"The Neighbors: A new Emaya story"
I'm back!
Let's set some things in motion by finding out what's in that envelope!
Rated M for Mature Content.
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Emily POV…
Maya falls asleep in my arms but my mind keeps going over and over what her dad said. I can't let Josh raise this baby. I can't. I shift my body to get more comfortable and as I do the pillows behind me knock something off of the end table. I reach for it picking it up from the floor. It's an envelope addressed to Josh. I check to make sure Maya's still sleeping and I open it. I take out the letter and something else falls out with it. I read the letter and then pick up its contents in my hand. A smile forms across my face. This is it! This is how Maya will raise her baby without any worries of a custody battle. I put the contents back into the envelope and slip it under the couch cushion. It will be my secret for now. I hug Maya tightly knowing for absolute certainty that she and I and our baby will live happily ever after…
Chapter 33: The Envelope
Emily POV
I nudge Maya awake helping her back to my house and up the stairs to bed. It was a really emotional day and night so she pretty much lets me undress her and redress her into her pajamas so she can get some more sleep. I pull back the covers for her and she climbs into bed. I bring the sheet and blankets up to her shoulders, kissing her on her forehead and then I walk towards the open bedroom door…
"Hey, where are you going?" she asks rather groggily.
She startles me, "Oh, I was just gonna get a glass of water downstairs. Do you want one too?" I quickly recover.
"No thank you. Em?" she barely utters.
"Yeah hon."
"Hurry back. I don't like sleeping without you next to me," she manages through her exhaustion.
"Don't worry. I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone," I smile. I love her so much.
"Good. I like hearing you say things like that," she turns on her side and I'm pretty sure she falls asleep.
I let out the breath I was holding in and quietly descend the staircase. I tip toe to the slider and carefully open it without a sound. I step outside and close it as quietly as I opened it. I dart across our yards and slip into Maya's house. I sneak over to the couch grabbing the envelope under the cushion and retreat in the same manner back home. But instead of going upstairs, I head to my study and close the door. I walk over to my desk. I anxiously place the envelope on top of it. I pull my swivel desk chair away from the desk. I sit down. I slide the chair closer. I place my hands palm side down on the envelope. I breathe in deeply letting it out slowly. I pick up the envelope and empty its' contents. I just stare at it. I can't help wondering if this is a gift from God. Does a higher power know of our dilemma? Is a higher power helping us to escape? Of all the things that could've ended up in my lap, I end up with this…
I put everything back into the envelope and place it in the top desk drawer. The key is in the pencil holder so I fish it out, inserting it into the keyhole locking it. I look around for a good hiding place and decide to put it between the pages of a book called, "Truly Madly Yours", a title that fits us perfectly because Maya, I am truly, madly yours…
With my bottom lip ensnared by my teeth, I close the book and place it back on the shelf. I release my lip satisfied with my devious ways, actually I think I'd rather say my mysterious ways. I take a step back quite pleased with myself and just as I'm moving my body in the direction of the door I hear,
"What are you doing?"
I freeze. A lump forms in my throat. I swallow hard. I turn all the way around to face the person who has caught me red handed.
"Jesus Maya you scared the crap out of me!"
"Serves you right! What are you doing down here all by yourself? Reading a book? Really?" she questions.
I need to think fast on my feet, "No. I, I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to disturb you with my tossing and turning." That was good Em, now stay focused.
"So…"
"So, when I can't sleep I straighten up. You caught me. I was just putting the books back that had found their way onto my desk." Come on Maya, believe me.
"Is that all?" she questions with narrowed eyes and a tilted head with arms crossed in front of her.
I take a few steps toward her unfolding her arms and place them around my neck. I secure her waist with my hands bringing her closer to me. She's so cute in her pajamas and bedhead hair. Aww, I love this woman so much!
"Yes, that's all," I kiss her in an effort to distract her from what she saw.
Our lips tangle for a few minutes before she pulls back, "Are you trying to distract me?" Wow! She so called me out on that!
So I fight fire with fire, "Yes. Do you want me to stop?"
"No and yes."
"No and yes?" I tilt my head questioningly.
"You said you were coming right back and you left me up there alone," she pouts.
"Awww, I might have the pouty lips but you definitely have the pouty look hands down," I kid.
"Ha ha. Come to bed, please," she lashes me. I can't resist those eyelashes.
"Yeah, let's go to bed."
Maya walks ahead of me out the doorway and just as I'm about to shut the lights off I peer back into the room to reassure myself that my secret is still my secret…
I quickly change into a tank top and pajama pants joining my girl in our bed. I lie down on my back so she can cuddle into me and she does just that. The warmth of her body makes me smile as I embrace her beauty, breathing in sync, holding each other through the rest of the night…
The next morning…
I wake to the curtains open and the autumn morning casting rays of light into the room. Hmm, no Maya. I drag myself out of bed and sleepily walk down the stairs towards the kitchen but out of the corner of my eye, the light in my study draws my attention. Oh shit! She found me out! Or maybe she didn't! I'm panicking for nothing. I steady myself as I slowly and carefully approach…
When I enter the room I don't see anyone. I shrug my shoulders and turn off the light when suddenly I hear,
"Hey, I'm in here."
Oh no, Maya, what are you doing?
"Sorry, I didn't see anyone so I thought I left them on last night."
I flip the switch.
She sits up leaning against the arm of the couch, "Ya know you have some really good books on that shelf over there especially this one."
I start to sweat. I peek over at the bookshelf to see if there is an empty space where that book was. And sure enough…
"It's called, 'Truly Madly Yours'. And ya know what got me really interested in this particular book?"
Shit, she's testing me.
"No, what?" I ask as innocently as I can muster while I join her on the opposite end of the couch.
"The key that fell out when I opened it."
Oh fuck.
"So ya know what I did?" Do I play along?
"Ahh, no, what?" I play along.
"I looked for all the possible places in this room that this key could fit into and guess what?" She's playing hardball.
"What?" She found it.
"I found it. The key fit the top desk drawer," she says like she's Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote or something.
"Really." Come on Maya, now what?
"Yes really. It's such the original hiding place." Her sarcasm is so on point.
"Maya…"
She talks right over me, "And guess what was in the drawer?" I wave the white flag of surrender.
"An envelope," I confess in defeat.
"Why yes, it was actually this envelope right here and it's addressed to Josh Grayson." Even with her sarcasm she's super sexy.
I swallow hard.
"What are you doing with my husband's mail and why did you try to keep it from me Emily?" She's not kidding anymore.
I can see she hasn't opened it yet. I must've interrupted her before she had a chance to see what was inside!
"Maya, I can explain."
"You better." And even mad she's sexy as hell.
"I wanted to surprise you."
"Surprise me?" She's not buying it. Think fast Emily. Think fast.
"Maya, that envelope is our happily ever after."
"What do you mean?" she asks with narrowed eyes.
"It's how you and I can be together and raise our baby without any interference from anyone especially not Josh." There I said it!
"Josh? But Emily, I want him to be a part of her life," she sounds confused.
"Maya, if Josh tries to get sole custody, then this is our insurance policy." I need her to see this my way.
"Insurance policy?"
"Not an actual insurance policy." I try to explain without digging myself into a deeper hole.
"Then what Emily or I'll look myself." And she means it.
"Can I have it?" I ask needing her to let me show her what I found.
I reach for the envelope. She eyes me but lets me have it. I open the envelope. I take out the letter along with what came with it.
"What is that?"
"It's a letter to Josh from the company that takes care of his family's travel arrangements on their private jet."
"Travel arrangements?"
"Yeah, remember right before the Art Show when we were talking about going on vacation together?"
"I remember."
"It appears that Josh went ahead with it. This is a letter confirming a trip to an island for four people and this is the itinerary along with yours and Josh's passports. I just need to get mine from the bank's safety deposit box and we're good to go!"
"Trip? Island? Passports? What does this have to do with anything?"
"Don't you see, if Josh gets out of control, you and I hop on his plane and get the hell out of here! Ryan can set the whole thing in motion by pretending to be Josh. He can call the number on the itinerary and tell them when to have the plane ready. You can even invite your parents so they can be there when the baby's born. We'll tell the pilots there's been a change of plan and Josh won't be able to travel for another few days. When we get to this island, we'll charter a small plane to another destination so Josh can't find us! Maya, we can be a family, a happy family," I exhale loudly I'm so excited!
"Em, I don't know. You're thinking too far ahead. We have to have faith that Josh will do the right thing."
I roll my eyes.
"I saw that."
"Good cuz you know deep down inside we have to do this, we have to."
I can tell she's thinking about it. She knows. She just doesn't want to believe.
"Maya, we have to."
I scoot over to her sliding under her legs so I can be closer to her so I can hold her and love her when she comes to realize this is the only way.
"I know. You're right. We have to."
"We do."
I extend my neck to kiss her. She cups my face with both of her hands drawing me to her mouth.
"I love you ya know but my Jessica Fletcher can see right through your sneakiness. So don't even think about trying that again cuz you know you'll get caught," she laughs.
"I know! I so sucked at being mysterious!" I laugh too.
"I'll leave the sleuthing to Ms. Fletcher if you'll steal my kisses instead of my mail."
"Good idea," I chuckle as our lips and our bodies become one…
At the Grayson's hotel room…
Narrator POV
"Joseph dear, has anyone made the arrangements for our excursion?" Miriam asks with her unique brand of stuffiness.
"Yes dear. I took care of everything. The jet will be ready on the dates we discussed."
"Good. I do hope that Joshua comes to his senses by then."
"As do I Miriam, as do I."
At the Sullivan's House…
Emily POV
After our nice sort of makeup session in my study, we have breakfast, shower and change. I sip a second cup of coffee and she sips a glass of water with lemon while we sit on the couch in the casual living room talking about the envelope…
"Em, when exactly does that itinerary say we need to leave?"
"It doesn't have a specific date."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a block of dates that fall right around your sixth month."
"That was lucky." Yeah, lucky. Hmmm.
"Well, I'm just glad Josh went ahead and planned all this so we have a plan B if we need it."
"I definitely don't want to do any flying after my six months and I'm sure my doctor would agree."
"Maya?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you mad at me?" I ask looking down as I take a drink of my coffee.
"Mad at you?"
I put the cup on the coffee table and find the courage to look at her, "Yeah, for keeping this from you."
"Oh that."
Silence.
"Em, why did you think you had to hide it from me?" She locks my gaze so I can't look away.
"I don't know. I guess I kinda saw it like a romantic movie where I swoop in and save the day."
"Swoop?" she smiles.
"Ha ha, yeah, swoop," I put my arm on the back of the couch.
"Well, why don't you swoop on over here and kiss me." She doesn't need to tell me twice.
"Like this…" Kiss.
"Yeah, just like this. Kiss. And like this. Kiss. And like this…"
Narrator POV
Little do they know they stumbled upon a devious plot to separate the two of them with the most devious part of all being…
Separating Maya from her baby…
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To Be Continued…
Will Emily and Maya need to resort to Plan B? If so, will Josh foil their plans? Or will Emily and Maya finally get their happily ever after…