Chapter 6
(Phoebe's POV)
It is Valentine's day today and Nathan and I just got home from work. Nathan is making pasta carbonara and we are going to enjoy a nice quiet meal together. These past two weeks have been crazy. We both have been swamped at work. Two nights in a row now Nathan has been paged to the hospital in the middle of the night. We just need a night to ourselves.
I turn on some quiet music and open a bottle of wine. I pour him one and set it down next to him. I reach up and start massaging his neck. He turns towards me and leans down kissing me.
"I'm sorry, I've been so busy baby," he says and I shake my head cupping his cheek.
"Hey, we both have been let's just enjoy this night together," I smile and he kisses me.
I start making the cranberry walnut salad and Nathan is cooking the peas for the pasta. I hum along to the music and look up glancing at him every once in awhile. I look down at my ring and smile. It is so gorgeous. I love this little life we have together.
I set the salad on the table and start setting the table. I grab both of our wine glasses and set them on the table. I sit down as he comes and puts the pasta on the table. "Cheers to nine valentines days together," I say and he shakes his head.
"Crazy," he says and I smile. We clink glasses and I start to eat my pasta.
As soon as I scoop pasta into my mouth there is a knock on the door. I look to Nathan and he sighs. "For fucks sake," he says and stands up putting his napkin on the chair. He goes to the door and I stay sitting refilling our glasses of wine.
"Mom, oh my god," I hear and I immediately got up and run to the door. There I see Berkeley, Mrs. Moore, and Nathan standing there. Mrs. Moore has a black eye and a cut lip. My stomach sinks.
"What is going on," Nathan asks cupping her face and checking it out. Berkeley is sobbing and I go over to hug her.
"It's Dad, Nathan. It's Dad," Is all Berkeley says before Nathan is putting his shoes on to leave. Oh my god. I can't believe this is happening. Nathan is going to kill his dad.
"Berkeley, take your mom in the kitchen," I say. I run and go to the door blocking it not allowing Nathan to leave.
"You are not going to your dad," I say and he is fuming and pissed.
"Phoebe, move," he says and I put up my guard.
"Nathan, you are not about to get physical assault charges along with your dad," I say and he shakes his head putting on a coat.
"Phoebe, I said move," he says raising his voice.
"You are not getting through here, Nathan you know this is going to end badly. I'm not going to bail you out of jail tonight," I say and he shakes his head trying to get through.
"Phoebe move the fuck out of my way… right now," he gets close to my face and raises his voice. I have to take a second to remember the situation he's in. I have never seen such anger in his eyes.
"Your mother is in there beaten and upset. You really are going to prioritize your father who is an ass over her," I say and he stops realizing I'm right.
"I'm calling the police, call Teddy," he says and walks back in the room. He throws his coat off and it lands on the floor. I take a deep breath. I am so overwhelmed right now. Nathan has never looked at me like that. I know he would never hit me. This doesn't sit well with me.
I call Teddy once and he doesn't answer. She needs a lawyer so I get more frantic. I call him again. And again. And again. Finally he picks up.
"Oh my god, Phoebe are you okay? I just saw all your calls," he sounds extremely out of breath. I hear Olivia's voice in the back. Ew gross I know they were doing it.
"I need you to come to Escala," I say.
"Phoebe, what's going on? Are you okay?" He asks.
"I need you to come to Escala now. Please hurry Bring your work bag," I say and hang up. Quickly I walk back out to the commotion in front of me.
Nathan's mom is in hysterics in his shoulder. He is holding her to him and rubbing her back. Berkeley looks distraught on the couch. This poor family is being torn about.
"You have to tell them, Mom. What if this had been Berkeley? Would you have told her to brush it under the rug? To not call the police," he says.
"No I wouldn't Nathan, but this is your father," she says. I go over to Berkeley and just as I do there is a knock on the door.
"He is a poor excuse for a man and a horrible role model," Nathan says. I walk over to the door and answer it. I go to the door and answer it. It is Sawyer with two policemen. They are two males.
"Hi there, come on in," I say. They are both looking around. I escort them to the kitchen where Mrs. Moore sits on a barstool. Nathan is standing behind her.
"Hi Ma'am, I am Officer Rollins and this is Officer Forest. We are from the Seattle PD. We got a call about a domestic violence situation," he says and Nathan speaks up.
"My father, he beat my mother," Nathan says. The police officers look to Nathan and then to Mrs. Moore.
"Is he here?" They ask.
"No he is at my house, I will get you the address," he says and writes it down on a piece of paper for them.
"Ma'am could you tell us what happened tonight?" He asks mrs. Moore. Emphasizing the word ma'am so Nathan doesn't talk. She is quiet for awhile before she looks at Berkeley and then Nathan.
"I… my husband and I were in an argument tonight. He and my son got into a fight last month and they haven't spoken since. I was trying to encourage him to apologize to my son because he was at fault. The argument got heated and he," she takes a deep breath and Nathan rubs her back. "He took me against the wall and held me there. After he punched me in the face and shoved me," she cries.
"He told me if I told anyone he would turn the kids against me," he says and I wipe a stray tear away. Her voice is weak she is trying to fight crying.
"Has this happened before?" They ask her. She is silent and I see Nathan clutch the chair in anger. Tears slide down her face and she nods. Oh my god.
"Never this bad, usually he wouldn't make the bruises in places that people would see. He would kick my stomach, slam me against a wall," I can see in Nathan's face he is breaking.
"Ma'am, would you mind if we took pictures of your face, are there bruises anywhere else?" He asks.
"My arms," she says and takes off her jacket revealing deep purple bruises. I hear a knock on the door and run to answer knowing it is teddy. When I answer he grabs me in his arms and holds me.
"Are you okay?" He asks. I break down crying as he holds me.
"I am, it's just Nathan's dad. He beat Mrs. Moore the police are interviewing her right now. But she needs a lawyer Teddy," I say. He looks shocked as he takes in the information.
"Of course, I will represent her," he says and I hug him. He kisses my head and walks in with me to the kitchen. They are taking pictures of her arms and face. Nathan walks over to Teddy and shakes his hand.
"Ma'am, do you want to press charges against your husband," they ask her. She is quiet.
"Noel, Officers, I am Theodore Grey. I am an attorney for Grey Law Associates. Mrs. Moore, if you would like to press charges I would gladly represent you. No charges to you," he says and she shakes her head.
"Teddy, honey you can't do that for me," she says and Ted shakes his head.
"I insist," he says and she gets up hugging and thanking him. She sits back down and says she would like to press charges. The cop radios the address over to another cop and says a bunch of numbers.
"Copy," I hear over the radio.
"Mrs. Moore your husband is being taken into custody. We will process these pictures and get them sent into the court. In the meantime would you like us to call for medical assistance," they ask.
"I am okay," she says and they say they will be in contact. After they leave, Nathan goes and gets his medical bag while Teddy starts discussing options with my mom.
"I want to leave him," she says and Teddy nods. I look to Berkeley who looks just torn apart. I go over to her as Teddy starts explaining the whole process to her.
"How are you holding up?" I ask Berk.
"I just want to go home and sleep," she says. I nod I know Berkeley and Mr. Moore were incredibly close. I put myself in her shoes and understand.
"Berkeley, I know you are going through a world wind of emotions right now and I can't even begin to understand how you are feeling. But I want you to know that I am here for you. Anytime, any day, I am here. You just come on over or call me," I say and she nods.
"Momma, I am heading out. I will be at home. I am going to clean up," she says and I assume there is a mess at home. Nathan stops cleaning Mrs. Moore's face up as Berkeley hugs them both.
"I told Sawyer so he can follow her home," I say to Nathan and he nods.
I am still so upset about the way that Nathan yelled at me. I keep telling myself that it was for a reason, but he screamed in my face and that scared me.
After Teddy and Mrs. Moore stop talking I escort him out. "Bubs, have you told dad," he asks and I close my eyes. I haven't even thought about it.
"No and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't either," I say and he nods.
"I can't keep this a secret forever, Bubs," he says and I nod.
"I know, just for now please" I ask and he nods.
"Okay, call me if you need me," he says and we hug. He kisses my head and heads off.
I come back inside and Nathan is hugging his mom. She keeps apologizing. I know she is spending the night so I let them talk without me. I head into our room. I go into the bathroom and lock the door.
I take a nice hot shower and put on pajamas. I wrap my hair in a towel and decide to sit on the balcony of our room. Nathan is still talking to his mom.
I am out there for awhile. I would say an hour or so letting the cold air hit my skin. It's good thinking time for me. I have never seen Nathan behave like that and it really shook me. I hear the door open and I keep staring at the space needle.
"Phoebe, what are you doing," Nathan rushes over to me. I just shrug and he sighs.
"Phoebe, you can't sit outside with wet hair it's February," he says. He takes off his jacket wrapping it around me. I keep staring out until finally he steps into my line of sight.
"Come inside," he says and bends down in front of me. He looks at me in the eye and I see the Nathan I know. The compassionate, sweet, caring Nathan.
"Okay," I say and stand up. He guides me inside. Once inside I take the towel off my head. My head is freezing. I brush my hair out then sit on the bed. Nathan comes and stands across from me leaning against the wall. He has his hands in his pockets and looks good as ever.
For once, I have nothing to say. I don't know how I feel or how to act. I am fidgeting with my hands in my lap. "We should talk," he says and I nod.
"Meaning you actually have to talk. You can't just nod," he says and I look at him.
"I… I don't know what you want me to say, Nathan. That Nathan… he," I say and the dam breaks.
The tears stream down my face. I hold my face in my hands and cry. I hear Nathan and I feel him grab me and hold me in his arms. My face is against his chest as he holds the back of my head to him. He kisses my head over and over.
Finally, I pull back and we sit down facing each other. "Phoebe, that wasn't me. I was angry and hurt. I wanted to kill my dad. I wasn't seeing straight. The way I yelled at you was unexceptable. I am so sorry," he says and I nod.
"I have never in 9 years of dating seen that look in your eye. And I understand Nathan, your dad did an inexplicable thing. I just…" I don't know if I should say what I am about to.
"What baby?" He asks and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.
"After hearing what your dad did to your mom, and you looking at me like that and getting so close to my face and yelling. I just I got scared that you would.." I start to say and Nathan shakes his head. He quickly gets up and kneels in front of me holding my face.
"I will never, and this is a promise, lay a finger on you. I would never hurt you, Phoebe. You are the love of my life. I want to spend the rest of my days with you loving and supporting you. Phoebe, never be scared that I am going to hurt you. I love you all too much for that," he says and I nod and sit forward hugging him.
He picks me up and lays me in bed. He kisses my head and shuts the blinds making sure the door is locked. He goes into the bathroom and brushes his teeth. After he comes out and strips down to his boxers. I will never tire of looking at this man's body. He turns the lights off and crawls in bed with me. I cuddle up to him and he wraps an arm around me gently stroking my hair.
"Are you okay?" I ask him realizing I never talked to him about how he is.
"I am hurt, I want to kill my father. I am worried for my mom and Berk. I am worried about you," he says and I shake my head.
"Nathan, you have every right to feel hurt and worried. But know that you are doing everything in your power and it is working. Your mom is safely asleep upstairs. Your dad is in jail. Berkeley is safe at home," I say. "And I am right here with you. I see you. I recognize your worry and stress. But you don't have to do this alone. I am right here, Teddy is right here, your whole family is right here," I say and he nods. He leans down kissing me.
"Do you know how much I love you?" He asks and I smile. I kiss him and cuddle into his side.
"Sleep baby," he says and I put my head in the crook of his arm falling asleep.
When I wake up, Nathan is already gone. I sit up and stretch. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and stretch. As sure as I am that Mrs. Moore would appreciate me walking out in panties and Nathan's shirt I put on Jeans and a flannel.
When I walk out into the kitchen, Nathan, Teddy, and his mom are standing there. Nathan is the first to see me. He comes over and wishes me a good morning, pecking me on the lips. I hug Teddy then Noel.
"Any update?" I ask.
"They arrested him last night and he lawyered up right away. Right now, he is in jail until the court date. He is trying to claim that she attacked him first. Obviously there are no signs of physical abuse on him, so he basically has nothing. They are getting a court date set right now," I look to Nathan and he looks shot. I know he didn't sleep well.
"Gosh, okay so Teddy where do we go from here?" I ask him.
"We fight. As of now he can get up to 2-4 years if this gets charged as a felony. A misdemeanor we are looking at about a year in prison," he says and we all nod.
"What if he doesn't get charged?" Noel asks.
"Mrs. Moore, I am going to do everything in my power to make sure it does," he says and she pats his hand.
"I am off to work unless there is anything you guys need," Teddy says and I shake my head. We give hugs and then he goes.
"Well I should probably go," Mrs. Moore says.
"Mom, maybe you should stay here for a couple days let us look after you," he says and she smiles.
"Nathan, it is a couple of bruises and a cut lip. I have already eaten your food and took up space in this beautiful place. You did a wonderful job with this Phoebe," she says.
"Thank you, Mrs. Moore, but please stay we love having you here," I say and she shakes her head.
"I need to go sweethearts, I will make sure to keep you informed about all the court dates and everything," she says.
"Phoebe, are we still going wedding dress shopping next week," she asks and I nod smiling. Leave it to this woman to be thinking about others at this point in time. She is so selfless.
"Well give me hugs, please I just ask do not worry about me. Your father is away and he can't get to me, I am going to go home and rest," she says as she hugs Nathan.
"And you sweetheart, thank you for your family, your hospitality, and your brilliant designing skills. Seriously you are going to have to come decorate my house," she says and I smile hugging her tightly.
"Anytime you just call," I say and she smiles. Sawyer makes sure she gets off alright. It is Saturday so Nathan and I are off work. After she leaves, I load the dishwasher and vacuum.
"I should probably call my dad," I say and Nathan nods.
"He is not going to want you to marry me after this," Nathan says and I roll my eyes.
"Are you kidding, you are the only person he trusts when it comes to me," I say and he smiles.
I go into the living room and call my dad's number. After one ring he picks up. "Hey Bubs, are you okay?" He asks just like he does every time he answers the phone.
"Of course, I just. I need to talk to you about something," I say.
"What happened?" He asks immediately. I ask him to get my mom and have them both be on the phone. I think they are both freaking out.
"Tell me you aren't pregnant," my dad says. I can hear my mom scold him.
"No uh my uterus is still empty," I say and I can feel the relief.
"Last night as Nathan and I wear eating dinner there was a knock on the door. Noel Moore and Berkeley came in and Mrs. Moore was beaten pretty badly. We found out that Nathan's dad abused her. We had Teddy and the police come and he is now in custody. Teddy is working on the case," I say and both my parents are quiet for a second.
"Why are we just hearing about this now?" My dad asks. I roll my eyes at his comment.
"Not the point," I say.
"Phoebe, oh my gosh. Is Noel okay? Is there anything we can do?" My mom asks and I sigh.
"She spent the night, but is back at home now. Maybe provide security if Taylor has anyone extra on the staff," I say.
"I am already on it," my dad chimes in. "I have one for her and Berkeley," he says and I smile. Stalkerish tendencies.
"So Phoebe, how is Nathan holding up?" My dad asks.
"Stressed and worried about his family. Scared that you guys will hate him," I say.
"We could never. You tell that we could never right Christian," my mom says and I smile.
"You tell that boy if he ever lays a finger on you-" my mom cuts him off instantly. "Christian, knock it off," she says. I can't help but laugh at these two.
"We love Nathan, Phoebe. We always have," my dad says and I smile.
"Well I better go, are you guys still coming for dinner next week?" I ask them.
"Of course Tuesday night I have it on my calendar," my dad says.
"And on his phone and on the reminder board and tattooed on himself," my mom says and I smile. I know my dad would never miss the opportunity to see both his kids. Teddy and Liv are coming too.
"Well I love you," I say to them.
"We love you too, Bubs. Please keep us updated," my dad says and I smile.
"I will I promise, bye guys," I say and hang up.
I walk back into the kitchen and see Nathan. He is sitting working on something in his laptop.
"Do your parents hate me?" He asks and I laugh.
"They would die for you are you kidding?" I say and he smiles.
"Come to the couch," I say and he smiles. He gets up and we go sit on the couch. He puts his laptop in the arm of the couch and is reading something. I lay down and cuddle with him. I turn on a random show and wrap a blanket around myself and him. This is home this is where I'm happiest.
I end up drifting off and falling asleep cuddled up to Nathan. He was scratching my head and being so sweet. I am out for almost 2 hours.
When I wake up Nathan has an arm around me and is asleep. I smile and stay like this with him. I know he needs sleep and hasn't been sleeping well at all.
I rub his head and turn down the volume on the show. I let him sleep for as long as he wants. I put the blanket on him and dim the lights. I set his laptop to the side and make sure he is comfy.
I head into the kitchen and start dinner. I am going to make chicken and vegetables. I start cutting the fat off the chicken and making dinner.
After about two hours dinner is made and Nathan is still asleep. I get him a beer and set the table. I pour myself a glass of wine. I head into the living room to find him sleeping so peacefully.
I feel so bad waking him. I bite my lip and start to run my fingers through his hair. He groans and starts to wake up. It's unfair how hot he looks right now.
"Mmm how long was I out?" He asks.
"Two hours, dinner is ready. Are you hungry?" I ask him. He smiles and leans in kissing me.
"Ah what did I do to deserve you?" He asks and I smile. He stands up and we go into the kitchen.
"A redo of last night. Hopefully with no interruptions," he says and I smile. We cheers and take a sip of our drinks. We both begin to eat and enjoy the quiet nice company of each other.