Becca."Oh, they are just darlings!" Madeline said, causing me to smile brightly. It'd been a couple of weeks since I'd been inviting her over to interact with the kids. So far, everything was going very well.I had been on edge ever since the camera picked up someone unknown. I told myself to focus on that later, though. Madeline was, surprisingly, doing a lot to relieve my stress. A bright smile was plastered on my face as I talked with her. "They are," I agreed, feeling tears form. A few dripped down my cheeks as I stared at Daliah. At the moment, the toddler was in Madeline's arms, being bounced around. She was shrieking with laughter, which faded into joyous gurgles as she took a few breaths. I couldn't help but laugh along with her. A few strands of her hair fell messily into her face, making her look goofy. I refocused on Madeline, who emanated a very positive aura. Her grin was brilliant, and her body language was relaxed as she regarded the kids with pure jo
Becca."I wish I knew what was wrong," I muttered, staring Madeline down, who was still a bit concerned. She'd just put the kids to bed and was heading that way herself. She'd come to check on me after I'd gotten sick. "I do too, darling," Madeline said softly. "Best to get some sleep, alright? James got in a few minutes ago. I told him you went to the bathroom because you weren't feeling well. Get one of the cooks to make you some soup if you think that will help."I smiled at her, wishing soup would fix whatever was going on. "Thanks, Madeline," I said softly. She went off to her room. We would get paperwork situated tomorrow, and all, but for now, I needed to take her advice. I wandered off into my bedroom, where James was getting ready for bed. He looked up from his book and gave a concerned smile. "Becca? Are you doing alright, baby?" He hesitantly approached me, and I nodded, opening my arms for a hug. Said hug was light and cautious, which was understan
Becca."BITCH! I'M GOING TO BLEED YOU DRY, BITCH!" screamed a familiar voice in my ear. My eyes widened as I realized Allison was here with her arms wrapped around me, pulling me away from the nursery and slamming me to the ground. I still had the poker in my hand and quickly raised my arm and jerked it to the right, causing her to miss a strike with something. I couldn't tell what she had, exactly, but assumed it was a knife of some sort. At this point, my eyes had adjusted to the dark enough to see the whites of her eyes. They were wide, eerie, as though she was possessed. I knew the truth. She was completely unhinged and was actively trying to kill me. My mind clicked to self-defense mode as I managed to knock away some of her blows. I took a deep breath, my entire world ruled by adrenaline. Not only did I not want to be killed, but I needed to protect my kids. Narrowing my eyes, I snarled, "F*ck off, Allison. You need help." I rolled away from her attempt
Becca.Everything was a blur, and I really couldn't focus well at all. The sirens blared in my ears, but everything was just not clicking for me. I let out a soft groan, trying to focus, only to draw a complete blank. After a while, I reached up to rub my temples, only to find my arms were tied down. I couldn't move. I groaned and thrashed in my bed, snarling, "No, Allison, leave my daughter the f*ck alone." That's when the memory came rushing back, and my eyes flew open.Everything came into focus. White everywhere. White tile. I was a zombie for a while, I didn't know how. I just kept saying, "I want to go home." Repeating it over and over. I think I was there for three days. James kept trying to assure me that I needed to rest. It was hard to get through it, being away from the family and our home, but eventually, I was home and able to see my children. At the moment, I was in the living room, staring at my hands and trying to grasp the situation. An officer sto
Becca.Rushing to the bathroom, I threw up the contents of my stomach, which was just bile. Given all that had happened, I'd not been eating much. I felt weak, my entire body shaking from the expulsion. Once again, I found myself in the shower, cleaning up. This was the last thing I needed right now. Why didn't this sickness just go away? I was starting to regret not bringing it up in the hospital. Tears streamed down my face still as I hiccuped, trying to get a grasp on everything. Eventually, I dragged myself out of the bathroom and back to my desk. The light of the computer shined on my face, and I reached up and rubbed my temples, trying to get a handle on the situation and failing. Mentally, and physically, everything was a wreck. Maybe I should go to James right now. He could be a wonderful source of comfort. I would tell him I was sorry for worrying him, and we could cuddle together. Maybe he would have answers for this illness. I doubted it; he wasn't a doct
Becca.After a pause, I said, "Neal, you didn't kill Tally." There was silence on the other line for quite some time. I leaned back in my chair, wondering what could be going through his mind right now. I'd be able to explain what was going on soon for him, at least. "What?""I saw the forensic report," I said softly, glad at the momentary distraction from my own thoughts to reassure him. "The bullet that killed Tally wasn't fired by your gun type. One of the Russians must have fired at the same time." Had he been living with this the entire time? I felt my heart clench. Clearly, he'd regretted it, and it was a source of so much pain. In fact, I heard a choked sob come from the other line. I smiled to myself at the fact that now he could have peace. I wish he would've said something to me when we lived together for all of those months."I… I thought that I'd been the one to do it," Neal said, letting out a slight sigh. Relief spilled into his tone, and he
James.I tried to grasp what I had done this time to make Becca angry, and all of my instincts told me it was because she had a hard time handling death. However, I still irrationally thought she was completely mad at me for some reason. Thinking over Allison and all that had happened, I winced, putting my head into my hands. At the moment, I was leaving a meeting with family members regarding Don matters, Giovani on my mind still for a potential replacement. All of that had to be shoved to the side, of course, when the incident with Allison came up. One thing I did get from Becca was her explanation of how it happened, most likely. The Cartwrights had let Allison out of prison and sent her over here. Money could make the streets run red, and this was an example. I scowled, thinking through how far Allison would have gone to off Becca and our daughter. She was unhinged and delusional, and while I felt sad a woman I formerly loved was dead, I was also very relieved s
Becca.I woke up to the smell of cooking sausage and eggs. No one was beside me in bed, I realized, which didn't alarm me in the slightest. In fact, I smiled. James was making me breakfast. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and yawning.My stomach rumbled, meaning this boon from James was coming right on time. Smiling, I reached over to check my phone, noting a text from Sophia. It read: 'I'm stopping in to visit today with something important! Are you available?'I texted back, 'Yes, I am. Come for lunch?' Then, I raised a brow, wondering what the important thing could be. Perhaps some new toys for the children? She wasn't standing in as nanny anymore, but always commented how she wanted to give gifts every now and then.While James finished up breakfast, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. My stomach didn't lurch again this time, thankfully, so I'd be able to eat breakfast with no problems. With any luck, this weird stomach issue was clearing up. What a relief