Trust Issues

Chapter3

By the time they had wrapped everything up with the police, it was just past dinner time. Everyone walked back the four blocks together, dropping off grown-ups and kids in the complex as they went. April's apartment door was the first door in a small cul-de-sac with three other apartment doors.

Her next door neighbor was a nice lady in her seventees who occasionally watched the boys while she was at work. The neighbor next to her was a very quiet man with a lot of birds who really kept to himself. And the woman on the opposite end of the cul-de-sac had two toddlers and a newborn.Their doors were all within thirty feet of each other, making interaction on a daily unavoidable. April had been getting used to being comfortable with all of them on their level, closer with some than others.

"Just make sure you always check your windows and any hiding places, like closets. Double-check the front door before you go to sleep. And I'm right across the hall if you need me." April instructed as she silently chastised herself for not taking enough precautions. She gave the woman a sympathetic look as she hugged her and she went inside.

The sound of the deadbolt gave April the motivation to take the boys in and get them fed before bed. Before she could finish unlocking the door, the older lady next door came out of her door holding a grocery bag.

"Well, you're home awfully late. Is everything ok?" The grey-haired woman asked with concern. April sighed, a little too loudly, and turned to her with a weary smile.

"Oh, you know. Just a little adventure at the park." She replied as she let the two boys into the apartment. The lady looked at her in confusion. April let the boys run happily into the apartment as she hesitated slightly. She shouldn't have let them in without checking the place first. She chastised herself again for being out of practice, and turned her attention back to the lady with a smile. "It was a drive-by. I'm just a little out of sorts."

"Oh my goodness! Is everyone alright?" She said as her hand flew to her chest with a step back, almost instinctually.

"Yes. Thank God, no one was hurt. It just took a long time with the police."

"Thank goodness! There's some real evil people out there." She spoke as she relaxed slightly in relief. "And there are some really good ones, like the gentleman caller you had." The lady said with all kinds of implication, and handed her the grocery bag. "He was very polite and awfully cute."

April's heart fluttered and sped up as her stomach dropped. No one should be coming to her place. She peeked inside the grocery bag to see a couple of brand new towels and belts sitting on top. Josiah. The name filtered into her mind along with the images of his bloody form, and left her with a smile. Relief cascaded through her. She tried not to think too much about their strange encounter, but she was overjoyed to know that his friends had managed to save him, whoever they were.

"Thank you, Miss Erin." She said, calling her by the same name the boys lovingly did, as she felt her cheeks warm. The woman didn't press her for information, but gave her a genuinely kind smile. Miss Erin had always respected her privacy, and, at the same time, tried to be as open and comforting as possible. She seemed to keep a look out for everyone, as she was almost always home. April turned back to her apartment and went inside, bolting the door behind her.

Kenji and Asher were already laying on the floor watching cartoons on the TV. She sighed wearily and began preheating the oven. A frozen cheese pizza would have to do for tonight. April stayed lost in thought as she prepared their dinner. It seemed like it took mere moments before they were eating their pieces on paper plates, both zoned into the flashing colors on the screen. April's mind kept going back to the previous month and memories of the man. The thoughts made her feel like she could even smell him, and, when she put the towels away, his smell lingered. She smiled that she had remembered him correctly and she found herself lost in thought again.

It wasn't long before the boys were washed up and laying in their beds. She kissed them goodnight, knowing Kenji would crawl down to the bottom to sleep with his brother, and made her rounds to make sure everything was locked up tight. They were safe. April wearily changed into her night clothes and slipped into bed.

As soon as she closed her eyes, the bloody images of Josiah filtered into her mind. His bloody, dying form turned into a hot, sweaty one as she played a different scene in her head. She felt her hands sliding down her body, pretending they were his, as her legs opened underneath the covers. All the tension she'd been holding onto released while she let her fingers begin to play with her soft center.

Heat began to increase, and April let one hand take over while the other began massaging her breasts and n*****s, occasionally pinching and pulling. Silent gasps let out and Josiah's mouth played against her neck and chest in her thoughts. She began arching her back as she got close, the memory of his scent driving her closer and closer. Her soft center wet and her fingers sliding up and down her slit, going in a small ways and coming out in rhythm.

She clenched her eyes tighter while her heat consumed her. Her silent gasps became a silent scream that she struggled to control. Her hips rocked into her hand as her rhythm increased, the heat turning into a cord of fire that ran up her body as she succumbed to the orgasm.

April opened her eyes and laid still as she let her breathing slow down. She hadn't thought about anyone in that way in a long time. As soon as reality came back to her, she took a deep breath and chastised herself before getting out of bed.

April washed her hands in the bathroom sink, barely looking at herself in the mirror while she shook her head at her own failing. She rechecked the door and windows one more time before laying down.

Even though she didn't see anything different or unusual outside, there was something not right out there. It was just a feeling. No proof of something strange or misleading. No strange cars or people hanging about. Just a feeling like she was being watched. No, like they were being watched. Maybe it really was time to go. She couldn't hold onto a maybe. She couldn't just trust that they were going to be ok. She needed to be sure. The boys needed to be protected. April had made her decision. They would have to leave in the morning. For now, she needed to get some sleep.