Chapter 9

Stephanie- I just got home from my outing I really hope Nick doesn't tell Rowan what goes on when he's here because if he does I'll beat him tell he can't see and move what Rowan and Chad don't know is I have been beating Nick ever since he's been coming over here and I told Nick if he told anyone I'd kill him

Chad comes home from work

Chad- Hi honey how was your day?

Stephanie- Good I saw Nick today

Chad- Oh really how's my boy?

Stephanie- Good did you know Rowan has a new man around your son?

Chad- Well honey Rowan and I have been divorced for a year now she is allowed to have another man in her life

Stephanie- But he's around Nick and that doesn't concern you that your son is around another man?

Chad- Nope Rowan is a great mother besides Nick is around you when he's here

Stephanie- (Whispers) Yeah but he's scared of me

Chad- What was that?

Stephanie- Nothing (I think to myself) If Chad knew what I do to Nick he'd divorce me for sure and have a restraining order against me

Meanwhile with Rowan and Peyton

Peyton- Rowan and I just took the boys to school. Rowan?

Rowan- Huh what?

Peyton- Are you ok? your awfully quiet

Rowan- Yeah I'm fine just thinking

Peyton- About what about why Nick is afraid of that Stephanie girl?

Rowan- Yeah I mean he's never been afraid of Stephanie before what the hell is going on in that house that I don't know about

Peyton- I don't know but you'll find out I'll be there if you want me too

Rowan- Yeah thanks I think Nick will open up more if your there with us

Peyton- I grab her hand then I'll be there

Rowan- Thanks Peyton you wanna come over to my house until we have to pick up the boys?

Peyton- No problem and yeah I'd love too

They make it back to Rowan's

Rowan- What do you want to do until we have to pick up the boys?

Peyton- Don't matter to me sit and talk and get to know each other

As they are sitting getting ready to talk Rowan's phone rings

Rowan- Oh I'm sorry hang on.

Answers her phone

Rowan- Hello?

Chad- Hey Rowan

Rowan- Chad what can I do for?

Chad- I was wondering if I can get Nick tonight?

Rowan- Well actually Nick and I have something planned tonight but tomorrow if Nick is feeling up to it

Chad- Oh well that's OK I'll talk to you tomorrow bye

Rowan- Bye

Hangs up

Rowan- Sorry about that

Peyton- It's alright so what do you want to know about me?

Rowan- This might be a sore subject and I'm sorry in advance but how long were you and your wife together before you had Ben?

Peyton- No it's fine Veronica and I we dated 5 years before we got married and had Ben then on December 30th 2014 Veronica was coming home from work and lost control of the car hit a tree paramedics got her to the hospital, the hospital called me and told me that Veronica in the hospital and it doesn't look to good I took Ben with me to the hospital he only thought his mommy was asleep and was waking up soon Ben and I spent days up at the hospital with veronica to get better but when the doctor came in and told me that it was only days we had with her I had to finally tell Ben the truth that mommy wasn't coming home with us and you can just imagine what it was like telling my son that his mother is never coming home he cried for weeks and weeks and he didn't want to sleep in his own bed so he slept with me I think it was just because his mother's side of the bed still smell like her and he needed that closeness with her still

Rowan- Oh wow I'm so sorry

Peyton- It's alright

Hours later they leave to pick up the boys

Peyton- Ben buddy ready to go home?

Ben- Yeah daddy

Rowan- Nick honey ready to go?

Nick- Yeah

Peyton Rowan- OK let's go

Nick- Mommy?

Rowan- Yeah honey?

Nick- I'm ready to tell you why I am afraid of Stephanie now

Rowan and Peyton look at each other

Rowan- Ok honey can you wait till we get home?

Nick- Yeah

They make it home and go in the house

Rowan- OK Nick honey tell mommy why your afraid of Stephanie

Nick- Because when I go over there and daddy isn't there Stephanie hits me when I don't do things she wants me to do

Rowan- What does she want you to do?

Nick- Well I have to do the dishes and if I don't do them right she hits me and screams at me and tells me that I'm a disgrace that I never should have been born I told her if she hit me one more time I'm telling Daddy and you but she told if I was to tell you or daddy she'd kill me mommy I can't get back there please don't make me go back there oh and I have to show you something

Nick shows Rowan the burn that Stephanie put under his arm

Rowan- Oh my god what the hell happen to your arm? does your daddy know about this?

Nick- Stephanie burnt my arm and no daddy doesn't know about this

Rowan- Well I'm calling him right now and telling him

Nick- No mommy don't please if you call daddy and tell daddy that Stephanie has been hurting me she will kill me I don't want to die mommy (crys)

Rowan- Honey I promise you nothing is going to happen to you I'm going to get to the bottom of this you are going to be fine if your father ever wants to see you he'll have to come over here to see you or I'll have to take you over there but I am not leaving you there with that vile woman. Now why didn't you take Ben and go play in your room well Peyton and I talk OK

Nick- Ok mommy come on Ben

The boys run off to Nick's room to play

Rowan- What the fuck I'm going to kill her, yep that's exactly what I'm going to do

Rowan heads for the door but Peyton stops her

Peyton- No Rowan Nick's life is at stake here you can't just go over there and start screaming at her I think you should call your ex-husband and get him over here now and explain to him nice and calmly with that woman has been doing to Nick and then you take it from there

Rowan- But he's my baby Peyton and that bitch is hurting him (crys)

Peyton- I know hey hey come here (pulls her into his arms) it's OK it's OK I got you

Peyton pulls away from Rowan kisses her

Rowan- Whoa

Peyton- Shit sorry Rowan-

Rowan cuts Peyton off by kissing him and they continue making out