by Robin Nadler
“Very nice. I’ll let that go for now,” she put her arm around him. “Let’s go sit for a minute.”
He watched her sit and worried for a minute she wasn’t feeling well. “You okay?”
Nodding, she wiped her forehead. “It’s just been a long day.”
“I’m really sorry about what you went through. I wish I could do something to make it better,” he took her hand in his.
“David, I think I owe you an apology,” she began.
“Why?”
She sighed and looked at her hands. “I can’t imagine how hard it must be to deal with everything Paul has done. It has to be bringing up memories for you and I don’t want you to feel like you have to be here with me and deal with all of this. I will be okay on my own.”
“Why do you do that? It’s like you expect me to leave, or maybe you want me to leave. I have never seen someone try so hard to push me away.” He stood up and shrugged, “I don’t want to leave, but I won’t stay if you aren’t sure. I don’t want you to walk on eggshells around me. I want to hold you and love you and help you feel safe. I want to make you feel better, or at least show you that you’re not alone.” He walked back over and sat down. “But do you know what I want the most?”
She shook her head. “What’s that?”
“I want you to want me like I want you. I want you to look at me and feel the passion I feel when I look at you,” he stopped when she moved to him and pressed her mouth to his. She wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her onto his lap, her legs wrapped around his waist.
“I do want you, David. I feel the same passion, the same need, the same pull,” she said inches from his mouth.
“They why do you want to push me away?” he murmured.
Her chin quivered and he put his hands on her shoulders. “I just want you to know what you’re getting yourself into. I want you to see me for who and what I am.”
He smiled and stroked her cheek. “I see you. I see your kindness and your compassion. I see your heart and it’s beautiful. I know who you are, Lila, and I want you, completely.”
“I want you, too, so much,” she said and they kissed each other passionately. She pressed her hips against him and they both felt him respond.
“God, when you heal things, they work better than before,” he whispered in her ear and she giggled.
“You deserve to feel whole, David. No matter who it’s with, you deserve this.”
“I only want it with you,” he said and gently slipped his hands under her t-shirt. She was only wearing the shirt after her shower and he cupped her bare breasts in his hands.
She moaned into his mouth and worked on unbuttoning his shirt, slipping her hands under the material. She closed her eyes as she felt him move to her neck, kissing her softly and she suddenly flashed to the pictures Paul had taken.
“No, stop,” she said fearfully.
He immediately did and looked at her. “What is it? Did I hurt you?”
She moved off of him and shook her head. “No, I’m sorry, I just think maybe we should wait.”
“Did you think about what happened in your office?” He knew just what had happened.
She blinked and her tears fell. “I feel dirty. It’s so stupid because as far as we know, all he did was take pictures. I don’t think I have any right to be reacting this way.”
He sighed. “You have every right to react any way you feel.” He watched as she moved to lean closer to him and he put his arm around her. “It’s okay. I promise it will get better.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Let’s check on the kids,” he grinned.
They got up and walked to the incubator, both of them amazed at the five tiny lizards who looked back at them.
Chapter Forty-Four:
“Did you get everything?” Lila asked David as he came into the house. She had sent him to the pet store to pick up some things for the baby tank Lila was setting up.
“I think so,” he put the bags down and shrugged when she looked at him. “I might have gotten a few extra things.”
“What kind of extra things?” She grinned as she made her way to the bags. The babies were two days old and ready to be taken out of the incubator and placed in a tank. She had written specific instructions about what they needed.
“Just stuff. Everyone needs something special, so I decided to get each one a little something to make them feel unique,” he blushed.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or kiss him. “You can’t be real,” she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his middle.
“Well, since I deal with fertility treatments, many of my patients end up having multiples. I know how hard it can be to make each child feel welcome and wanted in their own way, so I thought I would get a head start.”
“You do realize these are not people, she teased.
“Yes, thank you very much, but they already have unique personalities and I want to nurture that,” he walked to the incubator and peered inside. “How’s little “T” doing?”
They had affectionately named the tiniest of the babies little “T”.
“He isn’t as active as the rest, but I hope once we offer him some food, he will begin to come around.”
David nodded and walked over to her. “How is it coming?”
“Good. I just need the reptile carpet you bought and some of the fake trees.”
He grabbed a bag and handed her three different colored carpets. “I didn’t know which was best.”
“They saw you coming a mile away, didn’t they?” she grinned. “Green is good,” she took the carpet and placed it in the tank. “What else did you get?”
He handed her some of the trees and then he took out a small cat toy. “I got them each a different mouse,” he put them down in the tank.
“A mouse?”
“To snuggle. You said they like to sit on each other to keep warm, but since they’re so small, they may not feel comfortable doing that yet, so they can each have a stuffed animal. You know, for warmth.”
She looked at him and nodded. “Right, for warmth.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed. “I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?”
“You are being adorable. I love how nurturing you are and to be honest, I find it kind of sexy.”
“Is that right?” he moved closer to her.
“Yep, now where is the water bowl?”
He handed it to her and she took a deep breath. “Now we need to move them over.”
Nodding, he walked to the incubator. “Do I just pick one up?”
She tucked her hair behind her ears and rubbed her forehead. “They are really small, and super-fast, so we need to make sure they don’t get away.” She opened the lid. “Ready?”
He grinned. “Can I do it?”
She laughed. “Of course. You know, the first imprint is important. Everything this little dragon will ever do is contingent upon this touch.”
He stopped and stared at her. “No, that’s not true, is it?”
She giggled. “No, you’re just a huge hand reaching in to snatch them. Now hurry up.”
He rolled his eyes. “Nice.”
He reached in and gently grabbed the first baby. It was literally the size of his finger and he was afraid he would lose it. He looked at the creature and smiled.
“Hello little T, or Tigger,” he said as he moved the baby to the tank. He reached in and picked up another. “Hello Roo,” he said and gently placed the second baby in the tank. “Welcome little Eeyore,” he grinned and put the baby in the tank. He reached for the next one and inspected it. “Hello Piglet,” he put the baby down and reached for the last baby. “And little Pooh.”
Lila watched him and couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. This was so sweet and so cute and so damn normal. They weren’t focused on any of the crap they were going through, just having fun with their unique pets. “So we are all a part of Winnie the Pooh now?”
He shrugged. “It
was my favorite growing up. My mom used to read it to me all the time and I guess I’m just thinking a lot about her right now.”
She put her arms around him and rested her cheek on his chest. “I think we should go out for dinner.”
He hugged her back and smiled. “Like a real date?”
“Like a real date. What do you think?”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“Good. Pick my up in an hour,” she said.
“You want me to leave?” He stepped back and pouted.
“Yes. I need to get prettied up. I’ll be ready in an hour.”
He kissed her and lingered a minute on her lips. “Do we need to hire a babysitter?”
She laughed. “I think they will be fine. Now go and let me change.”
He flashed his dimple as he winked before leaving. Lila laughed as she cleaned up the incubator and looked at the babies. “Winnie the pooh, huh?” She smiled with pride and looked in at Adam and Eve. “Look what you did. You should both be very proud; they are beautiful.”
She walked into her bedroom and went to her closet to find something to wear. She wanted to make tonight special and she had an idea she wanted to run past David. It was silly for him to stay at a hotel. She wanted him to move in with her. She wanted him to be with her. Humming to herself, she pulled her clothes off and took her lotion, rubbing her skin and smiling at how simply happy she was. She heard something and laughed.
“What did you forget?” she walked out into the family room and froze when she saw who was in her house. She turned to run, but was tackled and hit her head on the table. She thought of David as she blacked out.
Chapter Forty-Five:
David hummed to himself as he made his way back to Lila’s house. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so happy and truly excited for what life was going to bring. He was in love with an incredible woman who was intelligent and beautiful and exciting and simply amazing. He turned into the gas station to fill up his tank and as he got back behind the wheel, his phone rang.
“I’m almost there,” he grinned as he answered.
“Dr. Bryant?” A male voice asked.
David blushed. “Yes, who is this?”
“This is officer Ryan. I was trying to reach Dr. Frankel, but she didn’t answer. Can you give her a message?”
He figured she was getting ready. “Sure.”
“Paul Strins was released on bond about an hour ago. We are going to be posting extra security around her office, but I thought she should know.”
“How did he get out on bond? What about everything we found in her office?” He was already on his way to her house.
“I don’t know, probably a great lawyer. I just wanted her to know, and you too. Be careful.”
David thanked him and hung up. All thoughts of a romantic evening were gone. He raced to her house.
*******
Lila woke up and she was freezing cold. She couldn’t see anything and realized she wasn’t blindfolded, but in a dark room. Her hands were wrapped with duct tape and there was water on the floor. She was only wearing her bra and panties, and the damp smell and air in the room was making her stomach churn. Her head was pounding, but she tried to keep her wits about her. She just needed to stay calm and think. She prayed David was safe and this was only about her.
Paul. He was in her house and he had grabbed her before she could react. How was he out of jail? She remembered hitting her head and blacking out, but that’s all she remembered. She tried to get up, but her head was throbbing and she passed out again.
*******
David walked into her house and his worst fears were confirmed. There were signs of a struggle and Lila was nowhere to be found. He searched all over before he called the police to come. He found her purse and her phone and he felt his eyes fill with tears of frustration and fear. He let the police in and walked into the family room to wait. He looked at the tank and his heart fell. The baby tank was overturned and the lizards were crushed. He gently moved the tank and only counted four babies. He wiped his eyes as he gently laid out the tiny babies.
“Were those her pets?” One officer asked.
David nodded. “They were our babies.”
“Sorry.” He looked at David. “We’ll find her, okay?”
Again he nodded.
******
Lila opened her eyes when she heard a sound. She realized she had been moved and was lying in a beautiful bed with plush blankets and pillows. She was wearing a soft pink nightgown and her hair was billowing around her shoulders.
“Where am I?”
“You’re up?” David asked and was at her side instantly. “You’re back?” He pulled her into his arms.
She was startled, but she recovered quickly and held him. “I don’t understand. How did you find me?”
“I’ll always find you. I promised nothing would happen to you and I meant it. You’re going to be fine,” he said and stroked her cheek. “I was so worried about you. What’s the last thing you remember?”
“I was getting ready for our date and I heard a noise. When I came in, Paul was there. He grabbed me and I woke up in a dark cold room. The next thing I knew, I was here.” She looked around. “Where are we?”
“At my house,” he smiled. “We’re home.”
“But you live in a hotel. I don’t understand,” she said.
“Why do you do that? Why do you insist on believing things about me that aren’t true?”
“What?” Lila felt her heart race. Something was wrong. She was shivering and the smell was back. She felt strong hands on her, shaking her. She opened her eyes and there was a flashlight shining in her face. She looked ahead and it wasn’t David, but Paul, and she was back in the dark damp room. She had been dreaming.
“Paul?”
“That’s right. Now will you come willingly or do you need to stay here longer?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. What is the matter with you? Why can’t you leave me alone?” She shivered uncontrollably and tried to cover herself with her arms.
“You will. A few more days here and you’ll be begging to leave with me.”
“I need my meds, Paul. I need to take care of myself.”
He grinned and she squinted as he shined the light in her eyes. “You want your meds, you’ll come with me willingly.”
“You can’t be serious. This is my life you’re messing with. You will never have me, Paul. I’m in love with someone else.”
“Right. How’s that going for you? No sex? A man who can’t perform? Even you won’t live with that. I’ll help you to remember what a real man does,” he ran his fingers over her chest.
“Get your hands off of me,” she said through her tears.
“I can wait. The question is, can you?” he grinned and walked out, leaving her alone in the complete darkness. She felt something crawl on her skin and she cried out for help. She waited and listened, but there was nothing.
Chapter Forty-Six:
Lila opened her eyes and was immediately thrust into the darkness that continued to surround her. She didn’t really feel the pain in her wrists anymore and she was so cold, her body was numb. It had been hours since Paul had left, or maybe longer, she couldn’t be sure, and she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She noticed the start of a cough that sounded similar to the one she had before and she tried not to let the panic take over. She kept her thoughts on David and their tiny lizard family and how cute their life was going to be. They were going to have fun and enjoy life with each other. She vowed to herself that would be the case and she was determined to make sure it happened.
******
David paced back and forth in Lila’s house and was losing hope. He had spoken to Carrie and Susan and both were working on trying to figure out where Lila might be. Susan was helping the police with the June angle and Carrie was calling anyone who may know where Lila went. The police had little to go on and were trying to track down Paul. He was supposed to hav
e a tether on and the signal hadn’t been turned off. They were waiting to bring him in, but they needed a reason. David was livid.
“How much more of a reason do you need than the fact he was released and she was taken? What is the hold up?”
“Is it possible she took off on her own?” The officer asked him.
“And killed her pets? Don’t be ridiculous. We were together and I went home so she could change before we went to dinner. She did not leave on her own. You have to look for her!” he yelled.