Chapter 8

Over the next few weeks, I visited a therapist. I rattled on about the abuse my father did to us. I cried about my brother molesting me when he was 13. I went through Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment and lost many hours of sleep. Paul was healing beautifully and bonding with Cara and Emily. He wouldn't talk to me, which made me worry. He had always had a volatile temper and since my father did also, I expected the worse from Paul, just like I did my father.

I couldn't help but wonder when the other shoe would drop…

I haven't stopped thinking about what Bailey might be doing, or who. She has been on my mind and I can't shake the thought of her. I missed her smile. I missed her laugh, if she laughed at all. I started thinking that she seemed detached somehow. Like she was there, but…not. Her eyes at times would seem far away and haunted. She would do some dangerous things and when she came out alive; she almost looked disappointed that she was still alive. She is definitely a mystery to me.

It bothered me that I was in Australia and her was still in Homer recovering. I worried he may come after her again. I sat in the green room trying to relax before the last show in Australia and some blond is trying to get me to come back to her place after. Unfortunately for her, I'm not paying attention. I'm too lost in the thought of the mystery of Bailey.

"Hey Brotha, you have been half here the whole time." Andy says as he and Sig sit next to me at the table. "What's on your mind?"

"Yeah, looks like you have a broad on your mind, man." Sig jokes.

"I have some things on my mind. I don't want to talk about it." I grunt out.

Just then the producer says, "We're ready for you, mates."

We head for the door, Andy and Sig following me. I turn to grab my cigarettes and I see Andy and Sig share a concerned look.

I slip into my bed at the end of a long day at school and try to relax. My phone rings for the fifth time and I see John is calling me. I press ignore and turn off the light. I don't want to talk to him right now. He left in a weird mood the morning after we slept together and I didn't want to have to make small talk at the moment. I know that he wouldn't get back for a while. He still had some appearances to make and I still have some things to work on with the therapist.

I really have one thing on my mind right now. Paul was released from the hospital yesterday and upon court order, he has to stay away from me and he has to stay in Alaska for two more weeks for therapy before returning to his home. I am really worried he won't follow through with the court order. He doesn't like to be told what to do, so I obsess on that fact and in the back of my mind I hope for the best.

I stand across the street staring into Bailey's window. She is lying in her bed staring into space. Her phone rings and she picks it up and appears to turn the phone off. She turns off the light and I walk away in the dark.

She asked me to leave town as soon as possible, but the fact that I can work from home, helps me stay longer than the courts say to stay. When the next two weeks are up, the no contact order will be lifted and if I continue to play the therapist, she should clear me soon. All I keep thinking is, "Bailey will pay, and I will have my girls back."