"The Neighbors: A new Emaya story"
When you read this story, you can click on salsa3344 and my bio will pop up. Under my bio are all the stories I've written so far. There are 17 altogether so far…
I was looking at "Halloween Reloaded" trying to figure out how to tie it all together when I reread Chapter 10 called Fix You…it's a great read for all you Emaya lovers out there! But I wrote it so my opinion is biased! Lol! ;)
Rated M for Mature Content.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Someone heard everything. Someone enters the bedroom. Someone stands at the foot of the bed. Someone watches two beautiful women entangled in each other's arms. Someone's ire returns. Someone makes a decision. Someone is going to end this once and for all…
A shadow in the night…
Chapter 35: Two Plans But With Whose Ending?
Narrator POV
Someone silently stalks Emily's side of the bed, hands in the ready, ready to wrap around her neck! Someone's breathing quickens! Someone's eyes narrow! Someone leans towards her! But then, someone's phone vibrates distracting from the menacing act about to unfold! Someone takes the cell phone out of the front pants pocket. Someone steps back away from the sleeping victims. Someone clicks on the messaging app. Someone reads the text…
We've come too far to have things end like this.
We have a plan.
We need to abide by the plan.
Someone clicks the message away. Someone slips the phone back into the front pocket. Someone is done waiting for this plan to unfold!
Someone else enters the bedroom! Someone else clamps a gloved hand over the other someone's mouth! Someone's arm is grabbed behind the back! Someone is angrier more now than before! Someone makes eye contact with the someone else…
The gloved hand is removed and both someone's leave the room carefully and quietly descending the staircase. They end up in the study downstairs closing the door behind them…
"Damn it father! Why did you stop me?" Josh yells in hushed tones.
"You're lucky I did. I'm not going to watch my only son go to prison! We can do this but not this way!"
"But, did you see them?" Josh leans back on the arm of the couch, his hands covering his face, as his manifested anger escapes through his tears.
"Joshua," his father extends his arms taking his shoulders, "that couldn't have been easy for you. Now you know this is real. Maya and Emily are very real. Which begs the question, are you sure you still want Maya back?"
He wipes his face with his hands then soaks the wetness into his pant legs. When he gets up his father backs away, "Maya can go fuck herself! But that baby she's carrying. Our baby. My baby is going to be raised by me!"
"That a boy, son. You and your mother and I will make sure of it. But we need to leave before they wake up," he says proud of his son for making such a seemingly difficult decision.
Joseph is about to leave when Josh grabs his arm, "Father, wait."
"Wait for what Josh?"
"I heard them talking. They have a plan of their own. They're flying to California on Saturday!" Josh reveals with desperation coating his words.
"California? That means our plan won't work," Joseph sounds disappointed but somewhat relieved.
"Oh yes it will!" Josh says excitedly.
"How?" his father asks somewhat confused.
"We'll have the jet fueled and ready. When they arrive at the airport we'll cause a diversion and have Maya put on our plane," he's says with absolute conviction.
"The envelope Joshua, where is the envelope? We need her passport to get her out of the country," Mr. Grayson prompts his son.
"It has to be around here someplace."
"There check the desk," his father points out.
Josh opens the top drawer and finds the envelope lying on top of some folders. He takes it out, spilling its contents onto the desk.
"If she's going to California then she won't need this," he holds up her passport then grabs his as well but leaves everything else.
"Joshua, take everything. They won't even miss it because they won't need it. There, take some copy paper from the printer and place it in the envelope to make it look like nothing was taken."
Josh puts everything into his pockets then the two of them slip out the slider door cutting between the Sullivans and Graysons yards hurrying to the car parked at the end of the street. They settle into the backseat to return to New York and the rehab center with no one even realizing Josh went missing. Afterwards, Joseph returns to the hotel. He slips into his sleepwear and goes back to bed. Miriam stirs turning onto her side. They exchange glances. She knows. She approves…
Emily POV
"Mmmm. Good morning…"
"Mmmm. Hey…is it morning already baby?"
"Looks like it. See that light over there shining through the curtain that would be morning," I tease. Oh how I love to tease and be teased.
"I don't want to look. That would mean I'd have to actually open my eyes," she snuggles back into me. That feels nice.
I move to let the light in.
"No, don't you dare!" her eyes still closed with a huge smile.
She puts all of her body weight on me and even with the baby she's lighter than my gym bag!
"Maya, we need to get up. Your parents are coming over for breakfast and so is Ryan, remember?"
She gets serious for a moment, "Emily, how is Ryan?"
I gently turn on my side so I can look at her while I'm talking, "He's good. He's been working a lot and I guess he has a new friend."
"A new friend?" She perks up turning on her side too.
"Yes. He seems happy and I'm kind of relieved."
"He's one of the good ones Em. I can't imagine how it must've been for you to let him go," she reaches up slipping my hair behind my ear.
I lie back onto the pillows, "It wasn't. I even wondered if I did the right thing."
She sneaks her body close, hovering over me, looking into my eyes with some worry, "You did?"
"Maya. I'm here with you right now because you are my choice, you are my right thing."
She leans in for a kiss, "I love you baby."
"I love you too. Now, I'm going to let the light in and you're going to like it!" I laugh.
And then I take a moment just to look at her, my incredible and beautiful Maya. And then I slip away from under her.
"Fine! Be that way!" she laughs! "I'm just gonna lie here til you're done in the shower, okay?"
"Yeah sure. But you're next so don't get too comfy." I think I love her more every second that goes by.
"Yeah baby. I really am tired." I can't resist her, tired, not tired, anyway you look at her, I just can't.
I crawl back onto the bed and kiss her on the forehead, the tip of her nose and her moist soft lips. Okay, I'll wake you when I'm done." Am I dreaming or is this woman really mine?
"Thank you baby," she says with a wink. Yep, she's mine!
I walk towards the bathroom leaving her to get some more rest, "You're welcome."
She closes her eyes and falls fast asleep even with the sun shining into the room. I love her…
About ninety minutes later…
We gather downstairs in the kitchen sitting around the breakfast bar when the doorbell rings.
"I'll get it. It must be Ryan," I announce. I'm actually excited to see him.
I open the door, "Good morning Emily," he smiles with his new five o'clock shadow. I think I like it!
"Good morning to you, Scruffy," I laugh.
He scoops me into his arms, "How are you, you and Maya and the baby?"
He's genuinely concerned which shatters my heart because he still loves me and he's still there for me.
"We're good. Maya's parents are here and well, why don't you come in so we can fill you in on the rest."
"This sounds serious, is Josh giving you any trouble?"
"No, nothing like that but his parents are behaving suspiciously. I can't put my finger on it but I'm sure there up to something," I explain as we join the others in the kitchen.
Maya gets up approaching him with open arms.
"Thank you Ryan. Thank you for everything. I'm just so sorry you were hurt. I can't apologize enough for that," she puts her head down still in his arms.
"Maya, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. You just take care of Emily so she can take care of you and your baby," he kisses her on the cheek. I really do still love him. But my love for Maya is deeper than anything I've ever known. And I think he knows that.
"Ryan, I'm Frank St. Germain and this is my wife Eva St. Germain. We're happy to meet you and thrilled that you want to help," he extends his hand and in turn Ryan extends his. Mr. St. Germain gives a firm handshake.
He looks Maya's dad in the eyes, "I don't want anything to happen to them or anyone. Stuff happens. Maybe not the way you envision it so you either accept it or you move on or you obsess. Josh obsessed. He obsessed a lot. I just wish I knew how serious his obsession really was so I could've done something more."
"Oh Ryan, no one knew, not even me and I lived with him," Maya gives a comforting squeeze to his arm.
Ryan joins us at the breakfast bar so we can discuss our plans in more detail.
"So, Maya and I are going to fly back to California with her parents."
"California? Really?"
"We think it's the only way to assure Maya's safety," Mrs. St. Germain answers.
"Ya know, I think you're right."
"Really?" I'm surprised.
"Yeah, you'll be on the opposite coast and it's not like he's flying anywhere anytime soon. I feel good about your decision," he smiles.
"Thank you Ryan. That means a lot, thank you," I keep repeating because he's amazing, he really is!
"You have my number if you need anything. And do you think it would be okay if I see you off?"
"Of course! I'd, we'd love for you to do that!" He's a real prince!
"Ryan, thank you," Maya gushes. We're both so happy that he's being so supportive. I really hope his new friend knows what she's got!
"Okay then it's settled. I'll be back Friday night so I can help you with your things. You don't mind if I stay over do you?" he asks not sure if it would be awkward. It will be at first but his presence will actually make us feel safer.
"Absolutely, you can stay. We wouldn't have it any other way," I insist.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow night then," he says happy for us but sad inside, I can tell.
"Ryan, do you mind if I ride back with you?" Maya asks.
"What! No way Maya! You're not going back! You can't! You might give us away! We just need to leave the day after tomorrow and that's it!" I practically scream at her. I'm a little more than annoyed. I'm pissed!
"Em, geez, I was just going to say goodbye to him without him knowing I'm saying goodbye," she counters sounding quite sad. I didn't mean to make her sad! I would never do that!
"Maya, Emily's right though she could've been a little less protective," Ryan smiles.
"You're right, I'm so sorry Maya. I just get really anxious with the thought of you being alone with him," I try to explain.
"Honey, I have to agree with Emily and Ryan," her mom gets up to give her daughter a side hug.
"Maya, there's going to be no visit. We leave first thing on Saturday," her dad drives the point home.
"I, I, okay, fine. I know you're right, all of you. I just always get these guilty twinges and feel like I have to make amends," she says understanding the complexity of the situation and coming to terms with the decision to stay away.
Now that that's settled we say our goodbyes to Ryan and Maya's parents then stroll arm in arm over to the couch plopping down on it.
"It's done. We're officially leaving New York," I say.
"I can't believe we're going to spend Christmas in California! Christmas is supposed to be cold and snowy and in New York," she cuddles into me. I fall back onto the arm so she can lie with me more comfortably.
"I know! It was supposed to be my first Christmas here! I can't believe I'm going to miss it!" I laugh but she doesn't.
"I'm sorry for that Emily. It's all my fault," she tenderly and so sincerely states.
I pull her close to me, "No babe, you are way more important than a Christmas in New York. You do know that I hope," I kiss her sweetly.
"I do. But if we hadn't then who knows."
"Don't even think that Maya! We are who we're supposed to be with! You and I together are about to become a family. And there's no way Josh and his parents are going to prevent that from happening."
"Have I ever told you how much I love it when you take charge," she smiles with that eyebrow arch.
We laugh in each other's arms and it feels so good! I just can't believe that in one day we will start our life over and no one is going to get in the way of our love, no one!
Narrator POV
Mr. Grayson calls his son…
"Joshua."
"Yes father."
"Everything has been arranged."
"You mean…"
"Yes, I mean, come Saturday, everything will move forward according to our revised plan."
"And…"
"And you'll raise your baby without any interference from Emily or Maya's parents or Maya."
Josh hangs up the phone. He folds his arms with the smirk of someone who has just beaten the odds and is about to cash in…
"Oh Maya, you cheated on the wrong husband. And now, not only are you going to lose Emily, you're going to lose your baby too! Cheating bitches never win!"
He falls back into bed and closes his eyes dreaming of his life with his daughter, a daughter who will never know her mother because she will never know of her existence…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
To Be Continued…
