57. Sorry Babe

Michael

She was so peaceful. I smiled, looking down at her. The movements had stirred Louis, and his eyes opened. They narrowed as he scrutinized me. But I didn’t care. There was no point trying to get the guy out of my mind the whole time. I was too tired and let my thoughts run, so he knew what was happening.

He read me and rubbed his forehead with his fingers like he always did.

I knew I wasn’t at my best. An all-nighter with my ward didn’t help. She slept for like half an hour, then woke up again.

“It gives you three days to calm down,” I told him. Kind of ticked off at how he handled her at the house.

He nodded, agreeing with me. “Yeah. Not my finest moment.” Jack woke up across from me. I put my arms down in front of me and slept for the dead. Knowing I was going to have three days of bliss. Thank you, little Juliet.

***

Juliet

I saw white curtains blowing slightly in the breeze next to the bed, opening my eyes. Stretching out a hand I felt the sun’s warmth, smelling the sea air, and I couldn’t wait to go to the beach. I turned around, stretching out an arm. Eyes closed. Trying to figure out who was in my bed without opening them up. The thought ran through me of how Marcus would feel. And what would be his distinction… apart from the others? I also thought three days was a long time, wondering what happened.

I touched hair and slid my hand down a back. I scooted closer. Spooning Louis. His scent always gave him away. I ran my hands over his chest and stomach. He moaned and turned to me, still sleeping as I kept caressing his skin.

“I need a wedding ring.” His eyes shot open. “You should have seen how the people stared at me on the train with four guys and me… Without a ring on. We can be glad they didn’t call the police.” He pulled me closer, minding my bump. My lips found his.

***

The following week we lived on a yacht off the coast of the city of Nice. Traveling up and down to Monaco. Michael and Jack are with us on the boat. There was really no more point in them avoiding us, and we needed the protection. Louis wanted them close to read Michael after what happened on the mountain. They had planned all of it. My three husbands. Not to spend time with me. But to do things that needed sorting out… I sighed, tilting my head up into the sun. It was the last sun we would have going into the winter months. The water was too cold to swim in, but we visited spas and tried to find ones with salt pools for me to release some of the weight of the pregnancy.

I bought a ring and when I put it on… I didn’t ever want to take it off. Louis and I talked about everything but also nothing. He soon returned to his happy manners and treated me like he always did. If that was Louis’s worst… I wasn’t going to complain. We fell into our old rhythms… Just enjoying life.

Marcus was on my mind, and I had to ask Louis if he knew what was going on. He didn’t want to say. It was between Marcus and me, and he wouldn’t interfere. I wondered if Marcus had the self-control to keep his thoughts under control all the time so that Louis wouldn’t know what he was really thinking.

“No, he doesn’t.” I smiled.

We sat with our feet in the water, the sound of the waves lapping against the boat. The shore in the distance seemed like a postcard.

“And even then, he can’t control his dreams.” I laid back on the towel behind me on the jetty of the boat. Louis ran his hand over my belly.

“Juliet… I want to say something. But you have to listen first and try to stay calm...”

“Okay.”

“I think Michael should take you to Samuel’s place for the next few months.”

“Yeah, okay.” I owe him anyway. It’s not like you guys want me. I think, but don’t say it. Louis didn’t comment on all my stupid thoughts.

“That’s not true. But I’m not going to complain if you go easily.”

“Yeah… Being here with you out of the house makes everything seem normal again. You are the only one not going anywhere. You’re always there, and that in itself is priceless and brings me peace.” He was quiet.

“You don’t know what it means to me. To know you actually mean that. From the bottom of your heart….” He was quiet and then went on. “We haven’t talked about you thinking all of us together isn’t working.” I haven’t shed one tear in almost all the time we were alone... But him reminding me that things are still the same made me fight back tears.

“Baby.” He pulled me up and onto his lap. “What is it that has you like this. You gotta talk to me.”

“You just don’t know what’s it like… I’m so over all this bad luck.” I knew there wasn’t anything he could say to that. And he didn’t. He held me close, kissed the top of my head, and stroked my hair. Growing up sucked, and then every day sucked. I wanted to just rest my eyes for a minute but fell asleep.

***

Michael

I was holding my breath, listening to their conversation. Maybe not on a TV screen anymore, but I was slowly moving closer to her, and I was nervously running my hands over my shorts.

He was going to tell her. Ask her if she would want to go to the farm… She said “yes” so quickly. I couldn’t believe it. It was the moment that changed everything. It would be the time that either made me a part of her life, or I would never see her again.

***

Sita

I was nervous the moment I sat down. You never think that you will regret something until it’s too late.

It was loud in the coffee shop that morning. People were chattering, laughing and I just couldn’t join the morning atmosphere in France. I checked my watch, took a sip of coffee, checked my watch again. Chris was late.

I really didn’t want to meet this Marcus, but I didn’t have a choice when a very dark guy sat down across from me.

“Who are you?”

He reached out a hand across the table. Reluctantly I took it. “Marcus Ahmed.”

“How did you know who I was?”

He pointed to the car parking down the street. “Chris pointed you out.”

“So, he came?”

“Yeah, he did.”

I was relieved. “How is he?”

“Chris…? He’s nervous. Other than that, he seems fine.”

Chris came walking across the cobblestone road towards us. I almost didn’t recognize him until he helped some old lady cross the street.

He would never typically have worn anything like what he had on. His hair was actually highlighted and styled. Gelled to the side. Flattering him. Beard shaven. A dark blue navy jacket with a black shirt underneath. Silver bracelet…? And he was definitely not wearing his chino pants anymore.

He kept his eyes on Marcus and when he sat down. His face said he wasn’t happy to see me. It hurt a little. “Hello, Sita.”

“Hello, Christopher.” It was an awkward silence. But he kept his eyes on me. Marcus wasn’t leaving. “Do you think you can give us some time, Marcus?” Chris nodded, and he got up to take a walk.

“Why am I here, Sita?”

“I want you to come home.”

“We have no home.”

“Don’t you think people have said that before? We were married for better or worse.”

“You know I’ve come to understand that all people have limits. And I have some self-respect left. Juliet’s love has taught me that I do deserve something more than what you could give me.”

“Will she ever be able to focus just on you, though? I’ve heard from Nicholas about the situation there. How can you say it’s better than trying to make our relationship work?”

I reach out to touch his arm. I wanted to show him that I was completely over my issues with intimacy. At first, he’s startled at the touch. But he didn’t yank away from me. I squeeze his fingers in mine.

“I am better. I saw someone and to be honest, I went out with some other people. I might have longed for something else… Greener grass and all that. But I don’t anymore.”

I hold his hand for a moment, just letting the sensation sink in.

“My summons to go back to my planet has come. I can’t seem to get over the idea of never seeing you again.”

Slowly he pulled his hand away. “I want you to come back with me.” I retake his hand and pull it towards me like he did with Juliet in the car. Then held it with both of mine. I can see there is confusion in his features. It’s been a long time since I had done anything like that.

“How did it change? What changed?”

“In the beginning, I really did love you, and the fact that I was lying to you and the fear of me changing and you freaking out was too much for me. I couldn’t be myself with you or give myself to you. It was like we were living in two worlds, and I was stupid for not telling you. I kind of blame Nick for a lot of our relationship. He was so against me saying anything… Anyway, it doesn’t matter.” I was still grasping onto his hand, and his eyes were fixed on me. Expressionless. I had no idea what he was thinking.

“What about the videos you threatened me with. That was a shallow thing to do.”

“I am still going to release it if you don’t come back with me.” His hand stiffened in mine. He was trying to pull away. “Look, Chris. I am desperate. And I know now that I’m not playing a game. From the moment I saw something was going on between you and Juliet… I was jealous… I want you back, and I want to raise your baby with you.”

Chris was speechless. Marcus was staring at us. He could obviously hear our whole conversation. “We don’t know what’s going to happen to Juliet. What if she does change into some monster… Who will help you with the baby?”

I gave him a moment.

“You haven’t made it official with her. Everyone can see that you have one foot in the door. Can you honestly say that you will stay with Marcus and raise the baby if she and Louis change? Isn’t it better to get all three of us out of here?”

Marcus seemed tired of waiting on the sidelines and came over to Chris. “Should I go? You guys can talk.”

He stopped Marcus and told him to sit down. “Sita… firstly shows us what you have and how to do plan on doing this. What are your conditions?”

***

Marcus

I didn’t think Sita would be that beautiful. When I sat down, I took a minute to appreciate her. She looked so sophisticated and striking. Her hair was styled, each one in place with a slight curl. Her lips were red that matched the blouse she had on. She had rings on every finger and earrings running up her ears. Her makeup was flawless. Accentuated everything that needed to be. Her v neck was low cut and revealed enough to tease anyone around her.

She slid a phone with earphones over to Chris. It’s unlocked and has a video ready to be played on the screen. Chris came and stood behind me, giving me one of the earphones. I pressed the screen and heard a car door open and then another. Juliet sat down on the car's bonnet, her back to the camera. Chris is evident and then sitting next to her. They are arguing. Really passionately, and then she manifests into the camera straight at the car.

Chris jumps up and away from her. Behind me, he puts his hands on my shoulders. She turned back to human, defeated at his reaction. Not her finest moment. That was certainly not how you showed someone what you were. The feed breaks… Juliet is seated in the house, all ripped up. I remember it. I nearly lost my mind in the club when I saw her like that.

“That is what I send out if Chris doesn’t come with me. It’s straightforward… He leaves her… And her secret and everybody’s secrets don’t get leaked.”

“Where did you get this? If you had the footage all this time, why now…?” I asked regarding her reactions and micro-expressions. She was terrible at hiding her feelings. There was no coverup story, and she didn’t speak.

“So, you got this recently.” I snorted. “And you don’t know how… Well, the only person that can be behind this is my father.”

She leaned over, swiped to the right, and played another video. It’s of Juliet killing person after person her entire life. Chris’s grip fastened on my shoulders. The footage goes quickly from frame to frame until the last one, where she is in an ally with… Louis. They kill three people, and then she sucks one dry while he dumps the bodies. Chris muttered a swear word.

“This isn’t good news, but they still won’t be able to find her. Understand what’s going on.” I confessed.

She sat for a few minutes staring at Chris. His hands gripped my shoulders tighter. He sighed. “Get to the point. What’re your other conditions?”

“We have to sleep together before we even leave France and… then have sex every week… You have to promise to stay at least 3 months. Give us a fair chance. When I leave, you can decide what you want to do.”

I wanted to speak. She slid a stack of photos over to me. “This information reveals everything there is about Juliet.”

The first photo is of the house in France. Then some of her school photos. The location of where she’s been and where she can be found. And then the picture of her pregnant belly. More pictures of her with Carl, Charlene, and… her parents. Chris’s nails dug into my shoulders.