Obsession (Stalker #1) (22 page)

“Tell me it was all just a dream, a nightmare even,” I say.

Jake stares. “It’s a nightmare alright, but a real one.”

I wish it was different, but it is what it is. I hear the door creak open.

“Daddy, why so many people in our house?” says a sweet little voice.

Fuck!!!

“Hey, baby girl, you wanna hop on the bed with us?” I hear her little feet padding across the room and feel her climbing up. “Hi, Abby.” I feel the tears start to well up in my eyes and I fight them back with everything I have in me. “Hey, Izzy, come over here and snuggle between us, babe.” She climbs over Jake to get to the middle.

“Izzy, I need to talk to you about something.” Jake is going to do it now.

Fuck, I couldn’t be more nervous than I am right in this moment.

“Izzy, I need to tell you that Mommy went to Heaven last night. Do you know where Heaven is?” he asks the sweet faced little girl.

“Um, no.” She looks confused.

“Ok, Heaven is a place where people go when they die, like Gramma and Grampa. You don’t see them, but I’ve shown you pictures of them.” He’s really trying and I’m trying not to cry.

“Ohhh, so Mommy is in Heaven wif dem now?” she asks.

“Yes, baby, she is. Heaven is a nice place. There are so many angels there and everyone that goes there is happy and looking down on you, always.” She still looks a little confused.

“Can I see Mommy?” she asks.

“No baby, not anymore. But, I’ll tell you what, we can always look at pictures of Mommy and talk to her. Even though she won’t answer us back, we know it’s because she’s with the angels.”

Her little bottom lip starts to quiver. “Where I live, Daddy?” It’s clicking in her little head.

She is going to cry and I cannot stop the tears sliding down my face. “How would you like to live here with me, Abby, Ozzy and Oreo?” I ask my very confused, three year old daughter.

Her face lights up. “Uh-huh! We get my stuff from Mommy’s house?”

I’ve never seen a stronger man than in this moment. “Of course we can, baby,” he answers. “Do you have any questions?” I hope she doesn’t and I’m sure Jake hopes she doesn’t either.

“Yes, who all dem people in our house, Daddy?” Jake bursts out laughing.

“Hey Izzy, all those people out there are my friends and family, do you want to go meet them?” And she nods her head yes.

“Ok, let’s give Daddy a minute and I’ll take you out there to meet them all. You are going to love them.” I’m climbing out of bed and she’s following me.

“Hey,” I whisper to Jake, “take a few and then come out. You did great.” I kiss his lips before taking Izzy by the hand and leading her out to the living room and kitchen full of strangers to her.

“Well, good morning, sleepy heads,” Ma says to us as we enter the kitchen. “And who do we have here?” she asks Izzy.

“I’m Izzy. Hi,” she squeaks out.

“Hi there, Izzy, I’m Abby’s mommy. Would you like some breakfast?” she asks the little angel.

“Dat’s your Mommy?” Izzy asks, looking up at me with her jade green eyes.

“Yup, and she’s making breakfast. You want some?” I ask, again, because she’s looking around taking in the scene before her. It’s not bad actually. Ma probably cleaned up earlier.

“Ok, who all dem people, Abby?”

Sleeping bodies are all over the couch.

“Those are all my friends, babe. Dallas is my cousin and that’s her boyfriend, Justin. Nicole and Natalie are twins,” I say and she looks at me in surprise. I guess she’s never seen twins before.

“And I’m your Auntie Kim,” Kim yawns at Izzy.

“I have an Auntie Kim?” she questions me.

“I think all my friends are going to want to be your Aunties, babe,” I smile back down at her.

“Where are my girls?” Jake finally comes out of the bedroom. He is dressed in track pants, a T-shirt, and bare feet.

“Daddy, I have lots of aunties!” Izzy squeals. Jake beams at her.

“Yes, baby girl, you sure do. You also have an Uncle Justin and an Uncle Kevin, too.”

Her little eyes bug out, “Oh wow! Did dem come over to stay the night wif me?” Everyone who’s awake is giggling.

“Yeah, baby, they kind of did.” He smiles at her.

“Good Morning!” Amanda hollers, coming up the basement stairs with Kev behind her. I grin to myself.

“Hi, Amanda, are you my auntie, too?” Izzy asks her excitedly. They’ve met twice before.

Amanda looks to me and I nod my head yes.

“I sure am, Izzy, and we are going to have so much fun at the dog park.” Izzy beams her megawatt smile at her. “And this guy here, he’s your Uncle Kevin,” she informs the little girl, who then looks to me, with her wide, jade green eyes.

“Yup, you got a whole lot of family overnight,” I say, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Izzy, your momma sent them all here last night when she went to Heaven so we could all help Daddy take care of you.” She nods her head like it all makes sense now.

“Ohhh, ok then. Dozzy? Where’s Dozzy and Oreo?” she asks, just as Ozzy comes barreling around the corner and runs straight to her. “Dozzy, look at all our new family!” she exclaims. He tilts his head from side to side like he’s listening to her, and then licks her face which makes her squeal with delight.

Jake makes his way over to me, and wraps his arms around my waist from behind, and kisses the top of my head. “You are fucking awesome,” he whispers in my ear, so only I can hear him.

“Ok, breaky is ready. I wasn’t sure what everyone liked so I made a little of everything,” Ma announces. I grab plates, cutlery, and glasses and set them on the bar for whenever anyone wants to eat. Ma is setting all the food out. I make up plates for Izzy and me and sit at the table, and wait for a few more to join us.

“I’d like to say something.” Oh, God, I don’t know if I should, but I feel like something needs to be said, and I need to make it kid friendly.

“I’d like to make a toast, of sorts, to Izzy’s Momma, Tiffany. She’s with the angels now, in Heaven, but she knows she sent some good people here to take care of Izzy and Jake, too.” I grin at him.

“To angels and friends, sometimes they are one in the same.”
I hope this toast is not inappropriate!

I hold up my glass and so does everyone else, except Izzy. “Izzy, would you like to ‘cheers’ with us?” I ask. “Just hold up your juice cup and we will all clink our glasses together. This is what families do, at least this new one.” I smile at her and she lifts her cup of juice, and everyone says ‘cheers,’ making sure to clink their glass with her cup.

Considering the circumstances, I’m really happy in this moment. There is so much love floating in the air, for Jake, for Izzy, for the three of us, and it feels nice.

**********

The doorbell rings and Jake leaves to answer it. It’s an officer looking for me.

Kev greets him. “Hey, Rick, thanks for coming out here, man.” He shakes his hand and invites him in. “Abby, you’re needed over here,” Kev hollers. I make my way over and my palms are all sweaty.

“Hey, can we go outside for this, please?” I ask and they all nod their heads in agreement.

We head out the front and I give my statement. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, even though I was shaking the whole time.

We make our way back in and Kev announces that he needs to get going. He offers Amanda a ride home and I have a shit eating grin on my face. Amanda accepts, but comes over to me.

“Abby, call anytime, for anything. It’s no problem at all.” She pulls me into a great big hug and I hug her back.

“I will, and thanks so much for everything.”

The two of them head out, but not before saying goodbye to Izzy. “Izzy, we’ll see you soon. Have fun with your brand new family today.” Amanda crouches down and Izzy runs over to hug her. Amanda hugs her back and kisses the top of her head. “I’ll see you soon, and we’ll have so much fun, ok?”

Izzy nods her head yes. “Ok, bye Auntie Amanda and Uncle Kevin!” Kev leans down to also hug her. She seems timid at first, but embraces him. I think she’s really going to like having all this new family around her.
I hope so!

Ma starts cleaning and putting shit away. I’m not sure how she knows her way around Jake’s kitchen, but she does. She’s the best. “Hey, Ma, thanks.” She stops. “Abby, anything you need. You are my baby girl even though you’re grown up.” I hug her.

Nicole and Nat announce they are leaving because they have to go to work later. They are giving Kim a ride home. Dallas and Justin are also leaving. It’s a clusterfuck of chaos. Everyone is hugging everyone and getting all their shit together. I’m happy they were here, but I’m also glad they are all leaving. Jake, Izzy and I will need some time alone. I guess they all know that. Everyone leaves and it’s like the house has fallen silent.

“Can I watch cartoons, pwease?” Izzy asks, now that everyone is gone.

“Sure, baby girl, let me turn on the TV for you,” Jake says, making his way over and turns it on. “Izzy, Daddy and Abby will be outside with Ozzy, so stay here, ok?” She nods her head, already in a trance with cartoons.

“Abby, how can I ever begin to thank you and your ma and your friends?” Jakes says. He has a sad look on his face.

“Jake, no need for thanks. It’s just how we roll. I probably should have warned you that once a message goes out to my bitches, it’s on like Donkey Kong. Doesn’t matter where they are, what they are doing. They show up. I asked Dallas to call my ma. I needed her. She really helped me put my mind at ease about a lot things and she loves Izzy. They all do.” I try to reassure him and he pulls me to him and kisses me.
Mmmmm, I love when he kisses me like that.

We are interrupted when Jake’s phone rings. He grabs it and looks down. “Oh fuck, shit, it’s her parents.”

He answers the phone and I light up a smoke. It’s like I forgot that Tiffany would have her own family. I try not eavesdrop, but let’s face it, of course I’m going to. I overhear stuff about funeral arrangements, Izzy, living arrangements, and I can see he’s flustered. I light up a smoke for him and hand it to him. He mouths ‘I love you’ and I smile at him.

“Well, I was thinking since Izzy is so young and I don’t want to traumatize her that maybe we could do something a little different,” he says. “Ok, I’ll meet you there and I’ll talk to you later.” He hangs up his phone.

“That was Tiff’s parents,” he states the obvious.

“I figured. What were you thinking of doing different?” I question him.

“Well, I fucking hate funerals. They creep me the fuck out and always have. So much doom and gloom and I thought we could make it different. I don’t want Izzy to see her dead mother’s body and I don’t like the whole cremation jar, either. I told her that her mom went to Heaven and is an angel now. She won’t believe that if we do a traditional funeral,” he states, matter of factly.

“I totally agree and feel the same way about funerals! I think I have some ideas that might be perfect for this, and easy for everyone.” He smiles at me.

“Abby, if it’s too much, I’ll handle it,” he warns me.

“I mean, it’s not fun, but someone has to do something. I assume her parents are the more traditional type?” I ask him, and he nods his head yes. “Ok, I assume you are meeting her parents at her apartment to grab some stuff for Izzy and talk about the arrangements?” I ask, and he nods his head yes. “Ok, well, off the top of my head, why don’t we find a space that’s suitable and I’ll get my friends and family to help me decorate it to make it look like a version of Heaven. Grab some photo albums while you’re there. I will need pictures. This is going to be the most kid friendly, and dare I say, fun funeral anyone’s ever been to!” I feel like I sound too excited. “I’m sorry, Jake, I don’t mean to sound excited, but I’m on the same page with you about funerals. Hopefully Tiffany’s parents will understand and agree,” I state, in a hopeful tone.

“Thanks, I love you so much.” He kisses me again.

“I love you, too.” I kiss him back.

“Do you mind watching Izzy while I go deal with them?”

I frown. “Jake, never again ask me if I mind doing shit for you or Izzy! I will always look after her and it’s no burden or any trouble.” He looks so relieved. “Get going and go shower.” I smack him on the ass, and he grins.