Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming! I love Maggiano's too! You can't go wrong with Family Style! :-) Stan is 6'0 and Wendy is 5'3. When I include the heights in the stories you guys complain, when I don't, you ask for heights, lol. Anyways, R&R! Enjoy!
Chapter 4
It took almost two hours, but we made it to Maggiano's. Once I get there, I give the hostess Heidi's name and we're taking to her table. "Hi girls!" I greet them as Bebe, Nichole, and Heidi turn towards me.
"Hey Wendy, I thought you changed your mind." Bebe greets me.
"Sorry, I had to take the bus." I explain.
She looks down at Aiden. "Oh, you bought the baby?"
"I had to. Stan wasn't home." I lie.
"You couldn't find a sitter?"
I shake my head. "You called me last minute."
"It's ok Bebe." Heidi steps in. "He's more than welcome."
"What is he supposed to do while we're at the spa?" Bebe asks. Bebe looks at me. "He'll be bored to death. You should've said no if you didn't have a sitter.
She has a point, this was really selfish of me. "It's ok, we'll leave." I tell them. "I don't want to be a burden."
"Nonsense!" Nichole steps in. "You're more than welcome." I notice she's staring oddly at me.
"What?"
She pushes back my bangs and her jaw drops. I'm guessing she saw the bruise on my forehead. "How did that happen?"
I push my bangs back down. "I fell." I lie again.
"You fell? Really Wendy?" I can tell Nichole doesn't believe me.
"Yes that's what happened."
"That's a hell of a bruise." Bebe states.
"She's lying." Nichole tells them.
"Why would she lie?"
"I think I agree with Nichole." Heidi adds in. I wish they would drop this.
"I really think I should go." I pick up Aiden.
"Wendy we just want to help." Nichole gently touches my hand.
"I don't need help. I'm fine."
"No you're not. You have marks all over you." She examines my neck. "Look at this!" She tells Bebe and Heidi. "Her neck is red! This looks fresh."
Heidi and Bebe walk closer. I back away from them. "It's no big deal."
"No big deal? Your nose looks a little crooked!"
"What are you saying Nichole?" Bebe asks.
She shakes her head. "I want Wendy to say it!"
"Say what?"
Nichole glares at me. "I've suspected it for so long. Kyle and I see the way he talks to you and treats you. I can also see that you're terrified of him." I look away.
"Wendy?" I look at Heidi. "Is Stan hitting you?"
I look down. "I wish you guys would let this go."
"Wendy, I'm your best friend." Bebe states. "Please tell me this isn't true. I mean I know Stan has a temper, but I can't imagine him putting his hands on you. Say it's not true."
I shake my head and look at them teary eyed. I can't hide it anymore. "I wish I could, but I can't keep denying this…"
"How long has this been going on?" Nichole asks.
I burst into tears. "Since we got married. Once we got married, he became a different person. I was pregnant at the time and the first time he hit me was our wedding night. He said he wasn't ready to be a father and he punched me and pushed me down a flight of stairs. I lost the baby because of that. All of my miscarriages happened because of violence. He was abusive when I was pregnant with Aiden because he managed to convince himself that I cheated and someone else was the father. The night I went into labor, he body slammed me and kicked me in the stomach several times. He wanted me to lose Aiden because he didn't want me having "someone else's" baby. That's why Aiden was born early. The DNA test proved Stan was the father, but the abuse didn't stop. He started drinking more and getting angry over the smallest things. Sometimes I feel like I can't say or do anything right without triggering him…" I continue sobbing. It's hard for me to finish.
"It's ok Wendy, you don't have to say anything else." I nod and wipe my eyes.
Bebe hugs me. "We're here for you, you know that right?"
I nod and look at Heidi. "I'm so sorry. I know this was supposed to be a celebration for you. I didn't want it to turn into this."
"It's ok. This is more important. We can celebrate anytime." Heidi smiles. I can't believe how nice she's being. I ruined her party. I feel so guilty.
"You need to get out of there!" Nichole tells me.
"I don't have anywhere to go." I tell her.
"You can stay with me! You and Aiden, I would feel better knowing the two of you are safe and sound."
I shake my head. "Stan would be able to find me there."
"Then I guess staying with me would be out of the question." Bebe adds in.
I nod. "That would be the first place he looks."
"You can stay with Eric and me!" Heidi offers. I look at her in shock. "We have two extra bedrooms so you and Aiden could have your own rooms."
I notice Nichole and Bebe exchange looks. "Maybe a hotel would be a better idea until we can come up with a solution." Nichole suggests.
"Nonsense! Like I said, they can stay with Eric and me."
"Are you sure Cartman will be ok with that?" Bebe asks her.
"When I tell him the situation he will."
Heidi puts her arm around me. "So it's settled, you and Aiden will stay at my place."
"Umm…thanks…" I'm feeling a little uneasy about this.
"Are you ok?"
I nod. "I'm worried about my dog. I don't want her to think Aiden and I abandoned her. She's scared of Stan."
"We can get her when Stan leaves for work." Heidi smiles. It's not going to be as easy as she makes it sound.
"I couldn't ask you guys to take in a pet too."
"Are you kidding? Eric and I love animals! We have pets of our own. We'll just have to put the cats up while you guys are there."
I look at Nichole and Bebe, then back at Heidi and nod. "We'll stay." I force myself to smile.
"Great! I'm going to step outside and let Eric know what's going on." She walks off.
I sit down. "What did I just agree to?"
Nichole and Bebe sit down as well. "It's for the best Wendy." Nichole tells me gently. "You need to get away from Stan."
"I'm really worried about you living under the same roof as Cartman. What if your old feelings come back?" Bebe asks.
"I'm not into Cartman at all. My heart belongs to Stan."
"But he's an abusive asshole! Cartman and Heidi are happy, don't mess up what they have. Especially since Heidi is doing you a huge favor!"
"BEBE! I'm not going to ruin anything. I'm not into Cartman, no feelings, nothing!"
"So you say…"
"I do." I sigh heavily. "I hope I'm doing the right thing. Stan is going to be pissed! It's like I'm keeping his son from him."
"You're keeping his son safe and you as well." Nichole reminds me.
I give Aiden a kiss. "He's going to wonder why his daddy isn't around."
"It's better to have him wondering that than to see you getting the crap kicked out of you. It's only a matter of time before he starts hitting Aiden."
"You're right..."
"I can't believe you kept this from us for so long!" Bebe states. "We could've gotten you out of there sooner."
"I couldn't. I was scared. Scared he might kill me if I told."
"You don't have to be afraid anymore." Nichole smiles just as Heidi walks in.
"I spoke to Eric and he's totally cool with you staying with us. He even said you can get your dog."
I hug her. "Thank you so much! I promise I'll make this up to you."
"Don't worry about it." She looks at Aiden. "Are you ready to go to your home buddy?" She asks him and he only stares at her.
"He doesn't talk…" I inform her.
"Oh, well maybe we can work on changing that." She smiles. "Let's get you guys home and settled." We say our goodbyes to Nicole and Bebe and head out. I can't believe it, I'm leaving Stan. Leaving all the abuse behind. This is a fresh start for Aiden and me, now all I have to do is get Ginger.
