Page 5 of The Beginning
“How was your day, baby?” I ask and we begin to talk like we do every night when he’s away for work. Sometimes he has to travel for his job. When he does, he’s usually gone all week only to come home on the weekend. He’s been gone since Monday and should be home tomorrow evening.
We eventually say our goodbyes and hang up. I lay in bed a little longer thinking about everything before finally falling asleep.
CHAPTER 2
Lexi
Thursday night/Friday morning
Ibolt upright, gasping for breath. My eyes move quickly around the room, trying to adjust to the darkness. Only a dream… It was only a dream. I release a heavy breath. Bending my knees, I fold my arms over them, and rest my forehead down.
I should be able to relax already. I’m free from him but instead, he haunts my thoughts and dreams. Well, I guess everyone else would call them nightmares. I keep reliving the last few months over and over in my head.
I move slowly to sit on the edge of the bed. I rest my elbows on my knees trying to catch my breath and remind myself where I am. I finally get up and walk to the en suite bathroom to splash some cold water on my face. The water is refreshing and cools my heated skin. I chance a look in the mirror and my eyes have dark circles under them from the lack of sleep. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve actually rested peacefully.
I dry my face with the little hand towel hanging by the sink and walk back to the bed. I pick up my cell phone, which ischarging on the bedside table. It’s only a little after 3 in the morning. The one thing I do notice is the lack of notifications on my lock screen.
I changed my number after Jason's last phone call four days ago. After he showed up at my office several times and threatened my manager and our CEO, he began calling me nonstop. When I stopped answering, he would leave detailed messages about what he was going to do to me when I finally came home. I tried to tell him it was over. I was never coming back, but he would just laugh.
“Lexi… you’re mine and you will always be mine. I don’t care where you think you are going. I will find you and bring you back home where you belong. And when I do… then you will know the meaning of true pain and you will never see the light of day. So, the longer you make me wait… the worse it will be. COME HOME NOW!”
That was the last voicemail I got from him. The very next day I had my number changed and requested remote employment with my company. After everything was finalized, I made the move here to be with Shayna.
I lock my phone again and settle back in bed. Turning on to my side. I stare at the wall, wishing my thoughts away. Hoping that I can finally sleep for a couple of hours. My eyes close as the peacefulness of the house settles around me.
I keep repeating in my head -I’m safe. I’m free. I’m going to be okay.Now if I could only convince myself.
The smell of coffee wakes me. After falling back to sleep, I was able to rest a little. At least I don’t remember if I had any more dreams.
I roll over on my back and rub the sleep from my eyes. I hear voices in the kitchen and hearing the banter makes me smile. I’ve missed this family so much.
“Hey, that’s mine,” I hear Landon say loudly.
“Shhh… you’re going to wake Aunt Lexi, and then Mom’s going to be mad,” I hear Darian say a little lower, but I can still hear him. It makes me laugh because, by the sound of his voice, I can picture the little smirk on his face. He loves his little brother, but he also loves to torment him, as most big brothers do.
“I’ll be quiet when you give me back my bacon.”
Knowing that there might be a real argument brewing, I roll out of bed and walk to the door. Just as I open it, I hear Shayna handling the situation.
“Leave your little brother alone, Darian. Landon – be quiet. You know Aunt Lexi is still sleeping,” I hear her quietly scold.
“But mom… noooooo,” he yells as I hear Darian laugh. “He ate my bacon.”
“Oh, be quiet. There’s more on the stove. Calm down,” I hear Darian say as his voice gets lower until I hear his door close.
“But that is for Aunt Lexi,” Landon says sullenly.
I round the corner into the kitchen and see Landon with his arms crossed over his chest pouting. Shayna stands on the other side of the island, both hands on the counter, and her head dropped, staring down.
I give a little chuckle. “It’s okay, bud. I’m really not a big eater in the morning. You can have my bacon,” I say as I walk over to the coffee pot. I reach into the cabinet to take out a mug and pour myself a cup of this caffeine goodness. I mix in my sugar and creamer then turn leaning on the counter to sip at my much-needed wake-up call.
I watch the interaction between mother and son before she nods at him. He jumps down from the bar stool and walks to the stove, taking the last few pieces of bacon. Just as he sits back inhis seat to continue eating his breakfast in peace, Shayna stands up straight and walks to where I am.
“How did you sleep?” She asks me quietly, taking a cup from the cabinet and making her own cup of coffee.
I give a little shrug. “Good. You?” I ask turning it around on her.
She stares at me for a few seconds, before answering. “Okay I guess,” she says as she fixes her coffee.
