Chapter 51:

Janet prayed for a peaceful and restful nights sleep but that did not happen. She could not sleep at all. Oddly enough Aiden was sleeping more peacefully then usual. She tossed and turned and couldn't get the visual of Eddie hugging Rory out of her head. She kept thinking, "I went in there to see what was going on and didn't just assume what was happening…why did he yell at me as if I was interrupting them or something…all I wanted was to try and get back to where we were…like the day we had Aiden and he gave me that beautiful ring and told me how much he loved me…I know that I have been unhappy lately and maybe not so nice but I am sooo tired and Aiden is so fussy…I just couldn't do it all…maybe he was turning to her for comfort but why was he so angry with me when I came in…why didn't he even try and find me after I left? Is it too late for us? What am I going to do if it is?" Janet's mind just would not turn off.

She reached for her purse and was looking for her cell phone when she remembered that she had left it on the table and didn't go back and get it thinking that it would just be a distraction for her and Eddie. "Well I guess I will have to find some other way."

Then she stopped and thought, "Who am I going to call? Eddie is probably at BFW's and Hannah doesn't know that I left…" she thought. She sat up in the beautiful bed that she was laying in and stared at Aiden sleeping so peacefully.

She thought, "this was not how I pictured my life going…having a child was suppose to bring us closer together not further apart…I love him but what if that isn't enough for him…we haven't even touched each other for so much as a kiss since we got home…Lord I wish you could just tell me what to do." Tears began to fall from her eyes.

Back in the Ridge, Eddie and Hannah sat on the couch having exhausted any one they thought would know where she went. They didn't call her grandparents yet because they didn't want them to worry if she wasn't there. Eddie sat there thinking about the money she took…"what was she thinking? Why did she leave just like that without packing or planning or telling anyone, not even Hannah? Was she really that upset by seeing Rory and I hugging…really it wasn't like I was kissing her or anything?" suddenly Hannah spoke bringing him out of his thoughts…

"so tell me what exactly happened in the office Eddie, she would not have taken off if it wasn't anything?" Hannah was looking intently at him

"Rory stopped by and said that she was working in the area and just wanted to say hi. She offered a hug and I went to hug her and I guess it felt nice to get a hug, Janet hasn't exactly been very affectionate lately since Aiden came home…perhaps I lingered too long who knows the next thing I knew she walked in and asked what was going on as if we were doing something wrong and I said "we're just old friends hugging whats the big deal and she said 'well I'll just leave you two alone then' and rushed out the door…" Eddie said still trying to figure it out.

"so you went after her and what happened then?" Hannah asked

"ahhh, no I didn't go after her, I stopped and Rory asked me what that was about and I kind unloaded on her all the stuff that I had been thinking about. I guess I didn't realize that we had been there so long and when we were done talking I realized what I needed to do and went to find her and that's when I got home and she was gone…all that I have is her cell phone which was on the kitchen table…I don't even know why she dropped by?" he said.

"Are you kidding me right now Eddie? You didn't go after her and you are wondering now why she is gone? Geez, you are such a man. Eddie she came there to spend some time with you and try to reconnect since she had been feeling like the two of you were growing distant and she wanted to work on that, I offered to take Aiden over night so the two of you could…well you know I shouldn't have to spell it out for you…" she said rolling her eyes upwards.

"Eddie, how could you just let her go after practically making her feel like the odd one there and not Rory…Janet is your WIFE…she should have been the one you hugged not Rory…Why do you keep doing this when that woman comes to town?" Hannah exasperated.

Eddie sat there and was thinking about what Hannah just said and she was right. He was harsh towards Janet and she should have been the one he was hugging…"ahhh Geez, Eddie brilliant you did it AGAIN!" he thought

"Well what am I going to do now Hannah I need to talk to her and every time she gets upset she runs…what is with that?" he said irritatedly.

"I don't know that there is much we can do except wait and hope she calls one of us and find out where she is…give her what she needs…obviously she has a lot on her mind and maybe she just needs some space. At least this time she did confront you and not disappear like last time but seriously Eddie you and Rory – that friendship needs to be dead and buried already…how many times are you going to let this woman come in between you and Janet?" she asked

"Why does she need to come in between me and Janet Hannah, I don't love Rory I love Janet why does she not get that?" he said disappointed.

"When was the last time she heard you say that Eddie or felt it from you…I understand where you two are at believe when Sam was a baby it was a challenge but I didn't have anyone else to depend on but you both do…why did you wait for Janet to comfort you or give you those things…you could have told her all this stuff before and maybe we wouldn't be sitting here." Hannah said getting up to go to the kitchen for more coffee.

"I know your right Hannah this isn't all her fault but seriously taking off on a whim with my son, without her cell phone and taking out $2000 I mean really where is she going to Disneyworld with that kind of cash…I just can't keep running after her all the time…" Eddie said sadly.

Hannah turned around and looked at him, "Eddie what are you saying? Are you giving up on Janet and your son because if you are you had better think long and hard – this is not the Eddie that I remember who was planning on spending the rest of his life alone…Is Janet right are you involved with someone else, Rory?" she felt strange even saying the words but the vibe coming from Eddie was giving her the same feeling that Janet was talking about earlier.

"No Hannah I am not involved with anyone especially Rory I just don't see why I have to be mean to her to make all you women happy. I am saying that it is frustrating having to "find her" all the time when she gets upset and now she has taking my son with her…is this going to happen every time we have a fight?" Eddie was exhausted and just hurt.

Hannah sat down next to him and placed her hand on his arm, "Eddie did it ever occur to you that the reason she leaves like this is that she can't bear being without you and it is her way of coping just like yours is to turn to an old friend at all the wrong moments." She said calmly.

Eddie thought "well she did have a point there but I don't like feeling helpless and right now I feel completely helpless.".

"You know what there is nothing we can do tonight…I will call her grandparents tomorrow and say hi and see if she is there in a casual way but something tells me she is not…she has found some freakin spot that we don't know of and she'll stay I guess until she is ready for whatever…" he said throwing his hands up in the air as if defeated.

"If she calls me I will let you know but try and get some sleep ok…I know Janet and she will contact somebody, eventually." With that Hannah went into the kitchen.

Eddie left the house and got into his truck. He looked down at the steering wheel and just could not believe how this day turned out. He collected himself and drove off towards his home.

Janet finally fell asleep and was woken up by Aiden's cries for food. She got up and scooped up her adorable little boy and fed him breakfast. Luckily she traveled always with much of his things like a play pen and bouncy seat and lots of extra diapers and formula in the event that she needed it so he had all the comforts of home. She on the other hand didn't so she knew shopping was in her future.

She put Aiden in his bouncy seat and put him in the bathroom on the floor so she could shower. Somehow he seemed so much more at ease here and he hadn't cried much at all. She wondered why that was but to be honest even though she made this last minute decision she felt more relaxed too…maybe it was because she didn't have to feel awkward or pressured to be happy and energetic for Eddie. That sounded so silly when she thought it but it was somewhat true. He always appeared as if he was disappointed in her and she felt as though he were avoiding contact with her because of it. It seemed to be so far from the Eddie she fell in love with but apparently the stress of having a fussy baby was changing them both. She finished up her shower and when she walked through the curtain Aiden smiled and giggled. It was so nice to have a happy baby instead of the crying…she thought "maybe I'll stay longer than I had planned."

She put on the clothes she came in and changed Aiden. They headed out of the bed and breakfast and drove to some shops that Janet had seen when driving in. They spent several hours walking around, mostly Janet as Aiden was nicely strapped in his stroller. She bought several outfits and some pajama's. It was a great shopping day where everything not only fit but looked pretty good…something that very rarely happened to her. Janet stopped at farmers markets and got some fun foods to munch on and keep in her room and they ate at this little sandwich shop along the beach. Janet felt so relaxed and happy yet she had this underlying fear in her stomach that her life was about to crumble before her eyes and she didn't have the faintest idea of what to do or where to go from here.