Dreamers (The Dreamers Series) (22 page)

“What exactly was the plan?”

“I can’t really go into that part, Sydney.”

“Fine. There is one thing that doesn’t really add up, though. Lana was talking to your mother on the phone the day I escaped from the dark room. Your mother wanted me dealt with; she wanted Lana to kill me. You mother was in on my kidnapping.”

“No, neither my mother nor I knew Lana had been released. She slipped through the cracks somehow. Whoever she was talking to was not my mother. I didn’t know about this phone call; why didn’t you tell me?”

“Until now I haven’t really spoken of the incident very much. It’s still kind of—fresh.”

“I understand that, but we need to see my mother. She needs to hear about this. I know it wasn’t her on that call, and that means someone else is involved in this. Let’s go ahead now—it’s important,” she urges.

“What if she’s asleep or something? Shouldn’t we call her before we go all the way over there?”

“She lives downstairs, apartment four-hundred. Yeah, I know, another surprise. I’m sorry—again.”

“So the entire time I was here trapped with Lana you were just below us?” My mouth falls open.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to be too far away from you if you wanted me to come home. I’ll admit, Lana had me going for a while; I truly though you were being seen to by a psychiatrist. I figured it out once the police started showing up. Says a lot about my spidey-sense, huh? Not to mention, my mother and I were working on something… Don’t even ask.”

“Okay.”

After a brisk knock at the door Peyton answers, looking astonishing in nothing more than a simple bath robe. The jealousy has managed to wear off now that I know she and Nick were never actually involved. Strange though, as much as has happened today, as many questions answered, I am still full of energy and eager to learn more. It does occur to me though, that Nick has been waiting all this time and I haven’t let him know anything.

“Do you two mind if I let Nick know I’m okay?” I ask sheepishly.

“How exactly can you do that, Sydney?” Peyton asks curiously.

“They can communicate through meditation,” Heather answers for me.

“Really? Fascinating. I’m still new to this whole paranormal stuff, Syd, so you’ll have to bear with me. I know how tricky the human mind can be; trust me, I live and breathe the human brain. I’ve just never experienced anything like this myself. It seems you have a gift as well, like Dominick.”

“I guess so, but my sister can do it too. She’s talked to Nick during meditation as well.”

“Hmm, family ties. Interesting. Well, go ahead and do your thing. Do you mind if I witness?” Peyton asks curiously.

“Um, I don’t guess so. It’s kind of weird, but okay,” I reply.

I bring in the darkness, trying to mentally drift away from my audience.

***

“Sydney! Where the hell have you been?” He speaks before I ever reach full meditation.

“I’m sorry, Nick. Some things have happened. I’m in the middle of something right now; I just didn’t want you to freak out when I didn’t show up tonight. I’m going to be here a while.”

“Where?”

“With someone—Peyton.”

“What? Sydney, you have to get out of there. This is not safe.”

“I’ve learned some things, Nick. Important things about your death.”

“I don’t want to know. I want to see my child first. We will deal with this later. You get away from her and go home,” he spits.

“I will when I’m done. I love you.”

“Syd, wait!”

***

I cut him off before he asks any questions that I’ve agreed not to reveal. Upon opening my eyes, Peyton and Heather stare awe struck at my communication skills.

“Peyton, Heather told me everything I’m
allowed
to know,” I inform her.

“Yes, she filled me in while you and Nick were talking,” she replies. “Does he know I’m here?”

“He does, and he isn’t thrilled about it either. He thinks you’re responsible for his death. He wants me away from you.”

“Did you explain anything that we spoke about?” Heather asks.

“No, you told me not to. Not to mention, he doesn’t want to know anything until the baby is born. He wants to see it first, before he moves on.” I frown.

“Thank god. Now listen, I told my mother about the suspicious phone call you heard with Lana. She confirmed it definitely was not her on the other end. What exactly were they talking about? This is extremely important, Syd, so try to remember everything you can,” Heather says.

I stretch my brain back to a week ago. Although it wasn’t very long ago, my mind seems to want to block it out. I can’t recall the entire conversation. I was more concerned with escaping then to retain the words. Either way, I do my best to answer the question.

“She said she was moving on to plan B. The plan that they had originally concocted was falling apart, and she wasn’t going down for this. She was going to burn the apartment down, with me inside. I don’t know what plan A was, but whoever was on the other end of the phone was adamantly suggesting that they stick with the plan. That’s all I really know. I guess I’m not much help, huh?”

“More than you know, Sydney. You’re doing great,” Peyton offers as Heather dials a number on her phone.

“Yeah, Jason, I need you to pull some phone records for me...off the record. Cell records for Lana Michelle Doucet from about a week ago. Thanks, get them to me a.s.a.p.” She hangs up.

I’m still blown away by everything—Peyton being a good guy, Heather being a cop, it’s all so foreign. The whirlwind of information is blinding, and I can’t seem to keep up.

“What are we going to do about Sydney?” Peyton asks Heather.

“She will be with me at all times, period. Somebody wants her dead. She doesn’t leave my side until we find out who,” Heather snaps.

“You need to switch apartments. We still have a few vacancies on the top floor,” Peyton suggests.

“No,” I intercept. “If I’m not in my room, I can’t see Nick.”

“You can still meditate, Syd,” Heather offers.

“It’s not the same. We have limited time as it is. I’m not wasting it locked away from him.” I dig my heels in.

Peyton eyes Heather sympathetically. She is aware of Heather’s feelings for me. This must be cutting her to the quick. This is the first display of mother lioness coming to her cub’s rescue.

“Heather, I need to talk to Sydney—alone.” She pulls me into what must be her bedroom. “Have a seat, young lady.”

I do as I’m told and take the chair in the corner of the room.

“Heather is a good girl; she’s sweet and caring, and she loves you very much. I realize that you are in love with someone else, but that is no reason to put yourself in danger. Heather is too easy on you, so I will just give it to you straight. Somebody wants you dead, Sydney. I have a pretty good idea who that might be, and trust me, you do not want him catching up to you. You shouldn’t be scared; you should be terrified. The only person in your life that is safe from harm right now is Dominick. He is the only one Nathan Manning cannot hurt—except through you. If Dominick knew you were putting your life at risk just to be near him, he would disappear in a heartbeat. Do as we say and vacate the apartment. If you die, this will have been all for nothing. Please.”

“What will have been for nothing?”

“Just cooperate, Sydney.” She strokes my hair comfortingly. “I know you miss him, but once Nathan is dealt with, you will have Dominick again, I promise. You can go home as soon as we figure this mess out.”

“I’m scared.”

“We will protect you,” she promises.

A loud alarm sounds throughout the apartment, jerking me from the chair into mid-air. Heather comes through the bedroom door and pulls me from the apartment while Peyton runs to another room, apparently to disable the alarm.

“What the hell was that?” I ask Heather as my ears ring.

“Um, she sets alarms for her insulin injections. Even startled me a little.” She laughs. “Did you guys work things out?”

“We did. Let’s go to the stupid top floor and choose our new apartment,” I sulk.

“Honey, this will all be over soon, I hope.” She squeezes a hug in. “I won’t let anyone hurt you like Lana did—ever again.”

“I trust you with my life, Officer Grayson.”

***

I’ll admit, the first few months of being locked up in this apartment I was actually grateful. The fear Peyton instilled through my bones had me spooked, but I’m still here four months later. I’ve had to quit school, or postpone at least. I haven’t seen Mia or my nephews aside from once when Heather took me to the boy’s birthday party. I feel so trapped. I can’t tell anyone where I am. And then there’s Nick. We haven’t had any physical contact since the night I became pregnant. We talk through meditation constantly. It’s been nice getting to know everything there is to know about each other. Peyton was right; all I had to do was tell him I had a safety concern, and he forbids me from going back home. The guilt is eating at me though. Telling him I’m on bed rest in a facility wasn’t a very nice thing to do, but it was effective. I still don’t understand why he can’t know the full truth. He’s gone from this world, for the most part, anyway. I don’t see what the harm is in telling him the truth. Not to mention, nothing has happened—at all. Heather is in constant contact with her informants but she tells me nothing.

Heather has been amazing, though. She makes sure all my pregnancy cravings are met—too much, in fact. We are both getting fatter by the meal. The vomiting finally stopped just after Christmas. Now all I want to do is eat. I’ve also taken a new liking to online Bingo. The days drag if I don’t find something to do with my time. Heather and I play games, eat, and she hired a prenatal coach and massage therapist to make sure I’m in top shape when the baby comes. Today she is having me choose the furniture for Little Monster’s room. I don’t even know where to begin in buying furniture for a baby. I don’t even know Little Monster’s sex yet. Nick does though; he found out around Thanksgiving. He is dying to tell me but I always stop him. Until now I have loved the idea of being surprised; there are so few true surprises in life, right? Now I’m becoming anxious. Picking names and choosing little clothes will be so much more fun if I know the sex of the baby. Maybe I should let him tell me today—if nothing else that might be the kick off to a better mood. I’m even getting on my own nerves with the whining; I’m sure Heather is ready to throw me out the window herself. Don’t get me wrong, she would never say anything about it. It’s not her style. She politely lets me vent and rarely gets irritated with my outbursts, but part of me knows that on the inside I’m sure she is sick and tired of caring for a nagging pregnant woman who is displeased with everything and everyone.

I shake my insecurities away, channeling the energy into meditation.

“Hey, Nick.”

“Hey, Mama. Why are you in a mood?”

“I didn’t say I was in a mood.”

“I know you better than you give me credit for; you don’t have to
say
it. Plus, you barely ever call me Nick anymore; it’s always baby or something cute like that. Perk up, moody ass.”

“I’m sorry, babe, I’m just getting cabin fever. I’ve been stuck inside for over four months now and I’m getting restless.”

“Well, it’s for the good of the baby so you’ll just have to stay put,” he orders.

Guilt over keeping a huge secret like this from Nick is eating away at me. I hate the thought of being dishonest with him, especially using our child as the excuse.

“I have my five-month ultrasound today. Maybe they will clear me from bed rest. They will also let me know how the baby is doing and all that. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Little Monster is perfectly fine and happy. Hungry, though. Did you eat yet?”

“Not yet. Thanks for telling Daddy on me, Little Monster. I thought we were pals,” I tease, poking my enlarged stomach.

“Feed my child, woman. Hmm…watermelon with salt, and some pita chips and hummus.”

“Is that what Little Monster wants?”

“Yep.” He grins lovingly.

“So it shall be. By the way, I was thinking about it, and I would like to know now.”

“You’d like to know what, baby?” he asks sweetly.

“I want to know what the baby is.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I think we should start picking real names. Not to mention, the ultrasound technician will be able to tell today as well, and I would rather you and I be the first to know. It’s our baby, after all.”

“Okay, Mama. You’re and I are going to be the best, and possibly the most unusual, parents to our sweet little baby. Could be a little rock star, possibly even a doctor or lawyer. One thing I know for sure is that our…
SON
will have the most beautiful mother in the world.” He adoringly blushes.

My heart swells in a genuine happiness I have never experienced. I imagine a small version of Nick, with dark wild hair and gorgeous teal eyes. I wonder for a moment if this is what heaven is like.

“I think I just fell in love all over again. To have been lucky enough to have one wonderful man in my life was a miracle, but now two. I don’t deserve to be so blessed.” Tears break the ledges of my eyes.

“No, you deserve more—so much more than I could ever give you,” he whispers in my ear.

“You’re everything—there is nothing in this world better than that.”

The simplicity of my words hit him—hard—breaking through years of emotional walls he built in self-defense. He loves being loved, like a child being held for the first time. It’s so beautiful on him.

“I’m gonna marry you, Sydney Preston.”

***

“Sydney!” Heather shouts as she snaps her fingers before my face.

“Dang it, you scared me. I was talking to Nick,” I reply with irritation in my tone.

“Sorry, Kid. It’s time for your appointment. We need to get going.” She swipes me from the bed, kissing my forehead. “You ready?”

“Yep.”

As boring as some might expect a ride to the hospital to be, I am actually ecstatic to just get out of the house. The sunshine feels good on my face. Spring is in full force on the streets of Atlanta. April is so beautiful here. The trees lining the streets have pink and white blossoms. The smell is sweet, like Gardenia, one of my favorite flowers.

“It’s a gorgeous day, huh?” Heather speaks.

“It really is. I would love to take some photos today. Do you think we can?” I ask, hopeful.

“I don’t see why not. Let’s see how time goes, and maybe this afternoon we can find a good spot. I’ll be with you so I think it should be fine. I did have a little surprise for you already though.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, I thought we might go shopping for the nursery furniture in an actual store, not online. Would you like that?”

“I would love that! Speaking of, I might be able to choose a little better now since I know what color we will need.”

“Aww, he talked you into it, huh?” She smirks.

“No, I was just thinking it might be fun to know, so I asked him. I’m glad I did too; I don’t think my
son
would have liked all peppermint green and yellow bedding.”

“A boy? I knew it!” She beams excitedly. “What are we naming him?”

“Actually, Nick and I haven’t even discussed that yet. I have a couple of ideas, but he should be the first to know.” I nibble my lip, hoping I haven’t hurt her feelings.

“I understand.” She sheepishly refocuses on the road.

I decide I’m being silly. Why shouldn’t she know? It’s not like I’ve decided or anything. It’s just an idea, anyway.

“I really love the name Dominick Michael Manning. Unfortunately, Nick isn’t very fond of his name so we will have to see what he thinks first,” I shrug.

“I don’t see why you need permission; it’s your baby,” she remarks snidely.

“No, Heather, it’s OUR baby, and he should have a say in his name, too. You are being so mean. Nick doesn’t deserve that.”

“Sorry, sorry, sorry, I know. I still can’t stand Manning. I really am trying—forgive me.”

“Try harder. And of course I forgive you.” I lean into the driver seat and kiss her cheek.

The waiting room is simple but I like it. Cream colored walls with pictures of sweet little babies, a huge fish tank with colorful ocean fish to watch as you’re waiting. Most of the women here today look as if they are about to pop. I still have twenty weeks to go, which at this point I expect will drag as long as I’m stuck in that damned apartment. For the first time I am beginning to get excited. I don’t feel awful anymore, and now that I know I’m having a boy I can’t wait to begin decorating his nursery.

“Sydney Preston,” a nurse in pink scrubs calls from behind a large door holding a chart.

“Do you want me to come with you? I want to see the Monster,” Heather asks.

“You better come. I want you to see him, too.” I smile.

The nurse walks me into a room to take my blood pressure, which is perfect. They take my weight and I decide the nurse is automatically the enemy at this point after she says I’ve gained twelve pounds. I suppose it could be worse, but by the time I get back to Nick I will be a whale. I wonder silently if I can alter myself skinny again; I should be able to in dream world, at least.

The scan goes very well. As Nick told me already, the baby is perfectly healthy. Not that I questioned Nick, but she confirmed the fact that the baby is for sure a boy. He will be due the first of August. I imagine a very hot and sweaty pregnancy. Not that it matters; I am beyond happy right now. My head is in the sky with hopes and dreams for our little family. I can’t wait to go home and replay the ultrasound in my mind for Nick to see. He hasn’t been in my head for a while, but I think I will make an exception for this. I’ve also been considering another thing. I’m considering not ever telling Nick about his situation. At first I was completely opposed to the idea, but as time goes by I become more selfish. I want to keep him as long as I can. He doesn’t want to know anyway so I would only be granting his wish. I know it’s wrong but I want our son to know him. Nick is already the best father I could ever imagine for my child; I want them to have a long life together.

Once I’ve made up my mind, I decide this is news I should share in person. I will let the truth lie—taking it to my grave. I’m have to see him—tonight.

“Heather, are you working tonight?” I ask casually.

“Yeah, I have to go in for the night shift. I’ll be on from eleven until seven,” she sulks.

“I was just wondering, I’m so tired I thought maybe we could go shopping tomorrow. You might be too tired though, after working all night.”

“I don’t mind. Just let me sleep for a few hours when I get off then we can go. You want to go straight home then?” she asks.

“Yeah, I think I want a long bath and a nice dinner. When you go to work I can sleep.”

“What’s for dinner?” She cringes, waiting for the verdict on my latest insane concoction.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want crab and ketchup sandwiches again? “I giggle.

“’I’ve tried to forget about those. What then? Pickles and ice cream?”

“Actually, I was thinking some nice, juicy watermelon with sea salt, pita and hummus, and some tacos.”

“That’s quite a combo, but hell yeah. I like all of the above. It sounds far better than imitation crab and ketchup. That shit was so damn gross, Sydney. I ain’t trying to be mean or nothing, but I will never eat that again.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I had heartburn all night after that. You weren’t the only one to suffer. Never again.” I shudder at the memory.

***

After my bath and a wonderful dinner I can barely move. I ate enough to feed an army—not to mention the jalapeños I threw on top of my tacos are setting off some kind of lava flow in my throat.

“I hate to eat and run but I gotta get to work. It was good—strange, but very good,” Heather says.

“Thanks, hun. Have a great night at work.”

Before I can change my mind I grab my old apartment key, heading quickly for the elevator the second Heather is out of sight. I have to see Nick. It’s been so long.

I can barely contain my excitement as I walk through the door. Any uncomfortable memories of Lana dissipate to the recesses of my mind as excitement grows. I can’t wait to see him. Everything is just as I left it, aside from a faint scent of stagnant dust. I waste no time and snuggle into the comforter I chose so carefully just a few short months ago. After being here for such a short period of time, I can’t believe how much I actually missed this place. My eyes close eagerly and blackness surrounds me—finally, I’m home.

“Fancy seeing you here.” I sneak up behind Nick, smothering him in a huge hug.

“Baby! You’re supposed to be on bed rest.” His beautiful face waivers between excitement and disapproval.

“I’m in bed and I’m resting.” I smirk.

“You’re a bad, bad girl. Damn, I’ve missed you.”

He lifts me from the ground as if I were weightless, keeping me elevated by the seat of tight jeans. Our lips spark as they touch for the first time in ages. The same electricity pulses between us as our hands frantically grab and squeeze every exposed part of each other. He tugs my hair gently, pulling me into him. If we were any closer, we would qualify as one person—I love it. My heart thumps quickly in my chest, so full of every emotion life has to offer: determination, fear, love, lust—everything. I might only have one night, but I’m going to make it worth a million.

“I came to talk to you about something. But first, I want to make up for some lost time.” A devious grin covers my lips.

“Yeah? And what exactly does my lady want?”

“You—now. Make it hot in here—like sexy hot.”

“What baby wants, baby gets.” He gets right to business, as the room begins shifting into a new form.

I like his interpretation of hot. I could have shifted the scene myself, but I wanted to see exactly what drives him wild.