by Kay Edwards
Chapter Twenty-Six
Stefan flinched as he watched Jake's fist come down on Wendy’s face again. He spoke to Malcolm as they continued to watch the footage. “I wasn’t prepared for this. He is not holding back.”
Malcolm agreed. “I can’t believe they got off with hairline fractures. Carla should have had some type of bleeding you would think.”
Liam turned his face away as he watched Jake hold Wendy against the car. He had seen enough. “I can’t watch anymore.”
Stefan nodded as his brother left. He had to admit it was hard to stomach. Not only could he see the assault but he could also see the terrified faces of Cory and Sean. “He must have been drugged up on something. Look at those two. He is throwing them both around like rag dolls.”
Malcolm grimaced as he watched Carla getting hit. “How did they not pass out cold? He gave them quite a beating. It took them some time to gain the upper hand.”
Stefan’s voice was soft. “Those little boys watched the entire thing. Look at their faces. I want to do this man some bodily harm right about now.”
Trevor agreed. “I can’t believe they let him out on bail. Malcolm, I really hope your connections get this monster off the street.”
Aaron also watched the footage. He shook his head. “I can’t believe Carla thought we wouldn’t want her anymore. This man is vile.”
Stefan turned it off after watching Wendy calm the boys. He shook his head. “I don’t know how to help them. This is what they see when they close their eyes. It is no wonder they can’t sleep.”
Trevor pulled out his cell. “We can always look it up on the internet. I’m sure there must be some helpful things on there.”
Stefan listened as Trevor gave them a list of different things to choose from. He glanced at Trevor. “Aren’t they in the kitchen now drinking coffee?”
Malcolm answered for Trevor. “I think they are.”
Trevor looked at his father as they followed the two men toward the kitchen. He grinned. “I know this is not funny, but I have got to see this.”
Aaron watched as Malcolm took the cup of coffee in front of Carla away. It was apparent that Wendy had seen it as well. He shook his head at the look on the woman’s face as Stefan walked toward her.
Wendy picked up her cup of coffee and started sipping it. Her eyes never left Stefan’s eyes. “I’m not sure why Malcolm wanted to risk his life like that, but you should know this will not end well.”
Stefan chuckled as he watched her sip her coffee fast. “We are only trying to help.”
Carla frowned at Malcolm and then Stefan. “Exactly how is this helping? I’m trying to figure out if jail is worth the crime. Give me back my coffee Malcolm.”
Stefan looked at the women. “Trevor looked some things up online.”
Trevor held up his hands as the women turned toward him. “I didn’t tell them to come in here and take your coffee. These two decided to do that themselves.”
Wendy continued to sip her coffee. “We are tired. This is helping us stay awake.”
Stefan decided to try another approach. “If you try this now, it could benefit you tomorrow. Don’t you want to have a good night’s sleep for Christmas Day?”
Wendy took the cup away from her lips. “I’m listening.”
Malcolm looked at Carla. “We looked up some ways to help you four sleep. It may help if you try them.”
Carla looked at the cup he put in front of her. He was letting her know he would not stop her from drinking it. She didn’t pick it up. She glanced up at him. “I’m listening too.”
Wendy sat her cup of coffee on the counter as they explained what they had found out. She frowned at Stefan and Malcolm. “We do not need you drawing us bubble baths. We can do that ourselves.”
Carla was a bit concerned. “I have to give up the movies? Malcolm, I do not like this relationship right now.”
Malcolm was immediately thrown off the subject at hand. “So, you agree we are in a relationship?”
Carla nodded her head. “I fell asleep on your lap last night. I may not be happy about all these feelings, but I’m not dense.”
Aaron coughed. “I think we should get back to the subject of helping everyone get a good night’s sleep.”
Stefan and Malcolm continued to lay out their plan for that evening. They smiled as they finished.
Wendy looked at Stefan. “I guess we could give that a try. It sounds like it may work.”
Carla agreed, but she had a few concerns. “We can’t do this all of the time. How do we ease back into normal once we are back at the penthouse?”
Liam choked on his coffee. He smiled at Trevor. “This is going to get fun.”
Stefan frowned at his brother. “You are not helping.”
Wendy looked at Stefan. “What exactly is he not helping with?”
Stefan smiled and touched Wendy’s cheek. When she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, he spoke to her gently. “I’m keeping you and the boys here. Malcolm wants Carla to stay too. It is a great idea. Will you stay?”
Wendy sighed not really hearing Stefan. “Ok.” Her eyes opened as his words sunk in. “You are what?”
Carla put her hands on her hips as she looked up at Malcolm. “I do not recall giving you permission to boss me around.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes. “I will never ask permission to come up with ways to keep you safe. Stop being difficult about this.”
Trevor chuckled at Malcolm's lack of finesse. The look on Carla’s face was hysterical. He glanced away as the man frowned at him.
Carla took a step toward Malcolm. “What did you just say?”
Wendy knew she and Stefan were going to be having words about this, but right now she wanted to see what would happen.
Malcolm knew he had not quite worded things right. He decided to start over. “Please let me help keep you safe. I can’t watch you getting hit like that again. You have a skull fracture. Your beautiful face is cut and bruised. If he comes for you again, it could cost you your life and me someone I would love to get to know better.”
Liam leaned over and spoke to his father. “He’s good. Look at her she is all dove eyes now.”
Carla glanced at Wendy. “I will do whatever you do. He is being rather nice with his words right now.”
Wendy frowned at Malcolm. “Of all the things to say it had to make sense. What is up with you men saying just the right thing?” She turned and looked at Stefan. “We have to make sure that we avoid looking like we are doing something wrong.”
Stefan shrugged his shoulders. “Or we could move the date closer.”
Wendy thought of the way it felt to sleep in his arms. Wendy had to admit she felt cherished and safe in his arms. She did like sleeping there more than she should. Wendy knew he thought she was going to disagree. Taking the time to weigh the temptations this new arrangement would bring, she had to agree. They needed to move the date closer. She glanced up at him. “We are done with our counseling. I’m okay with the middle of January.”
Stefan was getting ready to argue his point when it hit him what she said. “Wait… What did you just say?”
Wendy picked up her cup of coffee. Walking over to the sink she poured it out. “I can see your point. I didn’t save myself, so I could ‘almost’ make it to my wedding night. It was hard enough staying only a week at a time and not giving into the attraction. There is no way I want to push temptation by living together months at a time. Unless Jake is back in jail in a few weeks, this is the safest place for us. Months is exactly what we are looking at.”
Stefan pulled out his cell and looked at the calendar on it. He looked back up at her. “That only gives us three weeks. Are you sure?”
Wendy nodded. “I am positive.”
Trevor looked at Liam. “That is not how I pictured this going at all. I thought for sure she was going to be difficul
t.”
Liam nodded. “I have to agree. I thought for sure she would be giving him a bit more grief.”
Wendy glared at Trevor and Liam. “I’m standing right here. You two need to be nice.”
Trevor chuckled. “We are being nice. It would be rude to talk about you behind your back.”
Stefan shook his head. “You both need to stop.” He took Wendy’s hand and led her out of the room.
Wendy glanced up at him when they walked into one of the sitting rooms. She knew he was concerned with how quickly she had agreed to move up the wedding. “I’m ok with this Stefan. I’m ready.”
Stefan touched her face. “Are you sure? I don’t want to push this unless we have to. I want a beautiful wedding. I also want a honeymoon we remember fondly. I don’t want to scare you.”
Wendy thought for a moment. She decided, to be honest. “It is getting harder for us even when there are people around. We have had at least three different occasions in which we had to censor ourselves. Even without Jake in the picture, it’s time for us to take the next step. I want to be married to you. I want everything that entails too. I assure you I am not afraid of our honeymoon.”
Stefan glanced down at her. He knew it had been difficult for him to keep his mind in check. It had not even occurred to him that she did too. He had always assumed the kisses affected him more than her. He took a deep breath. “I guess we are getting married in three weeks.”
Wendy smiled up at him. “I think you should kiss me now a chaste kiss of course. The ones that leave me breathless and blushing we need to save for the honeymoon.”
Stefan chuckled as he pulled her into his arms. “I think I can do that.”
