Chapter Seven
Kate Whitlock's POV
The countdown has begun.
By the end of the week, I will be back home where I need to be.
Home.
Nothing sounds better than that.
Home with my husband and our children.
Not Jasper Whitlock.
No. My husband is Garrett Andrews.
Well, so he thinks anyways…
At least that is the name that he has been for the last four years.
I look at the home that has been the place I have lived in that I have hated since the moment I came here.
I had a role to play. A role that made me feel ugly and dirty. Like a whore.
But it will make me a lot of money with insurance policies.
Thankfully, my loving husband understands. He is sitting with me on his lap, on the couch of my personal room. The only room I have ever felt solace in this place.
I am in the bed, resting from my long day. Childbirth and all the drama that has been my day is tiring.
"It is nearly over, my Love. It is nearly over. Jasper is going down one way or another. And we can be free and go anywhere we want," Garrett says.
"Did you call…" I asked.
"I sent a text that they need to come. They should be here soon. Then we will leave with the girls."
I nod, and he kisses my forehead.
"I have one more thing to do. Can you get my purse for me?" He nods and puts me down to get my purse.
"Thank you so much, my dear, sweet husband. I have everything we need in here already since I am sure that we are going to leave quickly."
Garrett nods in understanding.
"I will go pack my things. Are there any of the girls' things you want me to get for you?"
Thinking about it, I really wish I could keep more things. But this house will be a crime scene soon, and I highly doubt they will let us bring everything. Sad as that is.
"Clothes for each of them. But we will be able to get more later, so I am not as worried about that. Elise's blankets and toys. You know the ones she likes. Eleanor's horse, that was a gift from Elise to Eleanor, as you remember."
Garrett smiles, "Yes, she demanded that her sister needed that horse. Also, what about the few toys and blankets that Alistair got her?"
He makes a good point. Might as well.
"That would be sweet. Uncle Al loves his Elise. I am sure he loves Eleanor as well. Just at a different level."
That makes Garrett laugh. "Of course, Love. He will love Eleanor just like he loves and cares for Elise. I will get everything packed and in the car. Will the trunk work for everything but the horse and Elise's special blanket and doll?"
"It should. I just want to get out of here. I'm tired of playing dutiful housewife to a man who cheats and does not love me... Peter at least didn't cheat on me that I am aware of. I hated what I had to do to him. But he might have tried to sell Elise. I needed to keep her safe. At least until Marcus fell in love with her."
"Love, it was a necessary evil. You know that."
I look at my husband and realize that I am so lucky to have him in my life.
Because he loves me so much, he believes everything I ever told him. Most of our marriage and relationship have been a lie, so he doesn't turn around and expose me for the woman I really am.
A true black widow of sorts.
He kisses me on the forehead. "How are you feeling? I was sure you would give birth today to my daughter. That's two for our little family!"
I want to roll my eyes, but giggle instead.
"Well, they say love making is a great way to bring on labor. It worked perfectly. Except you could not be next to me. I am sorry for that." I look at him with what I hope was sadness.
"I was there, watching from the door. I love the name you gave her. Was that a nod to who her father is? Both my girls have 'E' names. Is Pearl going to be Eleanor's middle name?" My husband asks.
"I am not sure. I might change it. Elise's as well. Maybe change Elise's name to Elizabeth because we will be leaving here. Make sense?" I asked.
"She is little enough that we could change it and she could be alright. Something really different. Maybe something with a 'R'?"
I rolled my eyes.
"No. Something really different. I don't know what yet, we probably will be here another couple weeks and best to not think too much until we leave. I love you, husband." I hug him and kiss his cheek.
"I love you too, wife. Let's get some drinks and bring them to Marcus and Jasper. I am grateful that no one is monitoring our rooms. We would have been in big trouble. My little sex kitten."
I meow at his comment.
"Go get some sweet tea from the kitchen. Enough for everyone, please."
He nods, kissing my head, and hugging me before leaving.
Lord, help me, I am really thinking about using this on him as well. He is worth way more dead than alive to me. But he really should see some of his newest daughter. I really want to go home. Without the need for a man trailing me.
I was grateful to have my daughters. If we had been pregnant with a boy, I would hate to think what I would do about it. I thought I was carrying a boy with Eleanor. But thankfully, it was Eleanor.
I have thought about what I would call the girls. Autumn or Aurora were top contenders. Maybe Charlotte or Cassandra. If I were to really 'name them after their father again'.
Let's be real. I have four possibilities for Elise and three for Eleanor. There is actually a chance that Peter is the father for Elise. Jasper never was near me when I was ovulating, but he doesn't know that.
Alistair and Garett, on the other hand, were with me both times.
I hear a knock on the door. "Come in." I Figured it was either my husband or father.
The door opened, and it was Alistair.
"Marcus is dead. Jasper killed him."
I was in shock. Alistair looked almost smug.
"What does that mean for us?" My arms crossed across my chest, bad idea. "Damn it. I need my daughter. My boobs hurt, I should try to feed her."
Alistair nods.
"I will get her for you. What it means is that no matter what, Jasper is going to jail for the rest of his life. WE are free." Alistair is so excited.
Freedom.
Which means we will not have long before I need to work through my plans for him. I play like I am shocked.
"Are you sure? Free from the Whitlocks? I can't believe it!" He smiles and comes to hold me.
"Don't worry. I will keep you and the girls safe. You three are my life. Know that for sure. I love you, sweetheart." He kisses me sweetly.
"I love you too, darling. Can you bring me, Eleanor, please? She needs to eat."
He nods in understanding.
"I will change her if she needs it. Have you thought of changing their names? So they will be harder to track."
I nod. "Was there a name you were thinking?" I ask with a smile. I need to know what to not choose.
"I love the idea of Aurora for Eleanor. Autumn for Elise." Damn it. There go two of my names.
"Those are beautiful names, Alistair. I will think about some middle names if that works for you."
But really, you will be dead before that happens.
A smile lights his blue eyes and he goes to leave. "I am sure you will come up with something beautiful. I will bring Eleanor back for you."
He goes to open the door and Garrett comes in carrying the sweet tea and glasses.
"Sorry, sir. Kate asked me to bring her and everyone in the other room some tea. I brought you some bottled water, Kay. It will help with breastfeeding."
Garrett is a good father. At least he tries to be. I will surely miss him.
"Thank you for taking such good care of Kate, Garrett. It makes me happy to know she is well taken care of when I am not around. I am going to get little Eleanor. Try to get rest until then, sweetheart." Then he turns to Garrett, "Unfortunately, Marcus died by Jasper's hand. I need to get everyone together to know what we are going to do next. I want you at the meeting."
Garrett nods, and Alistair gives me a look, then walks out.
"Well, that will take the suspicion away from us with Marcus. Now, we just need Jasper to drink his tea and hopefully it will do its magic."
I nod.
"Can you leave our cups here? and I will drink mine after my water. Eleanor will be needing to eat and best she has some water and not tea."
Garrett laughs.
"Of course, my Love. Anything you need. I hate to leave you, but I need to use the bathroom. I will be right back." He kisses my lips and looks uncomfortable. "Did Alistair touch you?"
"He hugged me and kissed my cheek, maybe my forehead? Nothing he normally doesn't do. You know he is affectionate towards me, especially after I give birth. I assume he will be now more than ever with Marcus gone and Jasper denying the girls. He did offer to be their father to keep them Whitlocks after all."
He nods in understanding.
"Fair enough. He has always been attentive when I was not around. I always appreciated it and I knew my girls were safe and protected."
I nod. "Go to the bathroom. I will have Eleanor here soon and I will be napping once I feed her."
Garrett kissed my forehead and walked towards the door. "I love you, Kate, but I wish I could call you your actual name again. I miss it."
I look at him in wonderment. "Why don't you come to whisper it to me if it will help you, my dear."
He smiles and walks over to me like a man on a mission. He bends over so his lips are near my ear and softly whispers, "My beautiful wife. My beautiful babies' mother. My Love. My Rosalie Masen."
I smile as I hear the name that is not mine come from his lips. "My sweet husband. My loving girl's father. My Love. My Edward Masen." I say to him as quiet as can be.
He sighs a sigh and gives me a gentle hug.
"I love you. It means so much to hear you say my name, my Love. Soon, we will be able to shout it from the rooftops. I can't wait for that day."
I smile a small smile. "You had to go to the bathroom. You should go. I love you too."
He nods and goes to leave. Sending me an air kiss before leaving.
I wait until I know he is gone.
I put the glasses out into a line. Since I already told Garrett/Edward that I was not drinking the tea, I put one to the side.
I grab my purse and go through it and find a vial and two gloves. I am thankful that it is a full one. Opening the vial with the gloves on, I put all of it in the jug. Once the vial is empty, I lift the two-gallon jug and shake it, pouring it in each of the cups.
While it seems wrong, I pray that this works. I need them gone.
All of them.
My time is running out. They need to be dead if my plans are going to work.
I take off my gloves and hide the vial in it. I open my purse, hoping nobody checks it until I have gotten away.
A knock on the door sounds, and I call for them to enter.
I see my father and Elise come in with a swaddled Eleanor.
I smile at Elise and my father.
I really don't want to take my father away from the girls. But he is the reason we are all here.
I remember the day that he told me we were moving and my life was changing.
Everything about me… from the color of my hair, my eyes, and even my name.
