Chapter 40: I can get….

POV: Gabby

Word Count: 3444

August 30, 2009

I vaguely was aware that Heather had gotten up, why I didn’t have a clue but it felt like she laid back down not long after that. But the hand that came over my side wasn’t Heather’s. I was sure that she wouldn’t have gotten up and let someone else I didn’t know into the bed, but it took a half asleep groggy peek to see Zac laying there.

“Is it after ten?”

I felt his lips on my cheek. “It’s 7:15, go back to sleep. I’m here now.”

Yeah, I couldn’t deny that, his arms around me and the warm familiar feeling and the familiar scent was as good of a tranquilizer as anything else. Not even she complained about that as it was really after ten when I woke up next. Multicolored blue hair was in my face, Zac’s hand still over my side but I could feel someone else hands between us and I rose up some. Heather was laying on the other side. Zac moved when I did and maybe realized he was being held too.

“We are all still dressed right?” he asked.

“I am.”

“I have a t-shirt and boxers on. Whose behind me?”

“That would be me.” Heather said.

I felt Sierra pull me back down. “I was warm with you laying there.”

The door opened and someone came in and there was a pause.

“I think maybe I should come back later, what the fuck is going on?” Stella asked.

“We are dressed, unfortunately.” Heather said.

“Well, they are anyway…” Sierra said.

I hadn’t even noticed that she hadn’t had clothes on last night.

“Gabby came in sometime after we laid down, she looked a little spooked so who was I to deny her comfort? And I’d have been stupid to deny Zac access to his wife.” Heather said.

“With that creepy ass owl lamp by the bed I can see why, fucker is creeptastic.”

I could almost feel Zac’s eyes on me.

“Owl lamp? There better not be an owl lamp anywhere in this house. My grandparents hate them.”

“It’s beside the bed in the room she was in. I unplugged it, had the creepiest look.”

Sierra pulled the cover down when Heather sat up but Zac stopped her.

“Don’t touch it, if you can get a plastic bag and I’ll make sure we take it with us.”

“You brought this item with you?”

“No.”

“Heather, darling if you don’t mind…let them get up so I can. I am sure there’s an explanation. One I’d like to hear over a pot of coffee. Damn Zac, what did you do backtrack time?”

“No, I called about 2 am and she sounded off, I woke Carrick up to come into our room and I came home. Kind of scared me when I found her things but not her. But then I found her.”

Heather got up and I was pleased, my bladder wasn’t being nice. I went to the bathroom first and then to the room. My clothes and other items hadn’t been touched. The owl was there and Zac saw the note too, I was positive that when we were alone the subject of touring was going to be a very sore spot. Heather provided the bag and he used a clean one to bag them. When he sat them with our bags Sierra read the note.

“Someone want to explain this to me?”

We had mentioned this to them before but it was a while back and we hadn’t really been keeping everyone clued in on the weirdness. Because the detective had said not to. Sierra was staring at me and now Heather was too, especially since she was adamant, no owls existed here before now. Over cups of coffee and juice Zac and I explained to them what had been happening. From the little figurines, to the busted canvas, to the owl figures and all the little notes. She and Heather listened and didn’t interrupt.

“So, some creepy guy has killed Maxwell and Simon?” Heather asked.

“It’s the running theory, yes. But truthfully anyone could have. Maxwell was dealing and supplying drugs and so was Simon. It’s entirely possible their deaths were drug related. But, I was told both times so the police are leaning more toward it being this guy.”

“He broke a painting because you’re pregnant?” Sierra asked.

“Didn’t just bust it, he destroyed it.”

“How come you didn’t tell anyone about the rest? I assume Abby and Andrew don’t know either?”

I shook my head. “They know some of it. The detective wanted to keep it quiet. The guy knows us. He has too. He had to know that Max and Simon had somehow hurt me, not many knew Max did.”

“Any ideas on who?”

“I don’t.” Zac said.

“Lucas.” I said.

Zac turned slowly and looked at me. “Lucas? Really Gabby?”

“Come on, you can’t say that he hasn’t done creepy things around me. Holding up the thong the guy sent? Asking why I wouldn’t wear it? Did you not tell him to stop staring at my breast while we ate that one night? He was alone in the apartment when we moved. The only pictures that were shared of us were the ones saved to my laptop. That’s it. I never found the missing underwear and that green dress just showed up after we moved. Come on Zac, you can’t totally deny that.”

“But you said the stripper here last night said things and had the owl tattoo? The one on his side.”

“So.”

“Lucas wasn’t home last night Gabby, he’s in the city on a three day working job. He doesn’t have tattoos that I am aware of and well, I wouldn’t know about the owl, I haven’t necessarily been around him naked. Added, I doubt he has 5,000 laying around to pay for a painting. Not to mention, some of the owls were mailed from out of state.”

“Doesn’t mean he’s innocent though. He could be feeding the other guy information.”

“He knew about Max, he saw the bruises when we’re here for Taylor’s party. He went after you after all. He’d have known about Simon too. He knew about the miscarriage too.”

“But he hasn’t been pissed off about your pregnancy, in fact he’s been pretty happy for us.”

“I didn’t say everything fit, but he does act weird around me.”

“When did you get the first item?” Heather asked.

“February, it was a swan which I used to do the painting actually.”

“The last one?”

“That owl.”

“The house has cameras, so I’ll contact my parents and ask them to give me a code to get in, I’ll also alert the detective they might be able to get it quicker.”

“Okay.” We said.

“I get this major tension that still exist here.” Sierra said.

“She’s pretty sure of what the conversation will be when we get home.” Zac said.

“My stance hasn’t changed on that either.”

“It should have, this fucker was right beside the bed Gabriella. This wasn’t him mailing some shit. You told me you’d go if he escalated beyond that. I damn sure call this an escalation.”

“Yeah and I didn’t sleep here at all Friday, I only slept last night because I was too tired not too. This isn’t a debate. I’m not going to tour with you and I have a valid reason not to. Being on tour would be horrible for me, while you’ll feel secure in my safety I’ll be eating shitty food and not sleeping worth a shit, not to mention taking up the lounge because there is no way I can sleep in those bunks.”

“I hate to say it Zac, but she has a point.” Sierra said.

“I don’t need your opinion Sierra, the guys been sending shit since February and it’s just getting worse. Now he’s leaving shit beside the bed? Apparently watching her sleep? If it was your stripper then he’s touched her in more ways that I want. Yet, she seems to believe being alone in the house for the entire tour would be fine.”

“I am agreeing with Zac here, this guy is basically salivating if you are there alone.” Heather said.

I glared at her and it didn’t work. “So, what? We don’t give a shit whether I am half way comfortable? What if he wrecks? I’m more vulnerable on the bus than I am in a car. No seat belts, no restraints. What if I go into labor on the bus? You going to deliver your daughter in the back of the bus with your brothers and crew helping? Cuz I damn sure don’t think Taylor or Isaac want to see that.”

“You won’t go into labor, the guy isn’t going to wreck. You’ll be as comfortable as I can remotely make you. If I have to put a air mattress in the floor.”

“He has a point there…” Heather said.

“And so does she, she’s not going to be some bean pole here and she needs to eat well into that weeks as well, maybe even better. Added what will your fans do? Just hound her and put more stress on her? No. Not worth it.” Sierra said.

It turned into Zac and I arguing over this to Zac and them. Somewhere along the line Abby and Andrew came in but with as loud as they were getting I wasn’t sure when.

“Hey! Why don’t you all shut the fuck up.” Abby yelled.

The three of them stopped mid-sentence and turned to her, stunned and sure, pissed maybe. She looked pissed though.

“I know the three of you aren’t arguing over what she’s going to do or not. She’s a grown woman who can make the decision she wants and I really don’t give a shit what you think of that decision, so not a single fucking person better say it’s wrong.”

“It is. She’s being stalked by this fucking creepy ass fucker and wants to stay home for tour, alone.”

“Creepy ass fucker? Stalked? What the hell.”

That prompted another round of filling everyone in, because they didn’t know either. Jack stumbled in mid-way and had to be filled in. Abby’s tune changed really quick once she knew all of the details, Andrew wasn’t stupid enough to disagree with her. I was quickly being out numbered and I hated this. None of them would be carrying the extra 30 pounds, running to the bathroom multiple times in an hour, they didn’t have to worry about anything.

It was Jack’s hands that laid on my shoulder. “All of you need to shut up.”

“You cannot agree.” Andrew said.

“In fact I do agree with her. Have any of you had to carry a baby? No. Have any of you had the uncontrollable bladder? No. I can take you to the gym, strap a 30 pound weight to your abdomen and see how long you last. I guarantee none of you would make it an hour.”

“It wouldn’t matter if he breaks in and kills her Jack. By the time anyone realized it they’d both be dead. I think in the long run having this child safely and not being killed would be a goal too. Not just comfort.”

“Look around you Zachary, do you really think anyone standing in this room would let that happen?”

“All of you standing in the room won’t be there with her.”

“Who says we can’t? Hmm?”

“She did, she wants to be there alone.”

“And I was wrong about that, but clearly none of you care about what I think right now. Back to square one, every decision I make is worthless and stupid. Excuse me for wanting to stay at home so I can make sure that I can eat the way I need too, to make sure I can actually rest when I lay down. You want to explain to your opening band why I cuss them out? You going to defend me when I deck some fan for touching me? Because you know they will and it won’t even be because of me, they’ll want bragging rights that your baby kicked them. I tolerate the people in this room and in our family because they are family, but I don’t like it. You already know that Zac.”

“You don’t have to walk Gabby.”

“And I can’t lay around on the bus for the forty days either. You heard the doctor, he said be active and move. Don’t be lazy even if I want too because that means I gain excess weight I don’t need. Eating fast food and doing nothing guarantees that.”

Stella had remained very quiet through the entire ordeal, Nicole had been too even though she was partially asleep but they came over.

“Kayla was miserable in her 30 week area. She couldn’t get comfortable, she had back pain. I’m agreeing with Gabby Zac. I know you want her to be safe but just because you aren’t home, doesn’t mean that Nicole won’t be, your parents, her friends, and your friends. If you think we won’t take every measureable thing we can do to make sure she’s fine for the time you’re gone then you clearly don’t realize how much we love you both.”

“Agreed. Sierra was willing to stomp that guys ass last night, I don’t think she gave two cents if he got hurt or not.” Nicole said.

“And I blame everyone if she does get hurt?”

“No. You blame the stupid ass fucker that’s doing this.” Heather said.

“You leave in like 18 days, really I am sure that between the people in this room we can make sure she’s fine and that this fucker avoids her for the duration you’re gone.” Jack said.

He looked at me. “You absolutely positively will not change your mind on this?”

“I’m staying home, it doesn’t mean I can’t visit you or something but I’m not coming for the whole tour.”

“You promised if he got worse you’d go.”

I smiled. “Yeah, that was said so you’d drop the subject Zac. I just don’t think I need to go. I need to take care of me and her the best way possible, that’s not riding a bus for forty or so days.”

“The rest of you taking turns the whole time I’m gone? I don’t mean calling to check on her, or dropping by randomly. I mean one of you will be right there the whole fucking time. From the moment I leave until I am home.”

“I am sure we can arrange something, Abby has a permanent schedule with the school job, my hours are pretty steady too.” Andrew said.

“Mine is whenever I feel like it, I own the damn place.” Heather said.

“I’m sure by the time you get ready to leave we’ll have a plan to be there and make sure she’s okay. You have guest rooms, so that’s a plus.” Jack said.

“We have one, the other room doesn’t have anything in it but boxes.” I said.

Zac definitely wasn’t happy but he let the subject drop, kind of enjoyed the mid-day and afternoon before we headed home. The owl came with us and Mabis expected us by the next morning. But of course, my brain was now wondering if he was right. I was notorious for bad decisions, was this going to be one? The stripper had been pretty close, pretty touchy, and his words?

“What would you like for dinner?”

“Whatever, I’m not picky at the moment.”

He started dinner and I sat at the table, staring at the plethora of baby stuff that was still sitting in the living room, the long list of items we hadn’t even bothered with yet, the room wasn’t done yet either. He still hadn’t gotten the rail up and until he does that I couldn’t do anything else with it. I know we had time but he had two weeks and then he’d be gone for the next month and a half.

“Why does it look like someone stole your favorite pencil?”

“Thinking.”

“About?”

“Do you really have to ask?”

He came and sat down in the chair. “I’m not trying to be an ass, I can’t potentially even know how hard it would be on you to. It’s not that I want to be an ass and not care, I do. I just don’t want to get that call that he’s broken in and your either dead, gone or he’s left our baby here dead. Do I believe that’s his intention? No. It’s just worst case scenario.”

“I know and I know the right decision is to stay with someone, but I can’t just pack up and go. I don’t want to be this victim this helpless person. I don’t want this guy to control what we do. Because let’s face it, if he wasn’t sending shit or showing up or doing stupid shit like this we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. I’d have said I was staying, you’d have been fine.”

“I can’t argue with that. Do you think having someone here is the best choice?”

“Andrew and Jack, sure. Jack is trained in wrestling and certainly he’ll do whatever it takes if someone breaks in.”

“But not Lucas?”

“I’m sorry Zac, he makes me feel uncomfortable even with you. I don’t think he’s someone that I would want here without others.”

“Do you really think it’s him?”

“He fits. The stripper had brown eyes, but contacts can change his baby blues to brown real quick and I couldn’t see his hair color.”

“You saying the carpet didn’t match the drapes?”

“I’m saying he was clean shaven, how do you think I saw the owl? Don’t ever do that shit either, I will enforce a no oral rule. That’s just fucking creepy.”

“What? You don’t want to view a sweet little kitty cat?”

“Do it and you’ll be dealing with it yourself.”

“Point taken. No dick tattoos for me.”

“No. Although I guess my name with ‘property of’ above it might be okay.”

He giggled. “You going to do the same thing for me?”

“Wouldn’t bother me none. Shawn is going next month for his chest piece. But, I can’t get anything done.”

“Not until he’s here.”

“She Zac. Not until she is here. You have got to accept this.”

He smiled. “I will eventually.”

He got up and checked on dinner, returning with plates and drinks and I was impressed! We ate there and when we were done I sighed.

“It wasn’t just that, we need to get the room ready. You have until Taylor comes back and then you guys have to practice like lunatics.”

“Well, Isaac and I discussed that actually, I’ll be all yours next week pending we bust our asses this week. I’m talking seven am to eight or nine.”

“And me?”

“If you want to stay here, I’d prefer someone be with you. But, I know Abby has school now, she’s assisting but she has to be there anyway. Maybe call in your IOU from Mom and Sierra?”

“You’re mom and I go Monday. She said she was getting a bunch of outfits, newborn to whatever she felt like. Sierra hasn’t given me a time I can see if she can be available. I do have to go with Stella for the final fitting for me Thursday.”

“Yeah, sounds like a busy week then.”

“Hopefully. But, you and I have a lot to do here because all of that has to be put together, cleaned, assembled, and ready. Before you leave.”

“Why before?”

“Because I don’t want to take any chances, she’s due the first of December but she could arrive in November and if we’re planning something for our anniversary and thanksgiving we don’t need to be unpacking and doing that.”

“Point taken, we’ll have a whole week. We’ll get the nursery set up and finished, get that stuff put together and get whatever we need.”

“Good. Can we like…do a shower and then crash?”

“Sure. Taylor and Isaac should be arriving soon.”

He cleaned up right quick and I went up to get things ready for the shower, which we quickly accomplished and then curled up in the bed. She really did like when he was there, but she was quite active right now. I guessing making up for his absence. But he did get the message from his brothers that they were home. I rather liked the things he whispered to me and eventually I settled into sleep.