Chapter 48: Uneasy
POV: Zac
Word Count: 3617
October 11, 2009
We had a show tonight in Chicago but I felt very uneasy. I’d talked to Gabby every day since we left Tulsa and there was just something about her voice that didn’t set well with me. At first, I assumed it was just the fact she missed me because lord knows I missed her something fierce. But, she’d missed me before Cain’s and she didn’t sound this way.
“Zac?” Isaac asked.
“Huh?”
“You zoned out on us again.”
“Sorry, just…I don’t know.”
“She’s fine Zac, Andrew sent that picture of her yesterday.”
In all honesty, that picture had not helped me feel any better. I know Andrew was trying to help, he’d often send me pictures and all of them did really, but the last several weren’t convincing me that she was fine. She looked very tired and I could see bags under her eyes, which wasn’t good. She looked super stressed and that wasn’t good either.
“I know, I just can’t push this feeling away.”
“I’m sure she’s fine Zac. So, are we going to switch up the list or not?”
“Sure, let’s do..This time around tonight.”
The set list was preliminary it was going to change before nine. Taylor nudged me.
“Proud of you.”
I looked at Isaac confused and then him. “For what? What have I done?”
“I have seen the girls hand you the key cards and I saw you refuse it. You’ve done that more than once. Proud of you.”
“Lucas told her about things and she said the key cards needed to stop, even if I was throwing them away. So, I promised her I wouldn’t even accept them. If they won’t take them back I’ll just toss them in a trashcan.”
He just smiled at me. We got lunch and I kept texting with Gabby, but even her messages felt off. I sent a few to Abby to ask if she was acting normal, but Abby’s frown told me something was up. She indicated she was drawing a lot but wasn’t showing anything and she was keeping them put up. She was also not really wanting to go anywhere.
Our walk was at four today and I was somewhat distracted through the whole thing, almost going the wrong way and nearly leading people across a street that we had to wait on. Thankfully, a guy called me out and said to wait. I didn’t pay any attention to Taylor’s speech. The sound check went nearly as bad as the walk.
“Zachary! I know you’re fretting over this but come on, we have to do this and we need to focus.” Ike said.
“I’m sorry. I just…I know something is wrong and I can’t figure out what it is.”
“Stella was there yesterday and didn’t mention anything to me.” Taylor said.
“Nicole was there a few days ago, nothing.”
“No offense but Stella and Nicole really don’t hang out with her a lot. Abby and Sierra both agree something is up, they know her far better and if they say something is wrong then it is.”
“Have you asked her what was wrong?” they asked.
“No, I didn’t think to ask. Of course I’ve asked, but she just tells me nothing.”
“Is it possible that she really is just tired? I mean she is pregnant Zac, do you not remember mom being super tired too?”
“I do but Mom isn’t her.”
“Okay, we have to do sound check and the show. We’re staying overnight in a hotel why don’t you call her from the hotel and ask her, use whatever you need to do. You’ll be alone, no prying ears or eyes, you can ask whatever you need and do whatever you need. But, right now we need to get this done.” Ike said.
He had a very valid point and I usually called her after shows anyway, granted she would be super tired because it’s usually late and that assumes she really answers. I tried my best to focus and get through both the sound check and the show, but we got caught outside by fans headed to our hotel. I know I may have upset some but I really didn’t want to be social right now. Not that it mattered, I showered when I got there and when I got out I had a text from her saying she was already in bed and would call me tomorrow.
I know I’d talked to her briefly during dinner but this was very odd from her. I called Andrew and he confirmed that she was in bed, Abby had even gone up and she was asleep. So, I resigned to sleep myself.
October 12, 2009
I woke up earlier than usual, ordered room service, made sure my phone had a good charge and at 11 I called her. It was just after 10 there and Andrew had sent a message saying she was up. But, when she answered after the third ring, her voice sounded tired.
“Hey baby.”
“Hey..I..really didn’t expect a call so early.”
“We’re in the hotel so it was easier and better, private.”
“I just came up to get my phone actually, forgot it when I went down.”
“So, are you busy or anything?”
“No. What’s up?”
“Well, I thought maybe we could talk names for a bit.”
“Okay, I’ve had breakfast and there just watching TV so it’s fine.”
I heard rustling and I heard the yawn, yet she had just woken up?
“Alright. So I went over your list and narrowed the ones I liked.”
“Alright, whatcha got?” I asked.
“I liked Emma, Julie, Grace, and Kayla very much.”
“I liked Grace a lot.”
“But, Skye Grace or Grace Skye just doesn’t work.”
I kept her talking about names for thirty minutes, not making much progress and the tone of her voice didn’t change, she didn’t act perkier or playful, she yawned multiple times and a few times she seemed to zone out completely.
“What is wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing is wrong, where did that come from?”
“Gabriella, just because I am not standing in front of you, does not mean I cannot tell there is something wrong. You sound tired, you just got up but you’ve yawned several times, you zoned out completely twice. You were not like that when we came through to play Cain’s, are you having trouble sleeping again?”
“Hit or miss really, the pillow helps.”
“Napping during the day?”
“When I can, it’s always easy with five babysitters in and out all the damn time. They do try but I really am getting tired of someone being here around the clock.”
“But you also know you can go to the bedroom and lock them out, you can paint, you don’t have to play a game or watch a show.”
“I know that Zac but just because I’m in the bedroom, doesn’t mean they don’t check. Sierra scared the hell out of a few weeks ago because I woke up and she was standing over me. Abby did that this morning. I know there just checking on me but I don’t need someone watching me sleep.”
“Tell them. It’s your house Gabby, if you don’t want them in the room lock the door. If you want to sleep naked, lock the door. I am sure they won’t bust it down to get in. But, that doesn’t explain other things. Like the way you look so stressed in the pictures they send me, you look tired and I can see the little bags under your eyes, there not obscured in the pictures.”
“I am getting enough sleep and rest believe me.”
“Yeah, there not holding back either. You don’t want to go anywhere, when you do you act nervous and skittish. I don’t believe that you’re okay and I’m really one step away from come home to find out for myself. If you want to avoid any unsuspecting visits, then start talking. Because, I can feel something is wrong and they can’t tell me what it is, which means you aren’t telling them. I’m not your friends Gabby, I’m your husband and I will come home if I have too.”
The other end of the line was very quiet. I was pretty sure that her mind was calculating how serious I was about coming home.
“I can leave after the show and come back Wednesday, I’m not kidding Gabby.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Are you sure I don’t? You aren’t talking about what is bothering you. I know you think it’ll make me come home anyway, but really Gabby, I’m ready to leave right now and come home because I know something is wrong.”
“You coming home won’t change anything.”
“Then tell me what’s wrong.”
It was risky to push her, her moods were erratic enough and I wasn’t insane, she could easily hang up but she also knows if she does that then I’d simply be coming home sooner.
“He’s sent two more owls, one before Cain’s, one after.”
She then described the two owls, mostly identical but color and the two notes which were super creepy in my opinion. They weren’t threatening but still, they weren’t quite as innocent as most. But, while she sounded somewhat different, I could tell that wasn’t it.
“I assume they know about the owls?”
“They all do, I just asked them not to say anything because you didn’t want to leave and you’ve been worried anyway.”
“Okay, so tell me what you haven’t told them.”
“I didn’t say…”
“Gabriella.”
I heard the loud sigh even through the phone, so I knew there was something but it was just getting her to tell me. I waited patiently.
“He’s been sending text messages, since the 30 th. He sent messages when we were at the aquarium and I swear he walked by me. He seems to know when I lay down, so I’ve tried different times but he never sends a message until I am laying in bed. It’s not threatening just he likes the expanding abdomen but wishes it was our baby and not yours and mine, he can’t wait until then, he’s convinced you are cheating now with at least one per stop, he’s following us when we leave I know he is. At the aquarium he was there, he sent a message about how slow I was moving around and one of me in the shark tunnel, I smelled that same musty smell there.”
There was a brief pause as I could tell she was catching her breath, it was harder with the baby pressing against her lungs.
“When we got home I went to put my pajamas on and they weren’t where I left them, last week I found my laptop in another place and when I went to turn it on it was on already. It’s like he’s been in the house and nothing has alerted me to the doors opening or the alarm going off. Thursday I found an owl necklace laying on my pillow, I don’t own one of those. I found a belt buckle in the closet, there have been shirts that show up that I don’t remember buying. It’s like he’s here…like his fucking notes aren’t kidding. I don’t sleep because I constantly feel like someone is watching me. Sierra and Abby didn’t help.”
“Why didn’t you tell them?”
“Why bother? I can’t prove anything. The alarm doesn’t show him entering the house or exiting the house, the cameras don’t show him I’ve looked Zac. I’ve viewed hundreds of hours and nothing!”
“Did you call the alarm company and have them come out?”
“No, because everyone would ask why.”
“I’ll do it, you can tell them it was just me. Maybe you do need to go elsewhere for a few days? Maybe to Mom and Dad’s?”
“I don’t know what to do. I just feel like I’m going crazy and I didn’t want to tell you because there’s nothing you can do, you have to finish this tour and you can’t come home every few days. I know you want too, but you can’t.”
“Did you see anyone around the few times you were out?”
“No.”
“Did you notice anything else at the house?”
“He asked about the green dress and he sent photos.”
“What kind of photos?”
“From the party, he was in the room and he basically indicated that he was afraid to give me anything because while he thinks our baby is a bastard he won’t do anything to hurt her because she’s part of me.”
“Yeah, but too much stress can hurt the baby too and I am sure he knows that. Why not go to my parents?”
“You’re mom is coming over anyway I have an appointment the fourteenth. I may see if I can just stay there because the appointment is early anyway.”
“It may help, see if getting out of the house is better for you. However, I will ask Jack to stay there just in case. I’ll also have someone from the alarm company come out, I get alerts when you enter and stuff but I haven’t gotten any oddball times or anything. I’ll just tell Jack that my program was acting odd or something and they came out to check.”
“I guess.”
“Baby, it’s going to be okay.”
“I’d change the number but he’d probably find it.”
“That’s not a bad idea actually, could narrow down who has it and see if he gets it.”
“Not worth it and it’s the number Debbie has and all. I’ll just ignore them when I can.”
“Do you feel safe sleeping there alone?”
There was an abnormally long silence before she signed. “Not really. I feel like I’m being watching and that keeps me up all the time.”
“I know you don’t want Jack in there but when Sierra, Heather or Abby are there I don’t mind if there in the bed with you. Andrew said he was taking the sofa anyway.”
“He is. Um, they have sex but won’t share a bed yet, it’s weird. But, I think it’s because he wants to be where the doors are.”
“I’d imagine that’s the reason and not anything else. I don’t know of any belief about that. But, if you think it’ll help you sleep then I’m okay with it. I know that Abby isn’t interested and while I am sure Heather and Sierra are, I trust they won’t try anything.”
“Sierra is really respectful in relationships apparently. She hasn’t tried anything and I’ve asked her to help me with a bathe a few times. Mostly getting me in and then back out.”
“Honestly…I don’t even mind if Jack or Andrew were there because I trust them not to try anything with you. But, I know that you may not feel comfortable with that.”
“Yeah…I don’t think I want to go that far.”
“See if Abby will stay with you tonight, if you don’t want to tell them, then use whatever you want. But, they are there to protect you Gabby, they can’t do that if you don’t let tell them about strange things like that. It could be one of them. I would advise you tell them.”
“I will. What if he is in the house at times? I looked at video and didn’t see him anywhere, not coming in or going out.”
“I’ll call the security company, make sure there aren’t any issues with the system.”
“Is that why you called me so early?”
“I’ve felt like something was wrong and I couldn’t figure out what, the pictures show how tired you are and stressed. You kept saying nothing and they kept saying they know it’s something but you hadn’t mentioned anything.”
“I didn’t even tell Shawn.”
“You should. He’s your brother Gabby, he may come over and stay too.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. He’ll be worse than Abby.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s a doctor Zac, he’ll be worse!”
“He maybe what you need though.”
“Maybe.”
She sent me the pictures that he had sent to her, the mother fucker touching her was enough to make my blood boil, the fact that he had jeopardized our baby by doing something to put her sleep, made me want to kill him. I hated this feeling, like I couldn’t do anything to help her or protect her.
I talked to her for another hour and convinced her she needed to nap, to turn her phone completely off and ignore everything, that I’d even call Andrew and tell them not to go up-stairs. She finally relented and when we hung up I did call Andrew.
“I assume she’s been talking to you.” He said.
“She has. She’s laying back down for a while. She assures me she will tell you why and everything, but until she comes back down, do not go up-stairs.”
“Not even to check on her?”
“Not even to do that. She told me what was wrong and I feel like there is more that she left unsaid, but I also feel that maybe I’d be worthless in helping there. So, I’m going to call my mom and see if she can gently pry out what’s wrong.”
He sighed. “I bet I know what that is. She and Abby binge watched a Baby Story this weekend. I was at work all weekend but I did catch a few episodes. They are basically following women from just before to just after giving birth. Some of them were easy peasy births, some not so much. So, it probably has her scared about it. I mean some said they split horribly, others were there like 14 hours or more.”
“That is probably the last thing she needs to be watching.”
“I agree. But, you can give your mom a heads up. I mean, if she is worried about it then your mom is the best person to ask honestly. Heather is due here any moment with Sierra, I’ll tell them to stay down too. I’ll just say she requested it.”
“Okay.”
We hung-up and I called Mom next, telling her that she had agreed to stay there the night before her appointment and I filled her in because I told Gabby I would, I then mentioned the show and Mom wasn’t thrilled. She however wasn’t going to push the subject. I finally got myself dressed and met Taylor and Isaac in Ike’s room.
“Did you talk to Gabby?” Taylor asked.
“Yeah. He sent two more owls but what’s really bothering her is that he’s texting her at night when she lays down, specifically when she lays down. Even if she stays up later or goes to bed earlier. He has sent pictures of her from the bachelorette party where he did put her to sleep to touch her. Fucking bastard better hope I never get alone time with him.”
“Is that what was wrong?” Ike asked.
“That and she feels like he’s been inside the house, she said she constantly feels like she’s being watched. She is going to stay with Mom and Dad tomorrow night and I think when she leaves I want a detective to go through the house.”
“Why?” they asked.
“He sends texts when she is in the room, no matter the time. She said she’s found owl necklaces and a belt buckle in the bedroom. I want to make sure if he has figured some way inside that he hasn’t set up a video or anything.”
“Shouldn’t you tell her about that?”
“Not unless they find something.”
The remainder of the morning was spend going over plans, holding the walk, and preparing for the show. I did call the detective that afternoon and explained things to him. He didn’t know about the messages either so I filled him in and asked about checking the house out when she wasn’t home. Took some time to coordinate and for me to sign the release forms and fax them back but he said he’d let me know. I was hoping that I was off base there, that this person hadn’t been able to bug the house. But, it was better to be safe than sorry. If he had, he was going to get a rude awakening.
Our show went very good and I called her back after the show, she’d told them what was going on and Sierra was going to stay overnight tonight and take her to Mom in the morning. Jack had gone through the house and checked to see if he noticed any points of entry that seemed off, but nothing. She’d actually napped pretty well and Sierra told me to call her number if I needed anything because after we hung up she was turning Gabby’s completely off. I wouldn’t need to call back, she sounded a bit better and had napped better during the day. Jack was going to chill in the living room in the event the guy somehow figured out how to get in the doors or windows without tripping the alarm.
As pissed as I was, Sierra and Jack both seemed to want him to come in tonight, I was certain if he tried he wouldn’t be walking out to the squad car, he’d be wheeled to the morgue…We did talk names with Sierra and no more progress was made than this morning. We did cross Grace off, because it wouldn’t fit with Skye.
I managed to sleep tonight, I wasn’t as worried about her, but god knows I was so ready to board a plane and fly home even if it was just an hour.