Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter! Thank you so much for all your reviews last chapter, you guys are so sweet. :) Thank you to all my guest reviewers, sorry I can't reply to you because that's how it's set up but thank you all the same! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless.
-Vegter999
Chapter 4
Ruth's POV:
The two men stared each other down for a moment. Magnus nervously cleared his throat.
"I was afraid if I gave my name you wouldn't see me..."
"Your damn right I won't see you! Now get the hell out of my office!" Erik yelled.
I took a step back, startled and growing increasingly uncomfortable at the tension that was filling the room. I had never heard Erik speak like that before.
"Erik please if you would just listen..."
"No I will not listen to you!" Erik shoved past Magnus and yelled into the hallway: "Security!"
The two security guards Arn and Lars came down the hallway.
"Is there a problem sir?" Arn asked.
"Yes see that this man" Erik gestured to Magnus "is escorted out of the building and never let back in here again."
"Yes sir" Arn replied.
Arn indicated with his head towards the door while looking at Magnus.
Magnus turned to Erik one last time.
"Erik..."
"I said GET OUT!"
Arn and Lars each took one of Magnus's arms and escorted him from the room. Erik slammed the office door shut after they had exited the room and leant his head against the door, taking several deep breaths.
Finally, he looked at me and his eyes softened.
He stepped toward me and pulled me to him.
"I'm sorry you had to see that love. I know yelling startles you and I apologize."
"I understand. It must've been a great shock for you to see him after all these years plus it's understandable that you would be angry with him."
"Still I should've taken it to where you didn't have to see before I lost my temper. Can you forgive me?" he asked, gently.
I smiled at him and placed a hand on his cheek.
"Of course."
He then kissed me gently and then pulled me to his chest, placing his hand on my head as I listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart.
When he released me I grinned and said "We should get home."
He nodded and kissed my forehead.
"Let's get out of here." He quickly packed his briefcase and we made our way out of the office, holding hands like we had when we had come in.
Edith waved goodbye to us and we got in the car. I was anxious to get home and check on the kids, especially Annalise. I began tapping my foot as impatience filled me.
"You know you tapping your foot like that is not gonna get us there any faster" Erik remarked.
I sighed.
"Sorry. I just really hope the kids are being good for Naomi and that Annalise isn't having too much trouble."
"Naomi has proven herself quite capable of handling the kids on more than one occasion."
"You're right."
"I always am."
I shoved him playfully on the shoulder.
"Hey no distracting the driver!" he giggled playfully.
After what seemed an eternity we pulled up to the house. Erik and I had just gotten out of the car when the door opened and little Annalise came scrambling out of the house.
"Mommy!" she cried, racing towards me as fast her little legs could carry her.
I swooped her up into my arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey sweetheart how was your day?"
"Good."
Erik came up to us and her eyes lit up at the sight of him.
"Pappa!" she reached for him.
He grinned affectionately and took her into his arms.
"And how is my little princess?"
"Pappa throw me!" she cried excitedly.
Erik stepped back a few paces from me and then tossed Annalise up into the air before catching her again, making her shriek with laughter.
"Again!" she clapped her hands.
"Alright one more time princess and then Pappa has to rest."
After he had thrown Annalise a second time, he carried her in his arms inside the house and I quickly followed. Maryam, Jakob, and Katarina were busy sitting in front of the television while Naomi was watching them from the kitchen, while preparing something that smelled absolutely divine.
"Mother" I grinned at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek while Erik sat down at the kitchen table.
"How was work?" she inquired.
"It was...interesting" I said, glancing at Erik.
"What's that your cooking Naomi? Smells heavenly" Erik quickly changed the subject. If Naomi noticed his tactic she didn't say anything.
"It's home made beef stew. It was one of my mothers favorite recipes. I figured you and the kids would like it."
"Sounds perfect. I'm starved."
"Anything I can do to help?" I asked.
"Sure. If you wouldn't mind chopping up the carrots that would be great" Naomi said.
As we finished preparing the stew Katarina came into the kitchen.
She watched Naomi and I cutting the vegetables and slowly adding them to the stew.
"Mommy can I help?" she asked.
"Of course sweetie. Why don't you pour that bowl of carrots into the stew. But be careful, it's hot." Katarina carried the bowl of chopped up carrots to where Naomi stood stirring the brown liquid. Katarina took the step stool and placed it beside Naomi and climbed on top of it in order for her small frame to reach the pot.
"That's right sweetheart, just slowly pour them in" Naomi directed patiently as Katarina slowly turned the bowl over until all the carrot pieces had been emptied out.
"Good job" Naomi ruffled her hair when she was all done.
While we were busy Erik had headed upstairs and now came down dressed more casually in jeans and a long sleeved shirt instead of his suit.
When the meal was ready the rest of the kids scrambled to the table and Erik, Naomi, and I each took our places at it as well.
After we said grace the children dug into their meal along with Naomi.
I glanced across the table to see Erik staring into his bowl and pushing his spoon around absent- mindedly.
He remained unusually quiet throughout the meal and Naomi soon noticed his demeanor as well.
She cast a worried glance at him and then at me.
'I'll tell you later' I mouthed.
She nodded and went back to chowing down on her meal.
I proceeded to do the same and felt better as the stew warmed me, though Erik's obvious distractedness still worried me.
When all of us were done and the dishes were cleared away, I pulled him to the side.
"Let's take Sarie and we can go to our special place and talk."
"Ruth..."
"Please, you've not been yourself tonight" I moved a piece of hair out of his eye.
He sighed.
"Alright."
I made my way over to Naomi and said quietly "Would you mind watching the kids again? Erik and I need to get away and talk."
Naomi's eyebrows knit together in concern.
"Of course. Is everything alright?"
"I'll explain later I promise."
She squeezed my hand.
"Alright. I'll watch them for as long as you need."
"Thanks Mother" I embraced her in a warm hug.
I then turned and made my way to the door. Erik was there waiting for me and he had already slipped on his coat and boots.
I pulled on my riding boots and Erik held my coat out for me as I slipped my arms through the sleeves and then let go as I pulled the zipper up.
We made our way to the barn and I pushed open the door. Sarie poked his head out of his stall and nickered at me as I patted his nose.
"Hey old friend, you think you can carry two today?"
Sarie bumped his head against me and I couldn't help but giggle.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I led him out of his stall and quickly saddled him. When I had led him out of the barn I mounted first and then Erik got on behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Ready?" I asked him, glancing over my shoulder.
He only nodded.
I clucked to Sarie and urged him into a steady canter, the sound of his hoofbeats pounding upon the snow and the steady cadence of his breathing filling my ears.
When I neared our destination I slowed Sarie to a walk and then pulled him to a stop.
The place we had come to was a small stream, with trees lining the bank. In the summer the area would be dotted with wildflowers but now the ground was blanketed with snow. Yet it still remained a lovely spot. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks was soothing to the ear and the trees that had not lost their needles that lined the bank made the scene picturesque.
Erik and I had been told about this place by Naomi shortly after we'd moved onto the property and many times when we needed to have a serious discussion we would take Sarie and ride out here to be alone.
I let Erik dismount first and he slid off the horse with a grunt. I then kicked my feet out of the stirrups and dismounted myself.
I pulled the reins over Sarie's head and led him to the stream, where he eagerly began gulping down the water.
I glanced over at Erik, who was standing next to me.
He was gazing off into the distance, his eyes taking on a somewhat glassy look.
I placed my hand on his shoulder and he glanced over at me, displaying a smile but it was obvious it was fake and half-hearted.
"Let's sit down" I almost whispered.
I tugged on Sarie's reigns and led him towards the trees. Erik and I sat down against the thick trunk of one of the Oaks and I held the end of Sarie's reigns as he nuzzled his nose into the snow to nip at the grass that was underneath.
I placed my head on Erik's shoulder and he silently wrapped an arm around my waist, kissing the top of my head. We sat in silence for several moments, each lost in our own thoughts.
"We need to talk about it Erik" I finally said.
"I want to Ruth, I just don't know how."
"It must've brought back a lot of bad memories for you."
"I hoped never to see his face ever again" he picked up a small stone and lightly chucked into the stream with his free hand.
"Why do you think he's decided to come back now?"
Erik shrugged.
"Who knows. Maybe it's to cause more trouble like he usually does. Either way I'm not speaking to him."
He gazed at me seriously.
"I won't let him hurt you or the kids the way he hurt Torsten and I."
"I know you won't but Erik don't you think there's at least the possibility that he's come back to make amends? I saw the way he was at the office. He was practically pleading to speak with you."
"Ruth you don't know him like I do. He's proven not once but twice that he can't be trusted. No, he's probably come back just to make my life miserable again."
I sighed but let the matter drop for now.
"We should go love. It's starting to get dark" he said.
I nodded and Erik helped me off the ground. We then both mounted Sarie and cantered back towards the house.
Hey guys I hope I did this chapter ok. Please REVIEW and let me know what you think. God Bless.
