Apparently, Nick had taken an earlier flight and would be home later today. He had said that he was going to come home so that he could 'work' on our relationship. And well they didn't need him for anything else.
I was putting the finishing touches to dinner. I had bought a new cookbook and I wanted to try a few recipes. I had time and thought why not.
Zeus was curled up on the couch in the sitting room. Buster ran towards the door snarling and barking as the door began to open. I walked towards the door to see Nick walk in and get attacked by Buster.
'Woah! Calm down, buddy. Buster! Down!' said Nick as he closed the door behind him.
Buster was jumping at his legs bark at him aggressively. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zeus walk in to the hallway and towards Nick. He sniffed at Nick and walked away lazily.
'Buster no! Get down!' I said pulling the dog away from Nick and taking him in to my arms.
'Daddy! You're home' shrieked Nate running full speed at his father. Flinging himself at him and wrapped his arms around Nick's legs.
'I am home, Champ. I missed you too' chuckled Nick throwing him in to the air before hugging and kissing Nate's forehead.
'Daddy come play with me and Buster. He loves playing catch with me' gushed Nate as he wrapped his arms around Nick's neck.
'I will, kiddo. I just got home let me have a quick shower and then after dinner we'll play with Buster' said Nick as he walked over to me.
'And Buster loves to play tug as well, right Momma' said Nate looking over at me and Buster.
'Yes, he does buddy but after dinner, okay? When we take them for a walk' I told Nate as I let the now calm Buster down.
'Hey babe, I missed you' said Nick leaning over Nate to peck me on the lips.
'How was your flight?' I asked him walking back in to the kitchen to check on the banoffee pie in the oven.
'Ah it was alright. Just need a shower to loosen up a bit. Legs are a bit cramped from sitting for 8 hours' said Nick as he followed me in to the kitchen after letting Nate down.
'Yeah go shower and then dinner will be ready soon' I told him after checking on the pie.
'God, I missed you. It was so strange having to sleep without you by my side. We should go on holiday. Just the two of us. We can leave Nate with Ma and go away' said Nick hugging me from behind.
'Maybe. But Nate's about to start kindergarten so it will have to wait' I said shrugging.
'hmmm we can go away for a long weekend for our wedding anniversary. To Cabo. Where I'm pretty sure where Nate was conceived' teased Nick kissing the side of my head.
'Yeah, maybe. We'll talk about it later. Go shower' I said pushing him away from me.
'You ready to go to Kindergarten, champ?' asked Nick as we sat down for dinner after Nick showered.
'I'm so excited. I'm going to tell my teacher all about Buster. And Zeus too. And I'm going to make so many friends' gushed Nate.
I had put food for Buster and Zeus to eat. Zeus would eat his food delicately and take his time. Whereas Buster would eat all his as quickly as his little mouth could eat. Sometimes I would worry that the little pup wasn't breathing as he scarfed his food down.
'That's great, Bud. How have the dogs been? Are you coping with two dogs and Nate fine?' asked Nick looking over at me.
'It's only been two days, Nick. But we've been fine. And I'm coping fine' I mumbled taking a sip of my red wine.
'That's good. Consider it practice for any more children we have' said Nick smiling.
'Don't. Nick don't you've just got home please don't start' I pleaded finishing my wine off.
'Why not? I thought we were trying for more children. I thought you wanted a big family. Nate DON'T feed Buster from your plate. He has had his food. You eat yours' said Nick whiles looking at me.
Nate looked startled that his father had caught him sneaking food from his plate to Buster when he wasn't even looking at him. He pulled his hand away from Buster as he whined at the loss of more food.
'We'll talk about this later, Nick. Preferably when Nate's not in the room' I said softly filling my wine glass up again. I didn't want this conversation in front of Nate. He was too young to hear about it. Not only that but also, I knew it was about to get ugly. Nick would find something to grumble over. And before long it would turn in to a screaming match.
'Why not when it has everything to do with his future, Tay? Nate, would you like a little brother or sister?' asked Nick with a smile on his face.
'Nick… Don't… please' I pleaded with him.
'Yes… I would love a baby brother or sister. I would love them. And I would get to play with them… and momma they can sleep with me at night. And I would look after them. Can I have a baby brother or sister, momma? Please' babbled Nate innocently smiling happily.
'Yeah baby. Maybe' I said giving him a half smile. I tried to stop the tears in my eyes from welling up at his innocence. He didn't understand half of what was going on and what he was asking of me.
The rest of dinner was quiet. I had lost my appetite after what happened and sat sipping my wine. As if I would come up with the solutions to my problems. Nick ate his dinner watching me with a smug smile on his face. As Nate grinned happily munching away at his food. Zeus had come and sat at my side knowing that I was distressed. I rubbed his forehead and behind his ears.
'Momma! I'm finished. Can we go to the park now?' asked Nate jumping of his seat.
'Sure, baby go get your coat and some shoes. And make sure to get Zeus and Buster's leads' I told him.
Nate ran up the stairs calling the pups as he went. Buster raced up after him, but Zeus was a little reluctant but followed anyway.
'Why are you doing this to me Nick? Why would you ask Nate something like that? When you know I'm not ready for another child' I asked Nick after I put the dirty plates in the sink.
'You wanna know why, Tay? Do you?' hissed Nick pulling me to face him. He grabbed my legs and wrapped them around his waist trapping me against the sink.
'Stop it! Let go of me, Nick' I gasped trying to push at his shoulders. I wasn't even sure I knew what this stranger was capable of anymore. And after what had happened before I didn't want to risk it.
'I had Justin come up to me when I was at work. He was all up in my face. He was asking me about you. And what I had done to you. You haven't been picking up his calls and answering his texts. That he was going to kill me. Who gave him the right to ask about MY wife, Tay? Huh? You're my wife? Aren't you Taylor? Tell me' snarled Nick. I nodded my head frantically. Nick grabbed hold of my face with his thumb and index and middle finger as he rubbed his jean clad arouse against me. 'Words. Use your dam words, TAYOR!' sneered Nick rubbing his face against mine as if he was trying to mark me.
'Y-Yours. I…I'm your wife' I stuttered suddenly terrified of him.
'Yes! Your mine. MINE! You'll do well to remember that' snapped Nick possessively as he kissed me. It wasn't the one of his normal kisses. This kiss was full of lust, it was cruel and marked his ownership of me. I shrieked as Nick bit my lip hard enough to draw blood and he placed a few chaste kisses on my lips before letting me down.
I pushed away Nick to wipe away my tears as I stand on my trembling legs breathing shakily. Trying to process what had happened to the man I married. This man standing in front of me couldn't be him. This man was cruel, possessive, mean, demeaning, violent, aggressive and full of malice. The man I married was happy, loving, supporting, encouraging, devoted, adoring and warm. Everything this man wasn't.
'Don't go far, baby. And don't let Buster off his lead. You know what happens' I told Nate as he took Buster's lead from me. I let Zeus off his lead and he trotted off behind Nate and Buster.
'John was asking about you. He was wondering if you were going to fly down for this year's barbecue' asked Nick walking beside me.
'I don't know. Maybe, I'm not sure just yet. It depends on what's going on at the time' I told him keeping my eyes on Nate and the dogs.
'But you never miss the big bash' asked Nick looking at me as if I had grown another head.
'I'll speak to John. He's knows that Nate's going to be starting kindergarten. I don't want to take him over there at tire him out or get him over excited' I told him looking over at a young couple sitting under a tree near the duck pond.
They looked happy. Like Nick and I used to be. A long time ago. I couldn't remember a time where we didn't argue ever day anymore.
'Well I was thinking we should go together and then come back to drop Nate off at my parents. Then we can go to Cabo. We can spend a few days there. Just the two of us' said Nick.
'We'll see, Nick. I... I'm not sure if I want to leave Nate alone. I've never been more than twenty minutes away from Nate' I told him.
It was true. I'd never been away from Nate since he was born. Sure, he had stayed at his grandparents but never had I left him and gone to another city. Even when I went to see Nick at work I always took him with me. Someone would always volunteer to look after him for me if I had to leave the hotel room with Nick.
'He'll be fine, Tay. He's stayed at my parents before. He'll have Ma to watch over him and he has Patchy to keep him occupied' said Nick as he took my hand. 'Look, I think we can use this time to work some issues out'.
'Okay, just let me think about it and I'll let you know' I told him knowing that I didn't have the energy to argue with him anymore. I could get him off my back by saying that I would think about it.
'Daddy! Daddy come play catch with us' shouted Nate as he let Buster off his leash.
'Nate! What did your mother tell you about letting Buster off his leash? Buster! Buster come back here!' yelled Nick as he ran after the dog that was rushing off in the opposite direction.
'I'm sorry, Momma. I wanted to play catch with him. I didn't mean for him to run away' said Nate as he came over to me with the empty leash.
'It's okay, baby. Your father will get him back. But don't do it again'. I told him as I squatted next to him.
Nate hugged me as we watched Nick sprint after Buster. Buster enjoying the chase, yipped and wagged his tail running even faster. 'I'm pretty sure your father will catch him, sometime today' I giggled as I watched him chase after the pup without avail.
After a while of chasing Buster, Nick finally caught the wayward puppy and bought him back. And by Nick, I mean Zeus finally had enough and ran over to Buster and held him down till Nick caught him.
Nate and Nick played catch with both the dogs. Nick and Zeus keeping a close eye on the boisterous puppy, in case he made a mad dash for freedom again.
Before I knew it, it was time to go home. I was dreading being back in the same room as Nick. I wasn't sure what to think about his mood swings anymore. One minute he was sweet and loving and in the other he was violent and mean. He was so unpredictable.
Nick took Buster off Nate whilst we walked home. Nate had whined and pouted for a while, so I gave Zeus to him. That had bought a smile on to his face.
I made sure that Nate and Buster were ready for bed. They would run around the house, wild. But I made sure that they would get in to bed without complaining. With Nick home, I didn't know how he would react.
'You have to stay in bed. I don't want you to be silly tonight, Nate. Your father is tired, and I don't want you to keep him awake. Okay.' I told Nate.
'Okay, Momma. I won't stay awake because I have to play with Buster and Daddy in the morning' said Nate.
'Right. Zeus will be staying in your room with the both of you today' I told him as Zeus made himself comfortable on the bed at the foot of Nate's bed. And Buster was sprawled out next to Nate in the bed.
'Good night, Momma. I love you. Good night Buster. Good night Zeus' says Nate as I tuck him in to bed.
'Good night, baby. Good night Buster. Good night Zeus. Make sure the two trouble makers don't do anything silly' I mock whisper to Zeus as I leave the room.
I make my way to my room I hear the faint laughter of my son and the excited yipping off Buster. I roll my eyes hoping that they stay out of trouble. Especially with the ticking time bomb that my husband was.
'Nate asleep yet?' Asked Nick walking in our bedroom from the bathroom, ready for bed.
'Yeah, I've tucked him and Buster in. I've let Zeus stay there to keep they from getting in to too much trouble' I say as I walk towards the bathroom.
'I told John that we would fly out for the barbecue. Hopefully I'll be able to book the flights for Friday' says Nick as I join him in bed.
'I didn't say that I wanted to go Nick. I said I would think about it. As much as I would love to see everyone I have to think about Nate. And what about the dogs? We've made no preparations' I said to him.
I was annoyed that he didn't even ask me before calling John. As much as I wanted to go. It was no longer just the two of us. We had other responsibilities.
'The dogs can stay at my parents. And Nate will be excited to see his uncles and cousins. You know how much he loves it there' explains Nick as if it was so simple.
'Right! Okay, it sounds like you've got it all sorted' I say pulling the blankets over me.
'I've spoken to my parents. They'll watch over the dogs. And then we'll come back after a day or two we will drop Nate off at their house. Then catch a flight out to Cabo just the two of us' said Nick.
'Nick, I don't want to leave Nate on his own whilst we go on vacation. I don't want him to feel left out. We should at least take him with us. A family vacation' I say to Nick. As long as Nate is with us then it wouldn't give Nick a chance to be near me. I would use Nate as an excuse to keep my distance from Nick.
'Nate will be with us at the barbecue. And the vacation to Cabo is for our anniversary' says Nick putting his phone down.
'But I don't want Nate to be left out. I think he should come with us…' I try to convince Nick.
'No! Just the two of us will go to Cabo. And if you want a family vacation, well then, we'll go somewhere soon. But Nate is not coming to Cabo with us' interrupts Nick.
'Nick… you know what he's like. Nate will be upset that he's being left. And if we don't go now, he'll miss the start of kindergarten plus…' I start to say.
'I said no. He's not coming with us. We can go afterwards. I just want the two of us together. Alone' says Nick reaching out and holding my hand.
'Okay if that's what you want. Good night' I say to him pulling my hand away and laying down. I lean over and turn my bedside light off. I would try to convince him again some other time, if I pestered him too much he would start to suspect something was amiss.