Infinity Chapter 17 - Letter's in the Mail

[itztigress3]

Chapter 17 – Letter’s in the mail
POV:   Zac
Word count: 5048
a/n : Here is a link to Rancho Obi-Wan!  http://www.ranchoobiwan.org/


June 18, 2013; Tuesday

Father’s day was Sunday, my first father’s day. I had not asked for anything, but Emily said we celebrated Mother’s day and we were that day too. So, what did she do? She flew us to California Saturday and we had a beach side hotel which was great and then Sunday after blindfolding me again, nerve wracking hour and a half drive she shocked me by taking me to Rancho Obi-wan, a Star Wars related ranch privately owned and the largest personal collection of Star Wars items, followed by an awesome dinner. It was the best day ever and it was perfect for both of us and Alexander, because she mentioned Lego Land but he was still too young to ride most everything and enjoy it. We had flown back home yesterday.

Whoever was sending me messages however had not stopped. I still got at least one e-mail a day, often without messages and just really good photos of me over the years. Some of them were professional ones while others were fan taken; I rarely got pictures of Emily or Alexander now, not since the ones from Hanson Day.

Emily had Alexander in the office today, he was being quite fussy and the last few days he’d wanted to nurse a lot more. We were done with the membership EP; it had been given out or mailed during Hanson Day. The album came out today publically so we were waiting for sales figures and processing the pre-orders. We were presently discussing the plans for our own beer, something Taylor and Isaac were ecstatic about and admittedly I was too, even if I wasn’t a big drinker anymore. I felt my phone vibrate but it wasn’t Emily’s tone so I ignored it until they called back and then I checked.

“Hey guys, keep on but this is Aaron and he’s called three times already.”

They nodded and kept discussing possible flavors and how strong they wanted it and I stepped outside into the quietness and called him back.

“Is something wrong?”

“Where is Emily?!”

“She’s in the office with Alexander; he’s been kind of cranky the last few days. Why?”

“Are you sure? I called her seven times and she never answered.”

That didn’t sound right. “Uh let me go check.”

I kept him on the phone but ran up the steps to the office she had the blinds closed, but they’d been closed most of the day. I carefully and quietly entered the room; it was about his nap time. I found they were both asleep. She had her chair leaned back against the desk and
Alexander was laying on her chest. I paused and took a photo because she had him buttoned up inside her shirt, even though she also had her hands on him. I eased out of the room and closed the door.

“There both ok, there both asleep.”

“She sleeps there too?”

I giggled. “We got back late last night and he was up most of the night and he wanted her. Was there something important because I can wake her up.”

“No. Let her sleep and I’ll run it by you first.”

“Uh…run what by me?”

“Emily told me she got a letter from David last month, I got one today.”

“She did get one, bastard tried to blame her for everything.”

“Yeah, she read it to me and to Christopher, three way call. I called him; he checked their mail and nothing. I’m worried Zac.”

“Why?”

He paused a moment. “My letter didn’t say anything about how he was or anything like that, in fact all it wants me to do is mail him a picture of her and Alexander. It specifically says that any pictures with you in them will be flushed. He wants pictures of his daughter and his grandson Zac. It specifically says that.”

I leaned against the wall. “Did you call George?”

“I did. The last couple of letters he got also ignored the how he was, how he was doing stuff and went straight to asking about Emily and Alexander. George was insistent that the two or three letters he sent didn’t include her name or anything. Joshua wrote one and it was just telling him to stop asking about her, because none of us would provide the information. Marcus is the one who mailed her letter and George told him if he ever did it again; he would see that he was charged because Emily has a block on him.”

“Yeah, he’s not allowed to contact her for any reason. The police would only call us if he died or was released.”

“I know.”

“I’ll talk to her this afternoon and see what she wants to do, she said last time she didn’t need to see him or acknowledge any of it. I’m inclined to believe her.”

“Me too, but this is point blank Zac, he’s desperate to see their picture and I don’t know why.”

“Well, he can’t believe that Alexander is his, because she didn’t get pregnant until well after he was in jail. I am also positive he’s mine. There is medical proof she miscarried in July so there is no reason for him to believe anything. I think he’s just trying to fuck with us.”

“He may very well be but at least let her know and I told her to call me, if she does do you want me to tell her?”

“Yeah, if she calls go ahead and just let her know I do know.”

He said ok and we hung-up, I checked on her again. Still asleep in the chair and I then went down to the room again. It was about 4 when she sent me a message to come up-stairs when I could, since they were talking flavor and this was more their thing than mine I got up and went up to the room. Alexander was nursing when I came in.

“Did you nap well?”

She smiled. “I did. I think I know what the problem is.”

I walked over and sat down on the stool and slid over. “And that is?”

“He’s teething, he kept rubbing the side of his face so I got curious, I can feel one just under the surface and he’s probably nursing so much because of it.”

“Makes sense, wait he’s old enough for that?”

She giggled. “He won’t stay this little forever Zac.”

“I know just wish I could keep him that little a little longer.”

She finally sat him up but he looked quite miserable still. “I bet his gums are hurting.”

He sat up and looked at me and when he leaned my direction I took him from her. “Probably, is there anything we can use?”

“He’s got teething rings at home, I’m going to bring some in tomorrow and see if they help.”

Alexander kept rubbing his ears thought. “Em, it’s not his face he’s rubbing it’s his ears.”

She rolled over and moved some of his blonde hair away from his ears. “I’ll call the doctor and see if I can get him in tomorrow.”

“Did you speak to Aaron?”

“I did, I called him when I woke up because the 7 missed calls, six text messages and the don’t make me call Zac threat..I figured he called and he said he already talked to you.”

“Yeah, he was worried and when he said you didn’t answer I came to check.”

“Let me call the doctor right quick.”

She called the doctor and got him an appointment first thing in the morning, feeling his forehead he felt warmer than he should be so it was a good indication that it might not just be teething.

“You guys get anything accomplished?”

“Yep. Well, I mostly just provided opinions and all; I did work on a sketch for one of the songs. The beer is their thing but I will be involved.”

She smiled. “I hope so; it’s your company too.”

“So, did Aaron tell you about the letter and everything?”

“Yeah, he read it to me and I talked to Jason and Joshua as well, George was at work. I uh, I’m not sure what to do really. I’m not sending him a picture of Alexander.”

“Maybe you should face him Emily.”

“I have no reason Zac.”

“Yes you do, you can confront him and make him see that you know what you did and you’re fine with it. You can tell him to his face that you’re happy and healthy and perfectly fine without him.”

“I’ll think about it, right now Alexander is my focus and not him.”

“There talking late night, do you want to take him on home?”

“Yeah, I should but we rode together.”

“Casey can bring me home, you know he will.”

“Ok. I’ll take him home and get him a teething ring and then hope it’s not more.”

I smiled at her and got up, Alexander’s bigger car seat was in my truck now, permanent fixture but his carry all was sometimes used if we took her vehicle. She got his diaper bag and we walked out. Alexander didn’t want to be in the car seat, kept fighting me and twisting to get out.

“Alexander James Walker.”

He whined but I did get him in the seat and strapped in. Hopefully he’d make it home with her without melting down. She was about to get in the car.

“Mrs. Hanson?” he asked.

I turned and saw an older gentleman standing about ten feet from us; Emily turned and looked at him.

“Yes?”

“Hi, Mr. Gladstone, I interviewed back in March.”

“Yes, I remember you came in.”

“I was wondering if there had been any decisions, but considering Zac doesn’t seem to be familiar with my name I’ll assume that’s a no.”

“Your assumptions correct, we have not made final decisions but honestly we won’t contact a driver until mid to late July. We have gotten a few other resumes as well.”

“I see.”

I had this strange vibe, like I just didn’t feel comfortable with him standing there. Instincts kept my hand on Alexander’s leg, but he was getting much worse.

“Hey babe, you should get him on home before he gets too bad.”

“Yeah, Mr. Gladstone we’ll be sure to let you know either way.”

She kissed me which was weird because he was here, and then she got in. I watched them leave the parking lot and he was still waiting when I turned around and I jumped some.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Thought you knew I was here.”

“I thought you left already.”

“Is everything ok? Your son didn’t seem to be very happy.”

“Not feeling well, he’ll be fine. I should get back inside though and get some stuff done.”

“You trust her to just go home, not go visit her boyfriend?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “You do realize that it’s not Emily’s place to choose the eventual crew members. That decisions falls to me and my
brothers and all three of us must agree. Not sure why you’re implying that my wife is going anywhere but home, but if you wish to be considered for the position, you might want to reframe from making those comments. I know she’s going home, where I’ll be later. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to get inside.”

I walked past him and went back inside the building; Casey was at the office door.

“Dude, where is Ems?”

“She took Alexander home; he’s either getting sick or teething. She’s taking him to the doctor in the morning. Hey, were you in the interview
with a Gladstone?”

“I was, strange man.”

“Well, don’t bother to reinterview him, in fact you can just stamp it with a NO and I’ll sign it.”

“Um, why?”

“He was outside and when she left he asked if I trusted her to go home and not visit her boyfriend. Just cross him off, besides Emily said she
was hiring the second guy, Blackstone or something.”

“Blackson, yeah we both really liked him, but um…is Alexander ok?”

“He’s been nursing more than normal, almost back to two hours during the day for the last few days. He doesn’t want the bottle either, he pushes it away. She said he might be teething, she felt one. But, when he came to me it wasn’t his face he was rubbing it was his ears. So, she called to make sure it’s not some ear infection and it’s just him teething.”

“Didn’t you say he was a bit congested?”

“He was yeah, it cleared up Friday? She almost decided not to go this weekend but he seemed fine and the flight was fine. Just Sunday he wanted to nurse often but she said he wasn’t really drinking much. Monday was the same way. He’s rubbing his ears and he didn’t sleep very well last night.”

“Hopefully he’s ok.”

“I agree. Did you need her for something?”

“I was going to talk with her about our applicants, but it can wait. We wanted to narrow them down, can I go ahead and submit backgrounds or does she have to do that?”

“I can sign you in and let you if you have nothing else to do.”

“I have nada.”

We went into the office and I signed him in on her computer, mine was on but I didn’t want to risk him seeing the e-mails. He wouldn’t be like Carrick, he wouldn’t understand why I haven’t told her and he would. Once he was in I left him to fill out the papers and went back to Taylor and Isaac.

“Everything ok?” Ike asked.

“Alexander is either teething or is getting an ear infection. He’s rubbing his ears and wanting to nurse but Em said he wasn’t really taking much milk. He didn’t sleep well last night either.”

They nodded and we spent another two hours but Emily called me at 5:15 and Alexander was crying when I answered.

“Baby?” I asked.

“He wants you Zac and I don’t want to bring him back.”

“How do you know its me?”

“Because he’s asking for you, listen.”

I know she put me on speaker phone and sure he was crying but then words, dada were clearly there and he kept saying it.

“I’ve tried everything.”

“I’ll get Casey, give me thirty.”

“Make it 15.” She then hung-up.

“Alexander?” Taylor asked.

“He’s actually asking for me, so I think I’m going home.”

I got up and went up-stairs, Casey wasn’t done yet so he tossed me his keys.

“Go, I can walk home dude.”

I left the studio and went straight home, it was closer to thirty minutes but she wasn’t mad and Alexander nearly fell out of her arms when he
saw me. I held him tight and he kind of calmed, she handed him the cold tether and it seemed to help.

“I wouldn’t have…” I stopped her.

“It’s ok Emily; they understand that he’s not just your son.”

I sat down with him and he just laid his head down, but he was still rubbing his ears. She fixed dinner while I cuddled with Alexander, even though we went through the normal routine of getting him ready for bed, he didn’t stay laying down, cried when she laid him down. He seemed ok sitting up though.

“I’m betting this is an ear infection.”

He was babbling and dada was very frequent. I took him from her and sat down in the chair in the room, propped my feet up and got comfortable.

“What are you doing?”

I smiled at her. “If it’s his ears, he’s not going to lie down. I’ll just sit here with him.”

She asked me three times if I was sure and eventually she laid down, I sat back in the chair and he fell asleep after 45 minutes. I was almost
asleep when my phone’s bells went off. I picked it up and seen it was the same infinity person. I opened it, a few pictures of me from 2004 and then there was a more recent one, I was holding Alexander and Emily was beside me, it was from earlier today when I took him to the car.

You are being such a good father and husband; it’s amazing how the rumors started. It appears there aren’t problems in your marriage.
But, are you sure of this?

There was another photo under it of Emily with another man. I looked at her asleep in the bed, she wouldn’t do that, but the photo was recent I recognized the shirt and her face was clear, even her wedding bands were there. Yet, the guy wasn’t someone I knew and he had his on her waist. I kept the first few, deleted the last one. She loved me and she wouldn’t do that. I finally laid my head to the side and dozed, woke up when he did about 1. I went downstairs and fixed a bottle which he took fine. I then sat on the love seat and both of us slept there the rest of the night.

June 19, 2013

Emily woke me up at 7:30 and by 9 we were at the doctor’s office and Alexander was just not happy. Doctor confirmed the ear infection and prescribed him an antibiotic which we went to the pharmacy for. I stayed in the car with him while she ran in. We then returned home and I sent Taylor and Isaac a message saying we wouldn’t be in and told Casey I’d bring his car back Thursday unless he needed it. He didn’t. He did well after a medication and some pain reliever; he nursed well and then curled up with her and fell asleep.

“You should get some sleep Zac.”

“I slept pretty well here on the sofa.”

“It sleeps well, that is for sure.”

“So, did you put any thought into those letters and stuff?”

“Not really.”

“Do you know anyone that is blonde?”

Where the hell had that come from?! I hadn’t meant to say anything to her about the pictures or even ask about the curly haired blonde in the
picture.

“Um, I know several blonde people. You may have to be more specific than that.”

“Male, tall curly blonde, maybe from Hanson Day?”

She appeared thoughtful. “There was a guy that had applied that kind of matches that no wait curly blonde?”

“Yes...”

“There was one fan that matched that description, he approached me during the outdoor portion and wanted to dance. He was a little weird,
but not bad of a dancer. Why?”

“Just saw a random picture online and wasn’t sure who the hell he was or if I needed to beat someone’s ass.”

“No need to beat anyone.”

It got quiet and about 1 Christopher called, he got a letter and it asked for the same stuff. She didn’t seem pleased and for a long time after they hung-up she was quiet. She fed Alexander about three; he’d slept most the mid-day so she was glad for that. He didn’t seem to be as whiney but he did want me for a bit afterwards, which was fine. Alexander had fallen asleep again and she finally looked at me.

“I don’t want to see him because I’m afraid of him. I don’t want to confront the reality of my actions that day because it does scare me that I could have shot him and killed him. It scares me that I didn’t even know what the hell I was doing, I just got the gun and shot. I’m afraid to see him. I can’t even look at pictures of him, I’ve tried.”

I really hadn’t expected that revelation and for a moment I considered what she’d said before I got up carefully and moved beside her, putting Alexander on my left side and her on my right.

“It’s true; you could have very well shot and killed him but you didn’t. Even in pain, even after what he’d done, you didn’t intend to kill him. Emily it’s expected that you’d be afraid of him; you were before they ever took you. You can pretend you weren’t, but I could see the look in your eyes everyone you were near him. You may not have known what you were doing, but you did. Why are you afraid to see him right now? He cannot hurt you.”

“I don’t know really, maybe because he’s in a wheelchair because of me? When I went there before I couldn’t go into that room, I couldn’t even make myself just go in to look through the glass.”

I kissed her temple. “No one blames you for his situation but him. Sure, he’s paralyzed and he’ll never walk again but really what could he have done to us had you not had the guts to do that? You keep saying you didn’t know what you were doing but I think you did. Because you understood the implications of what him reaching me meant.”

She glanced down at her lap. “He would have killed you; he wouldn’t have cared about the money.”

“Would you rather have that occur than what did happen?”

“No!”

“Neither would I. I know it’s hard to think about taking away something from him, but look at what he took from us. Alexander should be our second child, not our first. You spent four months as a hermit, you spent months with me, Casey, and others watching you like a hawk because of them. Eight years you went without talking to your brothers because of him. He took a lot more from you Emily.”

“Have you heard anything from Layla?”

“No. But an officer called me after she was sentenced and said her request was to be able to write to me. I told them I didn’t want that. There is nothing for me to say to her. I told her the day she told me she was behind it that I never wanted to speak to her again and I meant it.”

“I wish I had known or at least went with Velma.”

“We didn’t know how she felt Emily, I didn’t know about Mark and the abortion. I believed her lies just like you. She had us all fooled because no one suspected her.”

She looked up at me. “Why did you?”

She’d never asked me that question, had never wanted to know apparently until now.

“At first, I didn’t believe it was her, even when she came on to me. I just thought maybe it was sleep deprivation. It was the day she confessed and Ike had been playing This Time Around, the shoes you wore with long black satin lace. Something about the security video bugged me, when I heard that I realized what it was. Velma had told me months before that she didn’t own any shoes with heels because the job requires standing and she just hated them, the woman in the video with you dressed like Velma but wore high heels. I then asked Mark for proof and then confronted her.”

“Shoes gave her away?”

“Yep. High heels.”

“Do you really think it would be beneficial to see him? I don’t know if it would stop the letters or not.”

“I think it would be, if nothing else for you to tell him your final peace and be done. It does bother you Emily, I can see it sometimes when you’re with Ace, you trust him but you still have some glimmer of doubt. Ace is not David; he’s not going to hurt any of us.”

“I will talk to the warden and see if I can set up a date, but little man here needs to be better. He can’t fly right now.”

“We can drive it; see how he does on the drive. It’s just twelve hours.”

“Well, I want him better at least.”

“Call the warden, see when he can, and make it after Monday. I am sure the antibiotics will kick in shortly and he’ll be back to his self.”
She laid her head down on my shoulder and within five minutes she was asleep. I laid my head on hers. It was stupid and irrational to believe some weird ass person who keeps sending me pictures of myself; of course she would never cheat on me. She’s loved me since 1998, her first show. She stuck by me for 7 months before she had enough, she helped me through the divorce, and god she’d been selfless so many times when it came to me. There was no way she would cheat on me. I tightened my grip on Alexander some and he snuggled closer and before long I was also asleep.

It was the alarm going off that jolted all of us out of sleep, I quickly handed her Alexander and she got to soothing him while I checked, it was
showing the gate codes. I turned the camera on and Isaac was standing there. I pressed the intercom button.

“Isaac?”

“Dude, I completely forgot my damn code, did I just set your alarm off?”

“You did, Alexander is not pleased either.”

I let him in and checked his actual code and had it waiting when he came in. Alexander was still whining some.

“Sorry, I tried to buzz but no one answered.”

“We were all asleep.”

“How is he feeling?”

“He’s been asleep most of the day.” I said.

“Why is your shirt wet?”

I hadn’t even noticed it was until then and by the smell it was probably a diaper overflow.

“He’s soaked to. I’ll bring you a clean shirt.”

I took my shirt off and Emily took it with her when she took him to be changed. It was late actually kind of shocked me it was after 6 already.

“I came by on the way home; you got a package at work.”

He ran out before I could stop him and he brought back in fed ex box and sat it down. “It was priority so I figured it was something you
ordered.”

“Probably.”  The problem was I hadn’t ordered anything.

I sat the box where Emily wouldn’t see it, we chatted a bit and she came back down with him in his pajamas.

Isaac rubbed his head. “He’s gotten so big, curly blonde hair.”

“I’ve been told we’re not cutting it.” I said.

He giggled. “She doesn’t even like your hair to be cut, you expect something less?”

Emily giggled. “I’ll keep his a bit shorter and trimmed but right now it’s just getting longer and curly and it’s insanely cute.”

We smiled. “So now that I’ve woken you up, I guess I should head out. Nikki was waiting.”

“Thanks, um..I’m not sure if I’ll be in tomorrow it depends on how he feels.”

“Not a problem, we should get sales figures in but so far so good!”

I walked with him back outside. “Hey Ike, did the package come via the mail?”

“Yep. Stephanie got it with the usual mail. She told me it was there and I didn’t know what you’d ordered.”

“Thanks for bringing it by.”

“No problem, sorry for waking you guys up.”

“I needed a mild heart attack anyway, it’s cool. We’ll probably fix dinner and get him settled again.”

“If you stay home then send us a text.”

He got in his car and left and I went back inside, we indeed did fix dinner and afterwards she took him to nurse while she was up-stairs I got the box, inside the fed ex box was a silver wrapped one. I tore through the paper quickly and opened the second one, inside was a pair of shorts or at least I think they were. These were very small and didn’t look like they would even cover Emily well. A small note card was inside.

Zachary-
Part of your future uniform and I can’t wait to get you in them…I can image they won’t cover a lot.
XOXO

I looked at them and there was no identifying names or address so I put them back in the box and went to the garage, I put the whole thing down in a box on the top shelf and went back inside. I started to send Carrick a message but didn’t. He seemed OK with just the pictures but if he knew about the repeated packages as well? Well, he would tell Emily. God the alarm had scared her. She was sitting in the chair in the room, had it pulled near the bed and her feet propped up on the edge.

“You get the bed tonight.”

“Are you sure? I can hold him tonight too.”

“He’s already asleep Zac, he got his medication again, got full, and he’s out.”

I changed and laid down.

“Warden said for me to call him tomorrow and he’d tell me when I can come in. Jason and Sophia said they’d be more than welcome to let us
stay and they’ll keep him while we go.”

“You were busy.”

“Didn’t take long to speak to either of them, the warden was unaware that he even got a letter to me. Oops.”

“Emily…”

She just smiled and pulled a blanket up over them both. We settled in for the night and I woke up about 2 and she was sound asleep with him laying on her chest still. I got up and went to the bathroom and then stopped on the way back, it sounded like something downstairs moved but Emily and Alexander were the only ones here. I turned and went down the steps; maybe Casey had gotten a way over? The lights were off and I didn’t see anyone.

“Hello? Casey?”

I turned the lights on in the kitchen and looked around everything was still closed up and the alarm was on. I walked around carefully and checked the doors before heading back up-stairs.

“Baby?” Emily asked.

“I thought I heard someone, but no one’s here but us, maybe just being half awake.”

She adjusted some and we both went back to bed.