All of Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy (25 page)

“Mel, John, nice to see you guys again. Where’s the champagne? I need a glass, or a bottle, or five,” Trish asks, making Aiden chuckle.

“It’s on its way,” I say.

Aiden and John start up a conversation while Mel, Trish, and I talk about the dresses and the flowers for tomorrow. Eventually Sarah and Chris show up, and they both look as worn out. They sit down at the table and we order our dinner.

“Okay, so I think being pregnant is
fucked
up,” Sarah says, shocking us all.

“Sarah! You can’t say stuff like that,” Trish says.

“No, seriously. Why punish pregnant women? I mean, really, I’m bringing a new life in to this world, and that’s something to be celebrating. But noooo, you can’t actually celebrate when you’re pregnant, can you? No alcohol, no cheese, no processed meats, no seafood... hell, what’s the point in celebrating if all the things you celebrate with you can’t have? It’s
fucking
rude is what it is,” she says, making Mel and me laugh.

“And another thing. I never cry, ever, and now I cry over stupid stuff. Earlier it was when I saw a bird flying in the blue sky. It was so freaking beautiful. What the hell is with that? Chris, you made me defective, you jerk.”

Chris and John laugh as Sarah huffs and folds her arms over her chest. The night continues on with us eating our meals while Mel tells us embarrassing stories about Chris.

“So, he was running around the backyard naked and screaming about wanting a turtle. Why he decided to run around naked is beyond me,” Mel says, making us laugh.

“That’s not how it happened, Mom. I was not naked.”

“Yes, you were. I remember because I saw your little pee pee.”

“Hey now, hold up. My cock is not little, thank you very much, Mother. It’s a monster,” Chris says, looking at Sarah for her to confirm.

“Oh, no way. I am staying out of this one,” Sarah says, making us laugh.

“Are you kidding me? Defend my cock size, Sarah,” Chris says, making her laugh harder.

“Okay, babe, you have a monster cock. I think I will name him the Hulk because it’s so freaking huge, it’s ridiculous. I’m in awe of your cock. Chris, you amaze me,” she says sarcastically.

“Thank you,” he says. He leans in and kisses her forehead while we all laugh at them.

***

Sarah puts on her very short, very tight, white strapless dress and her eight inch diamante encrusted heels as Mel, Trish, and I change into our matching pastel yellow Grecian style cocktail dresses. I have to give Sarah credit; her choice in dresses is actually superb. We make our way to the chapel inside Caesars Palace and meet up with the guys who are wearing dark jeans, a white shirt and a suit jacket, no tie. They all look great, especially Aiden, but I am biased. Chris is looking at Sarah in such a loving way; his eyes are glazed over and he’s smiling so brightly I’m sure his cheeks will be hurting later. I can only hope that Aiden looks at me that way when we get married. The ceremony is short and sweet. It isn’t long before Sarah and Chris are exchanging rings. I can’t help it as a stray tear falls down my cheek when I hear them say ‘I do’ to each other. It’s so good to finally see Sarah settling down, and she couldn’t have picked anyone better than Chris. Aiden looks over at me, and my knees feel weak and I know that as perfect as this day is for Sarah, my wedding day will be perfect with Aiden as well.

***

Sarah and Chris abandon us for the rest of the trip in Las Vegas, even though we’re only here for two more days, I don’t expect to see them until we’re leaving to catch the flight home. That’s fine with me and Aiden as we have plenty of alone time together, and it is just what we need. We spend our time by the pool of the hotel, sipping on cocktails, and occasionally go into to casino to do some gambling. We get to our final day in Vegas, and it’s time to head home.

We arrive back in Mornington Vale, and Mike picks us up from the airport. He drives us back to our home. He and Callie stay for dinner, and we tell them all about our three day trip. Aiden calls Bree to see how things went at the office while we were away, and she says that Alistair is getting grumpier and is losing himself quickly. His anger is becoming a problem and the nursing staff are having to restrain him often. I can’t help but feel sad for him, even after everything he put me through. It’s still a horrible thing to happen.

***

Sarah and Chris come over to spend their Saturday with us. “Jeni, c’mon. We haven’t got all day,” Sarah calls out to me. I slowly walk from the kitchen to the sofa. Aiden is amused, and I sit down next to Sarah who has her laptop open, looking for places to get married.

“Aiden, you should be here for this, too,” Sarah calls out to him. He walks in and sits down.

“Are we thinking beach, church, or garden?”

“Garden,” we both say in unison.

Sarah types in Mornington Vale gardens into the search engine and the first one that comes up is the beautiful Mornington Vale Botanical Gardens. Aiden grins at me and I nod. Another place that has a very special meaning for us both. It’s where we had our first date and where Aiden proposed to me. It’s perfect. Sarah opens pictures of the gardens and the ceremony site has an archway covered in greenery with white gilded roses surrounding it. There’s also a lake with a water feature. The grass is pristine green and the pathways are of the same cobblestone as the waterfall. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

“This is the place then?” she asks.

“This is the place,” I say. Sarah claps her hands and writes down the phone number for Aiden to contact them. He stands up and walks over, kissing me atop my head, rubbing my shoulders. “Baby, I’m going to pay for your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. I want you to have whatever you want,” he says.

“Aiden, you don’t have to pay for my bridesmaid dress. You already have given me so much,” Sarah says.

“No, I want to. And, Jeni, I want you to have an expensive designer gown at any price, and I mean any price,” he says to me.

“Aiden, I don’t need a designer gown. I’m happy with a normal wedding dress,” I say honestly.

“No, I want you to have nothing but the best. It would make me very happy to see you in something you adore. I won’t take no for an answer. Money is not a problem,” he says. I look up at him. He leans down and kisses my lips softly. I see how much this means to him.

“Thank you. Hopefully I can find something that you’ll like.”

“Yes, thank you, Aiden,” Sarah says.

“You’re both very welcome, and, Jeni, whatever you find, it will look better on the floor,” he says, smirking. I scoff at him and he chuckles.

CHAPTER 21

I wake suddenly as the room fills with light. I am spread out in the bed. Aiden isn’t there when I turn over and look for him. I crinkle my face, get up, and walk into the en-suite, checking around, but I can’t find him. I see a dark figure reflected in the mirror. I turn and Alistair is standing there with an evil grin on his face. I call out to Aiden, but there’s no response. My heart starts to race, and my breathing quickens as he edges closer to me.

“What do you want?”

As he steps closer and closer, I back away, and then hit the wall. I realize I have nowhere to go. I scream out for help, but he rushes toward me and covers my mouth with his hand.

“Hush now. You should be quiet, you might wake Aiden,” he whispers.

My eyes slowly move toward the end of the bed, and I see Aiden lying on the floor with blood oozing from his head, a broken vase lying next to him.

I gasp as Alistair’s body edges closer and closer until it is touching mine. He’s wearing pajamas and definitely looks confused, but still as scary and crazy as ever.

He leans in and whispers in my ear, “You… you took everything from me, you little bitch. Now I’m going to take everything from you,” he says. He moves his hand from my mouth and grabs me by the shoulders, pulling me to the ground. I hit my head on the edge of the vanity as I fall. I look over at Aiden’s limp, lifeless body, and watch the blood draining from his head.

“Aiden,” I call out.

Alistair slaps me across my face so hard, he pushes me into the side of the spa bath. He bends down and pulls my hair, dragging me to the bedroom, causing me to scream.

“Aiden, wake up,” I call out helplessly as he throws me on the bed. I crawl to the other side and jump off, making my way down to Aiden’s side to check on him.

“Uh… uh… uh…” Alistair says.

I put my hand in front of Aiden’s mouth to check if he’s breathing. There’s nothing, no air is coming out or going in. I start to panic, but Alistair grabs hold of me by my hair again and throws me across the other side of the room, smashing me into the chest of drawers.

“Aiden’s not breathing,” I call out, trying to get him to stop and help Aiden.

“He’ll be fine. It’s
you
that should be worried, girlie,” he says, storming over to me.

I run toward the door to get out, but he blocks my path and pushes me to the floor. I cry out in pain as he takes my head and smashes it against the wall, making a hole in it. I fall to the floor feeling dizzy and disorientated. He pulls me up by my arm; my body is limp as he drags me over next to Aiden.

“Look at him,”
he says loudly, making me cringe.

I open my eyes and look at Aiden who seems lifeless on the floor.

“Oh God, Aiden,” I call out.

His father hits me over the head with his open hand. I move my hand out to touch Aiden, but Alistair drags me by my feet toward the balcony as my negligee slides up around my neck.

“
Aiden, wake up
,” I yell out, while clawing at the carpet. Alistair keeps dragging me and opens the doors to the balcony. I kick and struggle against him, and he lets go of my feet. I get on all fours and try to crawl away, but Alistair huffs and drags me back by my hair.

I cry out as he continues to pull at my hair. I slap at his hand, trying to get him to release me, but it doesn’t work.

“Alistair, please, if you hurt me, Aiden will never forgive you,” I plead with him.

“Oh please, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to kill you, and Aiden will thank me for getting rid of you.”

I gasp. He lifts me up so I’m standing on my feet.

“Aiden, help me.”

I look down the driveway and see a car pulling in, followed by a police car. I wave frantically at them when they pull up. Blair and Bree get out of the car along with a man in a white coat. I call out to them and Alistair freezes.

“
Please help Aiden. He’s not breathing
,” I yell, making Alistair angry. He pushes me into the table and chairs on the balcony. Blair, Bree, and the police officer run to the front door while the other police officer radios something on his two-way radio.

“Alistair, it’s Dr. Patterson. Do you remember me from the hospital?” a man in a white coat calls out.

I try to untangle myself from the chair.

“What hospital? Where am I?” Alistair calls out to the doctor.

“You’re at your son’s house, and you’re very sick. You need to come downstairs and return to the hospital with me.”

“What do you mean I’m sick? I feel fine,” he calls back.

Bree and Blair come running into the bedroom, straight to Aiden. The police officer moves them out the way and turns Aiden on his side. I watch them intently, hoping for signs of life from Aiden.

I hear sirens blaring from down the hill. I slowly stand up, trying not to get Alistair’s attention, but I fail.

“Callie, where are you going?” he calls out, taking me by the arm, pulling me to him. I flinch when places his arms around me.

“Callie, I love you,” he says, and tries to kiss me. I pull away in disgust and fall over a broken chair.

“It’s you. I thought you were Callie. You tricked me, you little bitch,” he says, stepping toward me.

“Alistair, stop,” the doctor calls out. Alistair stops and looks down at the doctor.

“Come downstairs and we can talk about this,” he says to Alistair.

“Yes, Father,” he says, stepping toward the edge of the balcony. I blink and watch as he gets too close to the railing. I quickly jump up and run to his side.

“Alistair, no,” I say, watching him climb the railing Then he slips, and I grab hold of his hand. Blair and the police officer run to help me. He’s so heavy, I can hardly hold him.

“I’m coming, Father,” Alistair says, looking at the doctor.

“Help me,” I call out. Blair gets to my side, grasping my hand, trying to help pull Alistair up, but even with both of us pulling, his hand slips. In an instant, he falls, crashing head first into a large garden rock and then to the cement below.

I scream as I watch his lifeless body on the ground. The doctor runs to his side as the ambulance drives up the driveway.

“Father, no,” Brielle screams.

Blair stares down at his father while he holds me close to his chest, hiding my view. I shake in Blair’s arms while he walks with me back into the bedroom. I rush to Aiden’s side where Bree is sobbing next to him.

“Aiden, God please be alright,” I say, and I fall to the ground.

The EMT checks for his pulse and tells us it’s weak and then places an oxygen mask over his face. I sigh with relief that someone is here to help him. A female EMT converses with the male EMT, and then comes over to check out my wounds.

“Miss, my name’s Becca. Can you tell me what happened? Where are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, just take care of Aiden,” I say.

She looks at the other EMT who shakes his head.
What does that mean?

“He’s going to be alright, isn’t he? Please tell me he’s okay?”

She puts her hand on my shoulder. “We have to get him to the hospital. He’s had a heavy knock to the head. We won’t know the extent of the injury until he’s been evaluated by the ER doctor,” she says.

Mike walks in and watches as the EMTs strap Aiden onto a stretcher.

“My God, what happened?” he asks.

“Alistair,” I say quietly.

Mike pulls me to him and holds me tight while I cry into his chest. “Where are you taking him?” Mike asks.

“St. Richmond’s Hospital.”