Tobias's POV:
My eyes can't seem to stay away from my wife for too long. I watch her as she moves a hairbrush through her beautiful blonde hair, letting the shiny locks fall down her back. I've never been so entranced by a person, but Tris has always been so captivating.
Her eyes catch mine in the mirror, and I walk up to her, my half-unbuttoned shirt forgotten. As I embrace her from behind, I breathe in the sweet scent of her hair. Looking at us in the mirror, I kiss her cheek lightly. Tris moves back into me, relaxing her whole body against mine. This is my ideal morning.
"Would it be bad if I skipped out on work today?" I murmur along her neck.
"Yes, it would be." Tris laughs as she holds my arms. "What would you do instead?"
"I could hang out with you. Spend the day with my baby." I whisper, making her giggle at the last word.
It's been a little over a week since my incredible wife said the most incredible words to me. I'm still in disbelief sometimes that she does in fact love me. And she didn't even need her memories back. We have been spending as much of our time as possible together, but I still can't seem to get enough of her. And I don't think I've ever been more certain that Tris and I belong together.
I have noticed a shift in her, too. She's become more trusting, more open, more comfortable around me. It's like she finally admitted not just to me, but also to herself of her feelings. She has let go of all the barriers that were keeping us apart, and I couldn't be happier. We are almost all the way back to where we were before her accident.
And I'm starting to think it's not gonna take much longer till we get there fully. Tris and I almost made love on the couch a couple nights ago. In the middle of watching a movie, she turned to me and leaned in till there was no space between us. It wasn't long before we were lying on our sides fully making out. I was so aroused, but I knew I had to pull away. She needed more time.
"You could, but I'm going to have a very busy day frosting cupcakes for a dog's birthday." She chuckles.
"Oh." All images of being tangled together with Tris disappear from my head at the sudden topic change. "Fine, I'll go to work. But I'm leaving early and then picking you up."
"Okay." She smiles, turning around in my arms.
I grin back and lean down, my lips going to hers, moving together gently at first, but soon turning deep. And I want more, so much more, so I deepen it, my hands roaming down her back, pulling her closer. The way her lips move with mine makes my head dizzy, and my heart beats fast. I tug on her bottom lip as I finally pull away, needing to breathe.
Tris stares up at me as she holds me tightly, her gorgeous eyes piercing straight through me. I rub her cheek with my thumb, gazing back at her and leaning my forehead on hers.
"God, I love you, Tris." I breathe out. It feels good to say the words again, knowing she reciprocates my feelings. I missed it.
"I love you, too, Tobias." The grin on my face cannot ever be wiped as I hear her whisper them back. My favourite words she's ever spoken.
Kissing me again lightly, she pulls back and begins to button up my shirt. It's such a simple gesture, but I feel overwhelmed by the fact that she's behaving like my wife again. We are not "just dating" anymore, we are way past that stage. I genuinely couldn't be happier. This is all I've been dreaming about for the past few months.
Straightening my collar, she gives me a sweet smile and goes to put on her shoes. I just stare at her, moving my eyes down her body and admiring the dark grey dress she's wearing with black tights under it. When she looks back at me, she shakes her head with a laugh and tells me to finish getting ready.
"Sorry, are you getting late?" I ask her, tucking my shirt in.
"No, no, you take your time. There's no rush." She answers.
"Okay." I nod as I put on my shoes.
We finish up in the bedroom and I take her hand as we climb down the stairs. Tris puts her coat on by the door, buttoning it up. It's officially winter now, the air is cold, the trees are dry, and the sun rarely shines. I follow her suit and put my thick jacket on as well.
Our conversation in the car is casual, listening to a little music and looking out into the cold empty streets. The thought of spending the day apart fills me with sadness, but I know it's all gonna be that much more worth it when I fold her into my arms at the end of the day. I try to draw out the drive as long as I can, but soon I'm pulling up in front of the bakery.
"I'll see you later." Tris unbuckles her seatbelt, pressing a quick kiss to my lips and turning to the door.
"Hmm, that's not enough, baby." I pull her back to me, hugging her close as I kiss her soundly. Tris melts in my arms, moaning softly into my mouth as she kisses me back. Slowly, we pull away and gaze into each other's eyes.
"I should go." She whispers, her cheeks flushed.
"Okay." I sigh, reluctantly letting her leave my arms, my face dropping.
"I love you, Tobias." She says, and I'm smiling like an idiot again.
"I love you, Tris." I kiss her nose lightly before she climbs out and hurries inside, trying to escape the cold.
Letting out a deep breath, I continue driving to my office. I hope it's a short day so I can go back to Tris. Why is it so hard to be away from her? It always is, but today I miss her more than usual. I think it's because we finally said our feelings out loud to each other. It has brought us so much more closer. And not to mention the other night on our couch. I've been craving her touch.
I smile thinking about her, soon pulling over into the parking lot and getting out of the car. Taking the stairs, I quickly turn the hallway and walk into the office. At my desk, I do the same old usual thing. A yawn barely escapes me, and I realise I need to snap out of it and focus.
It is almost lunchtime when my coworker Ben walks over to me and smiles. "Hey, this came for you." He hands me a small box.
"Who is it from?" I question.
"No idea. The sender didn't mention a name or address. Think it was just dropped off at the front desk." He says.
"Okay. Thanks, Ben." I nod at him politely.
I take the cardboard box from him and look over it. All it says is my name. Opening it up, I find a letter inside. Who would send me a letter inside a box? I tear open the envelope and unfold the paper. Scribbly handwriting greets me, and I read it with a little difficulty.
Down by the town's tower,
When the clock strikes four,
A dark truth will be awaiting you,
But be warned, it could destroy you
I furrow my eyebrows. Who would send me such a cryptic message? But it doesn't take me long to realise it. Marcus. He is the only one who would lure me in this way to meet him. Because he knows damn well I would never meet him willingly. He is smart to dangle this suspenseful message in front of me.
But what does he want? He wouldn't do this without gaining something in return. And what could the truth be that he's hiding? It could honestly be nothing and he could be totally bluffing to get me to come and see him. But I never know with him.
I read the message again, trying to decipher it. Down by the tower...which is right in the middle of the town. And when the clock strikes four, he will reveal a truth, but why would it destroy me? Why do I need to take caution?
He's playing mind games with me. I should stop thinking about this before I fall down a deep rabbit hole. I continue my work and try not to think too much about the letter. I don't know if I even wanna go meet him. It could be a set up to just get my attention.
The time passes by excruciatingly slow, and my mind goes to a million different places as each second ticks by. I think of texting Tris, telling her about the box and the letter, but I don't know how she would respond. And I don't want to worry her. But it's infuriating to go through this without her, I know she would calm my nerves right down.
I check the time and see that it's almost half past three, that means I have to leave right now if I want to be there by four. Without thinking much, I log off my computer and get my stuff. I don't look at anybody else as I quickly walk out of the office, but I'm sure everyone's giving me glares for leaving early.
Getting into the car, my anxiety shoots up again. Am I really doing this? I never fully decided what I was gonna do. But I know that if I don't go and see what he has to say, I won't be able to stop thinking about it. So I slam the accelerator and race down the road, trying to get to the tower before I'm late.
Just as it turns four, I reach the public garden with the tall tower. There are many people walking around, some sitting on the grass, and a few kids running around. I wonder why he chose this place. Finding a spot for the car, I quickly park it and climb out. Looking around, I try to find him among the crowd, and then I see a figure standing at the opposite end. My breathing is harsh and my body is tense, but I try not to show it.
Slowly walking towards him, I see his face more and more clearly, till I'm standing right in front of him. His eyes are dark, his arms behind his back, and a menacing smile on his face. My first instinct is to get the hell out of here, but I stay, I need to know what he has to say.
"Marcus." I almost spit out his name.
"Tobias. You came." His voice is rough.
"What did you have to tell me?" I get straight to the point.
"Aren't you gonna ask your old man how he's been doing?" He feigns being hurt.
"Cut the bullshit. I don't have time for your games. Tell me whatever you were going to, or I'm leaving." I grit out my teeth angrily.
"Well, since you're so eager, I might skip over some of the dramatics." He laughs. "What I want to say to you...why I called you here to meet me is because..." He stops to think.
"What. Is. It?" I'm losing my patience. And he is enjoying torturing me.
"Okay, I'm only saying this to you because I don't want you to get more hurt down the road. It's better if you know now so you can end things and endure less pain. So...this is what I wanted to show you." And he slowly brings his hands forward, revealing a thick brown envelope.
"What is that?" I ask him. He hands it to me and continues talking. I slowly open it to find several photographs inside.
"These are from today. I was at the hospital getting my annual check up done when I saw your wife there. It seemed as if she was alone, but then guess what? I see this guy! Isn't that Robert? Her childhood friend? I thought it was so weird to see them together there. But wait, it gets even more crazy, here they are hugging. And in this one...they are walking into one of the doctor's office...and read the label below their name. It's an OB/GYN. You understand where this is all going, right, Tobias?"
I don't know what to say to him. I just stare at the pictures, deciding if they're real or not. But Tris is wearing the same outfit from this morning. And they don't look like they're edited. My heart sinks in my chest. I don't know how to feel. This can't be real. No, it cannot be. Marcus is playing a cruel joke on me.
"Why should I believe that these pictures are real?" I finally find my voice to ask him.
"You can believe whatever you want, Tobias. But the truth won't change. Beatrice is with Robert, and they are probably going to be for a long time if she really is pr-"
"Shut the fuck up! You are just lying straight out of your teeth! I don't believe you. I don't trust you. All you do is ruin my life! Again and again! But I won't let you ruin this! You understand, Marcus? Stay the fuck away from me and my wife!" I throw the pictures back to him and turn to leave, I don't want to hear any more of his fucking lies.
"I only want what's good for you, son. And this girl, she isn't right for you. Is she even telling you the truth about losing her memories? Or is it just a game she's playing with you? How conveniently she forgot just you, and no one else." He keeps talking from behind me, but I turn around, squaring in on him.
"Listen to me carefully, you son of a bitch. You don't care about me, you never have in your entire life. And I am not your son. I never will be. So get that thought out of your head, okay? And I don't ever want to see you again, I don't ever want to hear your bullshit lies trying to ruin my life. So this is the last time I'm warning you, and I mean that. You are not welcome in any part of my life." I breathe hard, clenching my fists.
Marcus just smiles, the same menacing grin on his face. How I wish I could punch him in his stupid face right now, but the bastard was smart to get me to meet him in a crowded place. So I just walk away. I don't need any of this anymore.
My heart beats loudly but I try to calm myself down as I drive towards the bakery. I know Tris will tell me the truth and then everything will be alright. Because I know that Marcus is poisoning me with his lies. He clearly wants me to be unhappy forever, and so he is driving a wedge between me and the only person who's ever truly loved me.
But I won't let him get to me. I trust my wife more than anyone else. I know she would never hurt me like this. Never. And she knows that I won't hurt her either. I feel a little calmer as I pull over in front of the bakery. Soon she'll be in my arms and it'll all be okay.
I walk inside and look around for her, but I don't see her. Tori isn't at the counter either. Maybe they're both inside. I ask for them and wait until I see Tori coming out the back.
"Hey, Tori. Can you ask Tris to come out?" I ask her.
"Hey. Isn't she with you?" I shake my head no. "She's not inside. She left a little bit before lunch saying she wasn't feeling well." Tori says.
"What?" My heart rate picks up again.
"Don't worry. She must have gone home to rest."
"Yeah, probably. I'll check on her. Bye." I dash out of there, quickly starting up the car and racing towards home.
God, I hope she is okay. Why wouldn't she tell me she was feeling sick? I hope she's resting now and is better. I slam the accelerator and drive faster, soon reaching our home. Running inside, I call out her name, looking for her. I run upstairs to check the bedroom, but it is empty. The whole house is empty. Where is she?
My head is spinning in every direction, my thoughts going wild. What if she got into another accident? What if she took a taxi to get home but it got into a crash? No, it can't happen again. It just can't. I need to think rationally.
Trying to breathe evenly, I decide to call her. But she doesn't answer. I try again a few times, but it all goes to voicemail. Dammit. I then call Natalie. Maybe Tris went to her parents' house to rest. Maybe Natalie is taking care of her. I dial her number and wait impatiently for her to pick up.
"Hello?" She answers finally.
"Hey, Natalie. Is Tris with you?" I ask immediately.
"Tobias? No, dear, Beatrice isn't here. Why? What happened?" She sounds worried.
"Oh no, it's nothing. I just couldn't get a hold of her. Maybe her phone died. But it's okay, she must be at home." I lie, trying not to worry her.
"Where are you right now, Tobias?" Natalie asks.
"I'm just at the bakery. I'll go home and check on her." I answer.
"Okay, drive safe and keep me updated."
"I will, bye."
My whole body is tense now, my head hurts and my heart aches. Where could Tris be? Was Marcus telling the truth? No. It can't be. I need to have faith in her. But where could she be? It isn't like her to just disappear without telling anyone. She always calls or texts me. If not me, at least Natalie or Tori. This is so weird.
I pace around the room as I try to think harder. Where does she usually go to when she needs space? She's not at her parents', not at our home, not at the bakery. And then it hits me, there's one place where she possibly could be. I immediately run out of the house and get into the car to start driving. Please be there, Tris. Please.
A/N: Where do you think Tris is? Stay tuned, it's all about to go down now!