*Next morning*

"Are you sure he didn't hurt you?" I ask, for what has to be the hundredth time.

"Yes Jolene I'm sure. I promise. I would tell you."

Ever since Richard made me go into the bedroom so he could talk to him my stomach has been in knots. I couldn't live with myself if Richard did something to him. It'd be my fault. Norman may have done terrible things, but he doesn't mean any harm.

"I just don't want you to get hurt. I care about you Norman."

He smiles at me and I fill his glass up with more milk.

The bedroom door opens and I start to fix Richard a plate, but put it back and sit down.

He goes to sit at the table and then stops, noticing he has no plate. "You didn't fix my plate, Jo?"

I shake my head. "You're grown, you can do it yourself."

He scoffs and rolls his eyes, scooping out some eggs.

"I have to go out of town tonight to meet with clients tomorrow, so I'll be driving into Los Angeles and staying at a hotel tonight." He says.

"Oh really? New hotel or same as usual?"

He takes a bite of his food. "Same as usual."

Norman just stares at his food, probably not wanting to make eye contact with him.

We all three finish eating and Richard stands up, slinging his coat on. "Alright, time for me to go." He leans down to kiss my cheek. His lips come to my ear and he whispers "You know where the knives are in case you need them."

I give him a look and he smiles, turning out the back door.

*Mid day*

The doorbell rings and I lean around the doorway to see that it's someone from the post office. Since I'm not really sure about Norman going in to a store, and he needs toiletries, I ordered them from a local shop catalog.

I grab the package and haul it into the living room.

"Here you go." I plop it on to the couch next to him.

"Is this my stuff?"

I nod. "Let me grab a knife to open it."

I grab a random knife out of the block, going back into the living room and slicing the box open.

"Here you go. Everything you should need." I toss the knife down on the coffee table.

He glances at it quickly before looking down in the box at everything. "Oh, wow, Jolene! This really is everything I need." He holds up a toothbrush and a razor.

I smile, pulling a few more things out.

He grabs three packs of underwear and blushes, putting them behind them on the sofa which I find adorable.

Norman is probably one of the only people in the world who has killed multiple, but gets embarrassed when a girl sees his underwear.

We spend a few minutes taking everything out of the packaging, then he grabs all of it and leaves to go put everything away upstairs.

I fall back on to the couch, sighing. The past few days have been oddly relaxing.

Sure, I allowed a serial killer into my home, but my fiancé hasn't been home. That's always a plus.

Sure, the only family I have cut ties with me, but it feels like a major weight was lifted off of my chest if I'm being honest.

And sure, anyone else probably thinks I'm absolutely insane, but that's just a chance I'm willing to take. It's about time I was able to make decisions for myself.

Norman is taking quite a while up there. Probably shaving. I grab a quilt off of the back of the sofa and close my eyes, drifting off to sleep.

The sound of Norman talking fills my ears, and I open my eyes, looking around.

He jumps when he notices me, his face turning red.

"Norman, were you talking to someone?"

"Uh- I, um, you must've dreamed it." He stammers.

He's lying, but I'll just let it be.

"What time is it?"

"It's a quarter past nine."

"Mm, ok. I should probably call Richard at his hotel. I usually do when he goes away."

He nods as I get up, going in to the kitchen and dialing the number of Richard's hotel. He always stays at the same one, so I have it memorized.

"Hello?"

"Hi, could I speak to one of your guests?"

"Name, please?"

"Richard Foxworth."

"One moment please."

The receptionist puts the phone down and I wait patiently until I hear a click.

"Hello?" I'm surprised to hear a woman's voice.

"Is Richard Foxworth there?" I silently pray this isn't what I hope it is.

"Yes, he's in the shower at the moment."

"Who is this?"

"Nancy James, his girlfriend." She giggles.

My heart immediately begins pounding and my stomach starts to churn.

"Hello?"

"When Richard gets out could you tell him Jolene called?" I ask.

"Of course!" She enthuses.

"Thanks." I mumble, slamming the phone down and dragging myself down the hall to my bedroom.

/

Thank you again for your review, and for bearing with me no matter how boring.

Also, maybe Norman's middle name is Norman. ;)