Stolen Innocence

Chapter Sixteen

Our ‘Date Night’ arrived very quickly. I had found a nice over sized dress that helped conceal my growing baby bump. I decided to do my hair and put make up on tonight, I don’t know why, but I wanted to put a little bit more effort it. I felt nervous, but it was a good nervous. I couldn’t get the smile off my face, because I was excited to see Ricky again.

Ella and I had been on the phone pretty much all day, she was happy that I was taking another chance with Ricky. She seemed pretty convinced that Ricky and I were meant to be together. Her theory is- ‘If the baby never scared him away then that’s true love’.

I decided I would walk to Ricky’s that night, it was a beautiful night, and the moon was nearly a complete full moon. So the streets were lit up like it was day time. I grabbed my bag and put on a coat incase it was a little cold outside.

Walking into the lounge room I said goodbye to my parents,

“Have a good night Bub” Mum said,

“Behave yourself. I’ve told Ricky to do the same “ Dad said, not moving his eyes from the television,

I felt my self blush with embarrassment, and I could tell Dad was smile because he knew I would.

“Bye, love you both” I said as I walked out the door.

I strolled along the pathway, and it was such a beautiful night. I couldn’t help by smile as I walked. I had spent the past days telling myself to be confident and make it clear to Ricky that I liked him. I was trying to prepare myself so I didn’t sound like an i***t when I tried to explain how I felt.

I got lost in my thoughts while I walked. Thinking of the baby, the future, and how it was going to work if Rick was a part of it. There was a lot to think about really. There so much involved with having a child, raising one, and living a life in general. I had no idea what I was doing. But I was going to take it one day at a time, even if Ricky didn’t want to be a part of it. I was prepared for rejection, and had already told myself that if he didn’t want a relationship with me and the baby, I still wanted to be friends with him. I didn’t want to loose him altogether.

Before I knew it, I was standing at Ricky’s front gate. I couldn’t help but admire his house and it was beautiful. Fully fenced yard, big brick house. It was lovely. What a lovely home I thought as I looked around.

“Are you going to come in?” Ricky chuckled, “Or are you just going to stalk me from the gate” He joked,

“Of course I’m coming in. Unless you want me to stalk you?” I joked back, and made him embarrassed.

I took a breath as I walked through the gate and up the pathway. My nerves were getting the best of me, but I wasn’t letting them win. I took a big breath in and slowly breathed back out, telling myself to calm down.

I noticed Ricky looked me up and down,

“You look nice Em” He smiled as I walked up to him,

“Thank you Ricky. I tried to hid my belly a bit.” I said a little conscious about the growing belly,

“Don’t hide it Em, the baby is lucky to have you as he or she’s mum” He said as he gestured with his arm for me to go inside.

I smiled and walked through the front door, I couldn’t believe how beautiful the house was on the inside. It looked so white, so modern, so new.

“Wow. This house is stunning” I said is awe, as I admired how big it was.

“I’ll give you the tour” He said sounded excited, “You’re the first person I’ve had here, besides my mate-Peter” He laughed,

I looked at him an giggled. He walked me around the house, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Everything in the house was absolutely beautiful. The furniture was high end, the television was hung from the wall in the lounge room. It looked like a designer home, so clean and white and fresh.

The lounge was a cinema style one, that looked to be really leather. Wow, I thought to myself; he must of gotten the house fully furnished.

“Wow, Ricky this place is amazing. How much rent are they stinging you for this? I bet its expensive” I said as I looked around at the art work he had hung on the walls,

“Nothing” He answered simply,

“Huh?” I looked at him confused, “I don’t understand? Did I miss the joke” I laughed feeling like an i***t,

Ricky smiled and chuckled at me.

“It was one of my Dad’s houses, He was a well know for being in realestate, but not many people knew that he was actually an architect as well. He designed buildings, houses, high rises, everything. With the money he made from designing, he would invest into the realestate. He brought some houses” He explained,

“Really?” I said stunned,

“Yep, really. He owns a bunch of house, including the one Colin lives in.” He kept talking, “The tenants recently moved out of this one, so I took it as a sign to move in while it was vacant.”

“I bet your glad to be away from all of them” I said smiling,

“I sure am. In fact, I’ve been talking to my good mate Pete” He winked at me “And such a nice guy, he gave me the number of a great lawyer. I believe its your Uncle Gary?” He asked,

“Yeah that’s my uncle, and yep his a lawyer” I said nodding, “Why did you need a lawyer?” I asked him confused,

“Well, I have exactly been happy living with Alice, Colin or Tom for a long time, But what Colin did to you, it made me repulsed that they were all living in my Dad house, and living off my Dad’s money. He worked hard to get everything, and they were just taking advantage of it.” He stopped talking, “Come on, lets get a drink” He started walking to the kitchen, so I followed him.

“Anyway, your Uncle Gary put a motion before the courts too appealed my Dads ‘Will and testimony’- He also requested that Tom, Alice and Colin be evicted and removed from the property due to ‘irreparable differences’. You see, the deal with Alice living like a ‘Queen’ at that house- the deal was she had to provide for me, and care for me.” Ricky spoke so calmly as he poured us a drink of cold water.

“Your uncle Gary done some digging, and my father had left me a substantial amount of money, along with his life insurance, and the realestate business. Alice and Tom had fraudulently accessed about a hundred thousand dollars of the money over the past few years, they forged signatures and cheques. Anyways, Uncle Gary took it to court and I won” He sounded excited, but I didn’t understand what he meant,

“Why did you win?” I asked confused and smiling,

Ricky walked over and gentle placed his arms on my shoulders,

“I won Emily, thanks you your Uncle. Alice, Tom and Colin had been ordered to move. The got evicted, she cant help herself to anymore of my Dad’s money and they can finally get out of my life for good!” He had the biggest grin on his face, his eyes were lit up with happiness.

“Oh my God! Ricky that is absolutely fantastic!” I let out a little screech, I was so happy for him, he was free from them. Was also happy to hear they were evicted, a minor bit of karma in comparison to what Colin had put me through,

“I done it because of you Emily” He said in a serious voice,

“What do you mean because of me?” I ask him,

“After what he done to you Emily. I wanted him to pay. I wanted him to hurt, and the beating I gave him wasn’t enough. He had to suffer. I wanted Alice t suffer too, for bringing another man into my Dad’s home, and treating my like I was just a money pot for them to live off. They all need to pay for what they did to me, and to you. So I done it the legal way. They cant do a thing about it now.” He couldn’t wipe the grin from his face,

Ricky grabbed me and pulled in for a cuddle. I closed my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his waste, his scent made me go crazy. He smelt so good! I loved being there in his arms.

“I’m so glad you’re a part of my life Emily. Meeting you was the best thing that happened to me since my Dad passed away.” He whispered into my ear,

“I really like you Ricky” I whispered back, I didn’t mean to but they words just came out.

“Same Emily. I think we should have a good talk, about us, about the baby, about our future- as a family” Ricky said as we stood there still embracing each other.

“I think that sound gr-“

There was a pounding at the front door.