"The Neighbors: A New Emaya Story"
Let's get back to the island and see what will happen to Emily and Maya.
Rated M for Mature Content.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I wake from our nap realizing we slept for hours as dinner is fast approaching. I slip out of Maya's arms walking into the sitting area of our suite. And as I'm about to look out the window to check the timing of the armed guard's shift change, I notice that dinner attire has been selected for us and is lying across the back of the couch. This woman is unbelievable! She kidnapped us and now she's dressing us up like her favorite dolls!
It's whatever now. We have to keep up this charade for as long as it takes to free ourselves from this place and the Graysons, or maybe just one Grayson, Miriam…
Chapter 40: New Hope for an Escape or Is It?
Emily POV
Maya and I walk down the grand staircase hand in hand. She's wearing a green strapless dress with a flowing skirt and green heels to match. I'm dressed in a royal blue sleeveless dress with black heels. Miriam insisted on proper hair and makeup and I'm kind of glad she did because Maya looks absolutely stunning!
As we make our graceful descent, Josh passes by, but stops, slowly turning, captured by Maya's beauty. In his gray suit, he actually looks like the Josh of old. His shoulders fall back as he drinks in the essence of his wife. He appears to be taken by her exquisiteness as am I. He waits for us offering his hand, helping Maya step from the last stair.
"You look radiant," he says bringing her hand to his lips kissing it in quite the gentlemanly way.
"Yes, she does, doesn't she," I squeeze Maya's other hand and he politely let's go.
"You look very nice Josh. You look like yourself. It's nice," she smiles and I can feel the heat of jealousy stir within me.
"How are you feeling from your flight?" He asks like she wasn't forced to fly here.
"I feel fine. The baby feels fine too," she says knowing that's what he wanted to find out.
"Maya, I just wanted you to know…"
But before he can say anything he's interrupted by his mother, such a dreadful woman.
"Enough with the dilly dallying. Dinner is served," she so regally announces.
As she walks passed, I roll my eyes and I could swear Josh rolls his too. Maya nudges me, letting me know that she saw it too. Has Josh come around or are Maya and I just hoping that he is. We so desperately want to get off this island I'm wondering if we're only seeing what we want to see…
Josh pulls the chair out for Maya and for me too. What is happening? Maya and I have a conversation with our eyes letting each other know we've noticed his transformation. Or are we being fooled into believing he's the Josh Maya married and loved before she loved me...
Miriam clears her throat, "Are you enjoying your meal?"
Maya senses my annoyance and decides to play along, "It's delicious. I'm in need of some protein today and this is exactly what the baby needs too."
"Yes, the baby. You need to stay nourished. You need to be healthy, Maya," she says holding her fork in her left hand and her knife in her right, so properly un-American.
"I will do whatever it takes to have a safe pregnancy," Maya retorts.
"And you will, Maya," Josh smiles with a reassuring wink. I don't know what's gotten into him and I'm definitely not sure if we should trust him.
Mr. Grayson stays rather quiet as the stuffy dialogue continues through dinner. But when it's time for dessert, the head butler, I guess you would call him, whispers something into Miriam's ear…
"What is it mother?" Josh asks.
"It appears as though the island is in the direct path of Hurricane Ingrid which will be arriving within the next day and a half. The staff and grounds workers will be readying the house for a worst case scenario. Windows will be boarded up and everyone will remain on the ground floor."
"Mother, shouldn't we prepare to go underground?" Underground? My head pops up.
"The staff will bring food and supplies through the tunnels to the underground bunker," she says like the Queen of England, drab and dismissive.
And all that consumes my mind is underground tunnels, underground tunnels! We will escape! We will escape from the Graysons and we will escape from this storm!
"While the staff takes care of our necessities and theirs, everyone should pack a small bag of personal items. Maya, please think of anything you might need for you and your baby," Mr. Grayson intervenes the conversation inviting a definitive glare from his wife.
"Maya, whatever you need, please let me know," Josh says like the loyal husband he once was. I'm feeling very confused by his behavior and I'm afraid to trust it.
"I will Josh, thank you," Maya says rather appreciatively with a head tilt. What is happening!
"If it's all right with everyone, I'd like to be excused with Maya so we can make a list of things she'll need if we're underground for a while," I say about to push out my chair.
"You will be excused when I excuse you," Miriam says like the governor (warden) in the Australian women's prison series 'Wentworth'.
And ya know what? I sit back down! I'm such a pussy!
Finally after dessert, Miriam excuses herself and I'm guessing the rest of us. She and Mr. Grayson head upstairs to pack I suppose. And while I'm distracted by the two of them, Josh pulls Maya's chair out for her and extends a hand to help her up. He then whispers something in her ear and she smiles. She smiles like the way she makes me smile. I feel like a fire breathing dragon ready to singe this little exchange.
As I approach her side of the table, Josh excuses himself, "Maya, what the hell was that about?" I don't mince my words.
"What?" She asks clearly poo-pooing what I just witnessed.
"Really Maya? What did Josh say to you? You were practically blushing," I say as jealousy decides to rear its ugly head.
"Emily, it was nothing," she squeezes my forearm.
"If it was nothing than tell me. Please," I add trying to lessen the harshness of my tone.
"It was something he used to say to me when we were married," she smiles like she's remembering who he used to be.
"I'm still listening Maya," I snap her out of her reminiscent journey.
"He said he always knew I was going to have a little girl and he hopes she turns out just like me." And this time she blushes!
"Just like you…even now after choosing me over him?" I question his sincerity.
"Yeah. Even now," she folds her arms across her chest.
"Maya are you rethinking this whole 'you like girls' thing?" I suddenly feel alone.
She tilts her head, this time out of reassurance for me, "Baby, he knows I choose you. And you know I choose you. My love is yours."
She reaches up through her toes kissing me on the cheek.
"My love is yours too."
And suddenly I realize how silly I'm being.
"I know baby, let's go upstairs and start packing."
But before she can pass me I pull her into a hug and whisper in her ear, "And planning our escape."
In New York
Narrator POV
"What do you mean the rescue is a no go?!" Mr. St. Germain fumes.
"It's not a no go, it's a reevaluation," the FBI agent tries to explain.
"Reevaluation?"
"The weather has become a key ally or enemy where this rescue is concerned."
"Why?"
"The island where your daughter was taken is in the direct path of Hurricane Ingrid. We can get in but getting out could pose a problem."
"Because of the heavy winds?"
"Exactly. Our team is strategizing as we speak. They're going over the latest Doppler readings so we'll have a clearer idea of how much time we have to get in and get out. Or if we have to wait until the storm passes."
"You can't wait! You have to get them out of there now!"
"I understand that Mr. St. Germain but we don't want to put your daughter in a situation that could be harmful for her and her baby."
Mr. St. Germain sits dejectedly on a cushioned chair in the agent's office. His hands rub his head from front to back until he finally looks up at the agent and says,
"The baby. You're right. You have to think about the baby. Just please let me know as soon as a decision is made."
"Of course, Mr. St. Germain, that I can do," he pats him on the shoulder before excusing himself.
"Oh Maya, please be okay. And just know that your father is coming for you. I promise."
Upstairs in the Grayson Island Mansion
Maya POV
I lean into Emily on the balcony of our room. Her arms wrap around me holding me securely against her.
"These windows will be boarded up soon," I say.
"I know. But it won't matter because we're getting out of here before that hurricane hits."
I turn in her arms to look up at her, "Before the hurricane? How?"
"The tunnels Maya, the tunnels. They must lead off the property or close to its edge. All we have to do is pick one and go," she says quite determined.
"That's all? But what about the storm?" I'm not sure I agree with her plan.
"The storm is on our side Maya. They'll be so distracted they won't even realize we're gone until it's too late." Now she sounds rather convincing.
"And where will we go to stay safe from the storm?" I have to be the practical one. I'm the one carrying an unborn child.
"There must be other buildings with basements around here. We'll go there." She's being persistent, that's for sure.
"I don't know Em." I have to be practical and logical.
"What do you mean you don't know?" She's upset with me.
"It just feels safer here."
"Safer? With Miriam, the Queen Mother?" She has a point.
"No. I mean structurally safe. Safe for me and my baby."
"Maya, I know you have a precious little one inside of you and I would never suggest doing anything I didn't think we could handle. We can do this as long as we work together," she holds me close and I feel like I could do anything with her, even battle Hurricane Ingrid.
"Do what as long as you work together?" A voice startles us from behind. But not just any voice. His voice.
Emily POV
"Get away from your mother," I turn around still holding Maya close.
"Emily, shush."
"If that's the plan then can I come too?" They laugh. What the fuck is going on?
We walk into the sitting room closing the French doors to the balcony behind us. Maya and I sit on one sofa while Josh sits on the other sofa across from us.
"Are you two planning an escape?" He asks rather boldly.
"Why do you ask? So you can report to mummy dearest?" I counter.
"No. I'm asking because this has gone too far." Did he really just say that?
"It has?" Maya asks almost delightfully that her husband isn't the crazy fuck we thought he was.
"Maya, I was so angry when I found out you cheated on me and I was humiliated when I found out it was with a woman. My anger consumed me. I hurt you physically and I can never forgive myself for that." Damn it Josh, what is your angle?!
"So, why be all crazy with this elaborate plan?" I want answers.
"Look, I was hurt really bad emotionally and physically. I made some rash decisions. If I had just waited for everything to sync in maybe that car accident wouldn't have happened. I'm so sorry Maya," he says apologetically. And he looks the part too.
"But it did," Maya says sadly.
"I know. And then my mother got in my head. She made me believe you had to pay and that this was the only way. I started thinking like her and acting like her and that's why the two of you are here."
"So now you expect us to believe that you're on our side?" I challenge.
"No, our side," he corrects me meaning the three of us and baby makes four.
"What do you mean?" Maya asks.
"We're all getting off this island. Me, you, the baby and Emily," he says with conviction.
"Why should we believe you?" I still don't trust him.
"Yeah Josh, why now?" Maya wonders too.
"Because I overheard my parents talking, my mother actually. She was going to leave me here as well because I was going to try to win Maya back. But after seeing the two of you together I know that her future is with you Emily. I'm not going to put our baby in jeopardy for the sake of my mother's ego."
"What else did you hear?" There must be more.
"I thought my mother supported my decision but she was only pacifying me. She was going to abandon her only son and take our baby to raise as a respectable Grayson heir."
Maya and I are both in shock.
"What!" Maya shrieks.
"That crazy bitch!" I say for both of us!
"She has every intention of keeping our baby from me as well."
"So you expect us to believe that you really want to help us? How do we know that Miriam didn't put you up to this?" I interrogate.
"You don't. You can only trust me to make it up to you. Please let me help you, us," he says with pleading eyes.
I want to believe him but he was so angry. I don't think he's telling us everything.
"Josh, what aren't you telling us?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's more to this than your mom being a total bitch."
"Josh, please tell us," this time Maya pleads with her eyes.
He stands up putting his hands in his pockets and takes a deep breath.
"Yes, there's more…"
"What more?" Maya asks more patiently than I would have.
"When I was a teenager I had a bout with depression. I took mood stabilizers. But if I took more than was prescribed I became violent."
"Josh, why didn't you tell me?" Maya asks compassionately.
"Because as soon as I moved out of my house the episodes stopped. I didn't need the medication anymore. I started eating right and exercising and focusing on my studies. I became the man I was meant to become. But when I started having doubts about us, Maya, I started taking the pills again. I wanted to be angry with you. I wanted to be really angry with you. So I took an extra dose or two. That's when I pushed you down the stairs and when I lost control of the car. When my mother found out about what happened I think she wanted me to stay angry with you. I can't help but wonder if somehow she got the doctors to administer that medication in a higher dosage so I would be angry all the time. Angry enough to pull something like this."
"Kidnapping?" I say bluntly.
"Emily. Please," Maya scolds.
"So why aren't you on the meds now?" I ask.
"My mother thinks I am. I play angry when I'm around her and she seems satisfied."
"I don't know Josh. This is a lot for us to take in," I say not knowing if we should believe him.
"I can get us out of here. Just say the word. Let me make this all up to you. Please," he kneels at Maya's feet begging for her forgiveness.
She runs her fingers through his hair, "Josh, let me talk to Emily privately. Come back first thing in the morning. That should be enough time to get us out of here if we decide to trust you. You have to know Josh this is a lot to take in."
He lifts his head, "I know. Just don't take too long to decide. We have to take advantage of the storm."
Maya and I look at each other not knowing what to make of all this as Josh heads for the door.
"Maya, please. I want to help. I want to be the father to our baby that I always wanted to be."
With that, he closes the door behind him.
I immediately jump up, "What was that?"
"I don't know Emily but we need to decide fast. And right now Josh might be our only hope…"
Narrator POV
Josh heads to his room but makes a stop along the way. It appears that Miriam was expecting him.
"They bought every word, mother, you are a genius."
She smiles an evil confident smile...
As Josh leaves he can't help but wonder if the story his mother said she fabricated is actually true. Did she have the doctors administer a higher dose of his medication? Did she plan on leaving him on the island with Maya? Did she want to raise his baby as the rightful Grayson heir? He shakes his head and thinks, "My mother would never do that to her only child, would she?"
Josh finds himself struggling with what to believe, his head or his heart…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
To Be Continued…
Will Josh choose to save Maya and Emily? Or is he really his mother's son?
Thanks for your patience ;)