Placing her hands over the top of mine on the table she exclaims,
“I am so happy for the two of you! You deserve this and so does Adam.” She wipes the tears from her face with the back of her hand and continues. “This is just remarkable. Sorry for being a blubbering mess here. It must be the pregnancy hormones. Let’s go finish shopping. I saw you eyeing the lingerie store earlier as we went by, so let’s go in there and pick out something for you to wear so mind-blowingly hot that when Adam sees you in it he will be begging you!”
“Oh, and one more thing,” she says as she stands and picks up our empty tray to leave. “I know I asked you to tell me everything, but this is Adam we’re talking about. Now that you two are giving this a try, I don’t want any of the details. As long as I continue to see this smile on your face, that is all I need to know.”
************
Wow, I mutter as I gape at myself in the mirror, running my hands over the softness of the green silk bra and panty set. A hint of lace encrusts the top edge of the bra, which makes my breasts look so much bigger than they already are. Just thinking about what Adam is going to say when I finally wear this for him has me standing here daydreaming in this dressing room.
“Erin, are you almost done in there? I need to make a few more stops before we go get the girls from school,” Shayne calls out anxiously.
“Yes, I’m so sorry! I’ll be right out.”
I guess I lost track of time while I was in here trying to decide what to get. Hell, I never once bought anything like this for Joel because the thought of him touching me made my skin crawl. I shiver just thinking about him as I pull my shirt over the top of my head. Picking up my purchases, I open the door and see Shayne paying for her things at the counter. I set my items down as I approach.
“And what did you find?” I ask as I pull open her bag and snoop inside.
“Oh, Shayne! Luke will love that.”
Sputtering she says, “He loves white lace, and when I saw this little see-through lace nightie I knew I had to get it. What did you get?”
I point to the bra set on the counter. “Oh, sexy momma!” she teases.
Making our way through the mall with our packages, we’re laughing and having one of the best girl days Shayne and I have had in a long time when I hear my phone start to ring inside my purse. When I pull it out, I notice it is a local number but I don’t recognize it. I slide my finger across the screen.
“Hello?”
“I never did like black on you, Erin, but the way those jeans are hugging your ass and the way your hips sway…”
I drop the phone. NO! It CAN’T be him.
“Oh, fuck!” I scream as I fall to the floor.
I look up at Shayne who now has panic written all over her face. The last word that seeps out of my mouth before I start crying and my heart starts beating hysterically is,
“Joel.”
Her eyes fly wide open. “Come on, Erin. Let’s get out of here!” she grits out as she helps me stand up.
My legs are so weak and there are people all around us asking if I am all right. I can hear Shayne speaking calmly as we walk past everyone and exit the mall. She helps me get into her car and as we drive off, the only thing I can think of is getting to my daughter.
“We have to go to the school and get Sierra. Oh my God, what if he finds her? We have to go get her now!”
“Erin, calm down sweetheart. Let me call Adam and Luke. You can’t go running into the school like this. Look at you; you’re shaking. I’m going to have Luke go pick up the girls from school and bring them to my house, okay?”
Shayne is right. I’m losing control, but as calming as her words are I can’t help but feel like I am going to fall to pieces if I don’t get my daughter in my arms right now.
I lay my head back on the headrest. I hear Shayne talking to someone on her phone who I assume is either Luke or Adam, but in my terror I can’t even make out the words. By the time we pull into my drive, Adam’s truck is already there. As soon as I see him standing on the front porch I am out the door and into his arms.
We stand there for a few minutes until I get myself under control. I feel so safe in his embrace but I won’t feel at ease until I have Sierra. When I finally lift my head and look into his green eyes, they mirror the confusion and concern I know are in mine as well. I feel myself start to lose control again but I hold it all in as he cups my face with his masculine hands.
“Everything is going to be all right, sweetheart.”
I start shaking my head back and forth. “No, it’s not. He knows where I am! I…I have to leave, I have to get away from him. He can’t come near Sierra. Oh, God! What if he takes her?” I start to cry again frantically.