Life with the ex-bad neighbor

Chapter seven - I'm scared

Emma's POV:

I have the feeling that something bad will happen. Lately, or to say, since the past month, Vince is not letting me go anywhere alone. I think that he is hiding something. I tried to ask him, but my boyfriend didn't tell me anything. Maybe he doesn't want me to worry. It's not like hiding will help. I talked with his mom as well. Sadly, she didn't know anything. I won't insist anymore. When the right time comes, I'm sure Vince will tell me. I trust him. I had my first check after I understood that I was pregnant. I can't believe I managed to keep this secret for so long. Usually, I am not good at this. I want to tell him so badly, but that way, I will ruin the surprise. I was skeptical in the beginning, but now I am excited. Mostly because I don't know the gender yet. It's too early. Whatever it is, I will still love it. Maybe when the baby is born, we can plan a wedding. We don't want to rush, but we can't keep dating while having a baby. Honestly, I don't mind it. Of course, we have to wait until it grows. I was never one of those girly girls. If I have one, I won't force her to be one of them. I want my kids to choose their style by themselves. I don't know how my mom felt when she was pregnant with me. I can ask her, but she will understand everything. No one should know about this. At the right time, I will tell them everything. I want to see the baby now, but I have to wait. I hope that it will look like Vince. I would love to have a mini version of him.

I woke up and saw that Vince was still sleeping. Today is my second check. I can't wait to see the baby. It still looks like a dot, but I know it's growing. I will take Vince with me when the baby grows more. I can't imagine him changing diapers. That will be funny. Maybe it won't be that bad for us to have a baby. Well, as long as it's on my side. If it's a girl, I know that Vince will spoil her. For some reason, fathers melt for girls. The same is for mothers and their sons. I hope that I won't be like that.

I got out of bed and went to make breakfast. I haven't made pancakes in a while. They take me too much time. Today I woke up a bit early, so I have enough time to make them. I was finishing the last one when I felt a presence. I didn't do anything. I wanted to see what he would do. It was nothing. When I was ready, I set the table. Vince was standing and watching me. Sometimes I can't understand him.

- Can I help you?

- No.

- Then why are you looking at me like that?

- I'm just admiring the view?

- Of what? PJ and unbrushed hair. - I said, chuckling

- I can compliment you, but I'm sure you will disagree.

- If it's about the way I look, then yes.

- No matter how you get dressed, you will always look beautiful.

- I wish that I could believe you.

- I'm just saying.

- Let's eat now.

Vince and I ate quietly. Sometimes I wonder if there are any foods which I have to avoid. I forgot to ask my doctor the last time. I hope I won't be of the women who want to eat at 3 am. I don't want to wake up Vince for such things.

After breakfast, we went to change. Later, we went to work. We have to finish another plan today and start a new one. A family with two kids and one on the way bought a house. I always get creative when it comes to backyards. Of course, I am helping Vince with the rest of the furniture. I will never leave him to do anything alone.

- Emma, I have to talk with Kim about the plan. I won't be able to go and buy you lunch.

- It's ok. By the way, I will need the car.

- You can take it.

- Thank you.

- Up to now, I have never seen a family with one kid.

- What do you mean?

- All the couples who come to us are with at least two kids. Except for the ones who still don't have one.

- So? I don't understand what you are trying to tell me.

- Maybe we can have two as well. One day, not now.

- Why not? We'll see. - I said and smiled to myself

If he knows that he will have one, he has to wait. I can't wait to see his reaction when I tell him. I waited for him to go out and walked away. Luckily, the hospital is not far away from my office. After fifteen minutes, I arrived. I already knew where doctor Williams's office was, so I knocked and walked in.

- Hi, Emma. How are you today?

- Excited. - I said, and the doctor chuckled

- It's normal. Let's check you now.

- Before I forget, I want to ask you something.

- No problem.

- Are there some foods which I have to avoid?

- No, but it's better if you eat healthily. That way, the baby will be healthy as well. I have told you, no alcohol and smoking.

- Don't worry. I don't do these things.

- Then you don't have to worry.

Doctor Williams checked me. She said that the baby was fine. Sadly, it's too early to understand what gender it is. I guess that I have to wait. It's not like I have a choice. As always, she gave me some tips. I don't know why I am so impatient. There are seven months until the baby is born. Maybe I have to distract myself with something else.

I walked out of the office and was about to go to my car when someone grabbed my hand and dragged me into a room. What is going on? I know that it's not Vince. He doesn't even know that I am here.

- Hello, dear. Did you miss me?

- Ricky? What are you doing here?

- Aren't you happy to see me?

- How did you find where I am?

- It's not that hard.

- What do you want from me?

- To talk. We haven't seen each other in a while.

- Look, I don't want to talk with you. Moreover, I have to go back to work.

- In that fancy company, right? With your lovely boyfriend.

- From where do you know where I work?

- I have my ways.

- Leave me alone. I don't want to do anything with you.

- Don't be so stubborn. I know that you still want me. - he said and grabbed my hand

- Let me go.

- Not so fast, princess. You will pay me for what you did.

- I didn't do anything.

- Thanks to you, I was sent away. - he said and moved closer

- W-what are you doing?

- I'll make you regret that you treated me that way.

- No chance. - I said and kicked his leg

I used the chance to run away. How did he find out where I was? I saw him behind me and ran faster. Soon, I was in my car and drove away. From where did he find a car? I thought that he was crazy as a teenager. Does he want to kill me? After ten minutes of speed driving, I was in front of the building. I quickly walked in. I have to find Vince. Luckily, Ricky can't walk inside.

- Oh my god, Emma, are you ok? - Kim asked me

- Yes, I'm fine.

- Are you sure? - Vince asked

- Yes.

- Ok, give me the plan when you finish it.

Kim walked away, and I sat on my chair. I felt tears in my eyes. I thought we got rid of him. How did he find us? What if he knows where we live? I'm scared that he will do something. Vince came to me, and I gave him a tight hug.

- Emma, what's wrong?

- R-R-Ricky. I saw him. He is back.

- What? Where?

- It doesn't matter. Ricky knows where our office is and where we go. I think he is stalking us. Vince, you have to stop him.

- Don't worry about him. Here you are safe.

- What do we have to do? I don't want everything to repeat.

- Hey, relax. I will deal with this boy.

- Thank you.

- Here, drink some water.

- Do you think that he will ruin everything?

- No, I won't let him.

The rest of the day we spent working. It's not like I was able to concentrate. Vince called our parents and said that we had to talk with them. I called miss and mister Campbell. I'm not sure they will want to hear about their son, but it's better if they know. From now on, we have to be careful. As I see it, he knows where we are all the time. I have no idea how he does this, but it's not good. I hope that he won't do anything to Vince.

- Hey, kids. Come in. For what did you want to talk with us? - mom asked

- Is everyone here?

- Yes.

- Hey, Emma. Vince. How are you? - miss Campbell asked

- I have been better.

- Why?

- I know you probably don't want to hear anything about him, but your son is back in town.

- What? Ricky is here!

- Yes. I saw him today. Somehow he knows where we work and where we are all the time. I have no idea how he found me.

- Did he do something to you? - mister Campbell asked

- Not really. Well, except the usual. I told him that I wouldn't give him anything and ran away.

- Good. I don't know what we are going to do with him.

- He is an adult now. You can't do much. - Vince said

- Yes, he is right. According to Ricky, it was my fault that he got sent away.

- No, it's his own. Don't worry. We'll find a way to save you. - miss Campbell said

- It's ok. You don't have to do that. I just wanted to let you know.

- Thank you. We'll keep an eye on him.

- If this will make you feel better, you and Vince can come and sleep at home for a while. - mom said

- Thanks, but we are good.

- I think that we have to call the police, or at least inform them. - mister Campbell said

- Someone needs to watch my son. I don't understand what we did wrong.

- You didn't do anything. He doesn't know how to value things you can't buy with money. - I said

- If he does something to you, I want you to tell me. I will press charges against him. - miss Campbell said

- Ok, I will.

- This kid will be the death of me.

- Hey, it's not your fault.

- Then whose is it? We were supposed to educate him, not turn him into a monster.

- But you can't keep controlling him. Ricky is not a kid anymore.

- I know. If you don't have anything else to tell us, we'll go home.

- For now, I don't.

- I'll see what I can do for him.

- It's ok. Thank you.

The rest of the night, Vince and I spent with our parents. Let's say they weren't happy when we told them about Ricky. It turned out that Vince and dad knew about this. They wanted me not to worry, but that didn't help. I saw him by myself. Now, I know why my boyfriend didn't let me go anywhere alone. I don't know how many challenges I have to do until I reach full happiness. I don't want much. Well, I guess that someone has other plans for me. I hope that this will end soon. I don't want to deal with Ricky. Vince is the only one with who I want to be.