am just holding Ireland and staring blankly ahead. I know that my silence is freaking Mom and Cami out. I heard Cami on the phone updating Alex, and I could hear the worry in her voice. But I can’t speak. I feel like if I talk I might lose it. But I am a mom and I don’t get to lose it. I have a little girl in my arms that needs me to keep it together.

  Cami has been there for me every day since Jonathan’s shooting. She helped Mom and Mick with Ireland and then when Jonathan rejected me. Every day she has been there for me. She has let me cry on her shoulder, scream and rage over how angry I was that he was shutting me out, and most of all she has simply listened. In addition to my relationship woes, she’s been there through all of the threats that have started since I went back to work. She has been here every step of the way, just like she has been since that fateful day in elementary school. Turns out, her deciding we were going to be best friends, was the best decision anybody ever made for me.

  There’s a gentle knock on the door, and it startles all of us.

  “Hey, it’s okay. Mick probably just sent somebody over to ask some questions or to guard you or something. Don’t worry. You’re safe here,” Cami says as she continues to rub calming strokes across my back.

  Devon enters the room and my heart instantly stops. No. Not now. Please tell me he isn’t here with bad news. Please tell me that Jonathan is okay. I can hear my mom whispering with somebody in the hall, and I assume that Gabby must have come with him.

  “Devon, what is it? Is he okay? What’s wrong?”

  He just looks at me, then takes a step to the side. Jonathan walks in behind him, followed by my relieved looking mom. The moment I see him, all the tears I’ve been holding in come flooding out and I burst into silent sobs.

  Everything that happened this past week and a half comes crashing down on me in one fell swoop. From the scene at the wedding, to Jonathan’s shooting, the high of Jonathan loving me, to his rejection mere hours later, to the radio silence that followed, the threats and now the break in. Seeing him here and walking towards me causes my dam to break and the tears won’t stop. I knew I was stressed, but I had no idea how much I was truly holding in. I have always done my best in life to not need anybody, but I need him. I know this now.

  I feel Cami get up from beside me as Jonathan comes down to his knees in front of me. He takes my face in his hands, like I love so much, and leans his forehead to mine. He whispers my sweet nickname that I have come to love and crave from him, and I close my eyes and revel in the wonder of him actually being here.

  After what seems like barely a second and hours all at the same time, he releases me and puts his hand on Ireland’s head and simply stares at her for a moment.

  “Baby, we’re gonna have Cami take this sweet little princess into the other room, okay?”

  I just nod my head, still not ready to speak. The tears have stopped, and I’m slowly starting to feel stable with Jonathan in my presence, but I’m still not okay.

  He stands. Cami approaches us and gives Jonathan a hug and thanks him for coming. She bends down and as she takes Ireland from my arms she whispers in my ear. “I knew he’d snap out of it. He’s here and he loves you. He just needed time. It’s gonna be okay, chica. It’s. Gonna. Be. Okay.” She stands with Ireland in her arms, and she and my mom leave the room. Devon must be outside, because I don’t see him anymore, and it seems we’re now alone.

  He’s on his knees in front of me and is as close to me as he can get. His body is pressed against my legs and his hands are rubbing up and down my arms as if he is trying to warm me.

  “Talk to me, baby. Devon gave me the basics, but I need you to tell me what’s been going on? I’m here now, honey and I am so sorry for everything. We’ll talk about all that later, but right now I need you to fill me in and tell me everything you can.”

  Chapter 40

  Jonathan

  God, even in the shittiest of situations, being near her and being able to touch her again is everything. She is my everything, and I cannot believe that I shut her out. I am a selfish bastard. I really am.

  Emily is always so strong and determined. To see her look so defeated and in so much pain was something I have never seen before, and I hope to never see again. I can’t believe I haven’t been there for her. It’s almost too much for me to bear. Not only did I break her heart because I shut her out, but she had finally trusted me enough to love me and let me love her back. But I was so involved in my own self-pity that I wasn’t there for her when she needed me most. I couldn’t even be bothered to answer my phone or return a text.

  Enough.

  This selfish bastard routine is over and it’s time to take care of my girls. Right now I need to focus on finding the piece of shit that is doing this to
them, and then I will try my damnedest to earn back her trust and love. For now, I have to figure this shit out.

  It has to be somebody at the school. As soon as Blackburn was out on watch, the notes on the car and in the classroom stopped. She had gotten one strange text before the shooting, but the entire week she was out of school—waiting on my sorry ass to let her in—there were no threats. But they started again the day she went back to school. It has to be somebody at school that would have her number. We are going to have to interview everybody that she has given her number to.

  All of this is running through my head as I pull up to Mick’s house. There are several city cars here, and I’m relieved to see that everybody is taking this seriously. Getting out of my truck, I bend my neck to avoid hitting my head and get a twinge of pain from my injury. I had forgotten all about it. Even though I’m healing just fine, the pain is still there and I still have stitches. No more pain killers though, and no drinking for a while either. It’s time to deal with the pain, and not hide from it. As I walk towards the house, I have a feeling of dread come over me. Not only do I not want to see the damage that was done to Ireland’s room but I know I’m about to face Mick. After what I did to his sister this may not go so well. I deserve whatever he dishes out though.

  The pain in my neck is nothing compared to what I feel when I enter Ireland’s room. As I stand in the room where I have read bedtime stories, had tea parties, worn tiaras and tutus while playing princess, I am filled with a rage that has my heart beating so loudly that I can’t even hear myself think.

  Thud…thud…thud…

  Everything feels like it’s in slow motion as I look at her pink bedding cut to shreds. Somebody has taken a knife and literally shredded her blankets and pillows. There are feathers everywhere and her things are scattered all over the room. They have chosen one of her stufties to decapitate. Leaning against the body of that stuffed bear is a picture of Emily walking Ireland into school.

  WHAT! THE! FUCK!

  Rage. I am filled with rage.

  Whoever this fucker is has been following Emily and Ireland. They know where she works, where Ireland goes to school, where they live and they have Emily’s phone number. What the hell is going on?!

  I have to get out of this room before I lose it. I cross the hall to Emily’s room. Mick is standing there with Detective Noah Caldwell looking at something on the bed.

  “What is it, Mick?”

  Mick turns around and motions for me to join them. When I have full view of the bed, the scene isn’t anything dramatic. There is just a simple note that says,

  Leave mine alone and I’ll leave yours alone.

  “Mick, what the hell is going on? Who would want to do this to her?”

  “Fuck if I know, man.”

  Mick leaves the room and I follow him. He stops in the kitchen, grabs a coke for himself and hands one to me as well. Leaning against the counter on the other side of the kitchen, I have a direct view of the refrigerator, and I can see a new picture that has been added to the gallery of Ireland art that covers the appliance. This new picture says Happy Birthday Mommy on it. Then I see the wilting bouquet of balloons tied to a dining room table chair, and I realize on top of everything else I missed her fucking birthday. The woman I love was heartbroken, because of me, on her birthday.

  “Don’t worry about it, man. She understands and she’s resilient as shit. You’ve been through a lot and nobody expects you to get over everything overnight.”

  This is her brother, and I can’t let him let me get away with it that easily. I need to talk to him because if I’m lucky, he just might be my family one day.

  “Thanks, Mick, but I still feel like a dick. The guilt took over, man, and it reminded me of losing my friend Matt over in Afghanistan, and not being there when my mom died. It’s no excuse, and I know that I have a lot of work to do to earn back her trust. I swear I won’t check out again, man. This was a huge wake up call. Believe me when I say that I am in love with your sister. All I want to do is take care of her and Ireland and make them happy. I have been in love with her for years, and I’ll do anything not to lose her again. I know you probably want to kick my ass right now, but there isn’t really anything you can say to keep me away from her.”

  Mick crosses the kitchen and holds his hand out to me. He waits until I reach mine out to shake his before he says, “Good. As long as we’re all on the same page, and that Emmers and I are taken care of and happy, that’s all that matters. Now let’s figure this shit out.”

  Chapter 41

  Emily

  “Listen, Austin, thanks for stopping by before class starts. I am so sorry to bring you into this, but some strange stuff has been happening to me lately and the principal needs to talk to anybody that I might work closely with. There might be a police officer in the room as well, and I know that might make you uncomfortable. I am really sorry.”

  “No problem, Miss J. Of course I’ll talk to them. Are you okay?”

  He is such a sweet kid. I hate that he has to be involved in this.

  “I’m fine, Austin. Thank you for asking. If it’s all right with you Officer Blackburn is gonna walk you down to the office to talk to Principal Utz?”

  “Sure thing. I’ll see you later, Miss J and let me know if you need anything. After what you did for Jesse and how you take care of all of us, I got your back.”

  I walk him to the classroom door where Officer Blackburn is waiting and I thank him once more. This is so embarrassing. I hate involving other people in my problems and I certainly don’t want Austin to think that I suspect he could be involved in this in any way. He’s a kid who struggles and he has a rough family life, but he’s a good kid.

  I take a deep breath and prepare to endure even more embarrassment as I leave the classroom to head to the office and the library for Heidi. I know that the word is out and everybody knows what’s happening. Many of my co-workers are being brought in and questioned. I feel horrible. Stupid. Naive. These are not feelings I’m accustomed to. I don’t feel uncomfortable in my own skin.

  The one positive about today was that Jesse was back in class. It sounds like some family friends have stepped up and taken him and his brother in. Things are starting to look up for them. He seemed glad to be at school, and that is all that any teacher can ever hope for. I needed to see his face to help me get through all the unpleasantness that surrounding me.

  Sitting in the passenger seat of Mick’s over-zealous monster of a truck, I am completely exhausted and it’s only 11:30 am. The roller coaster that my emotions have been on since the Samson’s wedding has me on edge, and I’m hanging on by a thread. Now that Jonathan’s back, I should be happy, but there is still so much to say and so much going on with trying to figure out who’s creating this nightmare. I am exhausted.

  Mick insisted on picking me up and taking me to my mom’s where Ireland spent her day. Apparently, it was decided that I needed to go to school and keep my routine to try and draw out whoever is trying to destroy my sanity, but it wasn’t safe enough to let Ireland go to school. Mick and Jonathan haven’t shared many details, but I know that Ireland’s room was the target of the break in. The thought that this person would stalk me enough to know where I live and break in to my personal space has really rocked me. The fact that they are involving Ireland has me shook to the core, and I’m barely functioning.

  I also hate being such a pain in the ass to everybody around me. Mick took time off work to help figure all this out and fix Ireland’s room up as best he can. My mom has taken time off of work to help with Ireland. Jonathan is now spending his time on the case, and I am not even sure exactly where we stand. Not to mention all of the staff at school and even some students are being questioned. I hate this! This is complete bullshit! I just don’t understand what the hell is going on, and what I have unknowingly done to be on this side of somebody’s hate. A hate so strong they would break into my home and threaten my child. None of this makes any sense.

/>   The thought that this could be somebody that I see every day at work is unfathomable to me. I usually only see the good in people, and I am not naturally skeptical of others, but I feel as though this entire situation is changing me. I try not to show it, but I am second guessing everybody I talk to at work. Trying to listen closely to see if they say anything that could be suspicious at all. I hate the feeling of not being able to trust those around me, and the dread that I feel in the pit of my stomach is a constant. I can barely eat and my sleeping is sporadic. I tend to wake up in a sweaty panic most nights.

  When we get to my mom’s, Mick walks me in and then says he has to head out to follow up on some things. He’s still not telling me much and it’s making me feel like a child. At this very moment in time I don’t have the energy to fight him for more information, so I just let it go.

  The only energy I have left is for the little girl that just came running to me and jumped in my arms. I cannot believe how big she’s getting. Pretty soon I won’t be able to carry her around like this, and I know I need to enjoy every moment that I have with her at this age.

  I’m so glad that she isn’t old enough to understand more than she does right now. I can tell that she knows that something is off, and I know she wants to be home with all of her things, but she doesn’t know enough to be scared. Like I am. All the time. At the moment, she’s just so excited to be around her Grandma and see more of Uncle Mick that she thinks this is all fun and games.

  She does ask for some of her things so shortly after Mick leaves, I text him and ask him to bring a laundry list of things back to mom’s later that night. Mick says he’s on it and acts like it doesn’t bother him, but I hate that he is having to go out of his way again. I wish he would just let me in the house to get her stuff myself. That is impossible though since he won’t even let me drive right now. I decide right then and there that when he comes back later tonight, I will make a point of getting more information about the break in and when I can go back to the house. I love my mom, but she lives in a two-bedroom apartment and doesn’t have room for us. Ireland needs the normalcy of being around her things and not living out of her backpack. But, if it’s not safe I will not put her in harm’s way.