Slowly he continued, “You do know the person in the picture with you.”
“I do. Who?”
He shrugged, saying softly, “It was David.”
“David? Impossible.” She knew her voice rose, but was unable to control it.
“How would you know it’s David? You’ve never met him, unless . . .” She sat back in her chair, comprehension dawning on her. He’d been in on it the whole time. Cynthia, too. She’d been blind
As if reading her mind, Phillip started shaking his head profusely. “Don’t go there again, Sophie. It’s nothing sinister. I’m not out to get you, at least not in the way you’re thinking.”
She sat frozen to her seat, wanting desperately to hear the words which would tell her he had nothing to do with everything awful going on in her life. “Go on. How did you know the person in the picture was David?”
With one hand, Phillip reached into his back pocket and handed something to her.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Just look at it,” he answered quietly.
Taking it, she looked down at the picture apprehensively. Immediately, she recognized David and the location where it’d been taken. He sat on an old wooden dock, the sun behind him. He had his sunglasses on and he was smiling. She smiled back, the memory of the picture surfacing within her. It had been a great time. She’d enjoyed every second of their honeymoon.
All at once, she remembered he hadn’t been alone in the picture. They’d asked a local there to take a picture of the two of them. Quickly, but with great emotional difficulty, she unfolded the picture. Sure enough, there she was on the other half, smiling happily as well.
I was naive, she thought sadly, a solitary tear dropping onto the picture.
“Now you understand how I knew it was David. Even if I had a question, though, there’s also an inscription on the back,” he said tenderly.
She turned the picture over to read what she already knew would be written there. It said: David and Sophie Berkeley. Honeymoon. In addition, a new inscription had been added. Nauseated, she read: Cynthia, my darling, here is the picture you asked for. Love, David.
What an egotistical jerk he is, she thought. To Phillip, she said, “I can’t believe he didn’t, at least, rip me out of the picture.” She wanted to rip the picture and every thought and thing that had ever had anything to do with David to shreds. Instead, she deliberately handed the picture back to Phillip saying, “You had no idea Cynthia was pregnant with David’s baby as well?”
“No.” he returned. “She’s completely broken up about losing the baby. She wanted it, even though David wants nothing to do with her.”
She understood because those were the feelings she had for her baby. “Did she say why he didn’t want anything to do with her or the baby?”
“No, but I’m guessing it’s because of everything he’s been doing to you. He had to run so they wouldn’t catch him, right?”
“True.” She nodded.
“Also, she told him she was having a girl and after that he quit answering her calls and refused to talk to her.”
Sophie remembered David saying he only wanted a boy.
Phillip went on, “It was probably just a coincidence because the police are after him.”
“Probably,” she agreed and wished things were different with her and Phillip. Now she was sure he would go back to Cynthia. She’d heard enough and was certain Phillip had come over to tell her their small but significant relationship was over. She didn’t want to hear the words from him.
Curtly, she stood and said, “Well, thank you for telling me all of this. It puts a lot of things into perspective. Cynthia is lucky to have you in her life. If you don’t mind, though, I’m tired and I’d like you to go.”
“Wait. Why?” he asked, shocked.
She turned away. She didn't want him to see her crying again.
In an instant, he had his arms around her. “What’s wrong?”
“Would you stop being nice to me? Just go to Cynthia. I know she needs you and loves you.”
He turned her around. “Sophie, you’ve got it all wrong. Cynthia doesn’t have me for anything more than a friend. I stayed with her until her parents flew in from New
York because I thought I should, but the whole time I thought about you. All sorts of crazy ideas.” His breathing had become more rapid as he continued, shaking her a little, “Don’t you know how I feel about you?” He bent down and kissed her, his soft lips crushing hers, begging her to understand.
After a long while, they broke apart. Caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, he said, “I’ve fallen for you. No, that’s not totally true. I’ve fallen in love with you Sophie.”
Pulling his head down to her, she opened her mouth and kissed him, feeling love and longing course through her body. I really do love him, she realized happily. In the back of her mind was a nagging question, though. Letting go of him, she asked, “Phillip, what about the kiss in the theater? I saw you kissing her.”
Softly, he answered, “No, she kissed me. It was completely unexpected.”
He tried to kiss her again, however, she wasn’t finished.
“Do you mean it? I’m not asking for anything. If you want to be with Cynthia, now is the time to tell me. I can take it. Believe me, I’ve endured worse.”
“Sweet, Sophie. You are the only one for me. I’ve known it since you helped me in the theater. I only want you.”
“What about my baby? I’m pregnant with David’s baby, the same man your ex-wife was having a baby with. You’d have to be a father to a baby whose biological father stole your wife. Can you live with all of the history this child will carry?”
Tears of fear, and sadness rolled down her cheeks. This was hard, because of her feelings for him, but her child was more important than anything else. She wanted Rose to have unconditional love, by both parents. Barely getting out the last, but most important question on her mind, she asked, “Can you love this child?”
“Honestly,” he started slowly, obviously realizing how important this moment was, “You’re pregnancy threw me, and finding out your husband and my wife were together . . . really threw me. The fact remains, though, I love you. I’ve thought a lot about it, and, it doesn’t matter who the biological father is. The baby is a part of you, which means I’m already in love with this baby and she had better get ready for me because I’m going to be an overprotective dad.”
Sophie carefully considered the lines and furrows in his face, trying to determine whether or not he lied. He seemed genuine. Nothing in his demeanor suggested otherwise. Relaxing the tension she’d been holding inside, she leaned into him, saying,
“Good. Although we might have to work on the overprotective part. Trust me, it has the opposite effect.”
Once again, their lips found each other and, after a moment, once again, he let her go, saying, “Sophie, there is one more thing I need to tell you.”
“What is it?” she asked, opening her eyes.
His demeanor had changed.
“Tell me,” she prodded.
“I’ve got to go to New York for a few days.”
“Why? Cynthia,” she choked out, feeling ice form around her heart.
“No. I don’t ever plan on seeing Cynthia again. This has to do with my father and the family business.”
“You’re sure?” she asked, trying not to sound like a child.
“I promise. I’ll be gone a few days. After that, I’m all yours.
She nodded as he leaned down and gently kissed her again.
After they said their good-byes, she closed the door, leaning heavily against it. She realized she was crying again; only this time, she didn’t care.
Please be telling the truth, Phillip, she thought, trying to ignore the foreboding in her soul.
Chapter 19
For the first time since she'd started teaching, school seemed like a chore to Sophie, as if she were carrying a burden that couldn’t be lifted.
Classes seemed to move in slow motion. Looking at the clock, she wondered if the day would ever be over.
Part of her problem was Phillip was gone. He’d told her he loved her, then he left, but it was much more. She sensed something wasn’t right. It was a feeling in the deepest part of her being telling her to be careful. If only my intuition told me what to watch out for, she thought, guessing, though, she already knew.
Finally at three forty-five, she finished up her paperwork for the day and went to find Rina. Sitting heavily in a chair opposite Rina’s desk, she began gloomily, “Rina, I’m tired.”
Rina looked up vaguely amused, obviously preoccupied. “I’m not surprised, dear. You’re carrying a baby, working full-time and dealing with emotional issues. I’d be exhausted, too, if I were you.”
“Any suggestions?” she questioned, knowing there wasn’t a good answer.
“Hon, you’ve got to take it easy,” Rina retaliated softly.
“Take it easy, huh? Sounds simple enough, except my life is happening right before my eyes. As it is, I’m still trying to catch up.”
Rina smiled indulgently. “You’re right, dear.”
“He left, you know,” Sophie said, sulking.
“I know, but he’ll be back. He isn’t gone for good. Phillip is a good man, and I’ve no doubt he cares about you. Hang in there. Things can only get better from here.”
“You think?” She started anxiously. “I feel like something bad is going to happen.”
“Like what?” Rina asked, tolerantly.
“Well, for example, last night I dreamt I was trapped inside something, like a box, only it was transparent. I could see out, but I couldn’t get out. I looked everywhere for a door, only there wasn’t one.”
“Strange dream, hon,” Rina interjected.
“It was. All of these people were walking past me. I kept screaming for someone to let me out, but it was as if I wasn’t even there. Finally, you walked up to me, stopped and smiled. You had such a sad look on your face, and you kept trying to say something to me, only I couldn’t hear you.”
“I’ll say it again. Strange dream, hon, but that’s all it was, a dream.”
“Maybe, but there’s more. Do you mind if I tell you the rest? It's got me kind of freaked out.”
“Oh, of course. Go on,” Rina replied.
“After a while, you walked away and Phillip came up to me. He said something to me over and over again. I tried with all my might, but I didn’t understand him. I kept yelling, ‘Let me out! Please, help me.’ He smiled sadly, walking away.”
“Dreams can be crazy sometimes,” Rina said, trying to keep her voice light, though her face indicated she thought it was weird too. Quietly, she continued, “Finally, my mom and dad came over to me. I was sobbing. My clothes were wet from my tears at seeing them and not being able to touch them. I screamed, ‘Help me! Help me!’ My mom smiled, and I was momentarily comforted. I thought they were going to get me out, only before they could, they began to disappear. I started banging on the glass, yelling, ‘No! Wait!’ When they were almost gone, I heard my Mom say, ‘Wake up Sophie.’” She didn’t tell Rina about the grayish-black mist with yellow eyes which had been there with her, inside the glass cage. It seemed too freaky, and she didn’t want Rina to think she’d lost it. The last time she tried to tell Rina about it, she’d ignored the comment completely. Repeating her dream out loud made it seem less frightening. Her instincts told her something was wrong and the dream tried to give her clues.
What they were, though, she could only guess.
Rina tried to smile. Instead she grimaced. Finally, she said, “You know, I’ve heard of women having crazy dreams when they’re pregnant. It’s obviously bothering you. Why don’t you call your doctor, see what she thinks?”
“Good idea. I will,” Sophie responded, sensing she already knew what the doctor would say.
“I’m sure it’s just your stress coming out in your dreams. They say they’re healthy. Besides, look how far you’ve come. At this time last year, you were living a lie with a creep for a husband and nowhere to go. You’ve come a long way since then. I’m proud of you.”
Sophie appreciated all of her encouragement, but her words didn’t decrease her feeling she was in danger. Still, there wasn’t any more she could do about it here. Standing, she walked to the door, said good-bye to Rina and left.
Maybe a drive will do me some good, she thought. When she was young and had been upset, her dad had always taken her for a drive. It worked then and she hoped it worked now.
#
When she’d almost reached her destination, she knew she would do more than just drive by. She wanted to go for a hike. She wanted to be up, once again, in the mountains that had always made her mom and dad seem closer.
Parking, she stepped out of her car, closing the door. A thought came to her that perhaps she should’ve let someone know where she was, but she pushed it away, starting excitedly up the trail.
The air was crisp, yet inviting. And although most of the trees were bare, there were still several different types of pine trees holding onto their greenery. Breathing in deeply, she continued up, enjoying the firmness of the earth beneath her feet and the smell of the mountains. It didn't matter the time of year, she loved being in the mountains, loved the peacefulness abounding there.
Maybe it’s the higher elevation, she thought vaguely.
She decided to take an easier trail because of her condition and was glad she had. Half way up, she breathed heavily and needed to rest. On her right, she noticed an opening in the trees, with a large rock situated close by.
Veering off, she walked over and sat down. As her breathing became normal again, peace enfolded her.
“Oh, mom, how did I let myself get like this?” She closed her eyes, hoping for an answer, gently rubbing her increasing abdomen. Thoughts poured out of her. She wondered if her mother had met her baby’s spirit, if she knew her grandchild.
What’s she going to be like, Sophie marveled, hoping her daughter would like her?
I hope I’m half the mom you were to me, Sophie thought, remembering all of the wonderful things her mother had done for her, with her. I want to give her a life full of love and joy, a place where she feels safe.
“I’ve thought of a name, too, mom,” she confided. “I’m going to name her . . .” She stopped, hearing someone near her. Whipping around, she saw him, the man who’d come to represent the opposite of everything good and kind in the world.
It was David.
“Hello, Sophie,” he said casually, taking a step toward her. Standing quickly, she looked around, trying to plan an escape in her mind.
If I can just get to my car, she thought.
“David, what are you doing here?” she yelled, trying not to sound panicked. She wanted to kick herself for coming up here alone, for ignoring her instincts and especially for underestimating David.
Simply, he said, “I’ve been following you.” With fortuitous ease, he bent down and picked up a rock, flipped it over, looking intently at it, like he was on a nature walk and he’d just discovered his treasure. After a couple of seconds, though, he chucked it away, walking toward her again. “I’m sure you had to know I’ve been keeping track of you. It’s what I did while you and I lived together; you can’t believe I’d stopped. I’ll always need to know where you are.”
He stopped about three feet in front of her, smiling maniacally. “You’re my wife, Sophie, which means you’re mine.” His words sounded forced, as though it took all of his effort to maintain his composure.
Full of fear, she tried to take a step backward, but he caught hold of her wrist, holding it fast.
“Where do you think you’re going? Stay and talk. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good talk,” he cooed venomously. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a rope, resting it on top of her wrist.
“What’re you going to do with the rope?” She cried, trying to wiggle her wrist free. “I
’ve got to go. Let me go, please,” she pleaded, trying to use her other hand to pry his off. Instead, he grabbed her other wrist, twisting it behind her back. Crying out in pain, she instinctively turned her back toward him, hoping to ease some of the pressure. It did momentarily, when he let go of the first one he’d been holding. She realized too late, though, she’d done exactly what he wanted her to do.
“Ouch, David, you’re hurting me,” she yelped, dropping her head. She noticed the rope had fallen to the ground during the scuffle and quickly put a foot over it.
“Nice try, Sophie,” he growled, sliding his hand down her leg menacingly.
She tried in vain to crush his hand with her foot. All it did was allow him to get to the rope easier.
“Perfect,” he stated waspishly, snatching her other hand and proceeding to tie them both tightly behind her back. Once he was finished, he grabbed her by the arm and turned her around to face him.
“Why are you doing this?” she sobbed, looking up at him through her tears.
He roughly wiped them away.
“Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. I’m afraid you’ve driven me to this. I can’t have my wife telling people I’m a bad man, now can I?”
“But I wouldn’t tell anyone David, really I--”
He slapped her hard across the face.
“Don’t lie to me. You’ve already told plenty of people. Rina, the police, a lawyer, your new boyfriend, and your psychiatrist. It’s been decided. I’m going to have to get rid of you.”
“Get rid of me?” she repeated, with a catch in her throat. She peered into his eyes again, noticing this time the insanity within them. The kindness and gentleness that had once been there were gone, replaced, without a doubt with evil.
She thought how absurd it was to say people don’t change, when she realized in this moment, based on choices a person makes, everyone can change, either for good or bad. It plain boiled down to choices.
“I’ve tried to win you back,” he continued. “I’ve sent red roses, explaining my love for you. I’ve given you more than enough chances to come to me and apologize for your mistakes. Well, Sophie, time’s up and now I’ll have you my way. Dead.”
Sleeping Roses Page 17
