by Amie Nichols
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left.” I look at him and I can see he is no longer mad just very concerned.
Jacob puts on some rubber gloves before he opens the envelope. Unfolding the piece of paper inside, he reads it to himself. I see his jaw tense and his temple throb. Jacob reads the note aloud and then shows it to us.
“The first time our eyes met. I knew you felt it too. Don’t fight it. You know you belong with me.”
“Did you see anyone?” Jacob asks throwing the note on the coffee table in anger. “This is why you don’t leave on your own,” he says getting up and walking around the couch punching his hand with the other.
“I think she’s learned her lesson,” Miss Finnegan interjects coming to my defense knowing that I am scared out of my mind.
“Have you?” Jacob walks back around the couch and sits on the coffee table in front of me, his eyes bore right into me.
“Yes,” I mutter not looking him in the eye. I’m filled with shame and can’t stand to see the disappointment in his face. Luke places his hand on my knee and gives it a squeeze.
“Lilly, you scared us and then you wouldn’t answer your phone,” Luke grates. Even though he is trying to be calm, I know he is still very angry.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat and look up at Jacob and then to Luke. “It won’t happen again, I swear,” I tell them and I know I mean it. I take the note off the table and read it again.
“The first time our eyes met?” I read it aloud baffled. “Does this mean I know him? Does it mean it’s Simon?” I look up at Jacob for answers.
“It’s not Simon,” Jacob says getting up and walking over to the bay window staring outside.
“They were able to find two witnesses that were at the Schooner last night who remembers him being there at the same time while the stalker was here,” Luke explains to me when I look at him with confusion to Jacobs’s reaction.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” I ask apprehensively. They both still seem so upset.
“No, it’s not Lilly,” Jacob barks and it makes me uneasy to see him so tense. “Now we have no idea who it could be.” He turns from the window and flops in the chair across from us.
“But I must know him. It says the first time our eyes met,” I read the first part of the note again. Luke leans up placing his elbows on his knees and looks to Jacob to explain.
“You have the worst kind of stalker there is, someone you don’t know,” Jacob says softly as he starts to explain. “You probably have seen him at the store, the bank, or somewhere most likely public. You showed him kindness, something he would not be used to.” Jacob gets up and moves back to the coffee table in front of me. “It could have been something as innocent as a smile, some jester or something that was normal for you, but stood out for him.”
Jacob continues his tone still soft. His knowledge of this sort of thing is more apparent now. “And from that random act of kindness, he felt there was a bond. He then would have started following you and all along a fantasy has been playing out in his mind. A fantasy of you and him together, a fantasy so real that he would have started believing it was true.” Jacob stops when he sees me shiver.
“Shall I continue?” He directs his question towards Luke who has now put his arm around me.
“Yes,” I answer the question and look up at Miss Finnegan who is still standing on the steps that lead from the kitchen to the family room. I notice that Jeffrey is now standing next to her and they’re just listening. I wonder how much of this they already know. I look back at Jacob and give him a nod to continue.
“He made his first appearance four and half months ago. So by my best guess, it would have been shortly after Jane and Ted died when you first encountered him,” Jacob says, watching me as he explains. “Like I had said, it would have started as following and watching.” “Then as his fantasy grew, that is when he would have broken in.” Jacob stops again. I must be white as a ghost because he turns to Miss Finnegan and asks her to bring me some hot tea.
“Baby, are you alright?” Luke asks taking my face in his hand and turning it toward him concern in his eyes.
“Yeah, I’m just trying to process all of this,” I tell him trying to sound as normal as possible.
“So you said that’s when he would have broken in. What was he looking for?” I ask Jacob, who has a look on his face like he wants to stop. “I want to know,” I say reassuringly so he will continue.
“A keepsake. Something of yours to feed his fantasy. It could have been an article of clothing or something you were wearing the day he met you. That’s why I asked you to check if any clothing was missing, but you didn’t know because you and Emma had been doing so much shopping. You had donated so much of your old stuff that you weren’t for sure.” Jacob recalls my answer and I remember thinking how it was weird that he would ask me that.
“It would have been something that you had worn but not washed. Your smell on it would have been important.” Jacob stops when he sees my face. I remember something from the day he had broken in.
“My pillow, one of my pillows was gone,” I tell them. I had not thought of that since that night but I honestly did not think twice about it. I figured Miss Finnegan had taken it for some reason and forgot to bring back.
“Lilly, that is why I asked you to think of anything that was missing no matter how trivial you thought it was.” Jacobs’ frustration coming out again and he rubs his hands through his hair. “If I had known about that, I would have known what we were dealing with,” he says through his teeth, which suddenly makes me angry.
“Well, maybe if you had enlightened me with some facts, I would have thought of it!” I snap back at him. How was I supposed to know he was talking about something as trivial as a pillow? I thought he was talking about something of value little or big.
“She’s right dear,” Miss Finnegan has returned with my tea and I motion for her to put it on the table next to the water, which I haven’t touched yet. Not sure why they keep thinking I need something to drink. “I’ve been saying all along that you need to tell her,” she says to my defense.
Speechless, Jacob looks at Miss Finnegan and then to Luke shaking his head. “Why worry her if we didn’t know?” He defends himself. “In my experience, that is what you do.” He now seems to be questioning himself and a look of guilt passes his face, which breaks my heart that he could think any of this is his fault.
“I can’t help but think how things would be different if Dad had told me any of this was happening.” Luke is now angry looking at his dad.
“Now wait a minute, so now this is my fault?” Jeffrey shouts at his son.
“Stop, stop!” I yell. “It’s no one’s fault. I will not have everyone turning on each other.” The room goes silent. “What would he be doing with my pillow?” I ask Jacob, not knowing if I really want the answer.
“It makes him feel closer to you. Having your scent feeds the fantasy even more.” Jacob explains averting his eyes and becoming more agitated. “He’s a sick pervert, Lilly, and you have to swear to me that you will not leave this house alone again!” Jacob stresses again now looking me in the eyes.
“I promise,” I repeat to him.
“Now that he sees Luke as a threat, I’m afraid it is only going to get worse. He is becoming increasingly more aggressive,” Jacob says getting up again and starts to pace, which only makes me more anxious.
“Okay, I think that is enough for now,” Luke interjects and I am glad. I am starting to feel very woozy and Jacob is making it worse instead of better. “Drink some water baby.” Luke hands me the water and I take a sip. It does make me feel better.
“My sister is in town. I invited her and her boyfriend over for dinner before all of this happened. Dad and Mom were going to join, but I can cancel if you are not up to it.” His face is filled with concern, but I think it will be a good distraction from all the craziness so I nod my head to let him know its fine.
Jacob huffs out of the room mumbl
ing to himself that he has some things he needs to take care off.
Miss Finnegan gets back to making dinner and Jeffrey tells us he is going home to get showered, changed, and will be back with everyone.
“I want to go to New Orleans tomorrow and go back to Bon Dieu’s to see if I can find some answers.” I tell Luke now that we are alone, but I can tell he is not crazy about the idea. “Emma and Jacob can come, even Max if you want.” I try to convince him but he still gives me a look of apprehension. “Please, I really need to do things to keep my mind off of it,” I plead.
“Okay, but you will not stray from the group, and you have to listen to us,” Luke finally agrees and I wrap my arms around him. He leans back on the couch as I snuggle up to his chest his arms tightly around me. It feels so safe in his arms. I tilt my head up and kiss his chin. The little whiskers that have formed since he shaved this morning poke me. “I love you,” he whispers, reaching down he takes my lips with his. His mouth opens and his tongue slips between my lips as his kiss deepens.
“I love you too,” I answer when his lips move from mine and he places a firm kiss on my forehead. “I’m excited to meet your mom and sister,” I murmur my face buried in his neck. I inhale deeply to capture his sweet scent.
“I know they’ll love you,” Luke says kissing my forehead again. “So I have to know, what was so important that you had to leave today?” He asks worried about what I was doing.
“I went to the bank to add you to my personal checking account, and I was going to go to Elliott’s office to get Jacob’s contract, but I came straight home after I found the note,” I explain to him.
“You added my name to your account?” He sounds surprised and flattered at the same time. I just nod, my face still against his neck. “Although I think that is…, well awesome, I don’t think it was worth the risk.” He is scolding gently not wanting to offend me.
“I really did not know the risk Luke. I wouldn’t have gone if I had known all of this.” I wave my hand in the air at all the information I have learned in the past hour.
“I’m sorry. We should have been more honest with you. I didn’t know the real dangers myself, until this morning talking with the guys about their experiences,” Luke explains. We cuddle on the couch for a while until we decide we need to get ready for our dinner guests.
Chapter 31
Jeffrey returns around seven with Carley, which is Luke’s mom, and she tells us that Sarah and Lee will be here shortly. Carley is beautiful with brown hair like Luke’s that is short and curly. She doesn’t wear a lot of makeup and doesn’t need to. She looks really young for her age and is tall but very slender. It is easy to tell where Luke gets his good looks from when I see Jeffrey and Carley together. She greets me with a warm hug and tells me how glad she is to finally meet the girl who stole her Luke’s heart. She takes my face in her hands and stares into my eyes. Her eyes are the same as Luke’s, kind and tender. “You are just as beautiful as Luke has described you,” she says giving me the warmest smile.
Sarah and Lee arrive minutes later and we are still in the entryway when they ring the bell. Luke answers the door and gives his sister a big bear hug as he lifts her off her feet. “I’ve missed you sis,” Luke bellows finally setting her down and turning to Lee who is still hovering in the doorway. “Lee,” Luke greets him not so warmly and gives him a short handshake. Lee politely greets back. It’s obvious the feelings go both ways. Luke turns from Lee taking Sarah’s hand and walks her in my direction.
“Sarah, I want you to meet Lilly,” Luke says beaming and I can see the love he has for his sister is deep.
Sarah is overwhelmingly beautiful. She’s tall like the rest of her family and is wearing a skirt that shows off legs that seem to go on forever. She is slender like her mother but has good muscle tone. Also like her mother, she is wearing very little makeup because her skin is flawless and like porcelain. She has thick, long straight hair that she has braided and it lays over her shoulder cascading down her front. As she walks toward me it is almost like she is glowing and her warm kind eyes stare at me making me feel very inadequate in her presence. I reach my hand out to shake hers, but just like her mother she takes me in a warm embrace.
“I feel like I know you already, Lilly,” she says as she lets go of me. “I am so happy to finally meet you.” She beams down at me.
“I’m glad to finally meet you also.” I return her sentiment but start to fidget feeling very uncomfortable all of a sudden.
“Lilly this is Lee, my fiancé,” Sarah introduces Lee to me not before giving her brother a look of distain that he had not done it yet.
“Nice to meet you Lilly, you have such a very nice home,” Lee says to me and he seems about as uncomfortable as I am. He’s good looking with a preppy look. His blond hair styled neatly with some distinguished looking glasses. He is about Sarah’s height and a little heavier. He is definitely not muscular and is dressed in khakis with a button up shirt and tie. He reaches his hand out to shake mine but Luke steps in front of me just as I’m about to reach my hand out to his. Luke acts like he didn’t mean to do it but it is obvious to me that he doesn’t want Lee to touch me.
“Well, shall we go to the dining room?” I announce to draw the attention off the awkwardness of what just happened.
In the dining room, I sit next to Carley and start to make conversation with her as Luke pours everyone a glass of wine.
“Lilly sweetheart, you have no idea what it was like with Luke when he was growing up. He would always come home and tell me how beautiful you are.” Carley tells me and I blush at her statement. “He wanted to take you away from here so many times. One night he was so mad at Jeff and me for not letting him come over here and rescue you he actually punched a hole in the wall. Can you believe that,” she says glancing towards Luke. “You are all he could think about, you know,” she says taking a sip of the wine that Luke just poured in her glass.
“I told you,” Luke leans down to whisper in my ear as he pours me some wine. “It has always been you, Lilly,” he says his lips grazing my ear before he stands up and he goes to the kitchen for another bottle of wine.
“Growing up with him was easy compared to the last two years,” Sarah joins the conversation sitting across from me next to Lee, who is trying to make small talk with Jeffrey. Of what I can observe so far, Jeffrey thinks about as much of Lee as Luke does. “Especially, since your parents died,” she adds. “Sometimes, I thought that I was going to have to chain him down to stay away. And the nights that he knew you were on dates, those were the bad nights,” Sarah says rolling her eyes and making an agonizing face.
“I don’t know what to say,” I tell them extremely embarrassed by what they are telling me.
“Now we’ve made you uncomfortable. That wasn’t my intent dear. I was merely explaining to you how much my son loves you,” Carley says apologetically and squeezes my hand that is resting on the table. “But I guess you already know that then, don’t you,” she says looking at me and something about her eyes puts me right at ease.
“If you’ll excuse me, I am going to check on dinner,” I tell them as I get up and go through the swinging door that leads into the kitchen. Miss Finnegan is plating up salads when I walk in. I see Luke and Jacob are discussing something in the family room. “What’s going on?” I ask standing next to Miss Finnegan watching the guys as they talk.
“Just getting the salads ready dear,” she says not noticing Luke and Jacob as she hurriedly arranges the salads adding a tomato neatly on each fancy plate.
“No, I mean in there?” I point to Jacob and Luke in the other room. Miss Finnegan looks up for a second and shrugs before she goes back to making everything look perfect. “Don’t stress Miss Finnegan, you’re not cooking for Jane,” I tell her and she gives me a little smile before I walk to the family room to see what they are discussing.
“What’s up?” I ask when the guys look up noticing me coming toward them.
“I was just f
illing Luke in on some of the updates that we’ve made to security,” Jacob says and I can tell he is still upset with me. “I’m done with him. You can have him back now,” he says to me but doesn’t look at me.
“Luke can you give Jacob and me a minute?” I turn to Luke who just nods and gives me a quick kiss.
“I better get back to my family anyway,” Luke says before he heads back to the kitchen.
“What is it?” Jacob says coldly.
“Why are you so mad at me?” I ask him seriously but Jacob just shakes his head for a second. It’s as if he is on fire and he grabs my shoulders to look me in the eyes with so much intensity it startles me.
“Because I can’t lose you. You have to listen to me. You can never do that again ever.” His voice cracks as he scolds me. “I am mad because you didn’t listen to me. What if he grabbed you instead of leaving you a note?” He says and I can see the fear in his eyes before he closes them tight.
“I told you that I was sorry and that I would never do it again,” I tell him again and grab his forearms so he will let loose of my shoulders. In his frustration, he is squeezing a little too tight. He suddenly realizes his hard grip letting loose of my shoulders, but grabs me and pulls me to him. He gives me a tight hug rocking back and forth like I need consoling.
“Hey, come join us for dinner,” I tell him when he lets me go and I can see his eyes are glassy. I think he is fighting back tears.
“No, you need time with your new family,” he says sadly like he is being replaced.
“You’re my family and you always will be bro.” I punch his arm jokingly to lighten the mood. “Besides, Miss Finnegan is planning on you eating fancy tonight also; fancy food, fancy plates, and fancy wine. Come on, it will be fun,” I joke with him.
“Okay, you talked me into it,” he smiles back. I am glad to see that smile on his face again. Jacob puts his arm around my shoulder and we walk into the kitchen just in time to help Miss Finnegan serve the salads.
