Page 35 of Tormenting Me

“Atlas…nice to see you. Is my lovely wife done for the day?” Wes asks in a just as playful of a tone, winking at me. He cuts across the shop, and my heart skips a beat as he comes up behind me, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck.

“I guess you can steal her from me. But just remember, she was mine first.” Atlas teases.

Oh geez, Atlas has a death sentence today.

“Right. Come on, Ma Petite Mort,“ as he laces his fingers with mine, pulling me toward the door.

“Bye, Atlas,” I shout from over my shoulder as Wes leads me out the front door, Atlas blows me a kiss and gives me a wink.

With the day winding down, I feel a deep sense of contentment. I feel grateful at the thought of spending Thanksgiving in a new place with loved ones in a few days. I can’t help but feel that this trip will mark the beginning of a new chapter in our life, one filled with adventure, love, and maybe soon an addition to our family. Something I never thought was possible. Wes has been doing an incredible job of helping me maintain my mental well-being.

However, I know that it is only a matter of time until my lungs fill and I suffocate from the dark waters that plague my mind.

Chapter twenty-three

Wes

Layne’s restlessness in the flight terminal is thick in the air as she awaits her first flight. However, I can see through her façade. Anxiety has been coursing through her flawless body for the past couple of days. I’ve caught her stealing glances at herself in the mirror, her hands lingering on her stomach. Despite my lingering curiosity, I’ve kept my mouth shut, hoping that if she is pregnant, she’ll tell me. Although the internal voice of the curious and impatient part of me urges me to know the truth, I resist the temptation.

Even though my brain goes straight to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. “We needs to know if the precious is carrying our baby.”

I know Layne has mixed feelings about starting a family, especially at this point in our lives. When I suggested waiting, her response was nonchalant, “If it happens, it happens.” That statement triggered a primal urge within me, it had me wanting to impregnate her as soon as possible. However, I hope that this trip to visit my parents during the holiday will provide some solace for Layne and help her unwind a bit.

Layne seems oblivious to the fact that I have noticed her recent struggles with her mental health. I can see the moments when she becomes lost in her thoughts or freezes near bodies of water. Her smile may briefly brighten, only to fade when negative thoughts invade her mind. It is painful to witness the person I adore suffer silently.

Internally, I’m screaming for her to be vocal. To let me carry some of the burden for her.

My heart aches for Layne to let her guard down, to share her worries, and to let me be her pillar of support. I want to be her rock, offering solace and empathy whenever she needs it. I hope Layne feels safe enough to share her struggles during this little vacation. Until then, I’ll wait and support her until she feels comfortable opening up.

A voice comes over the speaker, letting us know that the flight is ready to board. I grab our bags, sling them over my shoulders, and stand, slipping my hand in hers.

“Ready, Ma Petite Mort?“ I ask, leading her toward the terminal door.

Layne takes a deep breath and nods. I hand our boarding passes over to the attendant, and they permit us to proceed. Once we step over the threshold into the plane, the flight attendant directs us to the left into business class.

“Do you want the window seat, baby?” I offer as I stow our bags overhead.

“No, I’ll take the aisle in case I have to use the bathroom. I don’t want to ask you to move a million times.” She gives me a strained smile, and I cocked my eyebrow at her. “I just don’t feel so good. I think all the excitement is getting to me.”

Or you’re carrying our child.

I turn to look out the window and smirk to myself. I like the idea of that.

“So how long is this flight?” Layne asks, looking around at all the other passengers joining us in business class.

I look at my watch. “About five and a half hours. We should land in Richmond at two in the afternoon Eastern time.” I lift the dividing armrest and grab her by the waist, pulling her into me. I grasp her chin and turn her to face me, placing a tender kiss on her lips. “You can take a nap on me.” She nods, leaning her head against my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, holding her close as the plane taxis down the runway. The engines roar to life, and we feel the gentle vibrations beneath us as we gain speed.

The plane ascends into the sky, Layne closes her eyes, trying to find some comfort in the noise and motion. I stroke her hair soothingly, whispering words of reassurance in her ear. “I know you’re scared, Layne, but I’m here.” Layne breathes out a “Mmm” as she drifts off to sleep. The flight attendant comes by, offering us some beverages and snacks, but I decline, thanking her instead.

I watch as the world outside the window becomes smaller and smaller; the clouds enveloping us in a soft blanket. I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement for the holiday. I’m excited to see my parents and to have Layne with me. It’s been a while since I’ve been to my parents’ house, and I’ve missed them something terrible.

Hours pass by, and the cabin lights dim, creating a serene atmosphere. Layne’s fast asleep, her breathing calm. I take this opportunity to pull out my Kindle and do some reading. My recent obsession has been a new book about body farms and forensic investigation. It’s a book on a study of the stages of decomposition in a controlled environment. Fascinating shit. It’s always good to keep up with the latest science when your hobby is killing lowlife scum.

When the plane begins its descent, I gently wake Layne, her eyes fluttering open. She looks at me with a sleepy smile, and I can’t help but feel love and protectiveness towards her. The announcement for landing comes over the intercom, and we prepare ourselves for the last leg of our trip.

The wheels touch the ground with a slight jolt, and we taxi towards the gate. As the seatbelt sign turns off, we gather our belongings and make our way off the plane. The unfamiliar sights and sounds of Richmond greet us, and we take a moment to soak it all in. We make our way down to the baggage claim. I pull out my phone and call my Da. After three short rings, he picks up.

“Da…We just got down to get our bags. Are you guys already here?” I can hear the sounds of people chattering in the background.

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