“What the fuck?! What do you mean somebody broke in?” he screams.
“I said I think somebody broke in, Aub. I don’t know for sure,” I say rapidly.
“Whatever, I’m on my way,” he says quickly.
“No! Please don’t. Let me just figure out what’s going on. Sean is out there, and the cops are on their way. Aubry, please promise me you’ll wait until I tell you it’s okay for you to come,” I plead.
“What?” he yelps. “Are you fucking out of your mind?”
“Please, Aubry. What if this is something bad? Do you really want to put Aimee in danger? If you love me, please stay out of the building until I tell you.”
I hear him breathe heavily into the phone. “Cowboy...I hate you for this, but fine. I’ll wait around the goddamn corner.”
My phone vibrates as soon as we hang up, and I think it’s probably him again to tell me that he’s coming over here anyway. When I look down I see Cole. I close my eyes and take a deep cleansing breath before answering.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby,” he says. I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Hey,” I reply, my emotions resurfacing at the sound of his voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think somebody broke into my apartment,” I say quietly.
“What?” he screams. “Where are you?”
“Locked in my bathroom.”
“Don’t you dare move. Where’s Aubry?” he asks, and I can picture him pacing nervously.
“I asked him to stay away,” I say in a small voice.
“What do you mean you asked him...” he trails off. “Fuck, Blake. I’m calling him from my house. Do not hang up.”
“No,” I shout and then lower my voice again. “Please don’t.”
“Why? Nothing is going to happen to him, baby. You can’t be by yourself,” he pleads.
“Henry sent Sean up. I’m sure he’s here. I’m just too scared to leave the bathroom.”
He lets out a breath. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry I’m not there with you.” I can hear the mix of regret and concern in his voice.
“It’s okay,” I say, forcing a smile. “You’re here now.”
“No, I’m not. I’m too far from you,” he sighs. “I applied for a job in Chicago.”
I’m taken aback by this, but before I can reply, there’s banging on the door of my room.
“I have to go; someone’s knocking.”
“Stay on the phone with me, please,” he asks, so I do.
The police are on the other side, and when I open the door, I see Sean is there as well. I tell Cole I’ll call him back after they leave, and he hesitantly lets me hang up. I speak to Officer David Martinez and Detective Larry Ginsburg, who happened to be in the building next door when the alarm company called. I tell them what happened, which isn’t much. They ask me to look around the apartment to check if I see anything unusual. I stroll around with a confused look on my face because everything that should be missing is there.
The TV is there; microwave is there; our stereo system is there. I walk to the guest room, and everything looks untouched. I close my eyes and praise myself for always having my Jack-and-Jill bathroom connected to the guest room locked. The thought of what might have happened makes my skin crawl. I do a little shimmy dance, shooing the creepy crawlers off of myself. Detective Ginsburg, who’s standing right next to me, asks if I’m okay. I blush and nod my head yes. He says it’s okay to be freaked out. I check Aubry’s room, and while I’m in there, he and Aimee barge in frantically. I run to them and hug both at once.
“Are you okay?” they both ask in unison.
“Yes, thank God. Nothing happened to me. They didn’t even bang on my door. I’m trying to figure out if they took anything. Will you help me?” I say quickly, my sentences practically overlapping one another.
We look around a couple of times, but nothing looks different. I spot a paper on the kitchen counter under my keys and furrow my eyebrows together. I walk toward it and study it. I’m careful not to touch it. I’ve watched enough detective shows to know that you shouldn’t put your fingerprints on evidence.
“That wasn’t there when I got home,” I say, pointing at the paper with my trembling pointer.
Both Detective Ginsburg and Officer Martinez walk over and look at the paper.
“Are you sure?” Detective Ginsburg asks with furrowed eyebrows, looking between me, Aubry, and Aimee.
“Positive,” I say. “Those are my keys,” I point. “I tossed them up there when I got here and that paper wasn’t under them.”
Detective Ginsburg puts on one latex glove and picks up the paper.
“It’s addressed to Blake Brennan,” he says as he reads.
“What does it say?” I ask quietly as I shiver for the millionth time.
“It says Blake Brennan, call me (312) 448-2984. We need to speak about the land. It’s addressed O’Brian at the bottom.”
“Oh my God,” I gasp, covering my mouth with both hands as I feel my knees weakening. “I cannot believe this shit.” Aubry and Aimee steady me to keep me from falling while Sean excuses himself and leaves.
“I got a call from some guy earlier today about this plot of land. He also mailed me a letter a couple of months ago. I’ve never even been to this plot,” I say in a shrill tone. “I inherited the land from my dead aunt. I don’t know how he got my information, but first the calling, then the letter, and now he breaks into my house!” I’m shouting and shaking vigorously by the time I finish my explanation.
Aubry holds me tighter while Aimee runs her fingers through my hair. Detective Ginsburg leaves me his information and asks me to call him if I hear from the guy again. He puts the paper in a Ziplock to test for fingerprints. He asks me a million questions, including what the name O’Brian means to me. I assure him that I’ve never heard it before. He looks like he’s hesitant to believe me, but tells me that he will let me know if he hears anything back from the lab regarding the paper. He mentions something to Officer Martinez about being closer to cracking the O’Brian’s, but I’m not sure what that means.
After replaying what happened again, Aubry and Aimee settle down to watch a movie. They ask me to join them, but I’m exhausted. They rented The Notebook. I warn Aimee, who has never seen it—really?—that she better be prepared to do the ugly cry in front of Aubry. They both laugh at me, but I’m dead serious. You can’t watch that movie without doing the ugly cry.
I lock myself in my room and call Cole again. He picks up after four rings.
“Hello?” he answers, sounding like he just ran a marathon. My stomach drops at the memory of the last time this happened.
“Hey, bad time?” I ask, biting my lip to brace myself even though I know my Cole, and I trust him.
“No, no, I was downstairs,” he says, catching his breath. “I heard my phone, and I ran up to get it. I didn’t want to miss your call.”
I smile. “Why is it that you have such a big house for yourself again?”
I remember he gave me a stupid answer the first time I went there, but I can’t remember what it was.
“‘Cause I thought it’d be a nice place to raise our babies,” he replies.
I snort with laughter. “Oh, that’s right,” I say with an eye roll. “I forgot that was the excuse you used the last time I asked.”
“I don’t know why you thought it was so funny when I told you that,” he protests.
“Umm...maybe because you said it in front of your girlfriend?”
He chuckles. “That’s right. Do you remember what you said after you were done laughing?”
I think about it for a second. “Not really.”
“You said that you didn’t want to have babies in a two-story house.”
“Oh yeah, I did say that. Well, that was actually true.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I put it on the market the week after you left. Unfortunately for me, the market had dropped by then, so I had to un-list it a
nd keep it.”
“You put it on the market because I said I didn’t want to have kids in a two-story house?” I shriek and then start laughing. He waits until I’m done giggling before he continues.
He exhales loudly. “Blake, when are you going to realize that everything I’ve done I’ve done for you?”
“Someday, Mr. Murphy,” I smirk.
He groans. “It sounds so hot when you call me that.”
“You say that about everything,” I laugh.
“Yeah, because everything about you is so hot.”
I try to stifle a yawn. “I’m going to try to go to sleep. Is it okay if we pick up the conversation of our beautiful future children and where we’ll be living with them tomorrow?”
“Damn, babe, now you’re really turning me on,” he says in a low tone, making my body heat up. “Hearing you talk about our future children is hot. Go to sleep, baby. I love you. Call me if you can’t sleep or if you have any nightmares.”
“I will. Good night. Dream of me,” I say and blow a loud kiss into the phone.
He groans and I smile ending the call.
Chapter Thirteen
Present
“Daddy!” I shriek as I run toward him out of breath from laughing so hard.
Nathan has been chasing me through the open plain. We’re playing tag, and Nathan’s it. Daddy looks up and the crinkled lines on his forehead disappear when he sees me running to him. He smiles and opens his arms, so I can jump into them. In his embrace, he starts tickling me, making me laugh harder. He stops when I tell him I have to use the potty. Daddy gets up and tells Grandpa we’ll be right back. Grandpa has black and gray hair, and his eyes are gray, like mine and Mommy’s. I like that. Grandpa pats my head like a puppy when I pass him and tells Daddy that time is running out.
“Time is running out for what, Daddy?” I ask, turning to him.
“Nothing, Baby Girl. It’s just grown-up talk,” he replies with a smile. It’s the smile he has when he’s worried. I don’t like Daddy worrying about anything. When he worries, him and Mommy fight, and it makes me sad. They always tell me they love each other and that sometimes grown ups fights. I don’t want to grow up. I don’t want to fight like Mommy and Daddy.
“Are we leaving soon?” I ask. I don’t want to leave Nathan. We’re having so much fun.
“Yes, baby, we have to. I have a lot of work to do when I get home.”
I walk into the bathroom by myself and tell Daddy to stand by the door. He leaves it cracked open, so I can see him while I do pee-pee. I don’t need his help today because I’m a big girl. I’m going to be four soon. That’s almost all of the fingers on my right hand. I smile. I wipe, get down, and flush the toilet.
“Daddy,” I call out excitedly.
He steps in with a smile.
“I did it!” I shriek with a fist-pump jump. “Like a big girl.”
Daddy smiles brightly and carries me to the sink, so I can wash my hands.
“Yes, baby, like a big girl, but don’t get too big on me now.” He kisses my cheek and I laugh.
We go back outside, and I look for Nathan. I see his messy brown hair running behind the bushes.
“Nathan,” I shriek as I run to him. “I went potty like a big girl.”
Nathan runs to me, his bright eyes happy. “Did you do it like I taught you?”
I shake my head. “No, Daddy says princesses sit to use the potty. Only boys potty standing.”
“I thought you wanted to be a G.I. Joe?” he asks, making his forehead wrinkle like Daddy’s. I can tell he’s not happy.
“I do,” I reply. I don’t want to make him mad. “But I want to be a princess, too.”
“You can’t be both,” he says.
“Is this a fight?” I ask, putting my fists on my waist.
He shrugs.
“We can’t fight, Nathan. Only grown ups fight.”
He looks at me and messes up my sweaty hair. “I’m not fighting...princess. Tag, you’re it,” he screams and runs away.
“Hey, that’s no fair,” I scream, laughing as I run after him.
Nathan is a lot faster than me. When we race, he always beats me. His legs are longer than mine. He always lets me catch him when we play tag though. I’m running after him, and I notice he’s running way past the house toward the barn. When I get close to the barn, I see Michael writing on a piece of paper. Michael has pretty eyes—the same color as the sky. Michael is my uncle. I’ve told him that he’s my only uncle, but he says he’s not. He asks me if I remember his brother. I only saw my other uncle a couple of times. He lives far away. I kind of sort of remember what he looks like…I think. One day I’m going to have a brother, too.
“Uncle Michael,” I scream.
“Hey, Baby Girl,” he says, smiling. “Are you having fun playing with Nathan?”
I stop running. “Yes, but he’s very fast. I have to make my legs go really fast to catch him.”
He chuckles. “Wanna know a secret? One day he’s going to be chasing you, and you’re going to be the one that he can’t catch.”
I look at him confused. I like when Nathan catches me. “What are you drawing?” I ask, trying to peek at his paper.
“I’m not drawing. I’m doing homework.”
“Oh...Mommy says they’re going to give me homework when I start school this year.”
“Your mommy is right. She’s really smart, too. She used to help us do our homework when we were little.”
I smile. Mommy is smart. I continue running to the barn, and I see Nathan standing under the shade.
“Slow poke!” he screams.
“Am not!” I shout back. “I was talking to Uncle Michael.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” he teases.
I stand next to Nathan, but as I tag him I hear Daddy’s voice. “Blakey, let’s go,” he calls out loudly.
“I have to go,” I say sadly to Nathan.
“It’s okay. I have to go soon, too. Are you coming back next weekend?”
“Nope,” I say, smiling. “Daddy and Mommy are taking me to Disney World for my birthday.”
“Cool. Bye then.”
I walk back to the big house and see Daddy talking to Grandpa and Uncle Michael. On our way home, I remember that I left my Rainbow Brite doll outside the house. I fall asleep before I remember to tell Daddy.
I wake up in a pool of sweat, breathing heavily. My heart is pumping so rapidly that I’m scared my blood flow will start streaming out of my ears. I lean over to my dresser and clumsily search for my phone, panting as I hit the dial button.
“Hello?” he says, his voice raspy.
“Sorry to wake you up.”
“No, baby, I asked you to. Bad dream?”
“Yes...no. I don’t know,” I spurt out.
He exhales. “3:32,” he mutters, and I look at the time.
“I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called.”
“Stop apologizing. I’m glad you did. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really. I just wanted to hear your voice,” I say weakly.
“Okay, baby. Just go to sleep with me on the phone. I love you.”
“Thank you.” I love you. I love you more than you’ll ever know, Cole Murphy.
The next morning, I call Veronica and tell her that I urgently need to speak to her. She squeezes me in between two clients at 2:00. Classes start again next week, and this is my last week interning at Ross and Chevy Law. I’m going to take my lunch at 2:00 so that I won’t have to ask for half the day off—again.
My day at the office flies by, and when I look at the time it’s 1:30. I call Cole on my way to Lewis’. Cole’s on a show called Around the Horn today, but it airs at 5:00, so he should still be home.
“Hey, baby,” he greets.
“Hey,” I say, shuffling between a pack of angry lawyers in the lobby.
“What are you up to?” he asks with a smile in his voice.
“Just took lunch. I’m on my way to meet Veroni
ca, so I can discuss whatever she called me about and tell her about the break-in.”
“Did you eat?”
“Nah, I’ll eat a granola bar and drink a protein shake on my way back though.”
“Blake,” he reprimands. “You need to eat.”
“I know, I know. I just don’t have time to stop today. What are you doing?”
“Waiting for a realtor,” he replies nonchalantly.
That stops me in the middle of the crowded sidewalk. The afternoon rush bumps me from all sides.
“To put your house back on the market? I thought it was a bad time to sell.”
“It is. I’m hoping someone will rent it for a while at least. If not, I’m willing to accept offers. We’ll see.”
I continue walking, speeding past some of the bumpers from a few seconds ago.
“Cole, shouldn’t you just wait it out? Take your time. There’s no rush for you to move. Have you heard back from the team?” He’d applied for a job with the football team here to be closer to me. I was thrilled, but uneasy about it since his job paid so well in New York.
“I’m not taking my time, there is a rush, and I did hear back from them,” he says, and I can hear his grin again, which makes me smile.
I bite my lip. “And?”
“And…they have a job for me, dummy.”
“That’s great,” I squeal. “Is it a good one? Did they make you a good offer? Are you still going to get paid the same amount? Oh my God, are you taking a pay cut? Maybe this isn’t the right move for you.”
“Blake,” he shouts laughing. “Calm down. The offer is great. It doesn’t matter, though; I was moving with or without a job. Trust me, I have enough money to survive without one. I just love what I do, and I’m glad I’ll still be able to do it. I need to be near you—that’s all that matters to me.”
I let out a sigh of relief and agree to call him after my meeting. I’m still smiling at the idea of Cole moving to Chicago when I walk through the lobby. I take the elevator up and greet Barbie’s kid sister. She asks me to sit as she calls Veronica. When the door opens, I look up expecting her, but see Mark instead. He signals me to follow him and I look at Skipper, who’s smiling at Mark while fixing her bleach-blonde hair. I close my eyes, take a breath, and follow Mark as he ushers me into his office and closes the door behind us.
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