The afternoon sun streamed in through the tall windows in the spacious home office of the elegant Victorian home Michelle Carvelli shared with her new husband, Joe and eight year old son Corey. Her book DNA: The Future Is Now was published six months earlier and was becoming one of the most sought after research resources by some of the nation's top medical schools and Michelle had even been asked to be a guest lecturer a few times. She finished dictating notes for an article she was writing for the Journal of American Medicine, leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She opened them and smiled as she looked at the photograph that sat on her desk. It was of her, Joe and Corey at the wedding. She never imagined she could be so happy. She had adopted Corey as a single mother and had never given much thought to marriage. Her relationship with Charles Jensen had ended badly right before he was killed; killed by the maniac who lived next door. That was how she met Joe. He had been the detective who helped her. He was kind, loving, and strong but a feisty Italian. She smiled again as she placed her hands on her swelling abdomen. At forty five she was pregnant for the first time, with a girl. She felt sure she was hitting menopause when she went to see her doctor about her symptoms but was shocked to find she was ten weeks pregnant. They had never even discussed it. Joe was five years younger and he was perfectly happy being a father to Corey but they both had a hard time containing their happiness. It was risky and Michelle tried very hard to do exactly what Dr. Anderson told her. Diane Anderson had been her doctor for many years and was more like a friend and they, along with Joe, breathed a sigh of relief when all the tests were normal and that she had made it to twenty weeks. She felt her little girl moving inside her and she marveled at the miracle of life.
"Hey there, kiddo." She spoke softly, caressing her belly, "I guess you're hungry too, huh?"
She pushed herself up and out of the chair, stretched her back, walked into the kitchen and opened up the refrigerator, "So what do you think? A turkey sandwich or something lighter like yogurt? Daddy and Corey will be home soon and we don't want to spoil dinner."
The baby kicked and she smiled again, taking a carton of yogurt out, "This is supposed to help make your bones good and strong. So if you're getting sick of it well, so is your old mom."
She sat down at the table and began to eat, looking at the clock on the wall, Corey would be home from soccer practice soon then Joe would be home from work, unless he got called out on a case. He had been promoted to Detective First Grade shortly before the wedding and recently been approached about becoming a sergeant or lieutenant but that was a desk job and he liked being on the beat. Even if that meant forgoing a lot more money, he was satisfied. She worried for his safety and offered up a silent thank you to God every night when he walked in the door safe and sound. For a long time she had assumed she would raise Corey alone but now she couldn't imagine it and she couldn't bear the thought of raising their daughter alone.
The back door opened and Corey came bounding in the kitchen, "Hi Mom." He said giving her a hug after dropping his book bag in the floor
She hugged him back and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "How was practice?" She looked him over, dirty and sweaty and all boy
"Good, the field was nice and muddy." He offered a toothy grin
"I can see that." She replied, "Go on upstairs and clean up and start on your homework. I'll call you for dinner."
"Okay." He said, "Will Dad be home?"
"As far as I know." She playfully swatted his back side, "Now scoot and take your book bag."
He walked away, picked up his bag and headed out of the room then turned around, "Hey Mom."
"What Sweetie?" She asked
"Did she kick today?" He was fascinated with the baby and she and Joe were relieved he didn't seem to be jealous, at least not yet
"She's moving right now." She told him, "You want to feel it?"
He nodded and walked back over to her and she placed his hand on her belly. He felt it and his eyes widened, "Does it hurt?"
"No, not really." She said, "Now go on upstairs."
"Okay." He reluctantly agreed and left the room
She got up and threw away her yogurt carton just as the phone rang. She walked over and picked it up, "Hello."
"Hi Babe, how are my two favorite girls?" Joe's voice came over the line
She smiled broadly, "Hungry." She quipped, "Do you have to stay late tonight?"
"No, I don't think so. How about I bring home some Chinese from Chef Chang?" He suggested
"Oh that sounds so good and so not on my list of things acceptable to eat." She lamented
"Alright I'll pick up some organic goat cheese and tofu for you and Lily and Chinese for me and Corey." They hadn't settled on name yet, he liked Lily and she liked Emma.
"Emma and I will make do with Chinese. I just won't tell Diana." She said
"Your wish is my command." He quipped, "I'll be home about seven. I love you, Babe."
"I love you, too."
That night the house was quiet. Corey had finished his homework, took his bath and was in bed by nine. Michelle and Joe watched a movie in bed and fell asleep shortly before midnight but were awoken by Corey's frantic voice.
"Mom." He said shaking her
She opened her eyes with a start and managed to push herself up into a sitting position, "What is it, baby?"
"There was a man outside my window." He said
"What?" She asked. It had taken Corey a while to stop having nightmares about what happened to them in their old house in Allendale, "Honey it was probably a dream."
"No, Mom. I had to go to the bathroom and I saw him when I came back to bed. I wasn't asleep."
"Are you sure?" She asked
"Yes." He insisted
She looked over at Joe who was still asleep, "Joe, wake up."
"Huh?" He mumbled
"Joe, Corey saw someone outside." She said more forcefully
Joe immediately sat up and reached in the drawer for his gun, "Where?"
"Outside my window, Dad." He told him
"Stay here." He instructed getting up
Come on, get in here with me." Michelle pulled back the covers and Corey got in and snuggled up as close as he could and she put her arm around him, "Just relax; Daddy will take care of it." She looked toward the door to see if Joe was coming back down the hall but he wasn't
A few minutes later she heard the front door open and Joe's familiar footsteps on the stairs, "Well, I didn't see anyone." He said, "He must have run off." He put his gun back in the drawer
"He must have been on foot, I didn't hear a car." Michelle replied
"He was there, I promise." Corey said
"I know, Son." Joe told him getting back in bed, "But it's okay now. You think you can go back to your room?"
"Please let me stay here, just tonight." He begged
Joe looked at both of them and couldn't' say no, "Okay but just for tonight."
The morning light streamed in the kitchen as Michelle fixed breakfast, pancakes for Corey and Joe, healthy oatmeal for her and baby Carvelli. Corey bounded in dressed for school and seemingly over the previous night's scare.
"Here you go, Sweetie." She said setting the plate down and a glass of juice
"Mom, do you think Dad believes me about last night?" He asked
Michelle stirred her oatmeal, "I'm sure he does." She assured him, "Now eat up, the bus will be here soon."
"Sure he does what?" Joe asked entering the kitchen and giving his wife a kiss
"Nothing, Honey. Would you like pancakes?"
"Hmmm, sounds delicious." He caressed her abdomen, "Are you feeling okay?"
"Fine." She replied as she poured batter onto the griddle
"So, Cor, I think I can get hockey tickets for this weekend. What do you say? Just us guys?"
He shrugged and polished off his pancakes just as the bus honked, "Okay." He said getting up and grabbing his back, "Bye Mom." He gave her a quick kiss, "Bye Dad."
"Bye." They said in unison
"What's with him? He's nuts about hockey." Joe remarked
"I think he's still upset about last night." She replied bringing his plate over to the table, "He asked me if you believed him."
"I thought the nightmares were over." He said taking a drink of coffee
Michelle got her oatmeal and juice and joined him at the table, "There might have been someone there, you know."
He sighed heavily, "I know but I didn't see anything."
"Well, maybe it won't happen again." She replied taking a drink of juice
"And if it does?" He asked his tone more serious
"Then we talk to Dr. Blake again." She said, referring to the child psychologist who helped Corey after the Allendale incident
"You know I love him, don't you?" He asked
She placed her hand on over his on the table, "I know that and so does he."
He smiled and looked at his watch, "I better get going." He got up and kissed her, syrup still on his lips
"Hmm, sweet." She replied smiling,
"I love you too, you know." He said
She smiled and rubbed her belly, "Oh yeah, I know."
He gave her a wink and headed out the door
TBC…Corey continues to see things