Emma found the next few days exhausting. She wasn't cut out for
this nursemaid bit at all. Stanley was helpless. He couldn't go to the
toilet or dress himself. And the bath experience had been a fiasco. His
size and weight was too much for her, and he slipped at one point bashing
his already sore head against the porcelain. The cursing aimed at her was
upsetting and she ran out of the room in tears. Stanley wasn't very
successful in getting her back. His shouting and pleads were ignored and
he spent a half hour sitting in the bathtub. If it wasn't for Rachel's
unannounced visit, he might have been in there all morning.
The door was open and Rachel peered her head in, Scrap scurried over to her, and then she heard the shouting, "Emma, do you plan to leave me in here all day?"
Okay, that was Stanley. Sounded like it was coming from his bathroom, now where the hell was Emma. As Rachel headed into the hallway she now heard the distinct sounds of gagging, and quiet sobs, coming from the other bathroom. Rachel took a deep breath ready for the worst as she opened the bathroom door to find Emma on the floor leaning over the toilet, throwing up. Not a pretty sight.
Emma looked up at her and then felt the urge again and quickly put her head over the toilet.
"Morning sickness. Glad it's you and not me."
Emma gave her a dirty look, "Thanks."
The shouting down the hall continued, "Emma, I'm sorry. Please get me out of the bath. I didn't mean to lose my temper. It wasn't your fault."
"What did you do to him now?"
"I don't know what he expects, Rachel I can't lift him and he slipped when I tried to get him in the tub and he bashed his head."
Rachel couldn't help but laugh, picturing the sight in her head.
"It's not funny. I'm just not good at this, and I feel so sick."
"You haven't told him yet have you?"
She shook her head, ashamed. There was another shout from down the hall. "Emma, please."
Rachel looked down at her, "Are you going to go get him? Because I really doubt you want me to. Although, I must say, I wouldn't mind seeing him in the buff."
"Don't you even think about it." Emma got up, feeling a bit woozy she steadied herself leaning against Rachel.
"Maybe this would be a good time to tell him. I'm here and I can be your moral support."
"I'm not ready to tell him. I told you I have a lot of things to think about, stop pushing me, Rachel." She stormed off down the hall.
Upon entering the bathroom, she found Stanley slouched in the tub, looking very uncomfortable. He didn't look to happy, but he managed a smile.
"I thought you forgot about me."
"Rachel" she stammered, "she's here. And...."
He took hold of her hand, "I upset you, I know...you don't need to make up an excuse. It wasn't your fault." She put her head down and he could tell she was going to start crying again. "Don't' cry....I just need you to help me out of the tub. Do you want Rachel to help?"
"Of course not" she said adamantly, and he smiled.
"For your eyes only?" he teased and finally got a smile out of her. "Well, right now, I can say it's not much to look at. I feel like a prune."
"I'm sorry." She managed as she began to lift him out of the tub. It was no less of a struggle this time around, but Stanley did as much as he could. Somehow she got him onto the toilet seat so she could dry him off. The anger and frustration he had felt earlier was now gone as Emma preceded to dry him off.
Her touch gave him shivers. He missed their intimacy and it was a major reason for the frustration he felt. It seemed childish, he had to admit, but nonetheless it was there. Emma, on the other hand, tried to treat this task as if she was giving one of her own children a bath when they were little. It was the only way she could get through it. He didn't make it easy. His breathing always, seemed heavy and he would let out sighs when she touched him in certain areas. At least this morning, he seemed more exhausted and with his eyes closed, she didn't have to be the recipient of that penetration he was master of.
She was trying to get him to use a crutch, but it was awkward. And the trip from the bathroom to the bed, seemed like miles to his poor broken body. Emma stayed at his side coaxing him along, and if he needed any more support. He was glad to find the edge of the bed, and lowered himself onto it. "You'd think after this long, I'd be getting use to all the pain." Everyday he hoped he would feel better but it never seemed to be that way.
Just getting him changed into a clean t-shirt and boxers was a chore in in itself. Exhausting both of them, but Stanley still couldn't take his eyes off her gorgeous body in that tank top and shorts she had been wearing all morning. She got him settled in bed, pulling the sheet up over him when she caught that look again, "Stanley, stop looking at me that way."
"What way? I wasn't looking at you in any particular way." he chimed in innocently.
"I don't know how you could even possibly be thinking about...."
"Ah, it's you thinking about it."
"You're in a lot of pain." she tried ignoring his comment, but found she was blushing. Stanley was glad she was lightening up again. But it came and went so quickly.
"But my mind is functioning just fine. And I look at you, and I want you. This damn leg and my fucking back...they are keeping me from you. And it's bullshit." he said in frustration.
She smiled at him, "Patience. You have none." She leaned towards him gently kissing him on the cheek.
"So I'm suppose to close my eyes now. Because I need my rest." he said sarcastically.
"That's right." She stroked his face. "Because the sooner you get better, the sooner.."
"I can have my way with you?"
"Well, it's a possibility."
"Then scram, so I can rest, woman. Because I'll be damned if I'm keeping to that damn doctor's order- 4 week abstinence. What the hell was he thinking?"
She found him amusing, she gave him another kiss and then headed out for the door,
"I don't even get a real kiss anymore, what's that about?'
She turned to him, "Because you won't let it stop there."
"Try me."
"No, now close your eyes." She walked out of the room and Stanley let out a sigh as he relaxed onto the pillows. This was pure hell and he thought the hospital was bad. But being with Emma and wanting her desperately, and not being able to have her was pure torture.
It didn't take Stanley long to drift to sleep, exhausted from his bath. Rachel and Emma sat out in the living room to have a chat when the phone rang. It was Brent.
"Emma, I need to talk to Stan right away." there was urgency in his voice.
Emma immediately sat up straight, "Brent, what is it?"
"This is something I need to talk to Stan about."
"He's asleep, and I'm not going to wake him. If it's so important you can tell me."
"This doesn't concern you, Emma, it has to do with the shop."
"I thought I made it perfectly clear the other day, that there would be no shop talk while he's recuperating. You know, Stanley, he will find someway to get over there and nothing will stop him, if there's a problem. Then he'll just get worse. And besides,the shop is shut. Right now, everything to do with Stanley concerns me."
"Okay, okay, but Stan has to know about this. As soon as possible. The shop was broken into last night."
"What? Did you call the police."
"No. I thought Stan should know about it first."
"Brent, call the police. I'm on my way."
"Emma, listen to me, this wasn't some kid looking for drug money, or something he could sell off quickly. This was a professional job."
"Oh, my god, what did they take?"
"Nothing..as far as I can see, that's why it's so creepy. And that's why I haven't called the police."
Emma didn't understand. "Nothing was taken?"
"They didn't want the computers....the only thing they messed with was Stanley's locked drawer. And I don't know what he keeps in there, so I don't know if anything is missing or not."
"I'm on my way."
"I think you need to wake up Stanley."
She didn't listen and hung up on him. Rachel looked up at her, "What's going on?"
"The shop, was robbed, but it sounds weird. Do you mind staying with Stanley?"
"Sure, I'll stay."
"Keep your mouth shut, Rachel...about everything"
"Mum's the word, I promise. But don't you think he should know about the break in?"
"I will tell him."
Emma was met by Brent at the shop door, and they walked slowly to the back. "I just came back to pick up a few bits to repair my hardrive at home and I unlocked the door like normal, everything seemed kosher. Then I walked back here headed towards the work bench to get the tools I needed and that's when I felt something was different. And sure enough Stanley's top drawer was open. He always keeps it locked."
Emma walked over to the desk, staring at it, She thought about fingerprints but knew these people were exactly what Brent had said. Professionals. There would be no fingerprints. They were looking for something in particular as well, Emma couldn't help but notice the receipts piled in the drawer. Every single one, stamped paid in cash. Her curiosity had the best of her and she pulled them out.
"Emma, do you think you should be going through that stuff?"
She gave him the eye, "Do you know something I don't?"
He shook his head, "He's a private kind of guy. You should leave it."
"I think I have a right. I'm living with him." She almost said she was having his baby, but stopped before the words came out. "These are all paid with cash. Every single one of them."
"He told me he hates credit cards."
"The store can't be doing this good. He paid cash for the remodel ,Brent. 25,000 dollars."
Brent moved closer to her looking over her shoulder, curious. "so I take it you don't want me to call the police?"
She felt very confused, wondering what these people wanted with Stanley,and who were there. She shook her head, "No police."
"He has to know, Emma. Only Stan will know what was taken." She rummaged through the drawer, finding other items of interest. Specifically a card. The heading read simply Federal Bureau of Investigation. Below it, J.T. . Roberts Special Agent. Why would Stanley have any contact with someone working with the FBI. It didn't make any sense.
Emma felt a bout of nausea come over her and she swayed a bit , Brent caught her. "Are you okay?"
She ran her hand through her hair, and took a deep breath, regaining her composure, "What's going on,Brent? What is he keeping from me?"
"I don't think he's keeping something from you. I think he's keeping something from everyone. Don't take this personally. Go home and talk to him." She looked down at the card in her hand. Maybe this guy Roberts would have some answers. She looked at Brent.
"I need some answers and I don't think I'm going to find them here."
She didn't go home. She got on her cell phone and called the number on the card. It was an answering service explaining that they could relay the message to Agent Roberts. And he would get back to her as soon as possible. Emma hung up the phone and sat back in the seat, not knowing if she should go home or wait for the phone call.
* * * * *
* * *
Stanley woke up and called for Emma, when Rachel showed up at his door, he was more than a bit surprised. "Where's Emma?"
"She had to step out for a bit, I'm sure she'll be back soon. So you're stuck with me. Can I do anything for you...Emma said you might need help...like going to the bathroom."
This was uncomfortable, "I think I can hold off on that one til Emma gets back."
"Suit yourself. Anything to drink?"
"Maybe you could help me get to the desk...wanted to check my mail."
"I don't know, Stan...Emma said you were supposed to rest, stay in bed."
"Give me 5 minutes. It's not a big deal."
Rachel gave in and she managed to get him to the desk, without too much discomfort. She sat on the edge of the bed while he began to type, he was slow, with only one hand, and it pissed him off. His hand slipped in frustration and he began to curse, he felt Rachel's eyes glaring through his back and slowly turned towards her, "You can go. I don't need you." his words were sharp.
"You don't have to be so nasty." She stood up and gave him a dirty look. Then walked back out into the living room. Stanley heard the blare of some talk show, and turned his attention back to the keyboard.
Once into his email that hadn't been checked all week, he didn't seem to surprised to find a few very interesting letters Cryptic but he knew exactly who they were from.
Why are you messing with him, Stan. I thought you of all people would know better. Get him the disc, return the money and no one will get hurt.
He just stared at the message for what seemed like minutes. The disc? The Swordfish disc? What else could she be talking about. He hadn't seen that thing in ages. The shop, the last place he had seen it was the shop. He began to reach for the phone when he heard Emma's sharp command.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
"What does it look like I'm doing, I'm checking my email. It's not like I'm going out in the car or jogging along the beach. I'm taking it easy. Weren't those doctors orders?" He quickly closed his mail, as Emma approached him.
She couldn't help but notice how quickly he had closed his email. What was he hiding from her, and who was he getting ready to call? "Back to bed." She commanded and helped lift him out of the chair.
"This is ridiculous. You won't let me do anything It's been 4 days since I've been out of the hospital and you still act like the accident was yesterday." He sounded bitter. "and you didn't tell me you were going out? Where did you go?"
Rachel cleared her throat, and Emma turned to find her leaning against his doorway. She didn't want to lie, but didn't know what to say to him about the shop. "Groceries, I needed a few things for dinner tonight." Turning to Rachel, she motioned for her to leave. Rachel was reluctant. Anxious to hear Emma's story of the break in.
"Really?" He sounded skeptical.
Once settled in bed, he pulled on her forearm causing her to lose her balance and fall onto the bed next to him, Looking deep into her eyes seriously, he continued "Don't leave me with Rachel again."
Emma started to laugh, "did she try and get you to go to the bathroom."
He looked surprised she knew this.
"It's Rachel, I know how she thinks. She wants to make sure she's not missing something."
"And how about you, Em, are you missing something?" the sultry sound of his voice gave her shivers. She wanted to trust him, she wanted it to be like it was a few weeks ago, where nothing mattered. But it was harder now.
She quickly got up, "I have things to do. You need to rest." She headed towards the door.
"You are avoiding my question." She heard the faint ring of her cell phone, Rachel waltzed in, holding it up to her.
"Expecting a call, Emma?"
She grabbed the phone out of Rachel's hand and left the room, Rachel shrugged her shoulders as Stanley questioned her with his eyes.
Emma went out the back door, as she answered the call, "Ms. Heyward, It's Agent Roberts. My service said you called."
She paced the backyard and then realized Stanley could see her from his bed, out the window. She headed to the side of the yard where she was no longer in view. "Thanks for calling me back. I'm not sure why I called."
"How is Stanley?"
Emma had never mentioned Stanley to him in her message, and was surprised when he said his name.
"How did you know this was about Stanley?"
Roberts now knew this poor woman still had no clue what was going on, "You should talk to Stanley, Ms. Heyward."
"I called you because I'm not getting any answers here. What's going on? What connection do you have with him?" She realized her voice was raised.
"I think you should talk to Stanley, but I can meet you if you want, I'm in town."
"I'd like that. How about this afternoon, about 4pm, there's a coffee shop across from Stanley's shop."
"I know it. I'll be there. But Ms. Heyward you need to talk to him. The sooner the better, I'm afraid."
Rachel came out the back door as she hung up, "My god, Emma, you have lover boy in there in a right state. What's all the secrecy?"
"It's nothing."
"That means it's something. Hey, is it that cute paramedic? I kind of noticed he had a thing for you."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Well, Stanley thinks it's something." They both headed into the house. "I need to run. You need to go talk to him, Emma and soon..." Everyone was beginning to sound like a broken record.
Emma walked into the bedroom and Stanley was lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling, there was an uncomfortable silence. She quietly sat on the side of the bed, in the back of her mind she was trying to figure out what she should say to him. He glared at her, "That was kind of weird, Emma...you darting out of the room like that when your phone rang."
"I thought it was the kids."
"The kids call on my phone. They called first thing this morning, Emma, or did you forget?"
"What are you insinuating, Stanley?" This wasn't at all what she expected to say, but she felt herself getting agitated by his tone of voice.
"Nothing..just that you're acting strange."
"And you're not?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" She started to get up off the bed and he quickly grabbed her hand, "you're not running off. I think we need to talk."
"I don't want to talk."
"You know I figured it was that time of the month, the mood swings, the crying. But now you're talking in riddles, and not making any sense."She couldn't look at him and this only aggrivated him more, "It's someone else isn't it? That guy at the hospital, who couldn't take his eyes off you."
"Yeah, right, that's it. I rent a room by the half hour down the street, since you aren't meeting my sexual needs." she said sarcastically.
"Very funny, Emma."
"And what about you, the woman on the cliff. Who was she Stanley?" At the mention of Ginger, Stanley's facial expression changed. This wasn't something he wanted to talk about now.
"This isn't the time. You are obviously overtired and upset about something."
"There isn't ever going to be a right time is there?"
He closed his eyes, not wanting to face this situation at all, "Like you said, I need to rest."
"Oh, that's a change of tune, a minute ago you were all gung ho to talk."
"And a minute ago, you didn't want to. So I'm not the only one with a change of tune." He didn't want this to be happening, but it was too late. They were both upset and a fight was about ready to brew, when Scrap began barking, Stanley immediately sat up in bed, causing a pain through his left side. His hold on Emma's arm tightened. The squeak of the screen door,alarmed him. Someone was in the house. The argument was the last thing on his mind, he had visions of Ginger and Gabriel barging in here unannounced and something happening to Emma.
Then came a sound of a familiar voice, "hey, Stan...just me Brent. Brought you some of the latest computer mags." He waltzed into the bedroom and saw the tense expression across his boss' face. Stanley loosened his grip on Emma, and the look in his eyes was one of fear. It sent a chill up her spine, as she got off the bed, passing Brent. They eyed each other. He knew right away she hadn't mentioned the break in. And he was getting more curious by the moment about what was going on. She quickly made her way down the hall and they both heard Holly's bedroom door close behind her.
Stanley eased the tension, "computer mags? I thought you'd be bringing me Penthouse or Playboy. What were you thinking?"
"You have Emma, what would you be needing either one of those mags for. Or is there trouble in paradise already? You two can't live together can you? I told you, man, you were making a mistake allowing a woman to move in."
He glanced towards the door, knowing that nothing had been solved and so badly he wanted to make everything up to her. Brent began rambling about something he had found in one of the magazines trying to show him and Stan's mind was elsewhere, knowing exactly what she was doing . Laying in the middle of Holly's bed amongst her stuffed animals crying. It wasn't the first time this week he had heard the sobs coming down the hall when she thought he was asleep. This was killing him.
"I don't think she's handling this very well."
"What? Your behavior, your accident...the beautiful woman."
"What are you talking about? The Beautiful woman?"
"She's back, I've seen her about. You know, Stan, you guys need to talk."
Ginger wasn't going to go away, and how he was supposed to explain her to Emma was beyond him. And with her constant mood swings, he could only imagine how she could easily misinterpret anything he said, "She doesn't want to talk."
"Well, that's no surprise, after what she's been through the last few weeks. Your accident, losing her job, her kids leaving."
"What? What do you mean losing her job?"
"She didn't tell you? Shit, I opened my big mouth again. You can't say anything, Stan."
"She told you this? When?"
"She didn't tell me anything. I ran into Craig Burrows at the gas station the other day, he asked how you were and then said how upset his little girl was that she wouldn't be in Emma's class next year."
"They fired her because we were together?"
"I don't know. He didn't go into details. Just said she lost her job."
"Well, that explains her attitude, I guess. She must be devastated. She was a damn good teacher, Brent." He paused thinking, "Why the hell wouldn't she tell me this? .
"She doesn't want to cause you anymore stress than you're already in possibly. Hell, I don't know, Stan. You're the expert on women, not me."
Emma appeared at the door, having overheard Brent's last remark, she decided not to comment, "I have to go out. You'll stay with Stanley, won't you, Brent?"
"Sure." Brent said.
"Where are you going?" asked Stan.
"Out. I told you."
"Emma, don't go."he pleaded.
"I have to. I won't be long." She had tried to avoid his gaze but found the way he was looking at her, hard to turn away from
He was concerned. After the email this morning, he had a bad feeling that she wasn't safe. "Look, I'm sorry. I need you to stay here. I just have a bad feeling."
"I can look after myself. Don't worry about me."
"But I do worry about you, Emma. Every minute." She began to turn towards the door. And he was prepared to do anything to stop her. "The woman on the cliff, I knew her briefly last summer. I don't even know her real name for god's sake."
She turned back towards him. Brent was speechless wondering where this was going. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
Stanley felt a headache coming on, he rubbed his temple, closing his eyes briefly, "There was nothing between us. Absolutely nothing."
"That was obvious up on the cliff top. You were arguing with her, Stanley. I'm suppose to believe that's nothing?" Before he could answer, she shook her head, putting up her hand, "I don't want to hear your lame excuses anymore. I'm going out for awhile and maybe when I get back you can tell me the truth." She stormed out of the room.
Stanley knew there was no point in calling her back, she had been cooped up in the house for so long and it was obviously getting to her. She just needed some fresh air, of course she would be safe. He tried to shake the apprehension he was feeling concerning Ginger and Gabriel. When he snapped out of his daze he noticed Brent staring at him.
"What are you looking at?"
"There is definitely trouble in paradise. So what dark secrets are you holding back, Stanley. Because they must be doozeys if you won't even tell the one person on this planet besides your daughter that means the world to you."
"You think there are dark secrets too?"
"I don't think, I know. Hey, your a good guy but you've been a bit mysterious since you pulled into town. And all this cloak and dagger stuff, beautiful women in fast cars, mysterious break ins." After he said it, he realized he had made a mistake, "shit."
"There's been a break-in, while I've been cooped up in the hospital?"
"Actually, it happened today. Everything is fine, nothing of any value taken. I mean value to the shop, I don't have a clue what you keep in that desk of yours."
"Why didn't you tell me this? They broke into my desk?"
"You were asleep when I called, Emma thought it best you didn't know. Since nothing was taken."
"Oh, she did, did she. Since when is she your boss, Brent?"
"She cares about you, Stan. Look what this is doing to you? You're all stressed out now, which isn't good for your recovery and you know it."
"That shop is my livelihood. Of course it stresses me out."
"That's hardly the case is it? You don't make enough from the shop to live the way you do, you overpay me and Kyle, and if a customer doesn't have the payment you let it slide. I have never seen you follow up on a customer who doesn't pay. Old Mrs. Goldberg and that young newlywed couple you helped out a few weeks ago. He had just lost his job."
"That's none of your business."
"I know. I like you. I don't give a crap what you did before you came here, but Emma does. She wants to spend the rest of her life with you, but she feels she doesn't know who you are."
"She told you this?"
"Hardly. But it's so damn obvious."
Stanley lay back on the pillows, he felt exhausted. The pain in his leg began to throb, and he wanted more than anything for Emma to be sitting beside him, the way she would stroke his face, and she would sing to him. "I need to talk to her, tell her everything. Right now. But first I need to get to the shop. I need to see what was taken? You didn't call the police?"
"Emma said not to. And Stan, you aren't going anywhere. I can tell you're in a lot of pain."
"Are you going to drive me, Brent or am I going to make an attempt at doing it myself?"
"Stan you're crazy."
"Maybe so, but I have every reason to believe I'm putting Emma in danger every minute if I don't sort this is out now."
"I'm not taking you. But if you tell me what you're looking for, I'll go find it."
"I don't want to get you involved in this, Brent."
"I'm involved already. And if I can help you out here I will." Stanley contemplated his offer, "I may joke about trouble in paradise, but I think you and Emma belong together. It would be a shame if you messed this good thing up now. I mean, she's great with Holly, she's obviously incredible in bed..."
"Okay, that's enough." Quickly changing the subject he added, "There's a disc, in an envelope. I kept it in that drawer."
"Just a disc? That's it?"
"It's enough, believe me."
"Okay, I'll check it out. You sure you'll be okay alone?"
"I'm fine. I can always ring Mary next door, if I need anything. But you shouldn't be long."
Before he walked out the door, he turned back to Stanley. The look of concern was evident on his face, "Hey, Stan, it's going to be okay. You and Emma, whatever this other mess is as well. I know it. You got to believe it."
Stanley was sure hope he was right.
* * * * *
* *
Emma sat at the coffee shop, swirling her capeccino with her stirer. She had no intention of drinking it. But it kept her preoccupied waiting for Agent Roberts. He walked up to her table, "Ms. Heyward?"
She managed a smile, "Emma..please."
"Are you okay?"
"Not really. But I will be. This week has been hard, with Stanley's accident, and everything."
" I can imagine. He's a good guy, Emma."
"Is he?"
"You didn't talk to him, did you?"
She shook her head. "The shop was broken into today. He doesn't know, and I can't tell him. Nothing was taken, or at least nothing that any normal burglar would take. He pays cash for everything, that's strange, don't you think? and there is this woman who seems to be following him and calling his house. I don't understand any of this. Please tell me something anything." She realized she must sound crazy, the way she rambled on.
He was leery to say anything, but he couldn't bear to see this woman so upset, "I believe that Stanley is in trouble. He got in with a bad crowd last year. The woman you mention was involved. He got in way over his head, for the sake of Holly. You need to understand that, Emma. He did it all for Holly."
"Did what? Is he a criminal?"
"He's a hacker, probably the best in the world. And yes, he's been in trouble with the law, but that's behind him. "
"What? Stanley? A hacker? Like he spreads virus' or messes with peoples' bank accounts on-line?"
"Yes, Stanley, could do both of things quite easily, and oh, so much more. Don't let his appearance fool you. He's incredibly intelligent. And passionate about things he cares about. Nothing will stop him when he feels strongly about something. But he should tell you about that, not me."
"These people had something to do with Holly's mothers death, didn't they?"
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that matter, it's confidential, but I can say that Stanley got in way over his head all for the love of that little girl. And it concerns me with them in town. It's only a matter of time before they do make contact with him. The accident has obviously bought him some time."
"You make it sound like they're going to kill him."
"He's too damn valuable to kill, but they want something from him. And these people will stop at nothing to get it."
Emma wasn't sure how to take this information, she loved Stanley, but did she really even know him. "Was he ever in prison? I mean, you said he was in trouble with the law. Did he do really horrible things?"
"He doesn't think they were horrible. He was young and had strong beliefs. Didn't care too much for the way the government handled a lot of things. So he did something about it. He hacked into some very important files, and made some peoples lives incredibly miserable for a few years trying to fix the problem. He broke the law. And he did some time, yes."
Emma stood up from the table, all this information scared her. "Emma, I realize this is a lot to comprehend, but I've known Stanley for a long time. I know what he was capable of and the kind of man he was, but having Holly back in his life changed a lot of things for him. He realized what was important in his life, his daughter...and now you and your children."
She wanted to believe him, but everything was now even more complicated and she began to feel sick to her stomach, "I need to go."
He stood up, "It's very important that you contact me, Emma, if these people try to contact Stanley. They have caused a lot of damage, hurt a lot of innocent people. They need to be stopped."
"Then why aren't you out there stopping them? Why do you have to wait? If you have something on them, surely you can arrest them now."
"We need proof ,they cover their tracks very well."
Emma felt frustrated. This all sounded so bizarre to her, like out of a police drama or something. She quickly walked out the door, without a backwards glance.
* * * * * * * * *
Brent's investigation of the drawer in the shop, was not successful. There was no disc. To Stanley it seemed like only a matter of time before he would find Ginger and Gabriel knocking at his door. He still didn't have a clue what they thought he did. Brent, more curious by the second, began asking questions, and coming up with his own theories.
"Hey, Stan, I had a thought. You know Kyle does a lot of work at your desk, with the inventory maintenance and supply orders. Do you think...." the phone rang and Stanley was relieved of the distraction. Reaching across the bed to pick it up, he felt another sharp pain shoot across his back. His hello was a bit strained due to the pain he was experiencing.
"Could I speak to Emma, please?"
Stanley was surprised by the male voice on the other end of the line, "She's not here. Stepped out for a minute. Can I take a message?"
There was a slight hesitation on the other end, "Stanley, it's Ben from the hospital."
Not happy to hear this man's voice calling for Emma, he responded , "Oh, yeah, Ben. "
"How are you doing, Stanley?"
"Obviously that isn't what you're called about, is it?" Stanley didn't hear the front door open or Emma come into the room. "You know, buddy, she's off limits. She's taken. I don't know where you got this number from, but don't call it again."
Briskly pushing by Brent, Emma grabbed the phone out of Stanley's hand, which startled him, "Hello, this is Emma." She glared down at Stanley, then turned her back to him.
"This is a bad time obviously."
"No, it's a fine time. It's nice of you to call. In fact, I was wondering if you wanted to meet for lunch tomorrow, there's a really nice place on the Boardwalk, serves great seafood, it's next to that hotel...I'm sure you know the one. The Surf Rider, I've been told it's also quite a popular lunch spot." She teased.
Stanley began to breath heavy, he was jealous. That was obvious. Brent couldn't believe how childish both of these two were acting. Stanley grabbed the phone back, "You get any ideas whatsoever, and I doubt you'll be rescuing anybody off the side of a cliff ever again." He slammed the phone down.
"Well, that was lovely, Stanley. So mature."
"Let's talk about mature. Making arrangements to meet some strange guy for lunch. Making sexual innuendos about the hotel next door,"
"He's hardly strange, in fact, I probably know more about him than I know about you."
Brent knew then and there he needed to go, "Stan, it was lovely But Chelsea needs me at home. Catch you later." He raced out the room, and they heard the screen door slam behind him.
They were both silent. Emma stood near the window, her arms crossed over her chest, Stanley's jealousy still raging, but it was more than that. His concern about Ginger and Gabriel weighing heavily on his mind. "I don't want you going out of the house alone again."
"I can do what I want."
"That's pretty obvious. So is what you want that punk from the hospital?"
"Maybe" she said sarcastically, but the words stung. Stanley couldn't believe how cruel she was being.
"I'm begging you, Emma. Not to leave this house again alone."
"I need to get dinner started." She stormed out of the room. Stanley laid back onto the pillows. It was going to be a long night.
* * * * *
* * *
Sleep was sparatic for Emma, Agent Roberts words were played over and over. And images of Stanley with that woman filled her head. It was the first night she had spent in Holly's bed, away from Stanley. They hadn't spoken last night. Dinner had been consumed in silence. Stanley made the effort, but after Emma got him situated in bed, she closed herself off in Holly's room. It was bad. She hated the distance she had put between them, but she didn't know how to talk to him right now. Emma knew she had to get back into the daily routine, Stanley would need to get to the bathroom and probably need a bath. She was surprised as she entered his room that he was already up, a shoebox sat next to him and drawings, photographs and letters were spread out all around him.
He looked up briefly, but there was no smile for her this morning, not after the fight, or whatever it was last night. In fact, he was leery of saying anything to her, since she was bound to snap at him about something. But Emma knew she needed to break the ice, it couldn't go on like this. "What are you doing?"
She moved closer to him and picked up one of the photos, an adorable close-up of Holly as a baby dressed in a pink sleeper, next to it a child's drawing of stick figures,with the words Dad and Holly scrawled across it. "You miss Holly, don't you?"
"Of course I do. It's been a long time since we've been separated like this."
"She sounded like she was having a great time yesterday." Emma was trying, even Stanley could tell.
He didn't speak only nodded. Emma realized she was intruding and started to head out the door. Stanley couldn't bear the silence, couldn't bear the fighting, "You don't have to go."
"I feel like I'm intruding on something private and personal."
He picked up the pile of pictures and letters and in frustration threw them back in the box, "This is it. This is all I have of 11 years of my child's life."
"But you have memories." She wasn't sure why he was getting upset about this now. What had triggered his frustration? Emma knew she was partly to blame. Shutting him out when he was so vulnerable.
"Very few. I wasn't around much when she was a baby, working my tail off trying to give my family everything. And then Melissa took her away. I missed out on so much. Learning to ride a bike, her first loose tooth, being a soccer dad."Emma wasn't sure what to say, he seemed on the verge of tears, "you can't imagine what that feels like, you got to experience it twice. And you have wonderful memories of your children growing up. Something I'll never have."
Emma's thought about the unborn child she was carrying. He could have that chance. She didn't want to think about that now. The tension between them had been a strain on both of them. Stanley looked over at her, she was still holding the baby photo of Holly.He couldn't help but notice the way she seemed to be caressing it with her thumb.
"You think I'm a sentimental fool, don't you?" He was trying to get back on the right track with her. So many things had been going wrong lately. He snapped his fingers in front of her face when she didn't respond, "Emma?"
"What? Did you say something?" He watched as she turned the baby photo over face down and put it gently back in the box.
"Just that I'm a sentimental old fool."
"I don't think that at all." She was silent for a second, feeling the urge to cry. How could she deny him this chance to be a father again. "I think you're a wonderful father, and Holly is incredibly lucky. You know you've been more of a father to my kids in the past 6 months than their own has been in their whole lifetime."
It was the first nice thing she had said to him in the last 24 hours. She didn't want to have the serious talk now. Not feeling like this, vulnerable and guilty. She stood up and closed her eyes, pushing the tears back. Then turned to him, "I'll go run your bath."
"Are you still going out today?" Stanley hadn't thought of much else last night. Emma wanting to be with another man. It was killing him inside.
God, he knew how to ruin everything , she thought. "Yes."
"What's so special about that guy?"
"He's nice to me."
"Now you're saying I'm not nice to you?"
"Stanley, I'm not going to have this conversation this morning." She headed into the bathroom, and turned on the tap.
* * * * * * * * *
Ben canceled lunch, since they were short staffed and he needed to fill in. But Emma didn't mention this to Stanley, since he had fallen asleep shortly before she received the phone call. She tried finding something to do to occupy her time. She channel surfed for a few minutes and nothing interested her, and the only magazines Stanley had in the house were Computer magazines. She had made her way through the children's literature in Holly's room in the last few days, and was now restless. Picking up the phone she dialed Rachel.
The moment Rachel said, "Hi, how are things going?" Emma burst out in tears.
"Emma, what's wrong?"
"Oh, Rachel, things keep getting worse and I don't know what to do."
"Do you want me to come over. I can hold your hand or whatever you want me to do when you tell him." Rachel was trying to be supportive, she was incredibly worried about her best friend and the toll this development had had on her.
"No, I need to do this on my own. "
"Have you made a decision? You're going to keep the baby right?"
"I don't know. I'm so confused about so many things." she hadn't mentioned her conversation with Roberts.
"But you are going to tell him? He needs to know."
"Of course I'm going to tell him. I don't know what I'm going to say though."
Stanley squinted at the clock next to his bed, it was close to 2. He must have dozed off, before Emma left for her lunch date. He heard mumbling coming from the kitchen..Someone was on the phone. Maybe Emma was back. He reached for the crutch he had begun to use. It wasn't easy making his way across the room, but he managed. Reaching the hallway the words became clear...'of course I'm going to tell him.'
Emma heard the clatter, as Stanley stumbled, the soreness of his good leg giving way, and causing him to lose balance, "I have to go. We'll talk later." She quickly went to his side, helping him over to the couch.
"you should have called me."
"I thought you were still out."
Emma had totally forgotten about the canceled lunch date. "I didn't go out."
"oh."
Carefully lifting his leg up onto the couch, she then propped up some pillows for him to make him more comfortable, ."I thought you'd be pleased. After the fuss you made about it last night."
"Don't do me any favors, Emma."
"What?" she was surprised by the tone of his voice.
He couldn't hold it in any longer, "I'm not stupid. The mysterious phone calls, the frequent outings in the last few days. So what is it you need to tell me? That you're seeing that paramedic?"
"I told you, I didn't go out. And the last time I saw him was the day you left the hospital."
"Don't lie to me, Emma."
"I'm not lying."
"So you haven't lied to me once in the last few days, is that what you're saying?"
She didn't respond as she moved over to the window. Afraid to look at him.
"Well, I can answer that question. You've lied to me on more than one occasion. Oh, wait maybe they're not lies, maybe you just forgot to tell me some vital information...my shop was broken into yesterday, and let's not forget you lost your job."
Brent and Rachel. They told him She could understand Brent but not Rachel, her best friend. Before she could defend herself he continued, "What other lies have you told me? God, I thought I knew you."
Emma couldn't believe what was happening and refused to be the bad guy here, "Oh, that's rich coming form you Stanley. If we're going to talk about lies, let's start with you and how well I know you and all the vital information you have left out. Let's see where to begin...your time in prison that might be a good start don' t you think."
"What?" he was clearly surprised with her knowledge of this information.
"You want to know where I was yesterday, I was with your old friend Roberts. Hoping for some answers but you will be happy to know his information was limited. It seems your file is confidential."
"You could have come to me."
"I don't think so. If you truly cared about me, you would have told me this information ages ago."
"Emma, you said the past didn't matter. You made that perfectly clear only a few short weeks ago."
"Well, it matters now." She couldn't face him and she fiddled with the blinds on the front window.
"Why now?" He didn't seem overly upset, his voice was quieting down and when she turned to look at him there was concern in his eyes.
But Emma was beginning to feel more flustered and confused. It felt hot and she felt faint.
Stanley wanted to go to her but there was no way he was going to be able to get himself off the couch. "Emma, are you alright?"
She took a deep breath and glared at him, "No, I'm not alright. I lost my job, my boyfriend is a criminal who has an FBI file, and...." she couldn't say it.
"And what? There's something else you're not telling me"
She began to pace in front of the window, "I'm pregnant." She started to cry.
Stanley's mouth dropped in surprise, "Emma, for god's sake, that's it? You've been keeping this from me for weeks haven't you? Afraid I wouldn't want a baby." He smiled. "Oh, Emma, I can't think of anything I'd want more. Come here." he patted the sofa. "You have nothing to worry about, it's going to be okay." His mind drifted thinking about the possibility of being a father again,
"I knew you would say that. It's going to be okay. No, it's not." Stanley was shocked with her response. "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd want the baby. But maybe I don't."
The smile faded as he heard her sharp words, "You can't possibly be thinking.."
"Abortion, yes...I've thought about it."
"No, you can't possibly be thinking about having an abortion. Emma, for god's sake, I know things are a bit strained right now, but we can work it out. We can get married, I'll take care of you. You won't have to worry about a job"
"Marriage, right. Having a baby means getting married to you. Isn't that what happened with Holly's mother? I won't have it be an after thought. You obviously didn't want to marry me before you knew. So have your feelings for me changed so drastically in the last few minutes, I don't think so."
"It's not an after thought. You can ask your own children. I told them my intentions but said you weren't ready for marriage."
"That's a copout and you know it."
"I want to marry you, I want you to have my baby. I don't' know what I can do to convince you of that."
"I don't' know you. I don't know why you were in prison, or why these people are after you. How can I trust you? I've already been through one lousy marriage, with a man I thought I knew. I won't make that mistake again."
"You do know me. I love you, your kids. I can tell you everything you want to know about prison, about those people. Please Emma give me a chance."
She put her hand up, feeling faint, "I need some air. I need to go."
She didn't even give him a glance as she strode out the door.
He frantically called out her name, but she began to walk. And never looked back.
The door was open and Rachel peered her head in, Scrap scurried over to her, and then she heard the shouting, "Emma, do you plan to leave me in here all day?"
Okay, that was Stanley. Sounded like it was coming from his bathroom, now where the hell was Emma. As Rachel headed into the hallway she now heard the distinct sounds of gagging, and quiet sobs, coming from the other bathroom. Rachel took a deep breath ready for the worst as she opened the bathroom door to find Emma on the floor leaning over the toilet, throwing up. Not a pretty sight.
Emma looked up at her and then felt the urge again and quickly put her head over the toilet.
"Morning sickness. Glad it's you and not me."
Emma gave her a dirty look, "Thanks."
The shouting down the hall continued, "Emma, I'm sorry. Please get me out of the bath. I didn't mean to lose my temper. It wasn't your fault."
"What did you do to him now?"
"I don't know what he expects, Rachel I can't lift him and he slipped when I tried to get him in the tub and he bashed his head."
Rachel couldn't help but laugh, picturing the sight in her head.
"It's not funny. I'm just not good at this, and I feel so sick."
"You haven't told him yet have you?"
She shook her head, ashamed. There was another shout from down the hall. "Emma, please."
Rachel looked down at her, "Are you going to go get him? Because I really doubt you want me to. Although, I must say, I wouldn't mind seeing him in the buff."
"Don't you even think about it." Emma got up, feeling a bit woozy she steadied herself leaning against Rachel.
"Maybe this would be a good time to tell him. I'm here and I can be your moral support."
"I'm not ready to tell him. I told you I have a lot of things to think about, stop pushing me, Rachel." She stormed off down the hall.
Upon entering the bathroom, she found Stanley slouched in the tub, looking very uncomfortable. He didn't look to happy, but he managed a smile.
"I thought you forgot about me."
"Rachel" she stammered, "she's here. And...."
He took hold of her hand, "I upset you, I know...you don't need to make up an excuse. It wasn't your fault." She put her head down and he could tell she was going to start crying again. "Don't' cry....I just need you to help me out of the tub. Do you want Rachel to help?"
"Of course not" she said adamantly, and he smiled.
"For your eyes only?" he teased and finally got a smile out of her. "Well, right now, I can say it's not much to look at. I feel like a prune."
"I'm sorry." She managed as she began to lift him out of the tub. It was no less of a struggle this time around, but Stanley did as much as he could. Somehow she got him onto the toilet seat so she could dry him off. The anger and frustration he had felt earlier was now gone as Emma preceded to dry him off.
Her touch gave him shivers. He missed their intimacy and it was a major reason for the frustration he felt. It seemed childish, he had to admit, but nonetheless it was there. Emma, on the other hand, tried to treat this task as if she was giving one of her own children a bath when they were little. It was the only way she could get through it. He didn't make it easy. His breathing always, seemed heavy and he would let out sighs when she touched him in certain areas. At least this morning, he seemed more exhausted and with his eyes closed, she didn't have to be the recipient of that penetration he was master of.
She was trying to get him to use a crutch, but it was awkward. And the trip from the bathroom to the bed, seemed like miles to his poor broken body. Emma stayed at his side coaxing him along, and if he needed any more support. He was glad to find the edge of the bed, and lowered himself onto it. "You'd think after this long, I'd be getting use to all the pain." Everyday he hoped he would feel better but it never seemed to be that way.
Just getting him changed into a clean t-shirt and boxers was a chore in in itself. Exhausting both of them, but Stanley still couldn't take his eyes off her gorgeous body in that tank top and shorts she had been wearing all morning. She got him settled in bed, pulling the sheet up over him when she caught that look again, "Stanley, stop looking at me that way."
"What way? I wasn't looking at you in any particular way." he chimed in innocently.
"I don't know how you could even possibly be thinking about...."
"Ah, it's you thinking about it."
"You're in a lot of pain." she tried ignoring his comment, but found she was blushing. Stanley was glad she was lightening up again. But it came and went so quickly.
"But my mind is functioning just fine. And I look at you, and I want you. This damn leg and my fucking back...they are keeping me from you. And it's bullshit." he said in frustration.
She smiled at him, "Patience. You have none." She leaned towards him gently kissing him on the cheek.
"So I'm suppose to close my eyes now. Because I need my rest." he said sarcastically.
"That's right." She stroked his face. "Because the sooner you get better, the sooner.."
"I can have my way with you?"
"Well, it's a possibility."
"Then scram, so I can rest, woman. Because I'll be damned if I'm keeping to that damn doctor's order- 4 week abstinence. What the hell was he thinking?"
She found him amusing, she gave him another kiss and then headed out for the door,
"I don't even get a real kiss anymore, what's that about?'
She turned to him, "Because you won't let it stop there."
"Try me."
"No, now close your eyes." She walked out of the room and Stanley let out a sigh as he relaxed onto the pillows. This was pure hell and he thought the hospital was bad. But being with Emma and wanting her desperately, and not being able to have her was pure torture.
It didn't take Stanley long to drift to sleep, exhausted from his bath. Rachel and Emma sat out in the living room to have a chat when the phone rang. It was Brent.
"Emma, I need to talk to Stan right away." there was urgency in his voice.
Emma immediately sat up straight, "Brent, what is it?"
"This is something I need to talk to Stan about."
"He's asleep, and I'm not going to wake him. If it's so important you can tell me."
"This doesn't concern you, Emma, it has to do with the shop."
"I thought I made it perfectly clear the other day, that there would be no shop talk while he's recuperating. You know, Stanley, he will find someway to get over there and nothing will stop him, if there's a problem. Then he'll just get worse. And besides,the shop is shut. Right now, everything to do with Stanley concerns me."
"Okay, okay, but Stan has to know about this. As soon as possible. The shop was broken into last night."
"What? Did you call the police."
"No. I thought Stan should know about it first."
"Brent, call the police. I'm on my way."
"Emma, listen to me, this wasn't some kid looking for drug money, or something he could sell off quickly. This was a professional job."
"Oh, my god, what did they take?"
"Nothing..as far as I can see, that's why it's so creepy. And that's why I haven't called the police."
Emma didn't understand. "Nothing was taken?"
"They didn't want the computers....the only thing they messed with was Stanley's locked drawer. And I don't know what he keeps in there, so I don't know if anything is missing or not."
"I'm on my way."
"I think you need to wake up Stanley."
She didn't listen and hung up on him. Rachel looked up at her, "What's going on?"
"The shop, was robbed, but it sounds weird. Do you mind staying with Stanley?"
"Sure, I'll stay."
"Keep your mouth shut, Rachel...about everything"
"Mum's the word, I promise. But don't you think he should know about the break in?"
"I will tell him."
Emma was met by Brent at the shop door, and they walked slowly to the back. "I just came back to pick up a few bits to repair my hardrive at home and I unlocked the door like normal, everything seemed kosher. Then I walked back here headed towards the work bench to get the tools I needed and that's when I felt something was different. And sure enough Stanley's top drawer was open. He always keeps it locked."
Emma walked over to the desk, staring at it, She thought about fingerprints but knew these people were exactly what Brent had said. Professionals. There would be no fingerprints. They were looking for something in particular as well, Emma couldn't help but notice the receipts piled in the drawer. Every single one, stamped paid in cash. Her curiosity had the best of her and she pulled them out.
"Emma, do you think you should be going through that stuff?"
She gave him the eye, "Do you know something I don't?"
He shook his head, "He's a private kind of guy. You should leave it."
"I think I have a right. I'm living with him." She almost said she was having his baby, but stopped before the words came out. "These are all paid with cash. Every single one of them."
"He told me he hates credit cards."
"The store can't be doing this good. He paid cash for the remodel ,Brent. 25,000 dollars."
Brent moved closer to her looking over her shoulder, curious. "so I take it you don't want me to call the police?"
She felt very confused, wondering what these people wanted with Stanley,and who were there. She shook her head, "No police."
"He has to know, Emma. Only Stan will know what was taken." She rummaged through the drawer, finding other items of interest. Specifically a card. The heading read simply Federal Bureau of Investigation. Below it, J.T. . Roberts Special Agent. Why would Stanley have any contact with someone working with the FBI. It didn't make any sense.
Emma felt a bout of nausea come over her and she swayed a bit , Brent caught her. "Are you okay?"
She ran her hand through her hair, and took a deep breath, regaining her composure, "What's going on,Brent? What is he keeping from me?"
"I don't think he's keeping something from you. I think he's keeping something from everyone. Don't take this personally. Go home and talk to him." She looked down at the card in her hand. Maybe this guy Roberts would have some answers. She looked at Brent.
"I need some answers and I don't think I'm going to find them here."
She didn't go home. She got on her cell phone and called the number on the card. It was an answering service explaining that they could relay the message to Agent Roberts. And he would get back to her as soon as possible. Emma hung up the phone and sat back in the seat, not knowing if she should go home or wait for the phone call.
* * * * *
* * *
Stanley woke up and called for Emma, when Rachel showed up at his door, he was more than a bit surprised. "Where's Emma?"
"She had to step out for a bit, I'm sure she'll be back soon. So you're stuck with me. Can I do anything for you...Emma said you might need help...like going to the bathroom."
This was uncomfortable, "I think I can hold off on that one til Emma gets back."
"Suit yourself. Anything to drink?"
"Maybe you could help me get to the desk...wanted to check my mail."
"I don't know, Stan...Emma said you were supposed to rest, stay in bed."
"Give me 5 minutes. It's not a big deal."
Rachel gave in and she managed to get him to the desk, without too much discomfort. She sat on the edge of the bed while he began to type, he was slow, with only one hand, and it pissed him off. His hand slipped in frustration and he began to curse, he felt Rachel's eyes glaring through his back and slowly turned towards her, "You can go. I don't need you." his words were sharp.
"You don't have to be so nasty." She stood up and gave him a dirty look. Then walked back out into the living room. Stanley heard the blare of some talk show, and turned his attention back to the keyboard.
Once into his email that hadn't been checked all week, he didn't seem to surprised to find a few very interesting letters Cryptic but he knew exactly who they were from.
Why are you messing with him, Stan. I thought you of all people would know better. Get him the disc, return the money and no one will get hurt.
He just stared at the message for what seemed like minutes. The disc? The Swordfish disc? What else could she be talking about. He hadn't seen that thing in ages. The shop, the last place he had seen it was the shop. He began to reach for the phone when he heard Emma's sharp command.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
"What does it look like I'm doing, I'm checking my email. It's not like I'm going out in the car or jogging along the beach. I'm taking it easy. Weren't those doctors orders?" He quickly closed his mail, as Emma approached him.
She couldn't help but notice how quickly he had closed his email. What was he hiding from her, and who was he getting ready to call? "Back to bed." She commanded and helped lift him out of the chair.
"This is ridiculous. You won't let me do anything It's been 4 days since I've been out of the hospital and you still act like the accident was yesterday." He sounded bitter. "and you didn't tell me you were going out? Where did you go?"
Rachel cleared her throat, and Emma turned to find her leaning against his doorway. She didn't want to lie, but didn't know what to say to him about the shop. "Groceries, I needed a few things for dinner tonight." Turning to Rachel, she motioned for her to leave. Rachel was reluctant. Anxious to hear Emma's story of the break in.
"Really?" He sounded skeptical.
Once settled in bed, he pulled on her forearm causing her to lose her balance and fall onto the bed next to him, Looking deep into her eyes seriously, he continued "Don't leave me with Rachel again."
Emma started to laugh, "did she try and get you to go to the bathroom."
He looked surprised she knew this.
"It's Rachel, I know how she thinks. She wants to make sure she's not missing something."
"And how about you, Em, are you missing something?" the sultry sound of his voice gave her shivers. She wanted to trust him, she wanted it to be like it was a few weeks ago, where nothing mattered. But it was harder now.
She quickly got up, "I have things to do. You need to rest." She headed towards the door.
"You are avoiding my question." She heard the faint ring of her cell phone, Rachel waltzed in, holding it up to her.
"Expecting a call, Emma?"
She grabbed the phone out of Rachel's hand and left the room, Rachel shrugged her shoulders as Stanley questioned her with his eyes.
Emma went out the back door, as she answered the call, "Ms. Heyward, It's Agent Roberts. My service said you called."
She paced the backyard and then realized Stanley could see her from his bed, out the window. She headed to the side of the yard where she was no longer in view. "Thanks for calling me back. I'm not sure why I called."
"How is Stanley?"
Emma had never mentioned Stanley to him in her message, and was surprised when he said his name.
"How did you know this was about Stanley?"
Roberts now knew this poor woman still had no clue what was going on, "You should talk to Stanley, Ms. Heyward."
"I called you because I'm not getting any answers here. What's going on? What connection do you have with him?" She realized her voice was raised.
"I think you should talk to Stanley, but I can meet you if you want, I'm in town."
"I'd like that. How about this afternoon, about 4pm, there's a coffee shop across from Stanley's shop."
"I know it. I'll be there. But Ms. Heyward you need to talk to him. The sooner the better, I'm afraid."
Rachel came out the back door as she hung up, "My god, Emma, you have lover boy in there in a right state. What's all the secrecy?"
"It's nothing."
"That means it's something. Hey, is it that cute paramedic? I kind of noticed he had a thing for you."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Well, Stanley thinks it's something." They both headed into the house. "I need to run. You need to go talk to him, Emma and soon..." Everyone was beginning to sound like a broken record.
Emma walked into the bedroom and Stanley was lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling, there was an uncomfortable silence. She quietly sat on the side of the bed, in the back of her mind she was trying to figure out what she should say to him. He glared at her, "That was kind of weird, Emma...you darting out of the room like that when your phone rang."
"I thought it was the kids."
"The kids call on my phone. They called first thing this morning, Emma, or did you forget?"
"What are you insinuating, Stanley?" This wasn't at all what she expected to say, but she felt herself getting agitated by his tone of voice.
"Nothing..just that you're acting strange."
"And you're not?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" She started to get up off the bed and he quickly grabbed her hand, "you're not running off. I think we need to talk."
"I don't want to talk."
"You know I figured it was that time of the month, the mood swings, the crying. But now you're talking in riddles, and not making any sense."She couldn't look at him and this only aggrivated him more, "It's someone else isn't it? That guy at the hospital, who couldn't take his eyes off you."
"Yeah, right, that's it. I rent a room by the half hour down the street, since you aren't meeting my sexual needs." she said sarcastically.
"Very funny, Emma."
"And what about you, the woman on the cliff. Who was she Stanley?" At the mention of Ginger, Stanley's facial expression changed. This wasn't something he wanted to talk about now.
"This isn't the time. You are obviously overtired and upset about something."
"There isn't ever going to be a right time is there?"
He closed his eyes, not wanting to face this situation at all, "Like you said, I need to rest."
"Oh, that's a change of tune, a minute ago you were all gung ho to talk."
"And a minute ago, you didn't want to. So I'm not the only one with a change of tune." He didn't want this to be happening, but it was too late. They were both upset and a fight was about ready to brew, when Scrap began barking, Stanley immediately sat up in bed, causing a pain through his left side. His hold on Emma's arm tightened. The squeak of the screen door,alarmed him. Someone was in the house. The argument was the last thing on his mind, he had visions of Ginger and Gabriel barging in here unannounced and something happening to Emma.
Then came a sound of a familiar voice, "hey, Stan...just me Brent. Brought you some of the latest computer mags." He waltzed into the bedroom and saw the tense expression across his boss' face. Stanley loosened his grip on Emma, and the look in his eyes was one of fear. It sent a chill up her spine, as she got off the bed, passing Brent. They eyed each other. He knew right away she hadn't mentioned the break in. And he was getting more curious by the moment about what was going on. She quickly made her way down the hall and they both heard Holly's bedroom door close behind her.
Stanley eased the tension, "computer mags? I thought you'd be bringing me Penthouse or Playboy. What were you thinking?"
"You have Emma, what would you be needing either one of those mags for. Or is there trouble in paradise already? You two can't live together can you? I told you, man, you were making a mistake allowing a woman to move in."
He glanced towards the door, knowing that nothing had been solved and so badly he wanted to make everything up to her. Brent began rambling about something he had found in one of the magazines trying to show him and Stan's mind was elsewhere, knowing exactly what she was doing . Laying in the middle of Holly's bed amongst her stuffed animals crying. It wasn't the first time this week he had heard the sobs coming down the hall when she thought he was asleep. This was killing him.
"I don't think she's handling this very well."
"What? Your behavior, your accident...the beautiful woman."
"What are you talking about? The Beautiful woman?"
"She's back, I've seen her about. You know, Stan, you guys need to talk."
Ginger wasn't going to go away, and how he was supposed to explain her to Emma was beyond him. And with her constant mood swings, he could only imagine how she could easily misinterpret anything he said, "She doesn't want to talk."
"Well, that's no surprise, after what she's been through the last few weeks. Your accident, losing her job, her kids leaving."
"What? What do you mean losing her job?"
"She didn't tell you? Shit, I opened my big mouth again. You can't say anything, Stan."
"She told you this? When?"
"She didn't tell me anything. I ran into Craig Burrows at the gas station the other day, he asked how you were and then said how upset his little girl was that she wouldn't be in Emma's class next year."
"They fired her because we were together?"
"I don't know. He didn't go into details. Just said she lost her job."
"Well, that explains her attitude, I guess. She must be devastated. She was a damn good teacher, Brent." He paused thinking, "Why the hell wouldn't she tell me this? .
"She doesn't want to cause you anymore stress than you're already in possibly. Hell, I don't know, Stan. You're the expert on women, not me."
Emma appeared at the door, having overheard Brent's last remark, she decided not to comment, "I have to go out. You'll stay with Stanley, won't you, Brent?"
"Sure." Brent said.
"Where are you going?" asked Stan.
"Out. I told you."
"Emma, don't go."he pleaded.
"I have to. I won't be long." She had tried to avoid his gaze but found the way he was looking at her, hard to turn away from
He was concerned. After the email this morning, he had a bad feeling that she wasn't safe. "Look, I'm sorry. I need you to stay here. I just have a bad feeling."
"I can look after myself. Don't worry about me."
"But I do worry about you, Emma. Every minute." She began to turn towards the door. And he was prepared to do anything to stop her. "The woman on the cliff, I knew her briefly last summer. I don't even know her real name for god's sake."
She turned back towards him. Brent was speechless wondering where this was going. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
Stanley felt a headache coming on, he rubbed his temple, closing his eyes briefly, "There was nothing between us. Absolutely nothing."
"That was obvious up on the cliff top. You were arguing with her, Stanley. I'm suppose to believe that's nothing?" Before he could answer, she shook her head, putting up her hand, "I don't want to hear your lame excuses anymore. I'm going out for awhile and maybe when I get back you can tell me the truth." She stormed out of the room.
Stanley knew there was no point in calling her back, she had been cooped up in the house for so long and it was obviously getting to her. She just needed some fresh air, of course she would be safe. He tried to shake the apprehension he was feeling concerning Ginger and Gabriel. When he snapped out of his daze he noticed Brent staring at him.
"What are you looking at?"
"There is definitely trouble in paradise. So what dark secrets are you holding back, Stanley. Because they must be doozeys if you won't even tell the one person on this planet besides your daughter that means the world to you."
"You think there are dark secrets too?"
"I don't think, I know. Hey, your a good guy but you've been a bit mysterious since you pulled into town. And all this cloak and dagger stuff, beautiful women in fast cars, mysterious break ins." After he said it, he realized he had made a mistake, "shit."
"There's been a break-in, while I've been cooped up in the hospital?"
"Actually, it happened today. Everything is fine, nothing of any value taken. I mean value to the shop, I don't have a clue what you keep in that desk of yours."
"Why didn't you tell me this? They broke into my desk?"
"You were asleep when I called, Emma thought it best you didn't know. Since nothing was taken."
"Oh, she did, did she. Since when is she your boss, Brent?"
"She cares about you, Stan. Look what this is doing to you? You're all stressed out now, which isn't good for your recovery and you know it."
"That shop is my livelihood. Of course it stresses me out."
"That's hardly the case is it? You don't make enough from the shop to live the way you do, you overpay me and Kyle, and if a customer doesn't have the payment you let it slide. I have never seen you follow up on a customer who doesn't pay. Old Mrs. Goldberg and that young newlywed couple you helped out a few weeks ago. He had just lost his job."
"That's none of your business."
"I know. I like you. I don't give a crap what you did before you came here, but Emma does. She wants to spend the rest of her life with you, but she feels she doesn't know who you are."
"She told you this?"
"Hardly. But it's so damn obvious."
Stanley lay back on the pillows, he felt exhausted. The pain in his leg began to throb, and he wanted more than anything for Emma to be sitting beside him, the way she would stroke his face, and she would sing to him. "I need to talk to her, tell her everything. Right now. But first I need to get to the shop. I need to see what was taken? You didn't call the police?"
"Emma said not to. And Stan, you aren't going anywhere. I can tell you're in a lot of pain."
"Are you going to drive me, Brent or am I going to make an attempt at doing it myself?"
"Stan you're crazy."
"Maybe so, but I have every reason to believe I'm putting Emma in danger every minute if I don't sort this is out now."
"I'm not taking you. But if you tell me what you're looking for, I'll go find it."
"I don't want to get you involved in this, Brent."
"I'm involved already. And if I can help you out here I will." Stanley contemplated his offer, "I may joke about trouble in paradise, but I think you and Emma belong together. It would be a shame if you messed this good thing up now. I mean, she's great with Holly, she's obviously incredible in bed..."
"Okay, that's enough." Quickly changing the subject he added, "There's a disc, in an envelope. I kept it in that drawer."
"Just a disc? That's it?"
"It's enough, believe me."
"Okay, I'll check it out. You sure you'll be okay alone?"
"I'm fine. I can always ring Mary next door, if I need anything. But you shouldn't be long."
Before he walked out the door, he turned back to Stanley. The look of concern was evident on his face, "Hey, Stan, it's going to be okay. You and Emma, whatever this other mess is as well. I know it. You got to believe it."
Stanley was sure hope he was right.
* * * * *
* *
Emma sat at the coffee shop, swirling her capeccino with her stirer. She had no intention of drinking it. But it kept her preoccupied waiting for Agent Roberts. He walked up to her table, "Ms. Heyward?"
She managed a smile, "Emma..please."
"Are you okay?"
"Not really. But I will be. This week has been hard, with Stanley's accident, and everything."
" I can imagine. He's a good guy, Emma."
"Is he?"
"You didn't talk to him, did you?"
She shook her head. "The shop was broken into today. He doesn't know, and I can't tell him. Nothing was taken, or at least nothing that any normal burglar would take. He pays cash for everything, that's strange, don't you think? and there is this woman who seems to be following him and calling his house. I don't understand any of this. Please tell me something anything." She realized she must sound crazy, the way she rambled on.
He was leery to say anything, but he couldn't bear to see this woman so upset, "I believe that Stanley is in trouble. He got in with a bad crowd last year. The woman you mention was involved. He got in way over his head, for the sake of Holly. You need to understand that, Emma. He did it all for Holly."
"Did what? Is he a criminal?"
"He's a hacker, probably the best in the world. And yes, he's been in trouble with the law, but that's behind him. "
"What? Stanley? A hacker? Like he spreads virus' or messes with peoples' bank accounts on-line?"
"Yes, Stanley, could do both of things quite easily, and oh, so much more. Don't let his appearance fool you. He's incredibly intelligent. And passionate about things he cares about. Nothing will stop him when he feels strongly about something. But he should tell you about that, not me."
"These people had something to do with Holly's mothers death, didn't they?"
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that matter, it's confidential, but I can say that Stanley got in way over his head all for the love of that little girl. And it concerns me with them in town. It's only a matter of time before they do make contact with him. The accident has obviously bought him some time."
"You make it sound like they're going to kill him."
"He's too damn valuable to kill, but they want something from him. And these people will stop at nothing to get it."
Emma wasn't sure how to take this information, she loved Stanley, but did she really even know him. "Was he ever in prison? I mean, you said he was in trouble with the law. Did he do really horrible things?"
"He doesn't think they were horrible. He was young and had strong beliefs. Didn't care too much for the way the government handled a lot of things. So he did something about it. He hacked into some very important files, and made some peoples lives incredibly miserable for a few years trying to fix the problem. He broke the law. And he did some time, yes."
Emma stood up from the table, all this information scared her. "Emma, I realize this is a lot to comprehend, but I've known Stanley for a long time. I know what he was capable of and the kind of man he was, but having Holly back in his life changed a lot of things for him. He realized what was important in his life, his daughter...and now you and your children."
She wanted to believe him, but everything was now even more complicated and she began to feel sick to her stomach, "I need to go."
He stood up, "It's very important that you contact me, Emma, if these people try to contact Stanley. They have caused a lot of damage, hurt a lot of innocent people. They need to be stopped."
"Then why aren't you out there stopping them? Why do you have to wait? If you have something on them, surely you can arrest them now."
"We need proof ,they cover their tracks very well."
Emma felt frustrated. This all sounded so bizarre to her, like out of a police drama or something. She quickly walked out the door, without a backwards glance.
* * * * * * * * *
Brent's investigation of the drawer in the shop, was not successful. There was no disc. To Stanley it seemed like only a matter of time before he would find Ginger and Gabriel knocking at his door. He still didn't have a clue what they thought he did. Brent, more curious by the second, began asking questions, and coming up with his own theories.
"Hey, Stan, I had a thought. You know Kyle does a lot of work at your desk, with the inventory maintenance and supply orders. Do you think...." the phone rang and Stanley was relieved of the distraction. Reaching across the bed to pick it up, he felt another sharp pain shoot across his back. His hello was a bit strained due to the pain he was experiencing.
"Could I speak to Emma, please?"
Stanley was surprised by the male voice on the other end of the line, "She's not here. Stepped out for a minute. Can I take a message?"
There was a slight hesitation on the other end, "Stanley, it's Ben from the hospital."
Not happy to hear this man's voice calling for Emma, he responded , "Oh, yeah, Ben. "
"How are you doing, Stanley?"
"Obviously that isn't what you're called about, is it?" Stanley didn't hear the front door open or Emma come into the room. "You know, buddy, she's off limits. She's taken. I don't know where you got this number from, but don't call it again."
Briskly pushing by Brent, Emma grabbed the phone out of Stanley's hand, which startled him, "Hello, this is Emma." She glared down at Stanley, then turned her back to him.
"This is a bad time obviously."
"No, it's a fine time. It's nice of you to call. In fact, I was wondering if you wanted to meet for lunch tomorrow, there's a really nice place on the Boardwalk, serves great seafood, it's next to that hotel...I'm sure you know the one. The Surf Rider, I've been told it's also quite a popular lunch spot." She teased.
Stanley began to breath heavy, he was jealous. That was obvious. Brent couldn't believe how childish both of these two were acting. Stanley grabbed the phone back, "You get any ideas whatsoever, and I doubt you'll be rescuing anybody off the side of a cliff ever again." He slammed the phone down.
"Well, that was lovely, Stanley. So mature."
"Let's talk about mature. Making arrangements to meet some strange guy for lunch. Making sexual innuendos about the hotel next door,"
"He's hardly strange, in fact, I probably know more about him than I know about you."
Brent knew then and there he needed to go, "Stan, it was lovely But Chelsea needs me at home. Catch you later." He raced out the room, and they heard the screen door slam behind him.
They were both silent. Emma stood near the window, her arms crossed over her chest, Stanley's jealousy still raging, but it was more than that. His concern about Ginger and Gabriel weighing heavily on his mind. "I don't want you going out of the house alone again."
"I can do what I want."
"That's pretty obvious. So is what you want that punk from the hospital?"
"Maybe" she said sarcastically, but the words stung. Stanley couldn't believe how cruel she was being.
"I'm begging you, Emma. Not to leave this house again alone."
"I need to get dinner started." She stormed out of the room. Stanley laid back onto the pillows. It was going to be a long night.
* * * * *
* * *
Sleep was sparatic for Emma, Agent Roberts words were played over and over. And images of Stanley with that woman filled her head. It was the first night she had spent in Holly's bed, away from Stanley. They hadn't spoken last night. Dinner had been consumed in silence. Stanley made the effort, but after Emma got him situated in bed, she closed herself off in Holly's room. It was bad. She hated the distance she had put between them, but she didn't know how to talk to him right now. Emma knew she had to get back into the daily routine, Stanley would need to get to the bathroom and probably need a bath. She was surprised as she entered his room that he was already up, a shoebox sat next to him and drawings, photographs and letters were spread out all around him.
He looked up briefly, but there was no smile for her this morning, not after the fight, or whatever it was last night. In fact, he was leery of saying anything to her, since she was bound to snap at him about something. But Emma knew she needed to break the ice, it couldn't go on like this. "What are you doing?"
She moved closer to him and picked up one of the photos, an adorable close-up of Holly as a baby dressed in a pink sleeper, next to it a child's drawing of stick figures,with the words Dad and Holly scrawled across it. "You miss Holly, don't you?"
"Of course I do. It's been a long time since we've been separated like this."
"She sounded like she was having a great time yesterday." Emma was trying, even Stanley could tell.
He didn't speak only nodded. Emma realized she was intruding and started to head out the door. Stanley couldn't bear the silence, couldn't bear the fighting, "You don't have to go."
"I feel like I'm intruding on something private and personal."
He picked up the pile of pictures and letters and in frustration threw them back in the box, "This is it. This is all I have of 11 years of my child's life."
"But you have memories." She wasn't sure why he was getting upset about this now. What had triggered his frustration? Emma knew she was partly to blame. Shutting him out when he was so vulnerable.
"Very few. I wasn't around much when she was a baby, working my tail off trying to give my family everything. And then Melissa took her away. I missed out on so much. Learning to ride a bike, her first loose tooth, being a soccer dad."Emma wasn't sure what to say, he seemed on the verge of tears, "you can't imagine what that feels like, you got to experience it twice. And you have wonderful memories of your children growing up. Something I'll never have."
Emma's thought about the unborn child she was carrying. He could have that chance. She didn't want to think about that now. The tension between them had been a strain on both of them. Stanley looked over at her, she was still holding the baby photo of Holly.He couldn't help but notice the way she seemed to be caressing it with her thumb.
"You think I'm a sentimental fool, don't you?" He was trying to get back on the right track with her. So many things had been going wrong lately. He snapped his fingers in front of her face when she didn't respond, "Emma?"
"What? Did you say something?" He watched as she turned the baby photo over face down and put it gently back in the box.
"Just that I'm a sentimental old fool."
"I don't think that at all." She was silent for a second, feeling the urge to cry. How could she deny him this chance to be a father again. "I think you're a wonderful father, and Holly is incredibly lucky. You know you've been more of a father to my kids in the past 6 months than their own has been in their whole lifetime."
It was the first nice thing she had said to him in the last 24 hours. She didn't want to have the serious talk now. Not feeling like this, vulnerable and guilty. She stood up and closed her eyes, pushing the tears back. Then turned to him, "I'll go run your bath."
"Are you still going out today?" Stanley hadn't thought of much else last night. Emma wanting to be with another man. It was killing him inside.
God, he knew how to ruin everything , she thought. "Yes."
"What's so special about that guy?"
"He's nice to me."
"Now you're saying I'm not nice to you?"
"Stanley, I'm not going to have this conversation this morning." She headed into the bathroom, and turned on the tap.
* * * * * * * * *
Ben canceled lunch, since they were short staffed and he needed to fill in. But Emma didn't mention this to Stanley, since he had fallen asleep shortly before she received the phone call. She tried finding something to do to occupy her time. She channel surfed for a few minutes and nothing interested her, and the only magazines Stanley had in the house were Computer magazines. She had made her way through the children's literature in Holly's room in the last few days, and was now restless. Picking up the phone she dialed Rachel.
The moment Rachel said, "Hi, how are things going?" Emma burst out in tears.
"Emma, what's wrong?"
"Oh, Rachel, things keep getting worse and I don't know what to do."
"Do you want me to come over. I can hold your hand or whatever you want me to do when you tell him." Rachel was trying to be supportive, she was incredibly worried about her best friend and the toll this development had had on her.
"No, I need to do this on my own. "
"Have you made a decision? You're going to keep the baby right?"
"I don't know. I'm so confused about so many things." she hadn't mentioned her conversation with Roberts.
"But you are going to tell him? He needs to know."
"Of course I'm going to tell him. I don't know what I'm going to say though."
Stanley squinted at the clock next to his bed, it was close to 2. He must have dozed off, before Emma left for her lunch date. He heard mumbling coming from the kitchen..Someone was on the phone. Maybe Emma was back. He reached for the crutch he had begun to use. It wasn't easy making his way across the room, but he managed. Reaching the hallway the words became clear...'of course I'm going to tell him.'
Emma heard the clatter, as Stanley stumbled, the soreness of his good leg giving way, and causing him to lose balance, "I have to go. We'll talk later." She quickly went to his side, helping him over to the couch.
"you should have called me."
"I thought you were still out."
Emma had totally forgotten about the canceled lunch date. "I didn't go out."
"oh."
Carefully lifting his leg up onto the couch, she then propped up some pillows for him to make him more comfortable, ."I thought you'd be pleased. After the fuss you made about it last night."
"Don't do me any favors, Emma."
"What?" she was surprised by the tone of his voice.
He couldn't hold it in any longer, "I'm not stupid. The mysterious phone calls, the frequent outings in the last few days. So what is it you need to tell me? That you're seeing that paramedic?"
"I told you, I didn't go out. And the last time I saw him was the day you left the hospital."
"Don't lie to me, Emma."
"I'm not lying."
"So you haven't lied to me once in the last few days, is that what you're saying?"
She didn't respond as she moved over to the window. Afraid to look at him.
"Well, I can answer that question. You've lied to me on more than one occasion. Oh, wait maybe they're not lies, maybe you just forgot to tell me some vital information...my shop was broken into yesterday, and let's not forget you lost your job."
Brent and Rachel. They told him She could understand Brent but not Rachel, her best friend. Before she could defend herself he continued, "What other lies have you told me? God, I thought I knew you."
Emma couldn't believe what was happening and refused to be the bad guy here, "Oh, that's rich coming form you Stanley. If we're going to talk about lies, let's start with you and how well I know you and all the vital information you have left out. Let's see where to begin...your time in prison that might be a good start don' t you think."
"What?" he was clearly surprised with her knowledge of this information.
"You want to know where I was yesterday, I was with your old friend Roberts. Hoping for some answers but you will be happy to know his information was limited. It seems your file is confidential."
"You could have come to me."
"I don't think so. If you truly cared about me, you would have told me this information ages ago."
"Emma, you said the past didn't matter. You made that perfectly clear only a few short weeks ago."
"Well, it matters now." She couldn't face him and she fiddled with the blinds on the front window.
"Why now?" He didn't seem overly upset, his voice was quieting down and when she turned to look at him there was concern in his eyes.
But Emma was beginning to feel more flustered and confused. It felt hot and she felt faint.
Stanley wanted to go to her but there was no way he was going to be able to get himself off the couch. "Emma, are you alright?"
She took a deep breath and glared at him, "No, I'm not alright. I lost my job, my boyfriend is a criminal who has an FBI file, and...." she couldn't say it.
"And what? There's something else you're not telling me"
She began to pace in front of the window, "I'm pregnant." She started to cry.
Stanley's mouth dropped in surprise, "Emma, for god's sake, that's it? You've been keeping this from me for weeks haven't you? Afraid I wouldn't want a baby." He smiled. "Oh, Emma, I can't think of anything I'd want more. Come here." he patted the sofa. "You have nothing to worry about, it's going to be okay." His mind drifted thinking about the possibility of being a father again,
"I knew you would say that. It's going to be okay. No, it's not." Stanley was shocked with her response. "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd want the baby. But maybe I don't."
The smile faded as he heard her sharp words, "You can't possibly be thinking.."
"Abortion, yes...I've thought about it."
"No, you can't possibly be thinking about having an abortion. Emma, for god's sake, I know things are a bit strained right now, but we can work it out. We can get married, I'll take care of you. You won't have to worry about a job"
"Marriage, right. Having a baby means getting married to you. Isn't that what happened with Holly's mother? I won't have it be an after thought. You obviously didn't want to marry me before you knew. So have your feelings for me changed so drastically in the last few minutes, I don't think so."
"It's not an after thought. You can ask your own children. I told them my intentions but said you weren't ready for marriage."
"That's a copout and you know it."
"I want to marry you, I want you to have my baby. I don't' know what I can do to convince you of that."
"I don't' know you. I don't know why you were in prison, or why these people are after you. How can I trust you? I've already been through one lousy marriage, with a man I thought I knew. I won't make that mistake again."
"You do know me. I love you, your kids. I can tell you everything you want to know about prison, about those people. Please Emma give me a chance."
She put her hand up, feeling faint, "I need some air. I need to go."
She didn't even give him a glance as she strode out the door.
He frantically called out her name, but she began to walk. And never looked back.