Forever Waiting

by P. D. Stevens

  When the police arrived they took the box of strawberries to send to the lab for testing, and asked me a few questions about the events of the day. When it was clear that I couldn’t give them any more information, I was on my way to the hospital for my own testing. Zaine stayed behind to work with police searching for any evidence. When I arrived at the Emergency Room a nurse drew my blood, and a detective came in to ask me some questions. I didn’t have anything to tell him other than what I had said before, which was no help. The situation felt like a bad version of a Disney movie: My handsome prince had found me before it was too late.

  Zaine finally made it to the hospital and found my room, just minutes before the doctor’s consultation. He came to my bedside and held my hand, kissing me on the forehead. “You feeling better?” he asked.

  “I just want to go home and forget this day ever happened,” I said groggily. “Nothing makes sense to me. One minute I’m getting ready and the next I’m in here.”

  “I know, babe, I don’t know what happened either. The police couldn’t find any unusual fingerprints, there were no forced locks, and nobody saw anyone come and go. Nothing was stolen. There was just the note, which was typed, and the box of strawberries. Since that didn’t come from a delivery service there’s no way to trace it.” The whole thing freaked me out. I didn’t understand any of it.

  Just then the doctor came in with his clipboard, wearing a concerned look on his face. “Miss Steele, I am Dr. Rayburn. It looks like you were drugged, as we suspected. We found a trace of Rohypnol in your system. It’s usually used as a date rape drug, but in some countries it’s used in treatment for people with severe sleep disorders. Unless you have a prescription, then it looks like someone slipped it into your food or drink.”

  “No,” I said weakly, “I’ve never used it. I don’t know how this happened.”

  “We’ve seen this before, unfortunately. Lucky for you, apparently your boyfriend found you right after you passed out, so it’s unlikely that anyone was able to assault you somehow. It was a very small dose, too. You’re lucky for that, because a larger amount could have harmed you or your baby.”

  I looked at the doctor in confusion, but before I could ask my question Zaine jumped in.

  “Baby? She’s pregnant?” he asked incredulously.

  “Yes,” Dr. Rayburn said, a little flustered. “You mean you didn’t know?”

  Zaine looked shocked, worried, and happy all at the same time. “No. I mean, babe, did you know?”

  I shook my head. “I’ve been feeling a little weird, but I thought It was just stress. Do you know how far along I am?” I turned to the doctor, who then asked the nurse to set me up with an ultrasound and left the room. Alone again, Zaine and I tried to process this new information. I was having a baby, and I hadn’t even known it. What was worse, I’d ingested this drug that could have been deadly, and it scared the shit out of me. Tears pooled in my eyes and I couldn’t speak. Zaine sat down on the bed with me and gathered me up into his arms.

  With a grim look on his face, he said, “If there’s something wrong with our baby, I’ll kill whoever is responsible for this. I am going to find out who did this shit to you and make sure they get what’s coming to them.”

  “Zaine, please, I really just need you right now. I don’t want to have to think about you hunting someone down and getting hurt,” I begged. “There are no clues, and I’m still trying to process the whole pregnancy thing. I can’t believe it! I mean … God, Zaine, we went from reuniting after so many years to me getting knocked up in seconds!” My voice was thick with emotion, and I felt a tremor of fear under all the other things I was feeling. “Are you happy? Are you mad at me for being so irresponsible? I mean, we almost always used condoms, but we must have forgotten at least once. I should have been on birth control,” I cried.

  Zaine put his hand on my cheek and rubbed his thumb across my bottom lip. “You are everything I have wanted since I first saw you, and now you’re going to have my baby, Lan. I could never be mad at you for giving me such an amazing gift.” Placing his hand on my stomach, he leaned in and kissed me. “I love you, Landrey. I’ll always love you, no matter what.” I felt so overwhelmed at that moment, I couldn’t stop crying.

  A little while later, the nurse came in and took me up for my ultrasound. When she put the wand to my belly I could see the baby—the most beautiful little thing I had ever seen.

  “The heart beat looks good,” she said as she surveyed the screen. “You’re about nine weeks along. Congratulations.”

  I turned to Zaine, who had a huge grin on his face. As I watched I saw the smile turn into a snarl, and I could tell he was getting angry again. I needed him to relax for a moment, and share in the happiness I was feeling.

  “Hey,” I said sternly, “look at me, Zaine. I’m fine. We are fine, and everything is going to be okay. Please, let’s just go home. I’m so tired. Will you take me home? I just want to relax, and I’m kind of hungry.”

  My words brought him back to the present, and he managed another smile for me. “You aren’t going to make me get up at weird times of the night to buy you some strange flavor of ice cream, are you?” he asked tenderly.

  “If you’re lucky, I might.”

  The doctor released me and gave me a mild pain reliever, and informed me to drink a lot of water to help flush out my system. Max picked us up from the hospital and took us back to the house. As we pulled into the driveway a creepy feeling came over me. I was almost afraid to go back into the house, even though I knew I would be safe with Zaine. I stalled when getting out of the car, and Zaine read my mind.

  “Lan, it’s okay,” he said. “I activated the security cameras, and Max called one of his friends to watch the house while we’re not around. I don’t want you to feel unsafe here, okay? I will not have you scared to be here with me.”

  He was always good at knowing the right things to say. It was one of the reasons I loved him.

  “I won’t be scared. I just… I don’t know, Zaine,” I stammered. “It’s all kind of odd, don’t you think? Someone doesn’t want me around, and I have no idea who it might be. It really freaks me the fuck out.” I took a deep breath and decided just to spill all my worries. “And on top of that, I have someone else to worry about now. Eating those strawberries could have killed our kid. I’m so stupid—I’ve been sick to my stomach for over a month, and I missed my period twice. I should have known I was pregnant, but it never even occurred to me. I just thought that I was under too much stress. It’s happened before when work got crazy, but still, I should have at least considered the possibility. Not to mention I drank a lot during my time in New York. What kind of damage might I have done?”

  “Look,” Zaine said, looking me straight in the eyes, “you don’t have to be hard on yourself. You didn’t know you were pregnant. It happens. And I know that you’ll start taking care of yourself now. You’re a good person, Landrey, and you’re going to be a good mother.” He took my hand and led me into the house.

  “I have to call Tayla to see how everything went at the show. She’s probably freaking out,” I said, remembering the importance of the evening. Zaine, as always, had thought of everything.

  “I already called Aaron. He knows what’s going on, and Tayla will be fine. You need to relax,” he ordered.

  “At least let me check my phone. I promise I won’t call anyone,” I bargained.

  Zaine kissed my cheek and walked me upstairs. He had turned the covers down and laid out one of his big t-shirts out for me to wear.

  “I’m going to get you something to eat,” he said. “What do you want?”

  “I don’t care,” I responded wearily. “Anything but strawberries.”

  Zaine gave me a stern look and said, “That’s not funny, Lan.”

  I smiled weakly and joked, “I’m just trying to lighten the mood a little bit. That’s all.”

  “When you feel a little better, I’ll give you something to really lighten your
mood,” Zaine said, giving me a frisky grin.

  “Why Mr. Brooks, are you trying to take advantage of a woman with child?” I said with my best southern belle accent.

  “Ms. Steele, that is exactly what I am trying to do.” Winking, he left the room and made his way to the kitchen.

  I made myself comfortable, then grabbed my phone to check e-mail and see if I had any messages. There was one unread text message from an unavailable number. When I opened the message, the hair on my arms stood up and my heart started to race. I called out to Zaine in a panic. Rushing into the room, he stopped when he saw my face and realized something was wrong.

  “Babe, what’s wrong? Do you feel okay?” he asked.

  “No… I mean, it’s not that. I’m fine, but I got a message you need to look at,” I said, frightened. I showed Zaine the screen:

  I was sloppy the first time. Next time I will make sure you get the right dose.

  Things were getting more and more fucked, and I was scared for sure this time.

  “Who is doing this to me, Zaine? I can’t stay here. I need to go back to New York. The baby and I will be safer there,” I insisted.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Lan,” Zaine said firmly. “I want you right here with me so I don’t have to worry about you. Whoever is doing this just wants to scare you away.”

  “Scare me away? Did you read that message?” I asked. “They want me away for good. Someone is trying to kill me!”

  Zaine handed the phone over to the detective when they arrived at the house. The police had recommended that I had someone escort me around if I needed to go anywhere. Since Max had been doing anyway, it was an easy fix. The whole situation was crazy, but we couldn’t take the chance with the baby.

  Tayla and Aaron arrived at the house just as the detectives were leaving. “What the hell, Lan?” Tayla screeched when she saw me. “What is going on? Someone is trying to kill you all of a sudden? Did you piss someone off?”

  I was overtired and not in the mood for hysterics. “I’m fine, thanks, and how are you?” I said to her in a snarky voice.

  She caught on quickly, and her tone became apologetic. “Look, I’m just a little weirded out about this whole thing. Aaron told me that you weren’t coming to the show because you got sick, and then when we get in the car he springs it on me that someone tried to poison you— with strawberries! How do you want me to react?” she said.

  “Yeah I know, I am just an emotional wreck. Sorry. How did the show go?” I asked her.

  “Fuck the show, Lan. A bunch of skinny chicks walking around in clothes—same old shit. Why are you even thinking about that anyway? Do the police know anything?”

  Zaine came to my rescue at just the right moment. “I think she wants to get her mind off the day,” he said, as he and Aaron came in with some drinks.

  “I know. I’m just scared for her,” Tayla said, then repeated her last question. “Do they know who would want to do something like this?” Tayla put her arm around my shoulders, which for her was a big deal. She wasn’t one for hugging or affection. Slapping someone hard on the ass and saying something stupid like “good hustle” was more her speed.

  “Well that seems to be the question of the day,” I chimed in. “I don’t know anyone who has a problem with me. All the police have are the strawberries, the fact that there were drugs in my system, and a text I got on my phone. There were no fingerprints in the house or on the box the berries came in. They’re trying to trace the message on my phone, but they don’t know anything yet—we just found that a little while ago. The whole thing makes no sense, which is what’s bad.” I looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. Zaine came over and kissed me, then led me into the living room and settled me on the couch.

  “Come on babe, let’s sit down and try to relax for a bit,” he said. I still hadn’t gotten anything to eat, but I really just wanted to go to sleep. Aaron sat next to me and gave me a hug.

  “Everything is going to be cool, Landrey,” he reassured me. “They’ll get whoever is fucking with you. And if they don’t, you’d better believe my brother will. Trust me, he is very pissed. Besides, you have to take care of that bun you have baking.”

  I smacked him on the arm, then turned to glare at Zaine. I hadn’t told Tayla about the baby yet, and he’d just announced it to the world. “You already told Aaron?” I accused him. I had wanted to tell Tayla first, and I knew she would be angry to find out from Aaron. I waited for her wrath to surface.

  Zaine was quiet for a minute, as if he was in deep thought about what he was going to say. “I told Aaron because I wanted him to know that we aren’t just trying to protect you, but that there’s another person we need to keep safe too. Damn babe, you know I’m really happy you’re having my baby. I love you more than I could have ever imagined. I have to keep you safe... both of you.” He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my lips, and I curled up closer to him.

  I looked up at Tayla with an apologetic look in my eyes, as if I was being scolded by my mother.

  “Oh please,” she said. “Like I didn’t suspect you were prego. You never puke when you drink.”

  I had to laugh. “Gee, thanks for the insight on the matter. You’re not mad?”

  “Of course I’m mad that you didn’t tell me, but I know you’ve got a lot to deal with so I’ll spare you my dramatics.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, I just found out today,” I said.

  “It does, as a matter of fact.” She leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

  “Actually, I’m starving. Maybe a snack?” I asked, hopefully.

  “Ahh, food does sound good,” she said. “Watching all those girls share a cracker today made me want something greasy.”

  Aaron hopped out the chaise he was sitting on and said he would go pick up something. He returned a while later with a few pizzas and a movie. We all gathered around the counter in the kitchen and fixed our plates.

  “This is so good, Aaron where did you get it?” I asked, with a mouth full of food and cheese dripping down my hand.

  “Some guy with a black mask and gloves asked me if I was hungry at the corner,” he joked. Zaine walked up to him and smacked him on the back of the head.

  “Not funny, dickhead,” he growled.

  “God I was joking. Lighten up a little. I was just trying to be funny,” Aaron complained. Rubbing his head.

  “This shit is not funny Aaron!” Zaine roared. We all stopped what we were doing and looked at each other. Zaine was really livid with his brother’s little joke. I knew he was just frustrated and scared. I put the pizza down on my plate and grabbed his arm, pulling him to the couch. He was running his fingers through his hair, his usual tell when he was about to explode. I knew I needed to calm him down.

  “Listen to me, Zaine. He was only trying to make us laugh.”

  “I know what he was trying to do, Lan, but that shit is not funny. It’s too fresh to be joking about.” He continued to fume in the living room while Tayla and Aaron finished their pizza. I curled up next to him, drifting in and out of sleep. I just wanted the day to end so I could figure out how I would function as usual the next day. I still had my job to do, and even though the show was over, there were details that needed to be handled.

  It was getting late, and Aaron and Tayla decided to leave for the night. I said my goodbyes and closed my eyes to relax.

  When I woke up I was alone, and someone had moved me from the couch to the bed and pulled the covers up around my chin. I went downstairs to find Zaine, but he was nowhere in sight. I wondered where he might be at this hour—it was after midnight—as I went into the kitchen for a glass of water. As I stood in the darkness with my back to the window, the door leading to the pool slammed shut. It startled me and I dropped my glass, shattering it on the floor. I started to cry so hard that I couldn’t see through the blur, and sunk to the floor in terror. I was so frightened that I didn’t know what to do. Alm
ost immediately the kitchen lights came on and Zaine was at my side, his arms around me.

  “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. You’re okay. It’s just me.” His words were so comforting and his voice soothed my soul. As always, I felt safe in his arms and I never wanted him to let me go.

  “I woke up and I didn’t know where you were. I came downstairs to look for you, but you weren’t here,” I sobbed. “When I heard the door I thought someone was breaking in. I know it’s stupid, but I got scared.” I was hiccupping from crying so hard.

  “I promise you, Landrey, I am not going to let anyone or anything hurt you. Okay? You have got to trust me,” he said. He helped me to my feet, then picked me up and set me on the counter. As he was picking up the pieces of glass from the floor, he stopped to examine something. He dumped the glass in the trash, then turned to me.

  “Is this yours?” he asked, holding up a diamond earring.

  I shook my head. “I haven’t worn earrings in weeks. Let me see it.” Zaine handed me the small piece of jewelry. I cradled it in my palm and turned it over. It was a single round diamond, and a large one at that. It was maybe a caret or two.

  “Tayla might have dropped it, but I don’t recall her having diamonds this big. I can ask her. I’ll save it and show it to her later. She’s supposed to meet me at the boutique,” I said, drying my eyes on the end of my shirt.

  “I don’t think you should go into work today. Don’t you think you need some rest? It’s after midnight already,” Zaine said.

  “I have to at least go in and grab some paperwork and my laptop. I can do some work from here, if you don’t mind me using your office?”