"The Neighbors: A new Emaya story"
Surprise! Here's a quick follow up update!
Merry Christmas!
Or
Happy Holidays!
Rated M for Mature Content.
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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…
Chapter 41: Trust
Narrator POV
New York…
"Yes? Hello?"
"Mr. St. Germain?"
"Speaking."
"This is Agent Markham. It's a go."
"What?" He reacts loudly waking his wife Eva.
"Frank, what is it? Is it Maya?"
He holds up a finger to wait a minute.
"We're going in before Hurricane Ingrid hits. We feel there will be so much chaos that they won't even be paying attention to anyone arriving on the island. We're leaving tonight about twenty-eight hours before the storm is due to hit. When we arrive we'll storm the castle so to speak."
"Storm away Agent Markham storm away! Get me my daughter back and her friend."
"Don't worry sir. We won't leave without the both of them."
"Good luck."
"Thank you sir. But I feel confident that we won't be needing it."
Mr. St. Germain hangs up the phone. He is normally a man who does not show his emotions but tonight he lets them show.
"Eva, she's coming home."
He hugs his wife and both cry tears of relief for their daughter will be in their arms very soon.
"Frank, you better call the Fields and let them know what's happening."
"I will. You're right. They need to know that Emily is coming home too."
Grayson Island Mansion
Josh POV
I need to sleep but I keep thinking about Maya and our baby. I keep thinking about that story my mother told me to tell Maya and Emily. I keep thinking about my behavior at the hospital. I keep thinking about the car accident. I keep thinking about pushing Maya down the stairs. I was so angry with her! She cheated on me! And with another woman! Six years of marriage and she falls in love with a woman! Our next door neighbor for Christ's sake!
My thoughts are making my head hurt so I slowly walk into the bathroom searching the medicine cabinet for some headache relief taking two tablets with a glass of water. When I look in the mirror I can feel myself getting dizzy. I shuffle to the edge of the bed but my head won't stop aching so I lie down hoping I can sleep it off. But when I close my eyes all I see are images of my wife fucking Emily! I can feel myself begin to sweat. I try shaking those images from my mind thinking about our marriage and the amazing life we had together. Never did I ever threaten Maya or feel the need to be physical in an abusive way. I loved her. I still do. I would never grab her and shake her so she ends up at the bottom of the stairs. I would never try to solve our problems by running away from them. So why did I do those awful things to someone I love more than anything?
I toss and turn thinking about the night I found out about Maya's affair. I had suspected, and yes, I drank to numb myself of the pain and any emotion but instead anger festered within me. I had every right to be pissed! I had every right to scream at my wife! I had every right to feel betrayed! I had every right to know who she was sleeping with and why! I had every right to feel emasculated! Maya was leaving me for another woman! I couldn't allow that! I had to do something! But I never would have tried to harm her! I loved her! So why did I harm her? Was it the alcohol? I've gotten drunk before but never felt so angry and not in control. What did I do that night?
I remember my head was pounding just like that night so I took some ibuprofen but it didn't work so I took some more. I took some more. I took some more! Suddenly, I wake in a sweat! The ibuprofen! It's not ibuprofen! Fuck! Fuck me! How did she do it! My own mother! That story was true! All of it! And I believed it to be false! I can feel myself getting angrier and angrier! My heart starts beating faster and I feel like I'm not in control anymore!
I stumble to the bathroom reaching into the shower turning it on at full blast. I strip out of my clothes and stand under the beading pellets of water. My breathing is slowing down. My heart is slowing down. My anger is lessening. What the fuck is happening to me? Was I drugged? Did my mother do this to me? Is everything I told Maya and Emily really the truth? I hurt Maya because my mother wanted to control me?
My hands press against the walls of the shower keeping me steady. Did she really drug her own son? Is the Grayson family name all she cares about? Does she even care about her grandchild? Or does she just want to control her like everything else!
I dry off and lie down again needing my headache to go away so I can think straight. And then I end up falling asleep…
Emily POV
I roll over and see that both of us are still awake, "You can't sleep either can you?"
"Not really. I keep thinking about everything Josh told us. I want to believe him so badly but I don't know if I can."
I scoot over to her kissing her shoulder resting my head upon it, "I feel the same way. I don't feel good about this Maya but maybe there's a way Josh can prove he's on our side."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean have him take us to the tunnel that will get us out of here. We'll see where it ends up and if he's telling the truth then it won't be a dead end or bring us around in circles. It will be a true escape route. Once we know which tunnel it is all we have to do is make a break for it."
"Then what Emily? Swim to safety?"
"Hey, I know we need a place to wait out this storm and we'll find one. I promise you."
"Don't promise what you don't know for sure. If Josh is on our side then he'll get us to safety."
"And if he's not?"
We both sigh, not liking the second option. And all I can think is, Josh better make this right!
Josh POV
I wake with a start having again dreamt about everything my mother had me tell Maya and Emily. It was the truth! It had to be! She did this! She did it all!
I get up and get dressed. Father will tell me. He seems uncomfortable as of late and very concerned for Maya's well-being. Does he think Mother has gone too far as well? And if so, why isn't he stopping her?
I take a walk down the grand staircase hoping to find him in his study and sure enough there he is packing up some papers. He doesn't hear me come in…
"Father?"
"Joshua? Is everything all right? I thought everyone would be in bed by now."
"They pretty much are. Can I talk to you for a minute?"
As I walk into the study towards his desk, he shuffles some papers into his briefcase.
"What's going on?" He asks just before sitting down and gesturing for me to sit as well.
"Mother hatched a new plan to trick Maya and Emily."
"Trick? Into what?"
"She told me this elaborate story that I retold to them. Basically I said I think Mother is drugging me and that's why I'm getting so angry all the time. And you and she plan on leaving me here with them while the two of you take our baby back to New York. I convinced Emily and Maya that I would help them escape because I need to get away from her. Mother's plan worked. They're planning an escape through the tunnels and mother seems very pleased."
"I see."
"You see? Father, I took the ibuprofen in my medicine cabinet a few hours ago. It made me dizzy and I felt angry. I couldn't get Maya and Emily out of my head and that made me even angrier. I think mother really did drug me and I think that story she told me to tell them was really true! And all you can say is I see!"
"Joshua, anything your mother did, she did for the baby."
"So you approve?"
"This whole thing is way out of control and now a hurricane is headed this way? If we just stayed in New York none of us would be in danger right now. Your mother's desire to control everything around her could cause more harm than good."
"So what do we do?"
"Does Maya think you're going to help them?"
"Yes."
"Then help them."
"What?"
"Joshua, let your mother believe that you're doing exactly as she told you to do. But what you're really going to do is help those women escape."
"Father, are you sure?"
"I got so caught up in what your mother wanted that I didn't even think about you or Maya or that baby. We can fix this Joshua. We can make sure Maya is safe and gives birth to a healthy happy baby. But only if that's what you truly want."
"Father, I can't do this anymore. I feel so guilty. And I feel so betrayed by mother. She made me think that I had to do this to be a part of my baby's life. But all I really needed to do was to stop being drugged by her. I could've been killed. Maya could've been killed. Our baby could've been killed. Somehow, father, while the two of you were vacationing in the Mediterranean, she found out that Maya cheated on me. And with Emily. She wasn't avenging my honor; she was embarrassed by me, her only son, losing his wife to a woman!"
"She has a lot of money and people will do anything for money these days even drug someone."
"Maya and I almost died."
"Yes, but she had nothing to do with you getting in that car. Though I wouldn't put it past her to perpetuate your anger by having you drugged during your recovery."
"If you think that's the truth then why didn't you stop her?"
"Because her money is older than mine…"
Emily POV
Knock, knock, knock.
"Maya, did you hear that?"
"Yeah, someone's knocking."
We both get up groggily putting on our robes before opening the door.
"Josh? What is it?"
"Let me in. Quickly before anyone hears us."
I let him in and he closes and locks the door behind him.
"What are you doing?" I ask with annoyance.
"Shh, keep your voices down. We need to leave now."
"Now?" Maya questions.
"Get dressed and grab your bag," he says with determination in his voice.
"Why the urgency?"
"Because that story I told you was really true. I thought my mother made it up as a way to find out if the two of you were planning an escape."
"Wait. What?" Maya sounds confused.
"That story was a ruse to get you to trust me. But in fact it was true!"
"So why are we trusting you now?" I ask protectively.
"Because I'm here to make things right."
"How do we know for sure?" I need to know before we trust him any further.
"My father pretty much confirmed it. He's helping us. We have to go now."
"Emily, we can't wait to find out if he's telling the truth. We have to take a chance."
"I don't like this."
"I don't either but what choice do we have."
"He just admitted he was doing his mother's bidding."
"And he just figured her out. Please Emily let him help us."
"I'm going to get my things. Meet me at my room and we'll head down to the kitchen and pack some food that we can easily carry. And then I'll get you to safety."
We hurry into our bedroom and get changed into jeans, sneakers, t-shirt and short rain jackets that were given to us to prepare for the storm, just in case. We grab our bags and quietly head to Josh's room. He's already closing his door when we get there.
"Let's go. Father will cover for us."
We follow him quietly down the stairs. But someone's coming! We press our backs against the wall hoping they'll keep walking. It's security. Oh no! He stopped! Shit! We'll never get out of here! Maya squeezes my hand sensing my anxiety. And just when I think we've been found out, his walkie talkie beeps! He answers and keeps walking! We all let out our held in breaths.
Josh signals for us to follow. He heads to the kitchen. We shove anything we see into our bags not even caring what it is as long as it's food. There's a door next to the pantry. It doesn't even look like a door which is probably why I never noticed it when Maya and I were exploring.
He opens it and it creaks so loudly or at least it sounds loud because we're trying to be quiet. There are flashlights on a shelf so we each take one and head downstairs. I close the door behind us. We walk down wooden stairs 'til we reach the ground floor. There are passageways in four different directions. One leads to the bunker. One leads to the ocean. One leads to a boarded up exit. One leads to safety. At least, that's what Josh told us.
"Which one Josh? And hurry it up. Who knows when they'll realize we've gone," I say anxiously.
"It's this one."
"Are you sure?" Maya asks needing his reassurance.
"Shit."
"What do you mean, shit?" I practically shout.
"Okay, that one must lead to the ocean because the house is closer to the ocean on that side. That one leads to the bunker."
"How do you know?"
"The door is newer. Can you see?"
"Yeah, okay. So, what about safety or the boarded up exit?" I ask.
"I don't know. We'll have to guess and if we're wrong then we go back and try again."
"Really? That's your plan?" Now I'm frustrated. How does he not know this?
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Look you two. This isn't helping. Let's just pick one and go. The sooner we find out where it leads the sooner we'll know if we're safe or need to try again," Maya the practical one tries to calm things down.
"It takes about twenty minutes to get to the end. Are you ready?" Josh asks.
"Twenty minutes?" Maya sounds exhausted already.
"Yeah."
"Which one? The one headed east or the one headed north?" I ask.
At the same time Josh and I say, "North." Maya says, "East."
Upstairs in the Grayson's bedroom…
Joseph POV
Knock, knock, knock.
"Mr. and Mrs. Grayson?"
"What on earth?"
"I've got it dear," I get out of bed.
I open the door and I'm greeted by security.
"What is it that couldn't wait a few more hours?"
"Mrs. Grayson asked that your son's room and Emily and Maya's room be checked throughout the night."
"And you needed to wake us up to inform us of this?"
"No sir. I needed to wake you up to tell you that they're gone."
"Gone?" Miriam snaps out of bed with a natural grace putting on her robe.
"Yes ma'am."
"What do you mean, gone?" She demands answers.
"They're not in their rooms or the bathrooms or any rooms in this house."
"The tunnels. Have all security personnel check the tunnels."
"Yes ma'am."
"What did Joshua do?" She asks out loud.
"It looks as though he had a change of heart," I say smugly.
"You don't seem surprised by this."
"Oh, but I am. I didn't think he would ever grow a set to go up against his mother and the Grayson family name."
"Well I never!"
"And you probably never will again."
The Tunnels
Narrator POV
"Maya, I need to say something to you before we go," Josh pleads with her.
"Josh, we don't have time for this," Emily scolds.
"Emily, just give us a minute," Maya wants to hear what he has to say.
Emily glares at Josh while walking towards the stairs to give them some privacy.
"Maya, I'm so so sorry for all of this. I want you to know it wasn't me. It was but it wasn't. I mean, I love you and I would never hurt you. You know that. And I can prove that that Josh wasn't your Josh, I was drugged with these," he pulls out the bottle of ibuprofen to show Maya.
"What is it?"
"I took these about four hours ago and they made me feel weird."
"Weird how?"
"Angry and vengeful. I had feelings of wanting to hurt you and feelings of why is this happening again. And then I realized something. That night we argued and you fell down the stairs, I took some at the house but I still had a headache so I took some more. It was the ibuprofen Maya! I was under the influence of a narcotic just like I told you and Emily. That whole story was true and now, Maya, I'm going to make it up to you by getting us home," he looks over to Emily, "all of us."
Tears fill Maya's eyes. She always knew she didn't marry a monster. And that bottle is proof that she didn't! Maya gives her husband a loving hug and he in turn hugs her reluctantly at first, but then he holds her in his arms as the man she knew him to be.
"What's going on? We have to go," Emily breaks up the reunion.
"Emily, whatever happens you have to trust Josh. He's going to get us out here. Please believe in him like I do."
She looks at Maya and sees the desperation in her eyes and her need for Emily to trust her instincts.
Emily looks up and shakes her head, "I'm not sure I can. But I guess I don't have a choice." She walks towards Josh, "Get us out here Josh. If you're for real then you'll choose the right tunnel and get us to safety. Choose Josh. Choose now!"
"Okay. Fair enough. We're going east."
"But you and I both chose north. I don't like this," Emily folds her arms across her chest in disgust.
"I know. But I also know that Maya's never wrong. I trust her instincts especially while she's carrying our baby."
That last comment stings Emily. "If Josh is behaving like the man Maya fell in love with, will she fall in love with him all over again? He's the father of her baby. That bond is stronger than any bond I could ever share with her."
Maya can see Emily thinking.
"Emily, I've already made my choice," she tiptoes to her ear and whispers, "I will choose you over and over and over again. You are the one I'm in love with."
"Are you two ready?"
"Yeah," they both say smiling with entwined hands.
"Then let's get everyone home…"
It's close to midnight when the military plane lands on the airstrip. No one is there as they are readying for Hurricane Ingrid to arrive. The leader of the special task force instructs his team to secure the edge of the property checking the Grayson's security before moving in. Once everyone is in place the team leader will give the signal to strike…
Inside the Grayson Mansion…
"Mr. and Mrs. Grayson permission to speak."
"Yes, go ahead," Miriam commands.
"Our security team spotted movement on the outer edge of the property."
"Good. You've found them."
"No ma'am."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not them. There's too many. We need you both in the bunker. It's the only way we can protect you until we find out who it is."
"Miriam, we don't know what's out there. We need to go."
Miriam and Joseph follow their security detail to the safety of the bunker while the rest of the guards take their positions to protect the mansion leaving two available men to trail Maya, Emily and Josh.
Just before Miriam and Joseph are scurried to safety Miriam whispers, "Find them. Without them I have no leverage. Find them."
"Yes ma'am. We'll find them and bring them back to you. We won't let you down."
"I know you won't."
Miriam smiles a winning smile…
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To Be Continued.
Yes, Miss Reviewer, Josh is a good guy. Why did I decide to make him a good guy? Because Maya fell in love with a good guy and she needed to be reassured that he really is that good guy she married! ;)