Stolen (18 page)

“Hi love.” She smiles when I answer the door.

“Hi Nessie.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I am okay, Blade has been a big help.”

“I am glad to hear it, can I come in?”

“Sure. Blade is asleep on the couch still, he is pretty tired.”

“Yeah poor thing. Hey listen love, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I have
organized
the funeral.”

“Oh…”

“It is the day after tomorrow, at a nice church in town.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“I am not sure, I am feeling okay, but then I haven’t had to say goodbye yet. I fear that I am in that stage where I think I am okay and then realization hits.”

“Let’s hope that’s not the case. Let me make you some tea.” Nessie says touching my arm and then hurrying into the kitchen where she makes us some tea.

We sit out on the porch and drink it; Blade wakes up an hour or so after she shows up. Walking out in just his jeans.

“Hey mamma.” He says yawning.

“Hi son, how are you doing?”

“I am okay, I didn’t realize you were here. You should have woken me.”

“No it is fine. I have been talking to Em anyway.”

“Right, how are you Em?” He murmurs, leaning over and kissing my head, his lips linger for a moment. Nessie smiles.

“I am okay. Nessie just told me the funeral is the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh sorry…”

“No it’s okay.”

“I will be there with you okay?”

“You two seem to be getting along well, it’s nice to see.” Nessie dares to say.

“Things are good Nessie.”

“Yeah, I am hardly going to leave her here on her own right now.” Blade says, pointing out the obvious.

“Well you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“You’re leaving?” Nessie gasps.

“Yeah Cass is coming home.”

“Oh son.”

“Don’t start mamma, I have copped enough from Em!” He moans.

“Well someone has to say it, she isn’t right for you son.”

“Yeah well that’s not fair, you taught me all this stuff about being a good husband and until Em came along you wanted me to make things work with Cass because it was the right thing to do.”

“I did teach you those things, but being a good husband means not sleeping with another woman.”

Blade looks like someone has slapped him. He glares at his mother.

“Fucking hell ma, why don’t you just slap me? I made a mistake, one
God
damned mistake, and I don’t plan on making it again. I love Em, but I am not going to do this to her or Cassie. So I am going back, you both need to let me!” He growls, standing and storming off.

That hurt like hell. When he is gone, Nessie and I sit in silence.

“I think I over stepped the mark.” She whispers.

“No Nessie, you were right. He shouldn’t be doing it and neither should I.”

“Come, let us make some more tea.”

We spend another few hours organizing
more funeral plans. When Blade
comes back he is still fuming. He storms past me and into the kitchen. Oh so we are playing that game? Fine. I don’t need his shit.

“I am going out for a while.” I say, walking into the
kitchen
.

“Where are you going?” Nessie asks.

“I am going to see Caleb.”

“What are you going to see that jerk for?” Blade snarls.

“He is my friend and he knew my family so well. I want to see him!” I snap.

“That is idiotic.”

“Leave me alone Blade.”

I turn and walk out, angry at Blade and everyone else. Heck, I am angry with the world. I find Caleb’s house and slowly walk up the steps. My mind is a foggy haze; I don’t even know why I am here. What point am I trying to make? I take a deep breath and knock on the door. The maid answers
.

“Is Caleb here?” I ask politely.

“Oh Em. I haven’t seen you for a while; I heard about your family. I’m so sorry. Come in.”

“Yeah it has been tough. I just thought I would come and see Caleb.”

“He is just in his room love, go on up.”

“Thanks.” I smile and make my way up to his room.

I need comfort; I hope he will give it to me. I need someone familiar. I knock on the door and he answers it, only wearing shorts. He is attractive enough to make my eyes widen.

“Hey.”

‘Em! My
God
, I have been trying to get hold of you!” He pulls me into his arms, and I feel a small amount of comfort.

“I just needed someone to be with.”

“Of course, you can come here any time.”

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I was just getting dressed, come in.”

“Sorry I didn’t get your calls my phone has been off.”

“It’s okay, I just can’t believe it.”

“Me neither…” I whisper, tearing up.

“Aw, come here.” He says pulling me close. Even though Caleb could be a jerk, he is good to me when I need him. I can’t deny that.

“You don’t mind if I stay with you today?” I ask, wiping my tears from my cheeks.

“Of course you can. Do you want to go somewhere?”

“No, can we just stay here?”

“Sure.”

I go and sit on his bed. I feel at ease with the familiar surroundings. I am so fragile right now; Blade has torn my heart out and everything has gone sour. All I want is comfort in any way I can find. 

“So, are you lonely in that cabin by yourself?” Caleb asks, sitting beside me and taking my hand.

“A little yeah.”

“Do you want a hug Em?”

“I would, I really would.” I smile weakly, and he pulls me into his chest. He smells good, and I feel safe in his arms. Even though I don’t love him, I do want him right now.

“Caleb?”

“Yeah?”

“If I asked you to do something would you?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Well I did the wrong thing by you all those years, and you hung around for me, now I want to make it up to you.” I whisper. My heart is screaming at me to stop, that this is wrong, but my mind has the upper hand.

“How do you mean?”

“I want to make love to you.”

“You do?” He gapes.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Now…”

“Oh! Right, I wasn’t expecting this.”

“You can say no…”

“No, I want to.
It’s
just… your family. Are you sure you want this?”

“Please, I need comfort. Please.”

“Ok.”

“Okay.”

He leans over to kiss me, and something deep inside is still screaming that it is not right.
There is
no passion, no sparks. Even though he is attractive to me, I don’t love him enough for this to be good. I want to be loved so badly. He kisses me hard for a long while before pulling my dress off and laying me down on the bed, he is trying hard, but it is clear he doesn’t know how to do any of this. I just play along.

“Do you have protection?”

“Yeah.” He breathes reaching into his drawer and pulling out a condom.

I wait as he takes his pants off and puts it on. Then he rolls back on top of me, after a few more kisses he pushes into me. A cold feeling rushes over me, and I try hard to shove it down. I have to move on. I have to move on. He presses in and out for what seems like a few seconds before it is over. He rolls off and looks embarrassed. Poor Caleb.

“Wow!” I say, trying to make him feel better.

“Really? It wasn’t terrible?” He asks, his eyes pleading with me to say it was okay.

“No it was great.” I lie.

“Oh thank
God
!” He says. “You were amazing.”

“Thanks.”

We lay there both still naked for a while talking and then there is a knock on his door. He quickly pulls his shorts on but I don’t have time to pull my dress on before the door swings open. I quickly pull the blanket up over myself. It is the maid and of course standing beside her is Blade. How did he know where Caleb lives? They step in the room, and I look down. I have just unleashed a volcano in Blade; I can tell by the fowl look he gives me.

“What the hell are you doing?” He snarls, his voice comes out feral and husky.

“What are you doing here Blade, I don’t want to see you.”

“Why did you just barge in Abby?” Caleb snaps at the maid.

“He said it was an emergency.” She mumbles going pink.

“Well you could have knocked, we were busy.”

“So I can see, get up.” Blade growls.

“I am not going with you.”

“Get up or I will drag you out of here.”

“You don’t own me Blade, get lost.”

“STAND UP.”

“I have no clothes on…” I cry.

“Well put them on. You get out.” He says to Caleb. I don’t think Caleb would dare argue with Blade, he is wild with rage.

“It’s my room.” He mutters.

“GET OUT!” He screams, Caleb and the maid back out of the room.

Blade walks over to me; his mouth is pushed together in a tight line.

“Get up and get dressed.”

“Get out so I can get dressed.”

“JUST DO IT!” He hisses.

He scares me a little, so I quickly get dressed. He gives me filthy glares the entire time. When I have finished, he grabs my arm and starts walking out the door.

“Let me go Blade you’re hurting me.” I cry, yanking my arm.

He doesn’t answer he just pulls me down the stairs.

“You can’t drag her out of here, I will call the cops!” Caleb yells, Blade drops my arm and turns towards him.

“You are taking advantage of a young girl who has just lost her whole family you mongrel.” He seethes.

“No I wasn’t. She asked me.” He defends himself.

“She did not.”

“Actually yes I did…”

“Get in the car.” Blade roars and I quickly leave the house with a mumbled apology.

When we get into the car, Blade speeds off angrily.

“You can’t do that Blade. You don’t own me.”

“You dirty little…”

“Pull over.” I cut him off.

“No.”

“PULL OVER!” I scream so loudly he pulls over.

I leap from the car and tear down to the beach. He follows after me with long, angry steps.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I scream.

“You! I was coming to see if you were okay, to apologize and I find you screwing him.”

“You ma
de it very clear what you want
Blade. What do you expect? I am moving on; you cannot change that.”

“You’re not moving on, you are being slutty.”

“Don’t call me a
God
damn slut.”

“Well what else are you?”

“Get out of my life! I am through; I refuse to have this anymore. You have a life, now I am creating one, you chose not to have me, not the other way around! So live with it. NOW TAKE ME HOME.”

“Fine”

We drive in silence the whole way home. My hands shake and tears fall from my face; I can see he feels ashamed now, his face has softened. When we get home; I get out of the car and rush up the stairs; he follows me. I turn to face him, my eyes blurry with tears.

“Don’t come in. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

“Okay, I overreacted I am sorry…”

“LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!”

“No please, I didn’t mean to call you names. I want to talk to you.”

“You have said everything you wanted to say, I don’t want to hear anymore.”

“Please let me speak.”

“NO! I don’t want to hear another word to be quite honest; it’s over Blade. I don’t want this anymore. I won’t chase you nor will I try and be with you anymore. All I want is you to leave and never come back.”

“You don’t mean that…” He whispers. He is actually getting upset; his eyes are glassy.

“I mean every word, I don’t love you and I don’t want to be with you! Now leave.”

He shakes his head “Just let me explain.”

“Explain what? How you refuse to be with me, but you don’t want to let me be with anyone else? Or, how you sleep with her every day and then have the nerve to sleep with me too? I don’t want to hear any of it!”

“That’s not how it is…”

“It is EXACTLY how it is. Now I would appreciate if you would leave NOW.”

“Please don’t
.”
He pleads.

“Goodbye.”