It was 2:30 in the morning. We lay in bed just holding eachother. Nick broke the silence. “I have surprise for you,” Nick said. “Oh yeah, what,” I asked. “Well, it’s a surprise. You’ll find out in a few hours,” he said. “Tell me now,” I asked as I propped myself up to face him. “No. You’ll have to wait,” Nick replied. “Can you give me a hint,” I asked. “Well, it’s something that we’ve needed to do for awhile now,” Nick said. I thought for a moment. “Don’t try and guess. I told you you’ll find out later,” Nick said chuckling. I rolled my eyes at him playfully as if I were brushing him off and turned my back on him. “Oh, is that how it’s gonna be, huh,” Nick said playfully. He turned me around and plopped his body on top of mine. “Why do you like to play so much,” he asked. “It keeps the fun going,” I replied. Nick began to brush his lips against mine. He must have guessed that I loved it when he did that. Then I remembered that I had to tell him what Dr. Edwards had told me. “Nick,” I whispered. “Yeah,” he replied. “I, uh, I, uh,” I said. Nick pulled away, “What is it? Spit it out.” I didn’t want to spoil the moment between us. I figured that I would hold off until after his surprise. “Nothing. I just want you to know how much I love you,” I said. I ran my fingers through his blond hair and caressed his neck. “Please make love to me again,” I pleaded. Our bodies melted into one the rest of the early morning hours.
I woke up after a few hours and just lay there in bed watching Nick sleep. That same angelic face was there. So peaceful and content. I cuddled up against him. He stirred in his sleep, pulling me closer to him. I traced kisses over his face. He awoke after a few kisses. “Morning,” he said his eyes still closed. “Good morning love,” I replied. Nick opened his eyes and looked at me, “what did you call me?” “I called you LOVE,” I replied smiling, “that’s what you are to me.” Nick cuddled closer to me. “Hey, what about my surprise,” I asked. “You have to wait,” Nick said with a sleepy smile. “When am I gonna find out what it is,” I asked. “Soon,” Nick replied. I got up out of bed. “Where are you going,” Nick asked. “I have to go to the bathroom,” I said. I walked over to the bathroom, turned the faucet on and filled a small cup with cold water. I held the cup behind my back and walked back to the bed. “Are you gonna get up yet,” I asked. “No, I want to cuddle with you more. Come here,” Nick said with a pouty smile. I put one knee on the bed as if I was getting back in and quickly poured the cold water on Nick’s bare chest. Nick hollered from the coldness. I was laughing so hard I didn’t get a chance to even escape he grabbed me so quick. Nick pulled me down and started to tickle me, “You are gonna get it!” We were both laughing. Nick pulled the covers over our heads as I hollered ‘NO’. “Nick, stop! Come on,” I yelled laughing. We both rolled off the bed and onto the floor. I finally pinned him down, “Gotcha!” Nick laughed and before I knew it he had pinned me to the floor. “Nick! Come on, I want to know what my surprise is,” I pleaded with puppy dog eyes. Nick sighed, “Okay, come on. Let’s get ready.” We both got up, took our showers and had a little breakfast.
We finally headed out the door. We took the Durango. On our way up to Nick’s surprise, I was deep in thought about how to tell him about the ulcer and tumor. I had already told him about Steve and I knew Nick worried about me constantly now. He was so, so happy, that I could see. And I didn’t want to ruin his happiness by giving him more bad news. So, I decided that I wasn’t going to tell Nick anything unless things really got bad and until I did some research on other alternatives for removing tumors. I was going to ask Dr. Edwards if there were any other alternatives in getting rid of the tumor. I prayed that there would be. Nick didn’t need anymore stress in his life. He had enough. And that was my final decision.
We headed back to the house to give the guys the news. When we got there no one was home so we decided that we would wait. We were relaxing in the kitchen patio when the phone rang. Nick was getting something to drink so I went ahead and answered it. “Hello.” “Well hello there beautiful,” Steve said. My heart sank. “Are you ever gonna get it? You need to leave us alone, Steve! Get a life,” I said into the phone. Nick walked in and over-heard me. He quickly grabbed the phone from my hand. “Hello,” Nick said angrily. “Ah, Mr. Carter. Nice to hear your voice again. Tell me, how is married life going,” Steve asked sarcastically. “Look you son of a bitch, I want you to quit harassing my wife,” Nick said. As I listened to the conversation, my stomach began to hurt again. I kept my composure and kept myself from keeling over. I was dizzy and nauseated. I could see Nick growing angrier by the minute. Steve was really pushing his buttons. “Nick, there is a lot of things that you don’t know about Annie,” Steve said. “You and me need to have a little talk,” Steve went on. “I don’t need to hear anything you have to say. I’m going to warn you one time and one time only. You had better keep your distance from Annie. If you don’t, you’ll be sorry you ever did what you did to her in the past,” Nick threatened. “Oh, she told you about that, huh,” Steve taunted. “You see, your so called wife was asking for it then. She wanted it. So I gave it to her,” Steve said. “You f****** asshole. Where is your f****** ass? So help me if I find you, I’ll kill you,” Nick hollered into the phone. I could here Steve laughing on the other end, “You haven’t heard or seen the last of me yet.” Steve hung up the phone. I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. Nick saw the stress level rise in me as the color disappeared from my face. And it was making him even angrier that Steve was doing this to me. Before I passed out, Nick managed to catch me before I hit the floor. The guys had just walked in and saw Nick cradling me in his arms. Brian quickly ran up with the guys right behind him, “Nick, what happened man?” “That asshole Steve called again,” Nick replied angrily, “DAMN, I’m going to kill him.” AJ punched his hand, “Shit!” Kevin had gone to the kitchen sink to wet a rag. He gave it to Nick to wipe my face. “Nick, man, what did the police say when you called the first time,” Kevin asked. “Just to keep track of any times that Steve calls or stalks Annie. They need more to charge the guy with stalking and harassment,” Nick said shaking his head. “Well, give them a call and report this. Maybe they can arrest the jerk,” Howie replied. “Yeah, I will but I need to get Annie upstairs and into bed,” Nick said. Nick lifted me up in his arms and brought me upstairs. I manage to come to as Nick was laying me down. “What happened,” I asked. Then I remembered and I started to cry. “Oh god, Nick, I’m so sorry,” I said sobbing. “Hey, hey, it’s not your fault, babe. You don’t have to be sorry,” Nick said softly as he caressed my face. “Yes I should be sorry, Nick. I brought this to us,” I babbled. Nick took my face in his hands, “Look, what Steve did to you is not your fault. You weren’t asking for it. No woman is asking for it. And he has no right to be harassing or stalking you like this,” Nick said as his eyes started to tear. “I know, I know but,” I said before Nick cut me off. “No buts. It is not your fault that he is doing this to us. He is just jealous that you didn’t end up with him,” Nick said as he took me in his arms. “I promise you we are going to get this guy and put him away. He is going to pay for what he did to you,” Nick went on. After a few minutes, Nick helped me get cleaned up and into my nightgown. “Nick,” I called. I was so emotionally drained. “Yeah babe,” Nick replied. “I really don’t know where I would be without you. You’ve manage to save me each time I’ve fallen. You are my absolute ‘Angel In Disguise.’ I just wanted you to know that. I love you,” I said softly crying. Nick smiled, “And I love you, too. I will always be here for you no matter what. You can count on that.” He tucked me in and then laid down next to me wrapping his arms around me until I fell asleep.
Nick had walked back downstairs after Annie fell asleep. Brian was in the kitchen eating a snack when Nick walked in. “How’s Annie doing,” Brian asked. “She’s okay, I guess. She fell asleep,” Nick replied. “You need to call the police, Nick. This guy is going too far and I, for one, don’t trust him,” Brian said. “I know. I’m afraid for Annie. I don’t know what this Steve guy is capable of,” Nick replied. Nick went ahead and called the police to report the phone incident. The police logged it and told Nick that they might have enough now to pick up Steve for questioning. “Thank you, sir,” Nick said and hung up. “So, what did they say,” Brian asked. “They said that they may have enough to pick him up for questioning,” Nick explained, “now they just need to get his address and I don’t think Annie has it.” Nick was quiet for a bit. “Hey Frack, what’s on your mind,” Brian asked. “Well, Annie and I were going to tell you guys tonight before all this happened. Now I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” Nick said. Kevin, Howie and AJ walked in. “Hello all,” Howie said. “What’s up, Frick … Frack,” AJ said. “Good, you all are here,” Nick said. “What were you going to tell us,” Brian asked. “I bought Annie and I a house,” Nick said. The guys looked at him surprised. “You bought a house,” Howie asked. “Yeah, we wanted to start a family and we needed the space so I bought a house,” Nick explained. “That’s cool,” Brian said, “where is it at?” “Up the hill and around the corner. We’re neighbors,” Nick said smiling. “Okay but you said that you don’t think it’s a good idea now,” Brian replied. “Well, no. We were going to move right in but after today I think we’re going to hold off. I don’t want Annie to be alone at all until this Steve thing is settled and over,” Nick said. “I can’t blame you,” Kevin replied. “So, we’ll stick it out here until it blows over,” Nick went on. “Sounds good to me,” Brian replied. They all agreed that Nick and Annie should stick around and that we did.
Annie:
I awoke to Steve standing above me in our room. I screamed before I realized that it was a bad dream. Nick came charging into the room, “Annie, what’s wrong,” he asked. I started to cry and hugged Nick as if I was drowning. “ I woke up and found Steve standing here next to the bed,” I sobbed. “No, no. It’s a bad dream, babe. I’m here,” Nick said as he embraced me. “I really am sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean to bring all this on us. You don’t need the added stress from my past problems,” I cried softly. “Hey, don’t worry. We’ll get through this together. It’s not your fault, I told you that. He is in the wrong not you,” Nick went on. The pain in my stomach returned and I keeled over. Nick noticed, “Annie, you okay? What’s wrong?” “Nothing, it’s okay,” I said. I didn’t want to tell him about the doctor visits with Dr. Edwards and what he found out. The pain became intense and I curled up into a ball holding my stomach. “Annie, what’s wrong? Does something hurt,” Nick asked in a scared voice. I started to cry and tried to pull myself up. I manage to stand up and then collapsed back onto the bed. “Oh my god, Nick. It hurts! It hurts,” I sobbed. “Come on! We’re going to the hospital,” Nick said franticly. “Brian! Kevin! Guys! Come up here quick,” Nick yelled down the stairs. The guys came running up. Brian saw me curled up into a ball on the bed. “Shit! What’s wrong,” Brian asked. “I don’t know but someone get the car around front! We got to go to the hospital,” Nick ordered. AJ ran downstairs grabbed the keys to Nick’s Durango and ran outside. By the time Nick and the guys came downstairs with me, AJ had pulled up. “Nick, please make it stop. It hurts, shit,” I said. “Annie, hold on, okay. You’ll be alright,” Nick said. “I didn’t want to tell you,” I blubbered, “I didn’t want you to worry anymore about me.” Nick began to tear. He was scared. I was special to his heart and he didn’t want anything to happen to me. AJ came around and opened the car door, “You two sit in the back. I’ll drive.” “We’ll meet you down there, Nick,” Brian said. “Alright,” Nick replied. I was crying softly, “I wasn’t going to tell you.” “What were you not going to tell me,” Nick replied softly. I took a deep breath the ease the pain in my stomach. "I've been seeing Dr. Edwards for the past few days,” I explained. I was using all the strength I had trying to tell Nick what was going on. But Nick quieted me, “Shhh, don’t talk. Rest, take it easy.” I rested my head against his chest.
We finally made it to the hospital emergency room. AJ ran in and got a nurse, “We need help out here, please. My friend’s wife is in pain.” The nurse motioned a male nurse and wheeled a gurney out. Nick climbed out of the car first and helped me get out of the car and onto the gurney. “What’s the problem,” the nurse asked Nick. “I don’t know. She is just in a lot of intense pain,” Nick explained. “Do you know who her physician is,” the nurse asked. “Yeah, a Dr. Edwards,” Nick replied. As they past the emergency room desk, the nurse told the other nurse to page Dr. Edwards. I was in and out of consciousness. They had wheeled me into a private emergency room and told Nick that Dr. Edwards was on his way. I was weak but I manage to take hold of Nick’s hand. “Nick, I’m scared,” I said softly. “Don’t worry. You’ll be okay, babe,” Nick replied. I was starting to loose consciousness again. My eyesight became blurry. I squeezed Nick’s hand and began to shut my eyes. I felt so drained. “Annie, stay with me. Come on. Stay awake,” Nick pleaded as tears began to roll down his face. Nick began to kiss my hand franticly. “Annie, stay with me, babe,” Nick whispered. I managed a small faint smile as I whispered, “Nick, I love you.” Then I blacked out.
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