“I’m sorry to interrupt, but these have been sent to you both as a gift.” The waiter places my glass on the table and is about to give Jake his when Jake stops him.
“Hold on a minute. Who sent these?” Jake asks. The waiter looks slightly miffed at being asked this question.
“They didn’t give a name, sir.”
“Well, if they didn’t give you a name, then what did they look like?”
“Um, it was a woman. Blond hair, average height…” his voice trails off as I stand up abruptly and scan my eyes across the room. My eyes dart from left to right.
It has to be Caitlin. No one else with blond hair would buy us both a drink.
In my peripheral vision, I see the waiter pushed aside by Jake, and then he is standing next to me. Jake puts his arm around my shoulders, but I don’t feel any less threatened.
“We’re leaving. Tell Dean that I will settle the bill when I see him,” Jake says to the waiter, even though all we have been brought so far is two soft drinks.
“But, sir, I can’t just––” The waiter is trying to stop us from leaving. I want to slap him.
“You can’t what?” Jake bellows. “Just tell Dean that Jake Waters had to leave unexpectedly.” With that, Jake guides me to the exit as fast as possible.
No one else tries to stop us from leaving. I’m still looking for any signs that Caitlin may be near. She can’t have gone far, seeing as we only received the drinks moments ago. Jake instructs the valet to retrieve his car keys. The valet clearly senses the urgency and returns seconds later with the car keys. We walk to Jake’s car and he basically lifts me into the passenger seat. I feel like I am in some sort of daze, and my body starts to shake. I am unsure if it’s from fear or anger, or both. Jake gets into the driver’s side and he drives us away from the restaurant quicker than he probably should.
Why can’t this nightmare be over already?
Chapter Twenty
Stacey
I wake up the next morning to Lydia knocking on my bedroom door. I groggily sit up and tell her to come in. She pushes the door open and sits at the end of my bed.
“Morning, babes. How are you feeling?” she asks me. My mind takes me back to last night and I groan. Jake brought me back from the restaurant and filled Lydia in on what had happened. He wanted to take me to his place, but I just wanted to be at the flat. Lydia promised that she would take care of me, but Jake was taking no chances and he ended up sleeping on the sofa.
“I’m just so fucked off with it all, Lyd. Why won’t she leave us alone?”
“I don’t know the answer to that. I just know that we need to make sure that she doesn’t come near you again.”
“She’s ruining my life, Lyd. What the hell did I ever do to her?” I feel myself start to get so angry over the whole situation.
“Nothing. You have done nothing wrong in any of this. The crazy bitch should be locked up.” Lydia is just as mad about the whole thing. I sigh and throw the covers off of me.
“Has Jake gone?” I ask as I put my dressing gown on.
“Yeah. He had to go into the office, but he said that he would call you later.”
“Okay.” I feel a little disappointed that I didn’t get to say goodbye to him before he left. Things were going so well between us last night before the champagne incident. “I’m going to go and make a coffee. Want one?” I ask Lydia.
“Yes please.” She follows me into the kitchen and sits at the table. I busy myself making the coffee, but I can feel Lydia’s eyes on me the whole time.
“Why are you staring at me?” I ask her. My tone comes across more irritated than I would like it to.
“I’m just worried about you, Stace. I don’t like seeing you this angry.”
“Well, I’m sorry to upset you, Lydia. Forgive me for being a bit pissed off at life right now.” I shouldn’t be snapping at Lydia, I know that. It’s just getting so difficult to keep a lid on my emotions. “I don’t deserve any of this. I know that I’m far from perfect, but how did I fuck up so badly that I now have some deranged ex of Jake’s, basically, stalking me? It’s clearly not enough for her that she has already injured me and given me some sort of memory loss in the process. I just want it to stop, Lyd. I want it to stop.”
I start sobbing in the kitchen and I no longer have the strength to continue with any of this. I slide down the cupboard until I am sat on the kitchen floor. I pull my knees up to my chest and hug them with my arms. I bury my face in my knees and I let out all of the anger and frustration that I am feeling.
Lydia’s arm goes around my shoulders as she sits beside me, and just holds me. I don’t know how long we sit there for, and to be honest, I don’t really care.
I need all of this to stop once and for all.
Jake
I bang my desk with my fist after speaking to the police. Stacey and I called them last night to update them on what had happened at the restaurant. I thought that it might help with bringing Caitlin back into custody. Turns out that I was fucking wrong. Apparently, Caitlin has an alibi for last night. I know that her alibi is bullshit. She was at Claringtons, and she was the one who sent over those drinks. She’s fucking with us.
I wish that Stacey’s memory would return completely, then she could give a solid statement, and all of this could be over a damn sight quicker.
I feel like I am losing my mind.
I need to think of a way to help her out of this situation.
If only there was some way that Caitlin would confess…
Stacey
It’s been a couple of hours since my epic meltdown. I apologised to Lydia for my behaviour, and she was completely understanding which made me feel even more guilty for the way that I spoke to her. I need to keep my emotions under control. I can’t go taking it out on the people closest to me.
As I lie on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my phone vibrates on the bedside table. I pick it up and see that I have a message from Jake.
Hi, Stace. Sorry I had to dash off before you
woke this morning. I was going to come and
see you when I had finished work, but I have an
urgent meeting to attend. I will call you
tomorrow.
Jake xx
I sigh and chuck the phone on the bed. I’m disappointed that I won’t get to see him today, especially after last night. I hear a knock on the front door and I lie still.
I see Lydia walk past my room and I call out to her. “Lydia.”
“Yeah?” she says, back tracking so that she is stood in my doorway.
“Don’t answer that. It could be Caitlin.” Even a simple knock on the door has me questioning whether it should be answered. This is no way to live life.
“It’s fine, babes. I know who it is.” With that she disappears from sight and I hold my breath as I hear her answer the front door. I hear a lot of shushing, but I can’t make out who it is. I sit up, waiting to see who has called round. I don’t have to wait long, and when I see who it is, it brings a massive smile to my face.
“Martin!” I squeal as I get up off the bed and walk over to give him a hug.
“Baby girl,” he greets me, giving me a gentle squeeze.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were coming over?” I ask him.
“Lydia and I thought that it would be a nice surprise. I’m guessing that it is?”
“Of course it is.” I release him, and I see that he is holding a bottle of wine in his hand.
“Lydia also tells me that you are no longer on any painkillers.” He waggles the wine in front of my face and I can think of nothing better than sharing a bottle of wine with my two closest friends.
“Lydia would be correct.”
“Well, come on then, let’s get this baby poured.” Martin turns, and I follow him into the lounge. Lydia has already gotten three wine glasses out and placed them on the coffee table. I take a seat on the chair, leaving Lydia and Martin to share the sofa. Martin opens the bottle of wine a
nd pours each of us a glass. We all pick up a glass and Lydia announces that she wants to make a toast.
“To Stacey. I know that the last couple of weeks have been tough, but you have handled the situation better than either of us would have. You are the strongest person that I know. I’m proud of you, babes.” I smile at her and am touched by her words.
“And can I just add,” Martin says. “Thank you for letting the gorgeous Jake Waters back into your life. I may have only met him once, but fuck me, he is a sight to behold.” Lydia and I burst out laughing and we clink our glasses together.
I take a sip of my wine and close my eyes at how delicious it tastes. This is the first drop of alcohol that has graced my lips since the attack. I am not a big drinker, but it is nice to be able to share a drink with my friends.
“So,” Martin says, interrupting my silent appreciation of the wine. “When am I going to be properly introduced to Mr Waters then?”
I roll my eyes at him. “You’re incorrigible,” I reply.
“Just want to get to know the guy in your life, baby girl,” he replies.
“I promise that you can meet him again, soon.”
“I’ll hold you to that promise,” he says with a wink.
“How is Clayton anyway?” I ask, changing the subject. “I haven’t seen him for ages. Didn’t he want to come over tonight?”
“Oh, he’s passed out on the sofa. His job is just so demanding, you know?” If Martin wasn’t a close friend of mine, then I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at his answer. Unfortunately for him, I notice the way in which he avoids my gaze as he answers. I know Martin and I know that something isn’t right with the two of them. I don’t pry as he obviously isn’t ready to tell me yet. Either that, or he doesn’t want to say anything in front of Lydia.
“Maybe he can come to lunch with us next week?” I say.
“Yeah. Maybe.” Martin doesn’t expand on his answer and the flat goes silent for a few moments. Lydia breaks the silence by suggesting putting some music on. She goes over to the stereo and pops on a CD. As music plays quietly, Martin finishes his first glass of wine and pours himself another one. “So, Lydia, how is your love life going?”
“Not great,” she answers miserably. I give her a sympathetic look as I know that she is missing Paul.
“Oh no. Want to talk about it?” Martin asks. I expect Lydia to say no, but she doesn’t. She surprises me by starting to tell Martin about how she made the mistake of sleeping with someone else.
As she tells the story, I start to get another flashback. It is of the moment that Lydia is talking about. I listen intently, and I let the memories back in.
I can picture everything that she is saying. The images are of her telling me that she slept with someone else. I sip my wine quietly and wait to see if the memory is going to stop, but it doesn’t. It carries on.
I usually only remember snippets of things, but this is different.
As I finish my glass of wine and let Lydia and Martin carry on their conversation, I am overcome with what I am experiencing. I close my eyes for a moment and images flash through my mind at quick speed.
From the moment that I saw Jake at the Bowden Hall looking so handsome in his suit, to the way in which he made my heart flutter as we danced together.
From Jake taking me home in his limo, to me leaving Charles after he confessed to sleeping with someone else.
From moving in with Lydia which leads to the awful moment when Donnie assaulted me. Jake was the one to come to my rescue, he was the one who cared for me in the aftermath of the assault.
From the night that Caitlin slashed Jake’s arm with a broken vase, to my altercation with her in Jake’s kitchen the next morning.
From Jake and I kissing at his place, to him rejecting me, leading to me returning to Lydia’s flat.
From me re-starting to work at The Den, making up with Jake, and dress shopping for an event at Waters Industries which led to Jake and I giving into our feelings and spending the night together.
From Caitlin becoming more and more erratic in her behaviour, to the attack that has left me with an everlasting reminder in the form of a stab wound. I can picture myself led on the floor, eyes closed, ears alert as I hear Jake and Eric enter the office, then I see Jake cradling me in his arms, speaking three words that left me feeling some sort of peace despite the dire situation I was in.
“I love you.”
Three words that cause my heart to beat rapidly and my adrenaline to accelerate as I remember. It’s all just come back to me, as if the memories hadn’t disappeared in the first place. No warning and no signs. It’s all just there, like something has clicked into place again.
My eyes fly open and I take a few breaths. Lydia and Martin haven’t noticed that I zoned out for a short time as they are still deep in conversation. I want to burst with excitement at the fact that I have remembered.
I can’t keep quiet. I have to tell them.
“Holy shit,” I say, making them both jump and look at me with wide eyes at my outburst. “I’ve remembered, guys. I’ve remembered everything.”
They both stare at me for a moment like I have lost my marbles. I stand up and put my wine glass down with shaking hands.
“Everything?” Martin asks, and I nod my head at him frantically.
“That’s awesome,” Lydia says as she also stands up.
“It’s all just slotted into place. You were telling Martin about Paul, and the next thing I know, everything that I had forgotten is rushing back to me.” My lips pull into a smile at the amazing thing that has just happened. “I can’t believe it.”
There was a part of me that genuinely thought that I wouldn’t regain my full memory. I start to laugh and cry at the same time as relief washes over me. Lydia and Martin both come over and envelope me in a hug, one stood either side of me.
“Baby girl, that’s fantastic news,” Martin says.
“It was like watching a film, but it’s actually my life.” I regain some composure and excuse myself to go and use the bathroom where I splash some water on my face and stare at myself in the mirror.
I’m back. I’m completely back.
I feel a little shaky as I dry my face and return to the lounge. Lydia and Martin are looking at me expectantly and I see that my glass has been refilled.
“You okay?” Martin asks.
“Yeah. I’m great.” If a little overwhelmed by my emotions.
“Stace, when you say you have remembered everything, do you remember what happened with Donnie?” Lydia asks.
“Yes.” Not the most pleasant thought, but at least I know now exactly what happened.
“And you’re okay with that?” she says.
“Of course I’m not okay with it, but the fact that I have remembered everything far outweighs what he did to me. I know now that I have already dealt with that part of my past. Jake was there. He helped me.”
Jake.
Jake is always helping me.
He has done nothing but be there for me, even when I forgot him.
I suddenly have the urge to see him. I know that he said that he had a meeting, but he might be back home now. I go to my bedroom and grab my phone, but I don’t have any messages from him.
Maybe he is still busy?
I walk back to the lounge and an idea strikes me.
“Hey, guys,” I say getting Lydia and Martin’s attention. “How do you feel about accompanying me on a little trip?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Stacey
Lydia, Martin and I are on our way to Jake’s house, in a taxi. Seeing as we have all been drinking, no one would have been able to drive. I know Jake said that he had a meeting, but it’s late evening, so I can’t imagine that he will still be at work.
Lydia and Martin were thrilled with my idea of turning up on Jake’s doorstep to surprise him. As we get nearer to Jake’s place, I feel myself getting more excited. I really hope that he is there.
“This is so exciting,�
�� Martin says. He is bouncing up and down in his seat.
“We’re nearly there, guys,” I say as we turn into Jake’s road. I can see his house in the distance and I see that the lights are on.
Oh, please God, let that mean that he is home.
The taxi pulls over outside his house and I look to the other two for reassurance that I am doing the right thing by turning up here.
“What are you waiting for?” Lydia asks me.
“Maybe I should have called first?” I reply.
“Nonsense. Now, get your butt out of the car and go and see him,” she says.
“Yeah,” Martin chimes in. “Go and see your man, baby girl.” I give them both a nod and open the car door.
“Could you guys wait here until you see him open the door? He might not actually be here. He may have just left some lights on.”
“Yes we will wait,” Lydia replies.
“Hell, I’m going to be peeking the whole time. I want to see what happens,” Martin says. I roll my eyes at him and close the car door as I look to Jake’s house. I can’t see any movement, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t home.
I walk towards the driveway and the gravel crunches under my boots as I make my way to the front door. I walk up the steps and before I can change my mind, I knock on the front door. I fidget on the spot as I wait to see if he is home. My heart is pounding, and I start to get the familiar feeling of butterflies in my stomach.
It feels like I am waiting forever, and I am about to give up, when I see a figure through the frosted glass of the front door. The figure is making their way to the front door and I hold my breath when the door starts to open.
And there he is, stood before me, looking more handsome than when I last saw him.
Jake’s eyes go wide as he sees me stood there, and I drink in every bit of him that I can. His jeans, his black shirt which is untucked, his unruly hair and his caramel eyes which bore into mine.
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