Chapter 68
Bea’s party ends up being a nice time. I chat with multiple other adults at the event, mostly the coworkers, and meet the kids running around. The kids sing Happy Birthday to Bea, and she blows out the candles to her pink cake.
The presents are also super cute, ranging from stuffed animals to children’s makeup to books.
“Yet no one got her a necklace,” I whisper tease to Derek while she’s thanking her friends and giving out hugs.
“How rude of these guests, they should be ashamed,” Derek whispers back at me, nudging my arm with his own.
The butterflies in my stomach keep fluttering in every which way. How have I continued to push away the man when it’s undeniable the attraction we’ve been feeling? I thought maybe it was a misguided crush he may have.
The truth is, I’m falling for him, even though we just went through the internal investigation. I don’t know how that’ll work at the moment. However, sitting with him at a picnic table while watching his oldest daughter open birthday gifts ignites something inside.
I volunteer to help Derek clean up and take some items back to the apartments with me. I don’t mind, and it gives me time to talk with Derek.
We talk about mostly nothing, nonsense filling up the space between us. Bea and Tris are still playing with the other kids, and most of the parents are chatting with each other. This is ideal for the both of us.
I tell Derek about looking at the baby clothes, how I have another appointment coming up where I could find out the gender and inform him that Melinda and I are back on speaking terms.
He tells me that Tris has her first loose tooth, and Bea won the class spelling bee.
Little things. Those tiny, little things.
“Thanks for helping me out,” Derek says once everything is done. “You sure you’re good with taking that stuff back to the apartment?”
I nod, holding bags with chips and bowls and drinks in my hands. “Of course. It’s no problem at all. Just come over once you’re able.”
“Will do. Bea and Tris okay to come? I know they’re thrilled you were here today.”
“Of course. Sammy will be happy to see them. I think he prefers them over me!”
Finally, I head out, the girls waving goodbye as I call out that I’ll see them later.
I can’t stop smiling on the drive back home. This was absolutely everything I needed today to be. Bea loved her gift and had a fantastic party, I got out of the apartment and managed to forget about my troubles, and I finally talked to Derek.
Knowing we’re in a different place now feels good.
“Since you moved in next door, you’ve quickly become the same to me.”
I wish I could understand what the best course of action would be with Derek. Knowing that we both see each other as more than neighbors or even friends makes me feel like a giddy little kid.
Honestly, I haven’t felt like this since I first started dating Ryan. It’s a heart clenching, butterfly feeling kind of thing. Our jobs are still at risk if anything happens to go further, but for now, I’m okay with focusing on the positives.
As I get to my door of my apartment, I see a bouquet of roses waiting for me outside. I’m stunned—who would do this? Derek’s sweet, but there’s no way he made this happen while we were literally together this afternoon.
I unlock my door and put everything down inside before returning to the vase. I feel a thrill of excitement even though I’m distinctly aware it can’t have been Derek.
The giddy smile on my face quickly turns around, because the card tells me who these are from.
“To my wife, with love from Ryan.”
Gross. Can’t even call me by name? Has to refer to me as his possession? Disgusting.
I throw the bouquet in the trash, feeling bad because the flowers are beautiful, but not wanting to hint at anything going his way.
“Jackass,” I murmur to myself.
As I’m getting everything else together inside, I roll my eyes at his pathetic attempts to forgive him. Does he really believe I’ll let him be around me?
He threatened me enough. He keeps swearing he’s going to take my baby away. He has been the ringleader in this charade. There’s no reason to believe anything good could come of the man.
I decide to call Detective Mattison, even though it’s a Saturday. I haven’t heard anything still, and now I’m starting to grow more curious and annoyed.
“Detective Mattison,” he greets.
“Hi, detective, this is Esme Price, the woman who’s divorce and restraining order cases came across your desk two weeks ago after we called 911 at my apartment.”
“Yes, how are you doing, Esme?”
“I’ve been better. Wondering if anything has changed on your end? I haven’t heard a thing, but I’m still getting these harassing texts from different burner phones.”
A heavy sigh into the receiver. “Esme, I’m so sorry about that. It’s clear that your husband—”
“Not my husband.”
“—your ex has been making everything harder for you lately. I can understand the anxiety and frustration.”
I raise a brow, sitting down on my couch. “He knocked up my cousin, dumped me on our third year wedding anniversary, and then proceeded to make idle threats. My cousin had a miscarriage, and now Ryan’s on a rampage to get me back.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been saying.”
“No,” he says, annoyed. “That’s not why I said that. I went to check and see if anything new as added to your file, and I’m not sure you’re going to be too excited about what I have for you.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, waiting for the blow to be dealt.
“The precinct in which you filed with that your lawyer helped you with was actually denied.”
“What?” I sit up so fast I nearly smack my knees on my coffee table. “How is it denied? They already approved the restraining order; this doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, the paperwork mostly talks about the hours of manpower and resources to deliver the order. The fact that Ryan continues to dodge the officers, the order, and be detected long enough for questions, the police chief decided to essentially veto the order.”
“Veto?!” I gasp, this time I do smack my knee on the table.
“Essentially, it cancels itself out. Because they’re unable to find Ryan even with APB’s and help, they feel its not a major threat at the moment.”
I can’t help but scoff into the phone like this is some sick prank. “This has to be against the law, because there’s no way the police would just drop stalking, harassment and threats made to me and my unborn child.”
It’s quiet, and I feel myself bouncing my leg with anxiety and worry. How am I going to get anyone to listen to me that Ryan’s stalking me?
“He just left me flowers outside my home while I was out! You gotta help me, Detective. Every few days it’s a new phone number, new harassments, new threats. How am I supposed to feel safe with a man running around with intent to harm me?”
He doesn’t answer that question at first, and I can hear the background noise clearly as he breathes into the phone with utter frustration.
“I don’t like this either. But the law clearly states that due to the inability to serve the order, it’s gotta be dropped.”
“What do you expect me to do about this?” I half-demand.
“Call your lawyer,” he urges. “Get them on the same page and get yourself another order as fast as possible. I can try to work on it from the backdoor. In the meantime, don’t engage with him. Don’t answer anything including the door.”
I sniff, surprised I hadn’t even realized my tears were gathering up.
“I’m genuinely sorry, Esme. All of this is terrible, and I know that. But please, let your lawyers know. File again. I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure you’re okay.”
I hang up the phone, fuming and disappointed. That vase full of flowers that I’ve thrown into the trash is full of lies. Lies, fake love, and a man who only ever wanted two things from me: my money and a baby.
I’m absolutely sick of this.
I leave Daniel a message demanding he refile and get to the bottom of this.
I text Annie and Lily the news, but it’s not enough. Will anything I deal with be enough? Or is this nothing more than a web of lies, spinning out of control on not just Ryan’s end, but mine as well?
And above it all, how do I tell Derek that this man is stalking me, and likely will never stop?
