by Gardner, A.
"Oh wow! He proposed did he? How lucky for you!" She grabs my hand and studies the diamond. It was strange to see her normal clothing. My mind had pegged her "Cindy the slut" but in the normal outfit she was she didn't look as slutty. But her boobs still spilled over her top.
"Yep. He did."
"Listen," she continues, letting go of my hand. "I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to mess with what you and Jack have goin' on."
"Don't worry about it."
She smiles and glance at my diamond a second time.
"So have you set a wedding date?"
"No," I sigh. That was the last thing on my mind at the moment.
"I bet Earl is excited," she giggles, staring off at the wall. "He was always very kind to me. Have you called him yet?" I look down at the floor for a moment.
"No," I gulp. "Actually . . . he passed away." Cindy looks stunned. She takes a step back to steady herself.
"What?" She runs her acrylic nails through her straightened hair. "Is that true?"
"Yeah," I nod. "It was very recent." Her face changes and now she's covering her eyes as if about to cry. The gesture makes me want to cry.
"When's the funeral?" she asks in a low voice.
"Um . . . two days."
"Wow." Cindy shakes her head. "Well, have a safe trip home. Tell Jack . . . actually it would probably be best if Jack didn't know I was here." She smiles again.
"Okay," I agree. I shut the door and catch my breath. The water is running in the bathroom, cutting off my ability to think. That wasn't a bad thing. If there was a way to forget the last couple days I'd consider it. Well . . . only certain parts. I look down at the reminder on my finger that things would be okay. The diamond sparkles in the light. The worst had to be over.
* * *
"So nice to finally meet you," Leah says, smirking as she shakes Jack's hand.
"You too," Jack nods.
"Whoa!" Leah grabs my hand with sparkling eyes. "What is that?" I hear Jack chuckle. Leah looks from me to Jack, unsure if the rock on my finger was from Rex or the guy dropping me off.
"Well since I'm staying the night I might as well tell you." I look to Jack. "Jack and I are engaged."
"What?" Leah practically jumps on me.
"Okay." I try to pull away from a tight hug. "Okay Leah."
"But you'll have to cover that before you meet Mom and Dad." She points to the end of the tattoo peeking out from his shoulder. "Jus sayin'."
"We haven't had the Mom and Dad talk yet," I comment, pushing my way inside. I drop my bag in the living room, looking at the leather couch I'd most likely be sleeping in. Jack insisted I didn't stay the night alone, and he had a few funeral arrangements to take care of early in the morning. It was late and Leah was my best option. That and I needed someone to take my mind off what was going on. Leah was perfect at distracting people. I mean she distracted her roommate Jenna for an entire week before she realized Leah's ex boyfriend had temporarily moved in. The guy parked cars for a living. Deal breaker.
"Don't worry," Leah chortles. "They're not that critical. If you wear a suit and hardly say a word you might be fine."
"Thanks for the warning," Jack teases.
"Oh and no wine. Bring a vase of flowers and a six-pack instead."
"He gets the idea," I mutter.
Jack puts an arm around me and gives me a goodbye kiss. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure," I reply.
"You could always tag along," he grins.
"It's just one night."
"I'll take good care of her," Leah chimes in. She shuts the door before Jack can say anything else.
"Leah!"
"Girl, you've got some explaining to do." She slumps down in the couch and searches for the remote. "Uh what happened to billionaire Rex?"
"You saw the papers didn't you?'
"Oh yeah," she laughs. "I saw them, and if the tabloids were always right-"
"They were right," I interrupt. She looks flabbergasted.
"Are you serious?"
"I wish I wasn't," I mumble.
"So . . . Holly is . . ." She covers her mouth with her hands.
"Yep."
"Preggo?" Leah rolls her eyes. "And you thought me and Jenna had a dysfunctional friendship."
"That's not all," I gulp. I figured that Leah might as well know the real reason I was staying the night at her place. It was an address safe from Dr. P's eyes. Hopefully. I glimpse around the apartment, following Detective Lewis's example. All the windows are closed and the sliding glass door in the kitchen is shut. "I've been having issues with a guy at work."
"Sexual tension huh?" She giggles. "Wow it never stops, does it Kat?"
"No," I protest. "I sort of have a stalker." She scratches the side of her face and takes a deep breath.
"I thought I had a stalker once." She nods. "Yep. The same guy followed me home for like two weeks straight." She pauses then suddenly giggles. "Who knew he'd turn out to be my new neighbor?"
"Not that kind of stalker," I say in a low voice. I stare at her until she starts to comprehend that I was serious. Dangerously serious.
"What? Were you planning on sharing that after you turned into a missing person's case? Anything else I should know? You have a secret child too you don't want me to know about?"
"No kid," I respond. "Just a diamond and a guy who drives a Chevy."
"Right to the good stuff." Leah smiles and adjusts her tank top. "You sure Jack is the one?" I nod, letting the memory of his face warm my torso. "You sure he hits everything on that list of yours?" My thoughts are interrupted.
"I'm through with the list, sis. That thing did nothing but torture me for ten years." I'm startled by the loud sound of Leah clapping.
"Finally," she replies. "Those rules were stupid anyway."
"Yeah well . . ."
"So can I be a bridesmaid?" Among all our topics of conversation that seemed to be what really fascinated her. Wedding details. "Have you set a date yet? OMG! Sadie is gonna freak when you tell her. That chick is crazy."
"Of course you can be a bridesmaid, and you only met Sadie once."
"I can spot crazy a mile away." Leah jumps up and hugs me again. And on the subject of dates, I wanted to do it sooner rather than later. I also wanted a small, conservative ceremony but that would all fly out the window once Mom got the news. Maybe a quickie in Vegas was the right idea?
Colors. Cakes. Dresses. Centerpieces. It all swarming in my head all at once, making me anxious. The worst part was my maid of honor. I didn't have one.
"Well I'm beat," Leah says. "You know where the linens are. Jenna is asleep already."
"Thanks," I sigh.
"Hey, things could be worse." She chuckles, running her fingers through her long caramel hair. "But they're not. You're engaged. You get to hang with your awesome little sister. . . You're engaged." I smile.
"See you in the morning."
I'd spent a good three hours tossing and turning on a semi-comfortable couch. I roll to one side, letting my sore back have a rest. I had too much on my mind to sleep, but I was exhausted. Only a pill could help me clear my thoughts.
I finally decide to get up. I stretch, letting my tense muscles relax a little. I walk to the tidy kitchen and pull a glass from the cupboard. The water runs from the faucet and the noise drowns out some of the noise in my head. The cool water soothes my throat as it goes down. I close my eyes and try to imagine my wedding day. A day free of complications. Just me, Jack, and the freedom to go wherever we wanted. I take a long calming breath.
My attempt to relax is cut short. A sound outside startles my lungs, sending them into irregular breathing patterns. I close my eyes again. Calm down. You're going to give yourself a heart attack if you don't calm down.
The sound disturbs me again and I put a hand on the counter to steady my shaky legs. My stomach tightens to a knot as I hurriedly flip off the light switch and cautiously put an ear to the wall. I hear a quiet crunching outside. It mov
es closer and closer and suddenly stops. I bite the corner of my mouth, forcing myself to calm down. You've got to sleep sometime.
The crunching continues, moving closer and closer to the sliding glass door in the kitchen. I tiptoe across the hardwood floor and place a hand on the wall. The noise stops again. An animal. It's just an animal.
I slowly take a few steps towards the couch but the rustling of bushes outside is enough to make me insane. I couldn't close my eyes without wondering what the hell was making the leaves in the yard rustle. The wind wasn't that restless.
"Fine," I heave. I walk back to the kitchen and reach my hand to the curtain. It hesitates a little but I force my mind to overcome its childish dilemma. I was hearing things that didn't exist, letting my mind make up ridiculous scenarios. I slowly pull aside the curtain, letting moonlight fill the kitchen. My eyes adjust to the darkness outside and instantly my throat closes up. I see a figuring hovering by Leah's bedroom window.
I let go of the curtain and drop to the floor - my insides jumping. I feel my stomach boil over as my brain fills in the missing pieces. I remember the blade against my back. The way the cold steel dug into my skin and sent a shooting pain up my spine. I hear the crunching noise start again. They were footsteps and the footsteps were closer to me. I burry my head in my hands. He can't hurt you. He can't hurt you.
A finger gently rubs the glass, slowly moving to outside handle. I hear a light jerk as the night stalker attempts to open the sliding glass door. My limbs start to feel numb as I push my mortified behind across the wood floor. A phone. I just needed a phone. That would end this nightmare. I scoot a little closer to my bag. And closer. And closer.
The handle is now being jiggled. The soft scratching and subtle tinkering makes my jaw drop.
I gulp, scooting again as my arms shake. I focus on my bag and nothing else. I set my mind to one specific task - calling the cops. I reach my bag and my hands remain frozen. I hear more light scratching and flail my body at my phone. It falls into my hand, sliding perfectly into my palm. I dial my saving numbers and wait impatiently as the phone rings. The ringing in my ear seems to last for hours until I hear a voice at the other end asking me what my emergency is.
I open my mouth but can barely speak.
"There's someone outside," I force out in a scratchy voice. "He's . . . he's trying to break in." The jingling noise gets louder. "Please. Help." Another loud scratch.
"Your address mam?" Click.
"What?"
"Where are you located?" Click. My brain was fuzzy, hiding obvious details like Leah's address.
"Um . . . 573 Mulberry?" Click.
I hear a hand hit the glass. The noise is loud enough disrupt sleep. As my eyes watch the glass gradually start to move, my brain realizes what's happening. Someone is breaking in. Someone who found pleasure in peeking into the windows of sleeping college girls. A night breeze moves through the room and I instinctively lunge towards foyer. My body rolls around the corner and waits.
The glass door creaks as it slides, letting in a heavy set of footsteps. I cover my mouth as the footsteps pace the kitchen. I can hear my own breathing. The footsteps seem farther and farther away. Inhale. Exhale. I stare down at the phone in my hand the excess light was sure to draw attention to me. Inhale. Exhale.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The high pitched scream punctures my skin and reaches right into my pounding heart. My wide eyes are about to pop out of my head as I jump to my feet, a rush of adrenaline pulsing through my veins. I didn't know what I was doing. But I did know that if anything happened to Leah while I sat still around the corner I'd never be able to forgive myself.
Time seems to slow down as I round the corner and nearly slip on the shiny kitchen floor. I sprint to Leah's bedroom, my worst fears coming true as I see a glimpse of what lies ahead of me. It was him. Dr. P. He'd found me and he was about to do something terrible to my baby sister.
My organs feel like they're squeezing together all at once. Time continues to move at a sluggish pace as my eyes dart around the kitchen for something useful. Something sharp. My fingers grab the only thing handy. I grip the end of the steak knife, my hand shaking. I burst into the bedroom as Leah lets out another shrill scream. She is being pulled off her bed by her hair. She grabs her scalp, eyes glossy with tears. Her face cringes as he pulls her again, this time more violently.
"STOP!" My shouting catches his attention. He turns to me, his eyes blank and cunning. He wasn't himself. He smirks a smirk that freezes every vertebrae in my back. My hand shakes even more as he takes a step closer to me. I'm reminded of the closet I wanted to forget. The fear returns, paralyzing me.
He takes a few steps and suddenly his hands are at my throat. The tightness sends a burning pain through my body. I can feel the air leaving my lungs. My vision starts to blur. I kick and attempt to shove away his hands. All were useless attempts.
"KAT! NO! DON'T DO THIS!" Leah's screaming pulls me from my daze. I had to do something. This couldn't be the end. There was still so much I hadn't said - hadn't done. I see my family. I see my friends. And in that moment my shaky hand lifts on its own. My head and heart knew it had to come to this. The only thing I could do.
I plunge the knife into his nearest piece of flesh. It slides into his skin with ease like a needle puncturing tissue. His hands immediately let go. I desperately gulp down air, watching him stumble towards the bedroom door. His hands reach around, trying to grab the knife from his back. He yelps and looks up as the sound of sirens blast through the walls. I grab Leah as he runs back through the sliding glass door and disappears into the backyard. An overwhelming sense of relief overcomes me.
"Are you okay?" I whisper. Leah can hardly speak. Her eyes are fixated on the smears of crimson on her bedroom floor. "Please say something. Tell me you're okay."
"I'm okay," she replies. I see Jenna's frightened face glance inside.
"Jenna," I say to her. "The police are outside. Bring them here." Jenna nods and rushes to the front door. My ability to think returns as I hold Leah's shivering body. "It's okay." Feet clang through the kitchen. "They'll catch him this time."
"Are you sure?" she mumbles, still in a state of shock.
"He's tired, wounded, and not very far." Two policemen enter our room. "Yeah. I'm sure."
Chapter Eighteen
"I can't believe I left you there," Jack whispers. The two of us stand side by side in a quiet chapel. A line of people slowly pass Earl's shiny casket. A wreath of white and yellow tulips sits on top of the closed lid.
"It's over," I reply. "They found him."
"Still." Jack smiles and shakes a few hands. The whole situation was surreal. Earl's casket was in the room but it didn't feel like he was really gone. I half expected to see him lying in his hospital bed when I returned to work. It helped that I was here, standing next Jack. His solemn expression wasn't as depressed as before.
"Forget it," I whisper again. "That's behind us now." I pull my camera from my purse. It had been a long time since I'd taken any pictures. That used to be my way to unwind - strolling through the park capturing the image of leaves falling. I touch the camera and it brings back a sense of satisfaction. "May I?" Jack grins.
I attempt to find an interesting subject through my lens. A woman gently touching a tulip petal. Jack tilting his head in the light. A little boy sitting impatiently on a bench. All brought me different feelings. I snap a few pictures, wondering what type of wedding dress might photograph best.
After a night at the police station, Jack and I decided on an early spring wedding. It would give me enough time to plan and also break the news to my parents. That's if Leah hadn't told them already. But she was planning an impromptu trip to Europe. After that night she'd had some sort of wake up call.
I search for another subject. A woman walks in wearing a tight dress and stilettos. She walks carefully through the room, playing with her bleach blond hair. Oh no.
"Cindy?" I hope the men
tion of her name doesn't reach Jack's ears. "What are you doing here?"
"Just paying my respects," she replies, looking like she might cry. I didn't buy it. I stare at her cleavage and tan skin. Her eyes dart around the room until they find Jack. "I'm sorry . . . I shouldn't have come."
"Oh," I reply, feeling bad. "It's okay." You're already here. The damage has been done.
"Cindy." To my dismay Jack spots her right away. She was pretty hard to miss. "What the?"
"I'm sorry Jack." She wipes a fake tear from her cheek. "I was in the area and I thought I'd stop by and . . . say goodbye."
"Right," he responds. His solid arms gesture towards the casket. "Well. Go ahead."
"Are you mad?"
"Of course not," Jack answers. "It's the day of my father's funeral and my ex girlfriend shows up. How could I be mad?"
"You are mad." Her voice goes quiet as she looks down at her heels. "So sorry for your loss." She bites her lip and turns around.
"Wait." The sound of Jack's voice makes her face gleam. She turns back around in an instant. "Why were you in the area?" Cindy smiles as if pleased that Jack was taking an interest. Even if that interest was a bothered one.
"I didn't mention it?"
"Uh no."
"I'm moving back," she smiles. My legs freeze in place. I discreetly look at Jack with a sideways glance.
"Why?" he says again.
"A job opportunity." She tosses her hair. "Anyways . . . be seeing you." The sound of her heels fills the chapel as she leaves. Jack is still standing there fuming.
"She's not going to leave us alone you know," he mutters.
"What was I supposed to do? Throw her out?"
"Yeah," he responds, wide-eyed. "That's exactly what you should've done."
"You're acting like she's moving in next door," I comment. I raise my eyebrows. "She wouldn't do that."
"Don't rule it out."
"Then we'll just have to move," I suggest. I smile, grabbing his hand to lighten the mood. "To Paris." He chuckles and puts his arm around my shoulder. I breathe in his scent, finally feeling like things were going my way. We both stare at the colorful wreath on Earl's casket. "What do you think he would've said?"
