Missy & Bob
Section 7
Please note: This is copyrighted (©) by me, Tammtamm. Please do not copy it or save it without my permission. Thank you. Also, I've been writing in this story for nearly six years (yes, six years). It is currently 228 pages long and I may put every single page up on the web for y'all to read, but only ONLY if you send me feedback stories@iwuvjoey.com with Missy & Bob in the title. Any similarities between the characters and people in real life are purely coincidental. These are characters from my mind (although some names and characteristics were "borrowed" from Baywatch). This is purely for enjoyment purposes only. Any and all comments should be sent to me at iwuvjoey@iwuvjoey.com unless it's feedback pertaining to the story. Thank you.
Back at home that evening. Bob wasn’t home yet, but had left a message on the answering machine for her. Missy was exhausted so she put the tv on and laid down on the couch. Her mother had let herself in to check on Benji and noticed Missy asleep on the couch so she covered her with an afghan.
“Missy? Missy? Wake up, sleepyhead. I’m home.” Bob said an hour later. He had turned off the tv and gently nudged her.
“Bob? What time is it?” she asked.
“Nearly eight. Did you eat yet?” he asked.
“No. I sat down for a minute to relax and now you’re waking me up. I’d better eat something though. I need to take my medicine.”
“I heard you met a cousin of mine today?”
“Yeah, he looks alot like your dad. Hey, my mom left us some dinner. Want some?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m gonna go change. Can you handle dinner?”
“I think I know how to operate a microwave even if I am half asleep.” Missy said sarcastically.
“Hey, you didn’t check the messages.”
“I’m sorry. I was exhasted.”
“Well, maybe you should scale back your schedule and ease into it?” Bob asked as he played back the messages.
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing yesterday.” Missy said and came out to listen to the messages. The first one was from Dr. Feagel confirming Missy’s appointment for the following day. Next was Bob’s mother, wanting them to come over for dinner. Next was Jenn, asking when Missy and she could get together then was Bob’s message.
“Hi, honey. I hope your session went well. I’ll be at work a little while longer. We have some new employees that I want to work on. I’ll try to be home by eight or so. I love you. Call me if you need anything.”
The last message was from Jase Cauldwell.
“Hey, Bob! It’s your cousin Jase. I know I just got off the phone with you, but, well. I wanted to apologize to Missy for not recognizing her when I scared the wits out of her today. She’s changed alot. Listen. There’s some unfinished business concerning my mom and dad’s will. I know. They’ve been gone four years, but your dad won’t accept what was left to him. Please talk to him. It’s what my dad wanted. Thanks.”
“Unfinished business? What’s he talking about?” Missy asked.
“My dad refuses to believe that Jase’s parents are dead. If dad acknowledges that his brother is dead then he acknowledges that he’s a very rich man. Jase and the lawyer have been trying to get dad to sign everything over to Jason, Jr., Colleen, Rick, me, and my mom, but dad and mom had a fight about it. Dad won’t even talk to Jase. It’s like he’s punishing himself for my uncle’s death.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. They died instantly in a plane crash. They’re with god now. Well, I’m going to go change now. How’s dinner?”
“Should be heated up by now. I’ll set the table. Oh, before I forget, Jason, Jr stopped by the store today with his new girlfriend. They invited us to dinner next week.”
“He must be serious about her if he’s inviting us to dinner with her. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Where are you going?”
“To roll up my windows. It’s going to rain.” He replied and went outside. He brought a bouquet of roses back in with him. Missy had put dinner on the table and poured them both some soda.
“Ah, rolling up the windows, eh?” Missy said when he placed the roses next to her place setting, “Thank you for the roses. They’re beautiful.”
“I figured you had a bad day and would need some cheering up.”
“You are what I need to cheer up. C’mon, let’s eat.” Missy said. “Oh, where’s Benji?”
“Your mom’s got him with her.”
“We’ve been neglecting him.” Missy said.
“I know. I also know that you’re still a little down. Things will get better, Miss, I promise.” Bob took hold of her hand.
“Bob, it’s not you and me that has me down. When I was in the group session today, I saw so many women who were so angry and upset at themselves instead of angry at the person who did it. But what really has me bugged is that when I met with the therapist, she said she knew me from when I first went to group counseling. Bob, I don’t remember her or the group counseling or any of the other girls that were in the picture with me and her. I know I blocked the rape out, but did I block out the year after that too? What is it that I don’t want to remember?” Missy couldn’t help but wonder. She poked at her salad.
“If I knew the answers, I’d share them, but I don’t and I don’t know what to say except that I’ll always be here for you. Always.” Bob said.
“I know. I’m not hungry. I’m going to go lay down for awhile. Would you mind cleaning up?” she asked as she got up from the table.
“Why don’t you talk to your parents about that time.”
“Mom avoids the subject and I’ve never tried with my dad.” Missy told him. Bob went to the phone and dialed her parents house. “What are you doing?” she asked Bob.
“Hi, Kevin? It’s Bob. Could you and Marilyn come over for a little while? Missy needs to talk with you.” Bob said.
“Sounds serious, Bob. We’ll be over in a few minutes.” Missy’s dad replied and they both hung up the phone.
“My mother still will avoid the subject, Bob.”
“Well then she’s not leaving until you get some answers.” Bob stated flatly.
“I can’t. Not right now.” Missy said and went up to their bedroom.
“Missy, you need to know the truth.” Bob stated.
“What I need is sleep.” Missy yelled from the top of the stairs. There was a knock at the door. It was Missy’s parents.
“Hi, Bob.”
“I’m sorry I bothered you, now she’s up in the bedroom. She doesn’t want to talk about it.” Bob said to them both.
“Talk about what?” Marilyn asked.
“Come in, I’ll tell you all that I know.” Bob said.
“Missy, honey. It’s mom. Can we talk?” Marilyn had gone up to the bedroom 30 minutes later. Bob and Kevin were right behind her.
“Go away mom. Please.” Missy said softly.
“No, I think it’s time you knew everything that happened right after the rape.” Bob said and opened the door for Marilyn.
“Melissa. Sit up and listen to your parents.” Bob said and sat down next to her. She looked at Bob. He had been crying.
“What? What is it?” She looked from him to her parents.
“Your father and I have some things to tell you. Things that will upset you even more.” Marilyn replied.
“What?”
“After you testified in court, you collapsed on your way from the stand back to your seat. You had to be taken to the hospital on a stretcher because we couldn’t revive you. You were unconcious. Missy, that afternoon you found out you were five months pregnant. The baby was delivered by c-section and you put it up for adoption.”
“Get out. You’re lying. Get out. I would never give up a baby willingly. Never.” Missy stated and turned into Bob’s chest and cried.
“Ssh, baby. Ssh. It’s alright. I’m here.” Bob said and just held her. Missy’s parents left a short time later.
“...he forced me into the bedroom, locked the door behind him, threw me down on the bed and ripped my dress. That’s when I poked him in the eye and tried to get out of the room. He pulled me back, ripping my dress even more.” Missy explained to the courtroom.
“Did he rip it off of you?” the DA asked.
“Yes. Then, he took a knife and, and cut through my bra straps.” Missy cried.
“Your honor...I’d like to enter prosecution exhibits A and B. A is the dress that Melissa had on the night the accused had allegedly raped her and B is the knife that was used.”
“Entered. Please continue.”
“Had you and the defendant been dating long?”
“Since about two summers ago up until the rape five months ago.”
“Did he ever hit you or yell at you or anything of the sort?
“Whenever he was upset about something, he would yell, but he never hit me.” Missy replied.
“Did he ever pressure you to have sex.”
“No. He knew that I wanted to wait until I was married.”
“I have no further questions.”
“Counselor, do you?”
“No, your honor, however, I would like to have a sidebar with the DA and you in chambers if I may.”
“Melissa, you may step down.”
Melissa had wiped away the tears and stood up. The room was spinning. She had gotten as far as the prosecutor’s table when she collapsed.
“No!” Missy screamed so loud that she woke Bob up.
“Missy? Baby, what is it?” he asked.
“Oh my god, Bob. She wasn’t lying. I just dreamed about the trial. What if she wasn’t lying?”
“Come here. You’re not to worry about that or the past. Let’s just concentrate on the future. Agreed?” Bob asked.
“I can’t. I have a baby out there that I don’t even remember giving birth to. I’m going out for a drive.”
“It’s nearly three o’clock in the morning, Melissa. Do you really think it’s the best thing to do right now?”
“No, but I need to think and you need your sleep.”
“Please don’t go out driving. I don’t like you driving when you get like this.” he begged.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t think, what can I do?” she started to cry.
“You can come back to bed and let me hold you.” Bob said. Benji moved to the bottom of the bed so that Missy could get back into bed with Bob. Bob sang her favorite song “Right Here Waiting” to her and that helped her calm down enough to fall back to sleep.
Bob woke to the smell of bacon and coffee. Missy had awoken before he did and decided to make him breakfast.
“Mmmm...sure does smell great. Been up long?” Bob asked when he came downstairs.
“You’re suppose to be sleeping.”
“Me? What about you?” Bob asked.
“I wanted to make you breakfast before I go to work for a few hours.” Missy said.
“What other plans do you have for today?”
“I thought I’d come home for lunch before I go see Dr. Feagel and then physical therapy. I’m hoping they’ll decrease my medication if not end it all together.”
“You’re coming home for lunch?”
“Yeah. I don’t like you being home all by yourself.” Missy said.
“Benji’s here.”
“But he’s not me. Go sit down. Breakfast is almost ready.” Missy instructed. Bob obeyed.
“I’ve got to go to my parents’ this morning and get the rest of my stuff out of there. My tv, stereo, and Super NES are still in Colleen’s capable hands. I’m suffering from Mario withdraw.” Bob explained.
“Okay, well, call me if things change. Okay?” Missy said as she ate some toast and drank a cup of tea.
“Is that all you’re eating?”
“I had a bowl of cereal. Which reminds me. We should go grocery shopping tonight. We need some other cereals and fruits and veggies. Okay?”
“Missy, you’re doing too much too soon. Please slow down. Okay?” Bob asked as she got up from the table.
“I’m fine, Bob. Honest.”
“I don’t care if you’re fine or not. You’re still recuperating from a car accident and surgery. I don’t want you to go into work today. I’ll get your mother to open the store, or I can do it.” Bob said with his voice raised just a little. Missy sat back down.
“Fine, you call mother and ask her to do it. I’m not speaking with her.” Missy said and began cleaning off the table. Bob went next door to talk to Missy’s mother.
“Bob, what are you doing here so early?” she asked.
“Would you mind opening the store for Missy and Kerry this morning. Kerri is due in around noon and Missy just has to rest before running to all of her appointments this afternoon. She’s still upset about what you said last night. She doesn’t want to talk to you right now. I’m sorry.” Bob explained.
“That’s alright. I can go run the store for her. Anything else?” Mrs. Nichols asked.
“I want to tell her the rest of it. Everything that you didn’t get a chance to say to her last night. Is that okay with you?” Bob asked.
“Wait here a minute. If you’re going to tell her, you might as well give her this box.” Mrs. Nichols took a computer paper box full of letters and pictures and handed it to him. “I’ve been keeping in touch with the family that has the baby. It was an open adoption which means that Missy and I and Kevin could see the baby at any time. The baby is six now. Her name is Jessica Melissa Nichols Andrews. She knows that she is adopted. Kevin and I have met her. She calls us nana and pop-pop and she has pictures galore of Missy. Her parents would love to have Missy meet her and visit. They’ve been very supportive from a distance.”
“I don’t know how Missy is going to take this. This is going to be alot for her to take in. I’d better get back to her.” Bob said.
“Thank you, Bob. Missy is so lucky to have you in her life.”
“No, I’m lucky to have her. More than you could ever imagine. I just hope that she doesn’t shut me out when I tell her everything.”
“You’re about the only one she trusts right now. I don’t think she will.”
“I hope you’re right. Thanks. I’ve got to get back.” Bob said and went back to the apartment. When he got back he discovered that Missy had cleaned up the kitchen and wiped off the dining room table. He found her in the spare bedroom looking through a box of baby toys.
“What are you doing? You should be in bed.” he asked.
“You go to bed alone. I hate it.” Missy said as she continued looking through baby items.
“What’s all this?”
“I use to think this was Kenny and Jenn’s stuff for Andy from when he was little, but now I’m not so sure. Some of this stuff looks like it was never even worn.” she rambled.
“You’re afraid that you’ll have more nightmares, aren’t you?” Bob asked as he stood next to her.
“Terrified.” Missy admitted.
“It’s okay. C’mon, I could use a nap. Come lay down with me. I didn’t sleep well either last night.” Bob said as he took her hand. She didn’t argue.
“Dr. Feagel, can I look at my medical records?” Missy asked after Dr. Feagel examined her.
“You have every right to look at them. But you might not understand the wording.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’d like to view my records from seven years ago.” Missy asked.
“I’ll need to go to the archives for those. Would you mind waiting a few more minutes?”
“Not at all. Thank you.” Missy replied and sat back down in Dr. Feagel’s office. Dr. Feagel was back a few minutes later.
“Here we go. I can stay and explain any questions you may have. My next appointment has canceled so I’m free for at least a half hour.”
“How much do you know about my pregnancy when I was 16?” Missy asked.
“Just that you delivered at 5 months and that it took you nearly 18 months to recovery physically. You were so sick for the longest time. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong.”
“What do you think was wrong?”
“You want my personal or professional opinion, Missy?”
“Both.”
“Well, personally, I thought it was post partum depression plus the pressure of the trial had you so drained that you withdrew from everyone including yourself.”
“And professionally?”
“There is no medical proof as to the cause of the pneumonia and the continual bronchitis attacks that you had. They weren’t panic attacks, but bronchial. Your general practice chart at the back of that folder says that your throat was so raw that they were afraid to let you swallow anything because of the excruciating pain it would cause.”
“I remember nothing from that year or so. I remember the rape and then a piece of the trial and passing out but nothing else.”
“What brought all of this on?”
“I started group counseling at the Rape Crisis Center yesterday and the person leading the group knew me. Apparently we were in the same group seven years ago. There is even a picture of me with her and several other women on her bookcase.”
“Have you gone to your regular therapist with this news?”
“Not yet. I’m still absorbing everything. I went home and told Bob everything that I had discovered and then my mother came over and told me that I had a baby and gave her up for adoption. I told her she was lying and threw her out of the apartment. Then I had a dream about testifying in court against JJ Grant and passing out.”
“Well, Missy. I think you should go to your regular shrink and talk this over with him since I’m no good at it. But I do have some good news for you. You will be fine and able to have more children. Just give yourself a few more months to heal. I want you in here for monthly check ups until further notice and I want you to stop worrying so much. You’re healing wonderfully. Now, when’s the wedding?”
“Valentine’s Day.”
“Perfect. Okay, go on out and set up an appointment with my secretary and I’ll see you in a month. No more medication from me is needed at this time. I’ll call you in a few days with your test results. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you, Dr. Feagel.” Missy said. After she made the appointment for a month from then. She had her brother paged.
“Hi, Kenny. It’s Missy. I have some time before PT. Do you have a few minutes to chat or something?” she asked.
“Sure. I’ll meet you in the cafeteria in say ten minutes?”
“Ten minutes it is. Thanks.” Missy hung up the phone, said goodbye to the secretary and almost ran over TJ Moreland.
“Missy!” TJ sounded startled.
“TJ. Hello. What are you doing here?”
“Picking up some clinic files. And you?”
“I had an OBGYN appointment.”
“Oh, listen, we didn’t really have time yesterday to talk. You must have a million questions. Would you be available for tea or something in the next few days?” TJ asked.
“Can I get back to you? I don’t have my day planner with me, but I agree that I have alot of questions for you.” Missy asked.
“Sure. Here’s my card. My home phone is on the back. Call me when you know you’ll have time. Have a good day.”
“Missy, sorry I’m late. I got cornered for a consultation on a patient. You’re looking well.” Kenny said to his baby sister.
“Thanks. Listen, I need to know everything you know about what happened when I was sixteen.” Missy blurted out.
“That was seven years ago.”
“I know about the baby, Kenny. Mom told me last night. I didn’t believe her so I threw her out. I just saw my file in Dr. Feagel’s office. The file confirms mom’s story. What do you know?” Missy asked.
“Does Bob or mom know you’re doing this.”
“I don’t care about how mom feels about this. Bob is behind me all the way. I need the truth, Kenny, and until I get it, I’ll never be able to go forward.”
“All I know is that the baby was given up for adoption. The last time you saw the baby, your heart broke. You only knew the baby for such a short time, but, I could see that you were willing to love it no matter what. Mom thought it was for the best that you give the baby up and you being the ever faithful daughter that you were didn’t argue with her. You stayed with grammie and poppop for a while after you got out of the hospital and when you came back no one mentioned the baby or the trial or JJ.”
“Thanks, Kenny. I’m sorry I bothered you with this.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’m finding out about the eighteen months I’m missing. I can’t explain now, but, maybe this weekend Bob and I can come over for a little while and I can fill you in on everything then.” Missy explained. She looked at her watch, “I gotta get to PT. I’m hoping they’ll decrease my medicine. Call me tonight?” Missy asked.
“Will do.”
“Bob? Bob? I’m home.” Missy announced as she came through the door. She noticed a box on the dining room table. It was labeled “Jessica”. Missy opened it and saw a baby book. Bob came down from the bedroom. She dropped the book.
“Missy? What is it?” he rushed to her side.
“This box. Where did it come from?”
“Your mom. Sit down. We need to talk.” Bob said. He took the box from her reach, picked up the book and sat down in a chair next to her. “I went over to ask your mom to open the store and we got to talking. There’s more to what she told you last night and I want you to listen to me. Okay?” he asked. She nodded. Benji jumped up and snuggled on her lap as if to tell her she wasn’t allowed to walk away this time.
“This box is full of letters and pictures of your little girl. Her name is Jessica Melissa Nichols Andrews and she is six years old. She knows she’s adopted and that you are her mother. She knows your parents as nana and pop pop and she wants to meet you. Her parents want to meet you. They want you to meet Jessica. It’s an open adoption which means that you can visit her anytime that you wish. This book is her baby book. You started it for her parents. They kept it up to date until her sixth birthday.”
“I have a daughter I don’t remember giving birth to.” Missy cried.
“It’s okay. By looking at these pictures, she’s as gorgeous as you. It’s okay that you don’t remember her. It’s okay. You have another chance to know her.”
“Does JJ know about the baby?”
“Yes.”
“Does he see her?”
“No. That was one of the terms to the adoption. He and his parents have no contact with her.”
“Has he ever tried to see her?”
“I don’t know.”
“I have a chance to know her?”
“You have a chance to know her.” Bob said. She put her head in her hands and cried.
“Do you want to call her parents?” Bob asked when she calmed down.
“Not yet. I wouldn’t know what to say to them or to her.”
“Why don’t you look through this box and I’ll scrounge something up for dinner.”
“We don’t have any...”
“I went grocery shopping. It won’t take long.” Bob insisted.
“You are just the mister homemaker, aren’t you?” she asked as she wiped away the tears.
“I got more done today than I thought I would. The spare room’s a mess though so don’t go in there and I didn’t go to the dry cleaners yet. Didn’t have time.” Bob explained. Missy laughed. “What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Are we having a role reversal here or something?”
“Maybe. Go ahead and start reading all the letters and stuff the Andrews have sent over the years.” Bob instructed.
Later that evening, there was a knock at the door. It was Kerri.
“Hi, Kerri. What brings you over so late?” Bob asked when he answered the door.
“Everything okay? I was worried when I saw Mrs. Nichols at the shop instead of Missy.”
“Missy’s fine. She’s just doing too much too soon. She’s still suppose to take it easy and working in the morning and then going to all the doctors appointments and therapy sessions is too much. Something had to give. I talked with Kim and Jenn and Mrs. Nichols and they’re all willing to work part time at the shop, if you guys can afford them.”
“We can afford them. Have you talked to Missy about this?”
“Yup. And she feels that until she is finished with therapy and PT that it’s a very good idea and that she’ll try to come in a few hours each week to work on the books. She found out today that she might have to have back surgery so now’s not a good time.”
“Where is she now?”
“Upstairs. I’ll have her call you tomorrow. Okay?”
“Bob are you mad at me cause it sure sounds like it.” Kerri asked. “You won’t even let me in.”
“It’s been an emotional time for Missy since we got back. It’s not my place to talk about it. Just go on home to Rick. I’ll have Missy call you later.”
“Alright. Alright.” Kerri said and left.
“Bob? Who was it?”
“Kerri. Call her later, okay?”
“Yeah. What are you doing now?” Missy said as she came down.
“Nothing. Are you ready to talk with your mom now?”
“No. Not yet. And don’t push it either, okay?”
“No problem. So tell me what else Dr. Trainer and Matt said concerning your back.”
“Tomorrow I go in for x-rays and tension tests as an outpatient and that I would need to get someone to drive me home afterward. Could you do it?”
“Yeah. Oh, Kenny called. Were we suppose to go over there tonight?”
“Oh, I forgot.”
“It’s okay. He asked if we could postpone it. So what all does he know?”
“Everything. You know what? I don’t want to think about anything but you and me anymore tonight.” Missy turned on the radio. “Dance with me?” she asked.
“I’d love to.” Bob replied.
“I think I’ll get Kerri and Jenn and Kim together to go shopping for the bridesmaids dresses and a tailor on Saturday. Is that okay with you?” Missy asked the next morning as they were cleaning up the spare room and unpacking the rest of Bob’s things.
“Oh, god. That means that I’m going to have to get the guys together to get tuxes, huh?”
“Yeah, but the difference is is that I can see the tux and you can’t see the wedding dress.” she teased.
“Oh the inhumanity.” Bob laughed.
“You know, I think I may have some stuff still at the apartment. Maybe we should go see?” Missy said.
“It’s eight-thirty in the morning. Rick and Kerri are probably still in bed.” Bob said.
“Well, then, I guess someone had better wake them up then.” Missy had a devillish grin on her face.
“You are bad.”
“These things will happen.”
“Are you going to go talk to your mom or what?” Bob said all of a sudden.
“No and I’m not calling the Andrews either. I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do about the situation yet.” Missy said and left the room. Bob followed her.
“Why are you avoiding this. I thought you wanted to remember.”
“Because it hurts me more than I could ever express to you, to some shrink, and even to me. The thought that someone could forget ever giving birth or having a child is revolting to me and the fact that I did it is 10 times worse.”
“It happened and you’re going to have to accept it.”
“How can you accept it? Huh? You can’t stand there and tell me that you’re not hurt even the least little bit that I have a child that is six years old and her father happens to be...” Missy felt dizzy and put her hand up to steady herself.
“Easy, Missy.” Bob said and went over to help her.
“I’m fine. Excuse me.” Missy said and walked into the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” Bob asked.
Missy took out the medicine bottles and looked at the warning labels.
“Something’s not right with this new medicine.” Missy looked up at Bob. “I think we should call my doctor. I feel so dizzy.” Missy said.
“Okay, just don’t go anywhere while I go get the phone.”
“No problem. I might break something.” Missy joked. Bob took her medicine bottles out of her hands and went to call her doctor. He came into the room a few minutes later and scooped her up.
“Where are we going?” Missy asked.
“Doctor Trainer’s office, his orders.” Bob said.
“Great. Just what we need. More bills.” Missy sighed.
“Don’t worry about bills. How are you feeling?” Bob asked as he put her in the car. Her mother came running out of the house.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing, mother.” Missy replied from the car. Bob whispered, “I’ll tell you later.” and got into the driver’s side and left.
“Bob! What brings you to the hospital?” Kenny asked when he walked by with some med students.
“Missy had an allergic reaction to the meds Dr. Trainer put her on. He’s checking her out now.”
“I hope it’s not too bad. I have rounds to do. Call me later if you think it’s anything I should know.”
“I will. Bye.”
“See, that was painless.” Bob said as they arrived home. “How you feeling?”
“Better, but Dr. Trainer said that I’ll probably continue to experience the dizziness until the dosage wears off.”
“Then I guess we’re just going to have to spend the afternoon on the couch, won’t we?” he asked.
“Sounds good to me.” Missy replied. Mrs. Nichols came running out of the house again.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“It’s fine, mom. Don’t worry about it.” Missy said as she slowly got out of the car. Mrs. Nichols ran over to help her.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, I just had an allergic reaction to the new medication and Bob took me in to see Dr. Trainer.” Missy explained. Bob opened the door for them.
“What did the doctor have to say?”
“He said not to take the medicine anymore and prescribed something else that shouldn’t counteract the medicine for my stomach like this one did. I’m going to go to the couch.” Missy said once they were inside. Her mother walked her over.
“Did Bob talk to you about the baby?”
“Mom, I can’t talk about that now, but yes, Bob told me about the baby and even went through the box with me. And no, I don’t know what I’m going to do next about the entire situation including how I feel about you and daddy keeping this information away from me for six years. I don’t want to argue with you, I don’t want to get emotional right now, I just want you to give me the space I need to work this out. Okay?” Missy asked as she sat down on the couch.
“I really think we should talk but when you’re ready. I guess I’ll go home now.” her mother quickly left the apartment.
“You handled that well.” Bob said as he handed her a glass of water.
“It was either calmly, or yell at her to leave me alone. Come sit with me. We were almost done with the spare room anyway.” Missy said.
“I’ve got some other stuff to take care of. You go ahead and relax.” Bob said. He brought down some pillows a little while later and made her lay down. She was asleep a half hour later.
Bob had come in from mowing the lawn an hour later to check on Missy only to find that the couch was empty. He found her crunched in the corner, shaking.
“Missy, what is it?” he asked. He went to comfort her and she moved away from him.
“I want my mom. Please call her.” Missy asked him without looking at him. She was terrified of him. He grabbed the cordless and called the house.
“Hello?”
“Marilyn, it’s Bob. I think Missy remembered the rape. She’s asking for you.” he said into the phone.
“I’ll be right there.” Marilyn replied and she and Mr. Nichols were over within two minutes.
“Missy, honey. It’s mommy. I’m here.” Marilyn said. Mr. Nichols took Bob back over to the house.
“I’m so sorry, mom. I didn’t want it to happen. I said no.” Missy cried as her mom rocked her back and forth.
“I know, I know. Ssh...everything will be okay.”
“She’s got to be going through hell.” Bob said as he paced back and forth in the kitchen of her parents’ house.
“Bob, she was too angry before to grieve and then she blocked everything out. I think you’re in for a rocky road ahead with her. These nightmares she’s having are from the year and a half she blocked out. I think you should start seeing a shrink too.” Mr. Nichols suggested.
“I already am. When Missy was up in the other hospital after the kidnapping I started seeing one. I was suppose to see him today, but cancelled because of the allergic reaction Missy had to her new medicine.”
“Why don’t you give him a call now and see if maybe he can fit you in tomorrow or even tonight? It might be better if you talked to someone outside of the family about this situation.”
“Nah...I’ll be okay.” Bob shrugged off the suggestion.
“How you doing, kiddo?” Missy’s mother asked a little while later.
“I want Bob.” Missy said. They had moved to the couch and had talked about the rape.
“Why don’t you go on up to bed and I’ll go get him, okay?” Mrs. Nichols said.
“Fine.” Missy replied and went upstairs and crawled under the covers.
“Missy?” Bob said when he entered the bedroom a few minutes later. She was looking at a picture of them together in the park over the summer. Bob slid under the covers next to her and held her. “I love you. Ain’t nothing going to change that.” he said to her.
“I know. I love you too.” she replied softly. Mrs. Nichols went downstairs and put together a salad and some sandwiches for them in case they got hungry later.
“Is she okay?” Mr. Nichols asked when his wife came back into the house.
“I should have told her about the baby. Should have kept everything in the forefront of her mind and not let her block it out. She had a nightmare about the rape and then flashed to the courtroom when she testified and passed out. At least she finally cried about the rape. She was so strong and brave when she first told us and the police and tonight she cried about it and was truly terrified about it. Before, she just let it slip away.”
“Did you talk about the baby?”
“She still won’t let me. It’s a taboo subject.”
.”“At least she’s finally talking about it.” Mr. Nichols replied.
Later that evening. Missy was dreaming as she slept. Bob was downstairs watching the late news.
“Melissa, your parents and I want to talk to you. It’s very important.” Dr. Feagel sat down across from Missy. Missy looked from her mother to her father to Dr. Feagel.
“I’m pregnant, aren’t I?” Missy replied softly.
“Yes, you are. And we’ve all talked about what you should do.”
“I have to get out of here. Excuse me.” Missy said and left the room.
The dream then flashed to JJ’s trial a few months later.
“Miss Nichols. Isn’t it true that you wanted to sleep with Johnathan and that you wanted to get pregnant?” JJ’s lawyer asked her.
“No.”
“No? What do you mean no?”
“No! No! No! No!” Missy screamed.
Bob heard Missy raising her voice. Benji began whimpering.
“Missy, you’re dreaming. Honey, wake up.” Bob said when he ran into the room. He gently picked her up. She was dripping in sweat. “You okay?”
“Why is this happening?” she asked him.
“Because, you’re finally strong enough to handle it. C’mon, wanna talk about it?”
“All it was was me at the trial telling the court I didn’t want to sleep with JJ.”
“Well, you’re okay now.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost 11:30. I’ll be right back. I just need to turn the TV off.” Bob explained.
“Okay.” Missy said. She got up and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Benji sat at her feet and watched her.
“Can I squeeze in here or is there only room for a girl and her dog?” Bob teased.
“I’m calling the shrink in the morning. I gotta get this stuff out in the open again.” Missy said as she watched him brush his teeth.
“Good. I’ve got to go into work for a few hours tomorrow, but should be home around noon.”
“Cool. Then we can start looking at wedding stuff, like the band and the menu.” Missy suggested.
“Sounds like a plan. C’mon, it’s late. Maybe you’ll sleep better with my arms wrapped around you. Oh, before I forget, those tests have been rescheduled for tomorrow. Jenn said she would drive you in and bring you home if you got done before noon. Is that okay?” Bob said.
“I guess. What time do we have to be at the hospital?”
“Ten thirty.” they walked back into the bedroom.
“Time to rise, sleepyhead. Don’t forget to call your shrink.” Bob said as Missy answered the phone.
“What time is it?” she whispered into the phone.
“Eightish.”
“What time did you leave for work?” she asked sitting up and looking around. “Where’s Benji?”
“I just got here and your dad took Benji for a walk. Now. Are you up?”
“I think so.”
“Good, I gotta go. I’ll meet you at the hospital at noon, okay?”
“Yup, I gotta go. Gotta call the Dr. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Bob hung up first.
“Hi, Jason. Is Bob still there?” Missy asked into the phone. It was 11:45am and he was going to meet her at the hospital at noon.
“Missy, honey? What’s wrong? I was just on my way out the door.”
“Dr. Adams’ can squeeze me in now. Can you meet me in the cafe at 1:30?”
“Sure. I’ll be there.” Bob said.
“Thanks.” Missy said and went on her way.
“Melissa? How are you?” Dr. Adams asked after he brought her out of hypnosis.
“Scared.” Missy’s eyes began to well up.
“What do you remember?”
“Everything...everything.” she whispered.
“Do you want a glass of water?”
“No, I want to understand why I blocked out a year and a half of my life. I can understand blocking out the rape, but having a baby?”
“Sometimes the subconcious blocks out things that are too painful for you to handle. You gave the baby up for adoption, right?”
“Yes, I did.”
“When you really grew attached to the baby and wanted to keep her.”
Missy thought for a few minutes before answering, “Yes, I guess you’re right.”
“I think that with some time, you’re going to be just fine. Does your fiancee’ know what’s going on?”
“Oh yeah. He’s been very supportive and understanding.”
“Well, I want to see you next week. Say next Tuesday afternoon, 2:30. If you need to talk before then, gimme a call.” Dr. Adams instructed.
“Thanks. I will.” Missy said and went to meet Bob. When she saw him in the cafeteria, she smiled. She didn’t want to talk to him there. She wanted to take him to the park.
“Bob! I hope you weren’t waiting long.” Missy greeted him.
“Nope. How’d your appointments go?”
“We’ll have the results from Dr. Trainer by the end of the week. As for, Dr. Adams, I don’t want to talk about it here. Let’s go to the park?” she asked.
“Okay. Are you alright?” he asked as they began to walk down the corridor.
“Can I wait to answer that later? Physically, I’m fine. Emotionally, I’m reserving that for a little while.” Missy replied.
“Okay. I talked to Jenn for a little while. She said that you two had a good cry.”
“Yeah. A really good cry. I got to really apologize to her for the way I reacted to the news that she was pregnant again.” Missy explained. Bob opened the car door for her.
“I’m glad that you talked to her. Now, I have some news for you of my own.” Bob said. He waited to tell her until he got in the driver’s side of the car.
“I have to go overseas on business starting next week. I’ll be gone for two weeks.” Bob told her.
“You won’t be here for Thanksgiving?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, hon. It was either I go or we lose the deal. Seems that the CEO likes me more than Rick and dad wants to stay home in case my grandparents need him. My granddad fell and broke his hip last Thursday, but he’s fine. Jason, Jr. has offered to be your very best friend while I’m gone.”
“Two weeks?”
“I won’t go if you don’t want me to.” Bob said.
“What? And have you guys lose the deal! No, you’re going. I’ll be okay.” Missy replied. “And Jason doesn’t have to be my bodyguard while you’re away. I’ll just occupy all my time with spending some time with Kim and Kenny and his family and planning our wedding.”
“Let’s go to the park so we can talk some more.”
“Bob. I had Dr. Adams hypnotize me today. I remember everything as if it were yesterday and I’m scared.” she admitted to him.
“Scared of what?” Bob asked. They had walked over to the bench near the waterfall and sat down.
“So much emotion that I went through that’s coming back now. The baby. I remember holding her and her parents are wonderful people. They were like my best friends throughout the first six months of her life. I’m afraid that I’ll have to testify in court again and that I’ll have to see JJ again. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want him in my life anymore. My baby was a gift from god even though the baby was conceived by rape. I’m scared I’m going to lose you because of my mood swings and the dreams I have and the way I get after I’ve had one. I’m scared that that little girl will one day want to know her father and that she won’t understand why I gave her up.”
“Missy, everything will work out in time. I’m not going anywhere and we’ll do everything we can so that you won’t have to see JJ ever again. As for the baby, you’re going to reread all those letters and get in touch with her parents again and you’re going to have a relationship with all of them again. You will heal. I will heal. We’re going to get married and have a family of our own. What happened years ago is over and done with and memories are memories. As for JJ Grant...the courts will put him away. Let’s just get him out of our lives and enjoy our future. Okay?” Bob looked directly in her eyes before embracing her. Missy looked at him.
“You are too good to be true Robert Cauldwell.” Missy stated and got up and walked over towards the railing.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asked from the bench. She shook her head as she tried not to cry. Bob went to her and hugged her from behind. “Everything will work out for us, you’ll see.” Bob said. They stayed that way for an hour as they looked at the waterfall, both deep in their own thoughts.
“We should get home. I’ve got a lot of letter reading to do and you’ve got some packing to do.” Missy said as she turned to kiss Bob.
“After all that unpacking that we did, I gotta pack a suitcase. Piece of cake.” he declared as he took hold of her hand and they walked back to the car.
“Promise me you’ll call the Andrews and talk to them. They want to hear from you. They want you in their lives.” Bob said. They were at the airport, waiting for an announcement that his flight would be boarding.
“I will promise you that I will think about it.”
“Jason’s cell phone and beeper numbers are on the refridgerator and next to all the phones in the house and in your little phone book. Please call him if you need some help of any kind. Rick will come over on Saturday to mow the lawn.” Bob said.
“I’m not an invalid, ya know.”
“I know, but you promised to just stick to the house and not do anything that Dr. Trainer said you couldn’t do, which includes mowing the lawn.”
“TWA Flight 553 now boarding for Paris, Gate 2.” came over the intercom.
“That’s my flight. I love you.” Bob said and kissed her passionately one last time.
“I love you too. Stay safe.” she said as tears began falling from her eyes.
“I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.” he said, wiping away the tears for her.
“I’m going to miss you so much.” Missy said embracing him.
“I’ll miss you too.” Bob said. He left her looking out the window opposite his plane. She waited until he boarded to go out to the salarium to watch the plane taxi out onto the runway. Bob saw her when he sat down and watched her wipe the tears away from her face as she watched the plane prepare to take off. She waited until the plane flew out of sight before heading home.
Missy stopped off at the store before going home.
“Hi, Kim, where’s Kerri?” she asked.
“In the back. Did Bob get off okay?”
“Yeah....Kerri?” Missy said as she walked to the back of the store.
“Hey, Missy. What are you doing here?” Kerri asked.
“Working. And if you tell Bob, I’ll knock you on your ass. I need to keep busy.” Missy said and put her purse and jacket in the filing cabinet and locked it.
“Cool. We just got some deliveries in. I was just about to start going through them. Wanna help?”
“Definitely. Only, I still can’t do any lifting.”
“No problem. I’ll give you the light stuff.” Kerri teased.
“How long is Kim here for?”
“All day. School is off all week because of Thanksgiving. She’s asked to help out all week if we need her.”
“That’s fine.”
“Listen, are you ever coming back full time?” Kerri got serious.
“Probably not, but that’s up to my doctors so I was thinking about doing something completely off the wall. You want to hear what it is?” Missy replied.
“What?”
“Let’s hire an assistant manager, you become full time manager, and me, well, I’ll just help out when you need me.”
“You’re going to let me run the store, myself?”
“You’re doing it now.” Missy pointed out.
“Okay, let’s do it. But, you’ll still be a part of major decisions, right?” Kerri asked.
“Yes. For the most part. Damn...this isn’t working.” Missy said as she stopped unpacking boxes.
“What’s not working.”
“This busy work. I can’t get my mind off of Bob and that right now he’s on a plane that’s flying over the ocean.”
“Just keep working. It’ll take your mind off of him, I promise.” Kerri said and went out front for something. Kim came back a few minutes later.
“You have a phone call.” Kim told her, “Line 2.”
“Thanks.” Missy went to the desk and answered the phone. “Melissa Nichols, can I help you?”
“How come you’re not at home? You promised me you wouldn’t work.” Bob said.
“I’m not. I just came in for a visit. The house is so empty without you.” she replied.
“You okay?”
“I miss you.”
“Already? I haven’t been gone that long.”
“So.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? I know this week’s going to be heard for you. It’s going to be hard for me to. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“I know. I’ll try to live through it.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. I gotta go. Call me when your plane lands in Paris.” Missy said and hung up the phone. She felt like crawling into a little ball and crying her heart out. She gave up going through the boxes and left the store, promising Kerri she’d call later.
When Missy arrived home, she saw a letter that was waiting for her. It wasn’t stamped. Someone must have delivered it, she thought to herself. Missy went into the house and put the letter, her keys, and her purse on the table. “Well,” she looked around the house, “I might as well go looking for a wedding dress.” she picked up the phone and called her mom.
“Hello?”
“Hi, mom. Are you busy this afternoon?”
“No, why?”
“How about coming shopping for my wedding dress with me?”
“What’s wrong with wearing my dress?”
“It won’t be warm enough, ma. I’m getting married in February. Your wedding was in June.” Missy pointed out.
“Sure. I’ll go with you.” her mother said a few moments later.
“Great, gimme an hour to shower and stuff?”
“Sure, honey. Did Bob get off okay? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, and I’ve been crying non-stop all day, but he called me from the plane while I was at the store.”
“There’s a letter from him that I left under the door for you.”
“Oh, I didn’t read it yet. Thanks, mom. I’ll come over in an hour or so.” Missy quickly hung up the phone and opened the letter to read it.
Dear Missy,
Well, i’m on my way to Paris and you’re there without me. I hope you’re not too sad. Think of this as an opportunity for both of us. For me to show my family that I can be a sharp businessman and for you to get to know your daughter. Your daughter...wow! We’ve never talked about my feelings about you having a daughter. She’s a beautiful little girl and she’s going to grow up to be a beautiful woman, just like you. How can I not love her? I am so sorry that you felt you had to give her up for adoption, but I understand why you did it and I’m glad that you have a chance to know her. That we have a chance to know her. Give it time. Don’t forget to feed and walk Benji when I’m gone. Have fun, go shopping for your wedding dress (even though I know you look great in just one of my dress shirts) and the bridesmaids dresses, and call the Andrews! I know you’re going to end up going back to work so please take it easy and KNOW YOUR LIMITS. After all, I won’t be home to bitch at you about them. I promise to call you every night before you go to bed and every morning when you wake up. I can’t wait until we get married. I love you! - B
“You silly sap.” Missy said and folded the letter and put it in her back pocket.
“Mom? You ready?” Missy said, knocking on the back door.
“Come on in. I’m just fixing my hair. There’s fresh tea in the fridge.” Marilyn Nichols yelled down to her daughter.
“Thanks.” Missy said and poured herself a glass. Benji was sleeping with her parent’s dog (pokey).
“You ready?” her mother asked a few minutes later.
“Yup. I made an appointment at Taylor’s for 2:00. We should just make it.” Missy announced as they left the house.
After trying on a half dozen dresses, Missy finally decided on a dress by 3:30 and was in the process of getting her measurements taken when her cell phone rang.
“It’s Jason, Jr., Missy.” her mom said after she answered the phone.
“Tell him everything’s fine.” Missy said and rolled her eyes.
“Bob sicked the bodyguards on you, eh?” her mom asked after she hung up with Jason.
“Yup and it’s insane.”
“Well, he’s worried about you when he can’t be near you.”
“That’s all fine and dandy, but, I’m getting stronger everyday, JJ is back behind bars, we’re planning our wedding.” Missy smiled as she looked in the mirror. “He’s going to faint when he sees me in this gown.”
“So is every man in the church.” her mother exclaimed.
“So you’re not disappointed that I’m not going to wear your wedding dress?” Missy asked.
“No. C’mon, let’s get you out of this dress and back into your street clothes and go shopping for regular clothes. You’re finally gaining weight.” her mother noticed.
“Yup. But I plan on staying at this weight so that there aren’t too many alterations between now and the wedding. Bob could use some new shirts though.” Missy replied.
“Then it’s settled, hurry up and go change.”
“C’mon Missy. Are you going to mope around all day or what?” Jason, Jr. was pounding on her front door on Thanksgiving Day. Most of Bob’s family was over including Kerri and Missy didn’t want to join in on the festivities without Bob being there. She had stayed up in the loft with the drapes pulled in and the TV on to the country music station.
Kerri saw what Jason was doing and went out to talk to him.
“JR, leave her be. She’s been trying to keep busy all week and just needs some time with her thoughts now. When and if she’s ready to be social, she will be.” Kerri told him.
“I promised Bob that I would keep her company today and keep her mind off of the fact that he’s in Paris.”
“No...she’s been watched enough. She’s fine.” Kerri said and grabbed him by his coat and dragged him back to the main house.
to be continued...