Chapter 19
The Ex's Visit
Ralph's POV
As Ralph was lying in the bed contemplating the memories of the nightmare he had just awoken out of, there was a knock on the room door, Ralph called out enter and that woke up Ariel. She screamed her lungs out, Ralph was relieved to see that the nurse that walked into the room had a ready-made feeding bottle in her hand, which she handed to Ralph and then turned and picked Ariel up out of her cot, straight to the changing table in the corner of Ralph's room.
Nurse Jessy: "Mr. Schneider, don't you worry, while you hold on to this feeding bottle, I will quickly clean this precious little angel. In the meantime, you have a guest outside, can I let her in?"
Ralph: "Thank you Jessy, yes please."
As Ralph's eyes followed Jessy to the door, he watched her open it and step aside, and in walked Jaqueline. Ralph's ex-wife.
Jaqueline: "Holy shit ass-hole. You look like shit!"
Ralph: "Jaqueline, to what do I owe this most unwelcoming surprise?"
Jaqueline: "Is that the witches' spawn?"
Ralph: "Beth is not a witch, Jaqueline. She is just broken."
Jaqueline: "O,o,o,o, you poor sweet ass-hole. When did you become so blind? I told you about her when I found out about your betrayal, you dirty rat, I warned you and look at you now. Did you enjoy it? The media says that she completely lost her mind, when they found her in the abandoned house, she was shoving a spear up her pussy, humping it! Tell me Ralph, where you watching her while she did that?"
Ralph: "Jaqueline you don't understand, Beth did not grow up in a normal loving home like you and I."
Jaqueline: "Of course not you stupid asshole, she is black! Do you know how much some of those families suffer? Did you even do any research on their traditional approach before you "married" (as she said this, she put her hands up in the air signaling the quotes on the word married) her? Face it Ralph, this is all your fault, that child, Dave being killed, what happened to you, all of it. If you had done your research, you would have realized sooner that something was off with Beth. The whole town knew Beth's history, the locals are very protective of their town. Your P.I. was also appointed by the villager's chief, I could… would have given you all the information back then already, and the shit show that was our pretend divorce would have never happened. Don't you realize you-asshole? I loved you, now I just hate you. If you had been honest with me back then, I would have helped you, I knew that my time in the coma must have been really hard on you, and that you had needs you needed to fulfill. I know your weakness, Ralph. I forgave you the minute I found out about your kinky sex with Beth, what hurt me was the fact that you divorced me while I was in a coma. Do you remember on our wedding day you promised, in sicknesses and in health, for as long as we both shall liv? I was still alive you asshole! I HATE you, that's why I hired people with your child support money, to burn place to the ground, all of it. Their instruction where to start at your warehouses and when your whole business was burnt to the ground they had to move on to your house. But that stupid Bitch then decided to kidnap and torture you, so I called off the hit. You have made me into a bitter old woman, I hate it Ralph, that's why I am leaving, I am in the process of selling the mansion, none of your legitimate children want it, and I won't need it anymore." As she said this, she took out an envelope from her handbag, and threw it onto Ralph's legs, she said:
Jaqueline: "There, I am finely giving you what you want, I have signed the divorce papers, this time it is legal, and legit."
Ralph: "Who is the buyer on the mansion?"
Jaqueline: "I am still looking for one."
Ralph: "I will buy it from you. Please hand me the phone from the nightstand,"
Jaqueline: "You only have one arm Ralph, let me help you, give me the number to dial, and then I will hand you the receiver."
Ralph: "Fine, 159-258-789."
Ralph watched Jaqueline dial the number and listen to see if it rang, then she handed the receiver to Ralph and sat in the chair next to Ralph's hospital bed.
Ralph listened as the phone rang three times before Alex himself answered.
Alex: "Hello."
Ralph: "Alex, it is Ralph. I want to buy the mansion back from my ex-wife. Please have the necessary paperwork drawn up, bring it to the hospital tomorrow at 08h00 am. Thank you, Alex, good bye."
Ralph hung up before Alex was able to reply, he looked at Jaqueline and said:
Ralph: "Good Bye Jaqueline, I will see you tomorrow at 09h00 am. If you are late, you will have to look for another buyer for the mansion, now LEAVE!!!"
Jaqueline looked Ralph square in the eyes, and quickly realized that he was done with her. So, she turned around and left.
Just then Jessy stepped beside the bed and handed Ariel to Ralph. Once Ariel was safe and comfortable in Ralphs arm, Jessy pulled out the feeding bottle and said:
Jessy: "We know how much you love your bonding time with Ariel, so we thought that you might appreciate this, it is a secret weapon that we nurse's arm almost all new mom's with."
When Jessy revealed the hidden object behind her back, it was a strap over breastfeeding holster, complete with two ready-made feeding bottles. Ralph laughed out loud when he saw Jessy's gift, and then said to her:
Ralph: "I know how to wear a holster, although I must admit, my holsters have only ever been filled with guns, I had no idea that you got holster for breast milk, you women are amazing."
Jessy laughed as she watched Jaqueline leave the room, she said to Ralph:
Jessy: "Kim talks about you all the time. We are besties, our other sister is Jen from the kindergarten. It's always the three of us. We all love and adore Ariel; she is so beautiful her skin color is mesmerizing. It's a chocolate color, we all just want to eat her up every time we see her. We all feel that you have had terrible bad luck in life, but you are a strong man, and you will heal fast from this tragedy. We all support you 100% and because our bestie loves you, we love you. I promise you Ralph, you and sweet Ariel will be okay, I am here to make sure of it."
Ralph: "Thank you, Jessy."
Chapter 20
Eric
Eric's POV
Fuuuuuucccccck, I was running super late. As I was driving out of the neighborhood, I turned straight into a traffic jam on the freeway, I screamed out loud in the car: "FUCK,FUCK,FUCK. WHY?"
I was stuck. I could not move forwards or backwards.
So, I did the only thing I could think of doing at that moment, I called my bestie, my GF, Jenny from the car phone.
Eric: "Hey sweetness. How u doin'?"
Eric listened to Jenny's sweet soft giggle on the other side and then he heard her soft whisper over the receiver say:
Jenny: "The kids are all asleep. If you come over quickly, I might just have enough time to thank you properly for last night's flowers, before the kids awake and I automatically turn into their living, commanded zombie."
Eric laughed, then said:
Eric: "Sorry babe. This traffic jam is a real bitch, she is holding me hostage, I can't move."
Jenny: "I am sending out a stress call as we speak, babe. Hold on, I, and the paw petrol of the town will be there shortly to come and rescue you."
When Eric heard her sweet words, he once again laughed out loud.
Eric was smitten with Jenny, she loved children. Her Kindergarten was the most popular one in town. Jenny had friends in every influential sector of the town, because she looked after their kid's, and loved each and every one of them like her own. The paw petrol she spoke of was in fact the name that her and her five adopted kids called themselves.
Eric: "So I will see you tonight, what time should I come over?"
Jenny: "The minute you are done working, then you can stay with me for the night, please? When are we going to talk about you moving in?"
Eric: "Babe, please don't. See you soon, okay?"
Jenny: "Okay, bye, stay safe."
Eric: "Always, we will talk tonight, I love you beautiful." Then he hung up the phone.
Eric loved Jenny; in fact, he was crazy about her. The problem was he was raised in a very religious family. If his mother were to find out that he and Jenny are sleeping together outside of wedlock, she would surely kill them both. That's why he had to hold off moving in with Jenny until after the wedding. His parents would not allow it to be any other way. Jenny thinks that his reason for not moving in with her is because he is not ready to let go of his bachelor status just yet, when in fact all Eric wants is to be with her every minute of every day. So, he made up his mind, tonight he would come completely clean with Jenny, he would tell her exactly how he feels about her, and the reason why he has not proposed to her yet. She needs to hear his heart, they needed to start planning their future together. So as Eric sat in the traffic jam, he planned his day. He first planned on going to the station to report to the station chief, then he would go get a bottle of Jenny's favorite wine, and a bunch of her favorite flowers, then he would go bear his heart to his beautiful wife to be. The thought made him smile.
In the stations Chief's office, Eric was sitting across from the chief and had just finished telling him about the two reported attempted murder charges against Beth, and requested that the chief signed the arrest warrant for Beth. Once Eric was back at his desk, he called Kim to inform her of the warrant of arrest against Beth, and they both agreed that she should be held up at the prison facilities criminally insane ward. Once Eric had actioned his wardens to collect Beth from the hospital, and take her to the ward. He jumped back into his car and drove to the local grocers to prep for his date night.
Finally, Eric pulled up and parked in Jenny's drive way. He grabbed his gifts for her, and skipped up to her front door and knocked, he didn't want to risk ringing the doorbell for incase she had already put the babies to bed. When Jenny opened the door, Eric was momentarily stunned to silence. She was a vision of an angel, and in that moment, Eric once again felt like the luckiest man on earth. He grabbed her around her small waist, pulled her closer to him and kissed her, long and hard, till they were both left breathless. When they pulled apart, she looked at him with her beautiful big hazelnut eyes, and whispered:
Jenny: "I have missed you so much, handsome."
Eric laughed, kissed her quickly again on her lips and said:
Eric: "But we saw each other last night, beautiful."
Jenny: "That was so long ago, I know it sounds crazy, but I want to be with you every single minute of every single day."
Then Eric let go of her waist, and she stepped back, he then pulled out his other arm from behind his back and gave her the flowers and the wine, she took the flowers from him, fisted her hand around his shirt, and pulled him over the threshold of the front door, as Eric stepped into the house he gently kicked the door shut with his foot, and leaned in to kiss his girl again. When they pulled apart this time, Jenny took the wine bottle from him and said:
Jenny: "I feel like making out while watching a movie, why don't you go get one started so long and I will bring the wine and snacks?"
Eric slapped her sexy butt and said:
Eric: "That sounds like a lot of fun, but what if I can't stop myself at just making out, what happens if I want more?"
Jenny giggled and teased:
Jenny: "By the looks of you, I don't think you have it in you tonight."
Then she laughed, winked at him and turned around to sashay into the kitchen. Making Eric instantly go hard. He looked down at the front of his pants and said:
Eric: "Down boy!" He adjusts his pants and then walked to the lounge to go get the movie started. When Jenny returned with their wine glasses and snacks, she put everything down on the coffee table in the middle, and walked over to Eric, took the remote out of his hand, also put that on the table, Eric watched her with intensity, as she lifted her legs to climb on top of Eric's lap, her short dress moved up, giving him a glimpse of her pussy, Eric grew even harder when he realized that she was not wearing any underwear, and as he moved his hands up her thighs he harshly whispered:
Eric: "Where are the kids?"
Jenny: "They are not here tonight, it's just you and me handsome."
She then slid up his legs, rubbing her naked middle aggressively against his upright dick, and Eric leaned back his head and hissed:
Eric: "YeeeessssssssSSSSsssss, that feels good." Suddenly Jenny stood upright, and when Eric opened his eyes, he saw her taking a sip from her wine glass, as she held out his for him, he took it from her, not breaking eye contact with her, and he also drank a sip of wine.
Jenny: "I need you to drop your pants, handsome."
Eric stood and started untying his belt, then he unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and let it all fall down to his ankles, his hard dick bobbed up and down as it stood proudly pointing out in front of him, and he watched as Jenny's eyes ran down his body, when she saw his dick she fell to her knees in front of him and locked her lips around it, then she started sucking. This made Eric's legs tremble, and he hissed:
Eric: "YESSSSSSS,yesSssss,esssss, BABy that feelssssss goooooooooooooooooood." Jenny increased her pace, and soon Eric could feel himself losing his grip, so he bent down, hooked his arms underneath Jenny's and lifted her up on top of him as he sat them both down on the couch, this resulted in him being able to push really fast, deep and hard into Jenny, and he watched as she threw her head back and moaned in ecstasy. Then Eric grabbed her by her ass and swung her to his left side putting her on the couch next to him. He got up and stood in front of her, grabbed her ankles put them on his shoulders, bent down on his knees with his head between her legs. He kissed her along her inner thighs, enjoying her soft moans, then he used the tip of his tongue to tease her clit, as her moans grew louder, he increased his rhythm till he had her whole-body trembling. He lifted her once again off the couch and forced her down on his lap, pushing fast and hard into her, this time Jenny screamed out his name, and they both aggressively drove out their orgasms'.
Chapter 21
The PI's Report
Eric's POV
Eric and Jenny lay tangled in each other's naked bodies on the couch in front of the TV. As Eric was stroking Jenny's hair he said:
Eric: "Babe, I want you to understand that you are the love of my life. I plan on building a future with you forever by my side."
At his words, Jenny looked up at him, and said:
Jenny: "Eric, I understand why you can't move in with me yet, Kim explained everything. I know how your parents feel about it. You don't need to explain yourself to me, I just like teasing you about it." As she said this she smiled and kissed him on his chin. Eric kissed her back on her forehead and said:
Eric: "I don't like you teasing me about it. I love you, and I don't want you to ever doubt that."
Jenny: "Okay, thank you for telling me, I promise I will stop teasing you about it, I love you just as much, and it would kill me if you ever doubted my love, so I understand now how it makes you feel, we don't have to talk about it anymore. Besides, I'd rather you tell me about Beth, please tell me what was in the PI's report that you found in Ralph's house?"
Eric: "Well for that I will need a lot more wine, and so will you."
Jenny looked at the empty glasses on the table, threw of the blanket that was covering them, and seductively stuck out her naked butt as she bent to pick up the glasses from the table, when she turned around she saw that Eric had a hard on again, she giggled and sashayed to the kitchen. When she returned she had the still empty glasses in one hand and the whole bottle in the other.
Jenny: "As much as I love flaunting my assets for you, I decided that it would just be better to bring the bottle to us."
Eric grabbed her hand and pulled her down on top of him again, and said:
Eric: "The problem is, your assets drive me crazy. I will never get my fill of them."
As he said this his hands where kneading her butt, she was laying with her bare front on top of his. She was kissing him in his neck, and behind his ear lobes, and when he could not contain the goose bumps on his skin anymore, he put his hands on either side of her waist, and turned her, so that he was now on top of her, pinning her underneath him. He grabbed her by her wrists and pinned both with his one hand above her head. Then he started teasing, licking and sucking her breasts, when he noticed the goose bumps on her skin, he let go of her hands and moved down her body, placing soft kisses as he moved down, and when he found himself between her legs again, he pushed her legs apart so that she was completely open in front of him. This time while his tongue was teasing her clit, he pushed his two front fingers into her vagina and curled them slightly up, rubbing her g-spot, her body started shaking sooner this time, and just as he was about to stop so that he could get up and push into her again, she suddenly squirted, screaming out his name, as her body still shook he pushed into her again, she was really tight and this made him came quickly too.
The two once again found themselves blissfully cuddling on the couch and Jenny said to him:
Jenny: "Is this not the life? We can have sex, where ever and whenever we feel like it, we can walk around the house stark naked all day long, with no kids running around demanding our attention."
Eric: "I hear what you are saying, but be honest. Can you even begin to imagine your life without your kids?"
Jenny: "Just the thought makes me want to bawl my eyes out, I can't."
Eric laughed and kissed her head, then he said:
Eric: "You know after the wedding there is this thing that they call a honeymoon, and I have heard that during this time, the bride and groom spend all their days naked, without kids." She giggled and said:
Jenny: "OOOO, I love the honeymoon, I can't wait."
Eric: "Soon, Babe. I promise."
Jenny: "So are you going to tell me about the PI's report or not?"
Eric: "Babe, honestly I don't think I should. You will have horrible nightmares."
Jenny: "Please Eric, besides you promised that you would stay the night, as long as I am in your arms, I will not have nightmares."
Eric: "Why do you want to know so badly?"
Jenny: "Because what I have heard from Kim & Jessy has not been pretty so far. It is impossible for me to imagine the abuse that she went through all those years, and come out of that resembling anything close to a decent human being. Eric, she will never be normal, her brain will never be able to heal from that amount of damage. I really, really feel sorry for her. I also strongly believe that little Ariel was going to eventually suffer the same fate by Beth hands, because Beth has never known anything else, and because of the damage to her, she will never be able to accept the fact that what was done to her is not the normal way to do things. It is so sad to think that because of her horrible upbringing she will never be able to have a normal life, her grandfather broke her. He stole her dignity, her childhood and eventually her life."
Eric: "It is my prayer that no matter how angry or upset we get with the kids, we will never ever do or say anything that will leave them mentally scarred for life. Promise me that we will love, protect and cherish them for the rest of our lives?"
Jenny: "I have already promised them that. The day that I bought each one of my babies home, I sat outside with them in the car and showed them the house, and I told them that for as long as I live they will always be safe, and loved in this house. I don't believe in braking promises!"
Chapter 22
Kim Reads the PI Report
Claim Investigation: CONFIDENTIAL
CASE NUMBER: 198108-SCHNIEDER FILE REFERENCE: 095
REPORT ON: MISS BETH BEFFEROT Client: MR RALPH SCHNIEDER
Company: PRIVATE
Phone: +311 259 6781
Type: W/C: Observation
DATES OF INVESTIGATION: 27 August – 01 September 1981
CIRCUMSTANCES: Client believes that his daughter might be in danger, and request observation of her mother's movements.
SUMMARY
This investigation details information obtained through an observation of the claimant conducted on 27 August to 01 September 1981. See photographic evidence attached organized as per below investigation dates.
-- On 27 August 1981, the claimant was observed to walk out of the front door of her residential address, without a child, go to the arrive at a hair salon, re-appeared half past 2 the afternoon, the claimant then arrived at the casino, at 17h45 claimant re-appeared and was collect by a local cab, exited the car two houses away from her residential address, duck behind an ally wall, when claimant re-appeared it appeared as if she had been attacked, she then proceeded to run down the street screaming, and arrived at her residential address.
-- On 28 August 1981, the claimant was observed to be transported from the prison cell to the mental health facility.
-- On 30 August 1981, the claimant was observed to walking out of the mental health facility. After hailing a local cab, the claimant was observed to arrive at an abandoned building, she appeared to be conversing with invisible individuals. The claimant then picked up an old chair that was laying on the porch, and took it to a hut just behind the broken down building. Then the claimant was observed to go into the abandon building, she was observed going up the stairs of the building, and then lay down on the ground in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
-- On 31 August 1981, the claimant was observed exiting the abandoned building, she hailed a local cab, and was observed to exit it at the bank, when she re-appeared she was followed to the local hardware store where after conversing with a sales man, it was observed that she purchased various sharp tools, and weapons. She was then observed leaving the hardware store and followed to a public phone booth. After her phone call the claimant once again hailed a local cab, and was followed back to the abandoned house, when she arrived there where three big bulky looking men awaiting her return, the claimant exit the cab, and ran straight into the arms of one of the unidentified men, they were observed kissing. She then pulled out a big heap of cash from her coat pocket and handed it to the man she had just kissed. The men then got back in their car and drove away, the claimant then went back into the abandoned house, and once again lay down on the ground in the same room as the previous night.
-- On 01 September 1981, the claimant was observed going into the hut, and collect an x-shape wooden structure, she proceeded to push the structure into the basement of the abandoned building. It was further observed that she then collected all the sharp tools and weapons that she had purchased at the hardware store and took them to the basement. It was then observed that she painted her naked body in a thick white paint. Then she proceeded to put twigs and leaves she collected of the ground from the different rooms in the abandoned house in her hair. The same car from the previous day suddenly pulled up to the abandoned house, and the investigators observed the men carrying the client into the basement of the abandoned house. The police were immediately alerted, and the investigation halted because the investigators were unarmed.
End of report.
Kim's POV
My medical observation of both Beth and Ralph filled in most of the gabs, plus Eric's investigation, if they were all put together the court procedures would be short. I remembered Ralph telling me that he had not read the full investigation report. We both had no idea that she had escaped from the mental institution. With this investigation report there is proof that Beth planed Ralph's kidnapping and paid third parties to do the dirty work. Both Ariel and Ralph were in danger from the start. This meant that Ralph would be fully in his rights as Ariel's biological farther to have a restraining order against Beth. She would never be allowed to come anywhere close to either of them. If the judge took pity on Beth because of her past, she would forever be locked up in a mental rehabilitation center, and then it hit me. What if Ralph decided to leave, take his daughter and move away, I was surprised to feel that the thought really hurt my heart. I had to admit, I have fallen in love with Ariel. She has only been in my care for a few days, but I love the way we get to cuddle at night in my bed, I love her baby smell after I clean her, I love how she giggles when I tickle her tiny feet, I love her topaz-colored eyes and how they sparkled when she was happy. She is a beautiful baby, and I don't want to let her go, out of my sight, out of my house, and certainly not out of my life. I needed to go talk to Ralph, now.
Outside Ralph's room, I knocked twice and when I heard him call "come in", I walked in and smiled at him.
Kim: "How are you feeling?"
Ralph: "A little better, it still hurts in my heart, that's worse than the physical pain."
Kim: "I am so sorry Ralph."
Suddenly it was as if I lost all control of my body, and the next thing I knew, our lips connected. Sparks flew in the air all around the room. It was a magical kiss, and when we finally pulled apart, I could see it in Ralph's eyes, I was not the only one that enjoyed the kiss. As we were looking in each other's eyes, the door suddenly flew open and in stormed Eric.
He looked at us and said:
"I have more information on Ralph's kidnappers, and you will never believe the connection."
Chapter 23
It's all twisted
Eric's POV
The PI's investigation report indicated Beth kissing and paying an unknown sub to kidnap Ralph, I now know the identification of the unknown sub. I had no idea how I was going to explain this to Ralph and Kim.
So, when I entered the room, I decided that I simply need to tell them the truth. So, I looked them both in the eye and said:
Eric: "The kidnapper that Beth had been captured on camera kissing is her biological brother. They did not grow up together, but their paths crossed by some intervene inter-venation, and they ended up sleeping together, from that night a child was born. Beth and her brother then decided to put the baby through the same torture that she had to endure as a child, but the baby did not even live for 48hours, they then fed the babies' corpse to the wild animals. Beth and her brother then made a promise to each other that they would take this secret to the grave. Then her brother met a very dangerous women, and he did something to this woman that turned him into the instant target of all the mafia leaders around the world, he became an international target. He bought himself false identification and decided against leveling the country. Stupid asshole. We have just arrested him; Ralph I was hoping you would be able to give me a positive identification on the "unknown" sub." (As Eric said the last part of the sentence, he was adamant to putting the air quotes around the word unknown. We all knew very well who the sub was.) Some very influential men are awaiting your positive identification of this man. He is known as a scammer, thief, pedophile, rapist, drug dealer, kidnaper, killer, robber, transporter and the list goes on, whatever you need, he will make a plan for you, as long as it is in the line of his work, namely killing people. Beth's brother is the most wanted man on this planet. In both law-enforcement and the illegal spectrums. The street price on his head is U$5 million, dead or alive." The look on both their face was utter shock. It was clear that not one of them knew about Beth's brother.
Ralph: "Beth always told me that she had no family that she knew of, she had told me that her mother died giving birth to her, and that her farther had killed himself shortly after because he could not live with the heartache. The day that she had me kidnapped, I had just heard from the off-duty casino staff that Beth had told them that she left Ariel with her granny the day that she was allegedly kidnapped."
Eric: "Yeah, we have evidence proving that the attack on her never happened, she did it to herself."
Ralph: "I suspected as much. My PI had called me the minute that I sent him a photo of Beth, he told me where he knew her from, and the abuse she suffered as a child, that is when I started putting measures into place to make sure that Beth was never alone with Ariel. I believe that this is what caused her to go over the edge, and because she could not do to Ariel what was done to her as a child, she then decided to take it out on me. It is at this point that I realized how blinded by love I had been the whole time. I literally had the feeling that she would slowly kill me and take pleasure in every minute of my suffering." As Ralph said the next part he looked straight into Kim's eyes.
Ralph: "I have no idea how I allowed it to go this far. My heart hurts, and my ego is bruised. I was stupid, I have promised myself that I will never be that stupid again."
Kim: "So what you're saying is that you will never allow yourself to love another woman again?"
Ralph: "If I do meet a woman that I feel I might develop feelings for, I plan on first becoming friends, and then I will stay in the friend's zone till I have met all her family and know her full history."
Kim: "And that woman will completely understand, and will wait for you, however long it takes you to heal, so that you are able to give her your whole heart."
Eric: "Seriously you two. It is blatantly obvious that something happened between you, are either one of you going to tell me what happened, or should I simply find out on my own?"
Just then there was a knock on the door, and Ralph said:
Ralph: "Come in."
When the door opened, in walked Jenny and a very giggly Ariel. Jenny had a huge smile on her face, and when she saw Eric all the rest of the room faded. The two stared deeply into each other's eyes, and both were like they were in a trance. Now it was Kim and Ralph's turn to watch the crazy love show. Suddenly Jenny realized that they were being stared at, and her cheeks turned a bright red, when Eric noticed her blush, he broke his eye contact with her, and looked down to the ground. Jenny handed Ariel to Ralph, then she turned to Eric, took his hand and whispered in his ear.
Jenny: "I have just dropped off the last child for the night. I need to go change out of my coveralls; would you please help me with that?" Eric looked at her and simply nodded. He then turned to Ralph and Kim, waved at them, then he let Jenny lead him out of the room.
Ralph and Kim watched the two leave, and then burst into laughter, this made Ariel giggle as well, which in turn made the two of them laugh even more.
Kim looked at Ralph and said:
Kim: "Ariel is a very lucky girl, not only is her daddy handsome, but he treats her like a queen. She will still be the envy of a lot of women as she grows up."
Ralph: "Ariel, please tell the pretty Doctor that she has it the wrong way around, I am the lucky man. I have the privilege of looking after the beauty queen and making sure that she always knows what her worth is, and that she never settles for anything less."
Chapter 24
Jenny Thinks she has it all figured out
Jenny's POV
Jenny was crazily in love with Eric. The whole town knew it, and if it was up to Jenny the whole world would know it soon as well. Only Eric's farther was the town's only priest, and Jenny was no virgin, Mary. She was a divorcee with five kids. If Eric's father knew that she was having amazingly mind-blowing sex, about six nights a week with his, "holier than thou son" he would surely die of a heart attack on the spot. Kim was her bestie, and she had told her that their farther had a secret hope that Eric would one day take over the church. Jenny knew Eric's heart, he loved his farther and his church, but Jenny knew for a fact that Eric did not want to follow in his father's footsteps. She had heard him say it on numerous occasions, although she must admit that he had only ever told her. Jenny guarded his secret with her heart and soul.
So Jenny has decided that she will help him with his case, so that he can get that promotion to Chief Of Criminal Investigations, the only problem was that she had no idea how, where or what she was going to do to accomplish her goal. She hoped that if he got the promotion, his farther would finally realize that he will never be willing to take over the church. So this was really important to Eric, and because he was important to her, it meant that this was also important to her.
Jenny led Eric straight into the changing rooms. She found her locker, pulled out her duffle bag, turned to him and said:
Jenny: "Lead the way to your car."
Eric: "But I thought you said that I needed to help you change?"
Jenny: "Yes, but I don't want to do it here, anymore. I want you to take me to your place, please?"
Eric: "Okay. Let's go, beautiful."
Jenny: "I love it when you call me that."
Eric: "You know that it is the truth. So I was hoping that you would be able to organize a babysitter for tonight, I would like to take you out to dinner tonight, just the two of us, we have something to celebrate?"
Jenny: "Really??? What are we going to celebrate?"
Eric: "My promotion to Chief of Criminal Investigations, and the best part is that with this pay rise, I can now finally start putting away serious bucks for the engagement ring that I want to get you."
They were standing in the elevator on their way down to the underground parking area of the hospital, when Eric told Jenny the news, as soon as she heard the words promotion, Jenny shrieked with joy, jumped into Eric's arms locking her legs around his waist. Then she kissed him, and when they pulled apart Jenny gushed:
Jenny: "I am so proud of you. You did it all on your own, you worked so hard for this Eric, you deserve this! And like I told you before, I don't need a super expensive engagement ring."
Eric: "Thank you, babe. I have already paid the first instalment on the ring, with this rise I am now able to pay it off so much quicker. I love you, and I want to start my life with you and the kids as soon as possible! I hate that I wake up without you next to me when I have to sleep in my apartment, which is why I prefer sleeping at yours."
Jenny: "I know. Eric, I am crazy about you, you know that I will wait for you for the rest of our lives if it must."
Eric: "But now you won't have to wait so long, beautiful."
Just then the elevator binged and the doors opened to the underground parking area where Eric's car was parked, and they came face to face with an armed man dressed in a black suite with a white shirt and black bow-tie. The man looked Eric straight in the eyes then grabbed Jenny by her arm and yanked her out of the elevator towards him, simultaneously turning her, so that her arm twisted up her back, then he put the barrel against Jenny's temple and said to Eric:
Attacker: "You killed my brother, now I am going to kill your girlfriend."
Eric: "NO,NO,NO…..PLEASE,PLEASE DO NOT HURT HER. PLEASE TAKE ME INSTEAD, LET HER GO, PLEASE SHE IS INNOCENT. PLEASE!!!"
Attacker: "My brother was just an innocent little child as well, he was only 10 years old."
Eric: "WHAT???? I have never harmed a child, much less killed a child."
Attacker: "Shut up fool, you better start telling the truth, I am a very impatient man. You and your sister covered up his death, and the autopsy report indicated that he had died in a freak accident, but we both know it is simply not true! I will spare your girlfriend, but only if you admit to the crime and go make an official statement at the police station. You have until I finish the countdown to give me your answer, 1,2,3…." Eric interrupted his counting and said:
Eric: "Okay, okay, please just lower your gun, and let her go. We can go to the police station immediately. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET HER GO."
Jenny could hear in Eric's voice cracking as he begged her attacker to let her go, and this caused her to cry even harder, and suddenly Eric leapt towards them, he pushed Jenny to the left and she hit the ground hard with the force that he had used, and when she turned her head to look at Eric and the attacker she saw him pull the trigger and Eric fell to the ground, a pool of blood appeared in the middle of his chest. Jenny screamed. The attacker turned around and ran. Jenny scurried to Eric's side sobbing, she lifted her his head into her arms and begged him to open his eyes. He did not respond so Jenny started screaming at the top of her lungs for help:
Jenny: "HELP ME, ANYBODY PLEASE HELP ME. O GOD PLEASE ANYBODY HELP ME , PLEASE, PPPPPLLLLLEEAAASEE HEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLP MEEEEEEE."
Chapter 25
Eric's Death
Jenny's POV
Jenny: "PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE HEAR ME, HELP ME PLEASE" Then she saw that the elevator was coming down, she started screaming again as she watched it coming down to the parking garage. When the doors opened she saw Kim, and held for her help.
Kim: "Jenny, what happened?"
Jenny: "He shot Eric, there is so much blood, please help him Kim."
Kim ran to the emergency button in the elevator and pushed it three times, then she ran back to Jenny and Eric, and bent down on the ground next to him so that she could feel his pulse, there was none. She looked at Jenny with shock, just then the elevator door opened and out came three nurses with a gurney. Kim called them to her, and then took Jenny gently by her shoulders and hugged her, letting her cry for a while and watched as the nurses lifted Eric on the gurney, and took him up to the emergency room where the doctor on duty would declare him dead. She hugged Jenny closer and whispered to her.
Kim: "We need to go report this at the police station."
Jenny: "Can't the police come here. I don't want to leave him, in case he wakes up and needs me, please?"
Kim: "I need to call my farther, so lets go up to my office."
Jenny: "Okay."
Once the two of them were in the office, Kim indicated for Jenny to have a seat on the couch, and the she flopped down next to her, and gently put her arm around Jenny's shoulders and pulled her closer, and said:
Kim: "I'm so, so, so, sorry honey. Eric did not make it. He is dead. The bullet went straight through his heart, he had no fighting chance." As Kim said the words out loud, the reality of her loosing her brother just smacked her in her face, and soon enough she found her self crying in Jenny's embrace. The girls sat on Kim's office floor quietly crying in each others arms for what felt like a life time, but was actually just about 15min's. Kim was the first to pull back and look Jenny in the eyes and said:
Kim: "I need to call my parents, they are going to be heart broken by the news, but more importantly, you need to go home and tell the kids. I will go with you. Their hearts will not know how to handle the pain, you will need all the help you can get. Those kids worshiped the ground that Eric walked on, this is not going to be easy."
As Jenny listened to Kim, and registered what she was saying the pain in her heart drew her to the ground, Jenny fell on her knees screaming in agony while clutching her heart, and then she was clouded in darkness.
Kim: "JENNY, JENNY, CAN YOU HEAR ME. JENNY WAKE UP, PLEASE. THINK ABOUT YOUR BABIES. JENNY?????? NO PLEASE, GOD NO, WHY??????"
Kim jumped to her feet and ran out of her office screaming for help. When she took Jenny's vitals she felt a faint pulse, but when she put her stethoscope to Jenny's chest, she heard Jenny's heartbeat was going at what sound like a million beats per second. Jenny was having a hart attack. Kim suddenly felt dizzy at the realization that Jenny might not survive the loss of Eric, and she was the one to instigate it.
Kim was in total panic mode by the time she finally reached her farther. When her farther finally answered the phone he heard Kim's sobbing, heartbreaking voice on the other end of the line:
Kim: "DADDY, DADDY CAN YOU HEAR ME? Daddy, something terrible has happened. Please, please come. I NEED YOU DADDY, PLEASE I CANT HANDLE THIS ON MY own, Daddy, I love you."
As he listened to his daughter's desperate plea over the phone, Pries-tor Attington was already searching his mind for the car keys, and calling out to his wife in the bedroom down the hall:
Kim's Farther: "Honey, the kid's have an emergency, we need to go! NOW!"
At her husband's cries, and the panic in his voice, Joyce cried out at the sudden stab she felt go straight to her heart, falling to her knees, crying, screaming, begging.
Kim's Mother: "WHAT, what, O MY GOD, please, please, PLEASE GOD. Please do not take one of my BABIES, PLEASE GOD, I BEG YOU."
Little did she know.
When Kim's parents arrived at the hospital, Kim and Jenny ran in to her parents out stretched arms and cried. Neither parent could make out a word of the girl's rambling, and crying. When she finally calmed down, Kim looked her mother straight in the eyes and said:
Kim: "Mom, my heart hurts. I......We.....have lost Eric. He is no longer among the living, I...….we..will never see him again." Kim could not contain her sobbing. She heard her mom say calmly:
Kim's Mother: "You need to take us to see our son please. We need to say good bye, and your Farther needs to pry over him." Kim's parents held on to her hand and together they all made their way to the elevator.
In the morgue, they all went to where Eric was lying lifelessly on the gurney, and Kim's farther suddenly turned to Kim and asked:
Kim's Farther: "Kim, where is Jenny?"
Kim: "Daddy, Jenny is in ICU. She was on the verge of having a heart attack, but she is out of danger now. We can go check on her when we are done here."
Kim's Mother: "What? Was it the shock about Eric?"
Kim; "Yes, mum."
Kim's mother turned and looked at her lifeless boy, she took his hand and started singing to him. Kim recognized the song, it was Eric's song. Kim also had her own song. She remembered her mothers stories about the songs, and as she listened to her mother singing it she cuddle into her father's embrace as they both sobbed, finding comfort in each others embrace. When her mum finally finished the song, they all took hands and closed their eyes as their farther prayed for Eric, and for all that loved him.