I am so sorry it has been a month since I last updated. There has been so much change and new responsibility in my life that the tension has affected my writing. I just can't seem to concentrate anymore. And when I do have a spare minute ( which is rare these days) I always feel like there is something I have left undone or need to be doing.
MYTH! I am so glad you are back. I have missed hearing from you. Your reviews are always so crazy and they make me laugh for hours. I was so sad when I didn't hear from you at the beginning but man did you make up for it. That many reviews in one day, I felt like a kid in candy store. You gave me the high I need to unlock the door in my head.
Latisha and Phoenix I humbly apologize. You two have been loyal the entire time and I hate that I left you hanging like that. But I am pleased to let you know that the last three chapters are outlined and partially completed.
Plus for having to wait so long I am going to give you a summery of the forth story of the series, Monsters in the dark.
Dave meets an interesting lady who has issues of her own. Paul and Steph have martial problems as she goes into labor and Halloween turns into a night of terror.
Happy reading.
Paul groaned in frustration as the line of stopped cars stretched out in front of him. Craning his neck he spotted the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. Muttering under his breath he picked up his cell phone and dialed his home number.
"Hello?" Asked a young female voice.
"Laney? What are you doing there?" Paul asked surprised having expected his wife's angry accusations.
"Why? Am I not allowed in your house any more?" The young girl asked sounding hurt.
"Of course you are. I just figured with everything that's been going on that you would stay at home." Paul answered.
"That's exactly why I am here." Laney told him, adding under her breath that she needed answers.
"What do you mean by that?" Paul asked warily.
"Just that I am tired of Daddy acting like an angry bear and taking it out on every one else." She told him, relating how he had acted after the news of John's arrest.
"So you just decided to leave?" Paul asked skeptically.
"Yea." She said innocently.
"Delaney, does you father even know where you are?" Paul demanded.
"Of course he knows. But you know I really shouldn't have told him considering he hasn't bothered to tell me anything. Not even one little thing about what's going on with John." She answered. "So how was Boston?" She asked after a brief pause.
"Don't go there Laney." Paul warned.
"What? I am just concerned about my friend. All I hear is what's on the news." She pouted.
"Fine but later please. I am just not up to dealing with it right now." He sighed feeling every muscle in his body protest the long night of waiting by the phone.
"Whatever" she muttered.
"Laney." Paul said sternly.
"Where are you? Weren't you supposed to be home by now?" She asked changing the subject.
"Don't I wish. I am stuck behind an accident. There's no telling how long I'll be here." He answered willing to let the matter drop.
"That sucks." The teenager commiserated.
"So where's Steph and how mad is she?"
"She's laying down intent on avoiding you when you get here. She's part of the reason I'm here. When I called yesterday she was really freaking about being alone. She's calmed down but she really doesn't like you right now." Delaney informed him.
"Great" Paul said sighing.
"If it's any help it's probably just pregnancy hormones."
"Yea but I've got two more months of dealing with these hormones." Paul told her groaning.
Journey pulled up in front of the Cena household and took a deep breath. "Come on girl you can do this. They're just the most important people in John's life."
Groaning she opened the door and stepped out, smoothing her skirt. Pulling the suitcase out of the back seat she started up the walkway. Once at the door she closed her eyes and pushed down on the doorbell. She opened them and smiled in relief as a familiar voice greeted her.
"Thank God it's you. I need all the morale support I can get."
"Yea, usually when a girl meets a guy's family the guy is the one doing the introducing." Nikki teased.
Journey frowned. "It's not his fault."
"Just joking, trying to lighten the mood." Nikki retorted as she led the other girl down the hall. "Okay, who first? The parentals or the daughter?"
"Ari. I want to give her the clothes we bought." The older girl answered holding up the suitcase.
"Thank goodness. Mother made her put on one of my old dresses. This impossibly frilly number. Totally hideous. Poor Ari is miserable." Nikki informed her.
Sending Journey a mischievous look she sailed into a pink and white bedroom, calling out as she entered. "Now where is my favorite niece?"
"Let's see dresser, desk, bed, porcelain doll in the chair by the window, mirror." Journey said pointing to each item as she called them out.
"Do you think she could have turned into the doll?" Nikki asked, getting into the game as she watched Ari struggle to keep a straight face.
"Hhmm, I don't know. Let me see." She said poking the little girl in various places, causing her to giggle.
"You know what used to be my favorite game with my dolls? Playing dress up." Nikki said coming over to the other side to the chair.
Grinning Journey opened the suitcase on the bed while Nikki picked up the 'doll' and carried her over.
"What do you think? Pretty or playful?" Journey asked holding up a skirt in one hand and jeans in the other.
"Jeans. I think she's had enough frill for today." Nikki said pulling the white ruffled dress over the child's head.
Ari allowed them to dress her as if she were a real doll, giggling the entire time. Once she was completely outfitted down to her new purple tennis shoes Nikki attempted to hold her new 'doll' causing the three to fall on the bed in a fit of laughter.
Calming down Ari turned to observe the lady who had brought her the new clothes. Journey wiped the laughter tears from her eyes and noticed the little girl staring intently at her. Smiling she held out her hand.
"Hi, my name is Journey."
"I know. My dad has told me a lot about you. And Randy and I talked about you this morning." Arianna informed her.
Journey saw the grin slip off Nikki's face at the mention of Randy. Turning back to Ari she held her arms out wide. "Do I measure up?"
"As a potential step mom I don't know. That's going to take a lot of thought." The little girl replied seriously.
"That's understandable. But how about as a friend for right now?" Journey asked.
"I think I can manage that." Ari said thoughtfully, causing the other two to smile.
"I am honored." Journey said giving the young girl a hug.
"Well if you two are done with the formalities I need to take Journey to meet my parents." Nikki informed them.
Journey winced at the reminder, causing Ari to pat her hand and whisper good luck.
Reaching the doorway Journey turned back. "Oh Ari, I have a message from your father. He's coming home tomorrow." Grinning at the look on her face she hurried to catch up with Nikki.
"So" she started as they walked down the hall. "I take it you haven't heard from Randy yet?"
Nikki shrugged. "I don't blame him if he never wants to talk to me again."
"He has no idea why you want to talk to him. He might be scared you are going to yell at him again." Journey pointed out.
"So what are you saying?"
"That you need to make the first move by calling him back." Journey informed her.
Instead of answering Nikki walked into a sunlight family room where her mother was settled with her design books. "Mother I want you to meet a friend of mine and John's girlfriend, Journey Dawson. Journey this is my mother Charlotte Cena."
"I am so glad to finally meet you." Journey said smiling bravely.
"Please have a seat. Would you like some tea?" The older women asked pasting a fake smile on her face.
"Well, if you two would excuse me I need to make a very important phone call." Nikki said, ignoring Journey's panicked look and backing out of the room. Hurrying up to her room she picked up her phone and punched in Randy's cell phone number.
"Hello?" He answered groggily.
"Randy hi, I hope I didn't wake you." She asked softly.
"No its okay." He answered.
"How are you feeling? How is your head?"
"Now you ask." He muttered, rubbing the abrasion on his head.
"What?" She asked not able to make out what he had said.
"Nothing its fine. What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry for yelling at you this morning and taking my frustrations out on you." Nikki said, wanting him to know how sorry she was.
"Well I am sorry for putting you through that and making you worry so much." Randy replied.
"It's just that I have been through so much with Monica and Ari and with John in jail and this to happen. It's just been too much. Add you to the mix and I went a little crazy." Nikki said frustrated because it wasn't coming out right.
"So does that man you don't want to see me anymore. Where you serious about what you said to me earlier?" Randy asked, trying to follow.
"No I wasn't serious. When I found out you had saved Ari and when she told me everything you had gone through I felt horrible." She responded.
"So everything's good between us?" Randy asked hesitantly.
"Sort of. I think I am going to stay up here. We have been moving too fast, and we hardly know each other. So let's talk on the phone, date, and when the time is right move forward." She suggested.
"That sounds good. I am glad you are not mad at me anymore." He said smiling.
"Well I am glad you are still talking to me. But I better get off here. I left Journey with my mother." Nikki told him.
"Ouch. Can I call you tonight?" He asked eagerly.
"I would like that." Hanging up the phone Nikki went in search of her friend, having found the sun room empty. Walking into the kitchen she found her mother talking to the housekeeper.
"Where's Journey?"
"I escorted her out the door." Charlotte replied not turning to face her daughter.
Dreading the outcome Nikki raced out the door to find Journey leaning against the side of the car lost in deep thought.
"What happened? What did she say to you?"
"Oh nothing much. She pointed out my multiple deficiencies ending with how I was not good enough for her son." Journey replied dully.
"Deficiencies?" Nikki asked confused.
"Oh you know, how I have nothing to offer in a marriage, how I have no college degree, live in the bad part of town, survive paycheck to paycheck from a dead end job. Basically I am the lowest rung of society. And she's right." Journey finished sadly before climbing in the car and driving off.
John fed quarters into the pay phone and punched in a series of numbers.
"Listen I just wanted to let you know that I am getting out in the morning. Your men did a good job." He said after greetings had been exchanged.
He listened as the man on the other line said a few curt words. "I know. I'm sorry that I got so mad Tues night. You were just looking out for me. I just don't like the method you choose."
"Yea I guess I did need their services after all." John replied after a few more choice words were growled.
"So I am assuming that there is going to be a command performance soon." John stated when then was nothing but silence on the line.
"The custody hearing is Tuesday." He answered in response to the man's question.
"Wednesday afternoon. I will be there." Hanging up the phone he closed his eyes dreading the thought of having to pay his debts.