Back to the Top (Ross Records) (3) (10 page)

“No,” I said as lead settled in my heart. “I need to get home. But I expect to see pictures.”

“I’ll send so many of them that you’ll get irritated,” he said, a dazed, but happy expression on his face. He pecked my cheek. “Thanks for coming.”

“You bet,” I said. “Now take your mother to see her grandbaby.”

He gave me one last squeeze before taking his mother by the hand and leading her out of the room.

“You leaving, Iz?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, I need to get home,” I said, glancing at my cell phone. I had several text messages and two missed calls. “It’s really late.”

“You don’t have to drive all the way back,” Jake said. “I’ll get you a room or something.”

“I’m fine, really,” I said. I didn’t want to give Brad any more ammunition. I said my goodbyes and let Jake walk me to the elevators.

“I’m really sorry about what happened at my house Memorial weekend,” he said while we waited for the doors to open.

“You don’t have to apologize,” I said. “I probably overreacted. Again.”

“No, honestly,” he said, touching my shoulder. “I put you in a bad spot and I shouldn’t have.”

I just wanted to forget the whole thing and I especially didn’t want to talk about it in a hospital with ears all around.

“Let’s just put it behind us, okay?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said as the doors opened. He stepped inside with me. “I’ll walk you out. It is late.”

I didn’t object because it wouldn’t do any good. Besides, I wanted to stretch out the time I had left with him.

Once we stepped into the lobby, I could see that the reporters outside the doors had multiplied. I stopped Jake by the empty reception desk.

“You don’t need to go out there,” I said, pointing at the horde waiting outside. “I’m parked close and I can get through the reporters no problem. They don’t scare me anymore.”

He cracked a tiny smile. “Okay. But, try to keep in touch, okay?”

“I’ll try,” I said. Waving, I walked away, bracing myself for the onslaught. I could only hope that they hadn’t seen Jake and wouldn’t recognize me. It had been years since I’d been the focus of their cameras and notebooks.

Once outside, a few reporters gave me curious glances. My hopes rose until a young, ambitious man stepped forward.

“Are you a friend of Ronnie Stone?” he asked. “Has the baby been born?”

Ducking, I continued to walk, a little faster, making my way through the crowd.

“Was that Jake Johnson in the lobby?”

“Did you see the baby?”

“Aren’t you Isabella Ames?”

I faltered, glancing up quickly to see the vapid, cheesing face of Candy Something-or-other, a reporter for the
Star Gazer
, Annie’s formerly favorite tabloid.

Without a word, I hurried to my car and got in, praying that no one had taken any photos.

***

As I drove, I couldn’t stop the memories from playing in my mind, making me wish that I’d done something different back then – something to stop Jake from his downward spiral. Maybe we’d still be together.

“Jake, are you okay?” I asked as Ronnie and Nick followed him into the house.

“Fine, angel, don’t worry,” he said as he brushed past me to the kitchen.

Nick and Ronnie stopped before me, weary and worried.

“Jake’s attorney thinks he can make this arrest disappear,” Nick said, scrubbing his face. “But I’m not so sure. This is the second time, Iz.”

“I know,” I said, casting a worried glance at the kitchen.

Jake sauntered into the room, beer bottle in hand, and fell to the sofa.

“Jake, why won’t you listen to us,” I pleaded. “Please.”

“Nothing to listen to,” he said as he grabbed the remote off the coffee table.

“We just want to help,” I said.

“You know what, Iz, you can help,” he said. “You can help by backing off, okay? I don’t have a drug or alcohol problem. I have a nagging girlfriend problem.”

I flinched but held my ground. “That’s what you think, is it?”

Nick moved closer to me while Ronnie stood beside Jake.

“Yes, it is,” he said as his eyes avoided my face. “You know you need to do? You need to pack up and leave. You need to go to school.”

“You want me to leave?” I asked in a pathetic voice, my heart twisting violently in my chest.

He ran a hand through his hair. He looked so old, yet he was only twenty-one. His voice was soft when he replied. “Yeah, Iz, I do. I want you to leave. I want you out of here tomorrow.”

Without waiting for a reply, he snatched his beer and disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later we heard the basement door slam. Nick placed an arm around my shoulders while Ronnie tried to smile, sympathy in his eyes.

“I’ll take you home tomorrow morning,” Nick said. “We both will.”

Not knowing what else to do, I agreed.

I got home, tired and relieved. All I wanted was a cup of tea and a long sleep. As I inserted the key into the door, I discovered that it wasn’t locked. My heart fell to my feet. I was more than positive that I’d locked up before I left. It could only mean one thing.

“Where the hell have you been?”

I stepped inside and shut the door, dropping my purse and keys on the little foyer table.

“My friend had her baby and I went to see her,” I said as I brushed past him on my way to the kitchen. But he was too fast. He snagged my arm and jerked me around to face him.

“You went to see some crack-addicted baby?” he asked, his face an expression of anger.

“The baby is not an addict and neither are my friends,” I protested as my heart pounded.

“Not anymore,” he said. “You are finished with them. No wife of mine will be associated with people like that.”

“People like that?” I asked. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I checked up on them,” he said. “Did you know that your friend, Jake Johnson was arrested numerous times on drunk driving and drug charges? But he got off every time.”

“He must have had a good attorney,” I said.

He shoved me into the wall, banging my head. “He wrecked his car in a drunken stupor and walked away with a broken leg and minor injuries.”

“Good, I’m glad he wasn’t seriously hurt,” I said. Not too smart when the man was leering in my face, anger dripping from every pore.

“You are done with those people,” he said. “Do you hear me? You are done.”

He released me and I slid to the floor. Quickly gathering strength, I rose to my feet, not wanting him to see me as weak.

“You can’t stop me,” I said in a calm voice. “They are my friends.”

“Not anymore,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m leaving Monday for the West Coast trip. I expect you to keep your nose clean. I’ll have people watching you and checking on you.”

“I’m not a child, Brad,” I said.

“The stop acting like one,” he said as he strode to the door. “Go to bed. It’s late. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I waited exactly two seconds after his departure to lock the door and throw the deadbolt. Sighing, I leaned against the door, hoping that I would have the strength to stay away from Jake for the two weeks that Brad would be gone.

***

Jenny dropped by unexpectedly Saturday morning, eager for news about the baby. I ushered her into the living room and poured us each a glass of sweet tea.

“Greta sent me a text this morning that the baby is doing extremely well,” I said. “It seems as if they’d estimated her due date wrong. I mean, going by the due date that she was given initially, the baby would be four weeks early, but Greta said the doctors think he’s only about two weeks early. His lungs are strong and he’s eating.”

“That’s wonderful,” Jenny said. “Did you get a chance to talk to Jake?”

“Not really,” I said. “We were all too worried about Carly and the baby.”

She nodded, taking a drink from her glass. “And how often does Brad leave bruises on your arm?”

Startled, I glanced at my left arm and sure enough, there was some bruising from where he’d grabbed me. Covering it with my right hand, I shrugged. “We argued last night and he grabbed my arm when I tried to walk away. It’s nothing.”

“I don’t think so, Bella,” Jenny said. “When I went home last night, Brad questioned me about where you were. I finally told him that a friend of yours was in labor and wanted you to be there. He tried to play it off but I could tell he was angry.”

I shrugged again.

“I’m sorry,” she continued. “I should have lied or made something up.”

“No, don’t apologize,” I said. “I don’t want you to lie for me. I intended on telling him where I was anyway.”

“Has he ever hit you?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “He’s never hit me.”

She stared into my face, looking for lies in my eyes. “Don’t make excuses for him, Bella. If he’s hurting you, then you need to leave.”

“I promise you that he’s not hitting me or hurting me,” I said. “I would leave if he did.”

“You should leave him anyway,” she said. “He’s got anger issues, I think.”

“No, he’s just jealous because of my friendship with Controlled Environment.”

She set her glass on the table and turned to face me. “What kind of hold does he have on you?”

“He has no hold,” I protested. I moved away, snatching my glass to have something to focus on. “Honestly, this whole this is nothing.”

“Kevin told me that Brad is going away for two weeks,” she said. “Are you going to see Jake?”

I shook my head.

“Why?”

“Because,” I sighed. “Jake is my past. Brad is my future. It’s time for me to move forward.”

She paused, staring intently at me, and then sighed. “Okay, Bella. I think maybe I’m poking too much into your life. I just, well, when Brad looked so angry last night and then I come over here and see bruises on your arm…”

“It’s all right,” I said as I patted her knee. “I appreciate your concern. But really, things are fine. We’re going through a rough patch, that’s all. If I’d only told him that I knew those guys then he probably wouldn’t overreact like he has been.”

“I hope you’re right,” she said as she stood. “I need to get going. Call me if you get bored. Or, if you need me.”

“I will,” I said, walking her to the door. “And thanks.”

***

Brad left Monday morning, without any fanfare from me. I’d spent Sunday evening with him, enjoying a quiet dinner at his house. Thankfully, his mind was on his upcoming trip and not on our disagreement the previous day. I didn’t linger once dinner was finished, claiming that I wanted him to get some rest before his early morning flight.

The entire first week he was gone, I focused only on work since the school year had ended and the summer programs were preparing to begin. There was a lot to do and without the Brad/Jake distraction, I was able to get things done. By the time I left Thursday evening, I was caught up and in good shape.

That night, Annie called me. It had been far too long since we’d last spoken that I was thrilled to hear her voice.

“How are things going, Bella?” she asked. “How’s Eastville?”

“Oh, the same,” I said. “Things are going great with the Children’s Center, though.”

“Excellent,” she said. “Same here. Ever since Zach’s parents retired and we took over the pharmacy, we’ve been extremely busy.”

“That’s good to hear,” I said. “Unless, of course, you don’t take time for yourselves.”

“We’re thinking about going somewhere for a weekend, soon.”

“You should,” I said.

“How’s Brad?” she asked, distaste in her voice. Brad wasn’t one of her favorite people, either.

“He’s good,” I said. “He’s on a west coast business trip this week and next.”

“Good, pack your bags and leave while he’s gone.”

“Annie…”

“Sorry, Bella,” she said, a sigh in her voice. “He just strikes me wrong for some reason.”

“I know,” I said. “So, um, I saw Jake and the guys recently.”

“What?” she asked, excitement screaming through the phone lines. “Tell me everything.”

I did. I explained how I’d met them after the show and about going to Jake’s on Memorial weekend – omitting the night I’d slept in his bed. She exclaimed over the fact that Matt and Greta were married and Ronnie was now a father.

“How did Jake look?” she asked.

“He looks good,” I said.

“I hope you don’t hold his mistakes against him,” she said. “It couldn’t have been easy to beat that addiction.”

“I don’t,” I said, a soft smile on my face.

“I’m glad you’re in contact with them again,” she said. “They’re good people. How did Brad react?”