Half an hour later Lindsay pulled back into the driveway and went inside with her groceries. Jeremiah was nowhere to be seen. “Where did that stubborn man run off to this time?” She muttered to herself. “Jer, where are you?” She called. No answer. Well this was not good. A few seconds later she heard someone stumbling down the stairs and then a very loud thud and a groan. She turned the corner and saw Jeremiah sprawled out on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. “Are you trying to kill yourself?” she asked.
“No, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and I missed a step.
“You crazy man, maybe you sleep. Will you please sit back on the couch so I don’t have to worry about you anymore?”
“If I can get up.” Jeremiah struggled to get to his feet and then slowly and cautiously went over to the couch and sat down in a huff.
“Thank you. Now what would you like for dinner?”
“Ribs.”
“How did I know you were going to say that? I got the makings for them at the store just now.”
“You know me so well.”
“Yes I do.” She said and walked into the kitchen to make him ribs. Some things don’t change, she thought. But then again, he had changed a little too much. It almost seemed as if there was a sadness that clung to him. Why did he seem so sad and depressed, was it because of the things he had seen overseas or was it something else entirely? She couldn’t even guess.
Jeremiah sat back on the couch and thought about his past. It probably wasn’t a good thing to be doing but being near Lindsay was causing him to reminisce. He wished he had the right to love her. To look into her beautiful green eyes that always sparkled when she smiled. To see her beautiful blond hair shine like gold in the sunlight and run his fingers through it. She was his dream that was lost forever. If she knew what he had done after he left here and what he was running from, she would never talk to him again. He shook his head to stop the flow of horrific images that flooded his mind. He took deep breaths and tried to forget about everything so he could try to get some rest.
Lindsay stood at the sink washing dishes. Jeremiah had fallen asleep which was good, he sure looked like he needed it. He looked like the world sat on his shoulders. She wondered if he moved on. If he had a girlfriend, or anyone remotely special. I hope not, was Lindsay’s immediate thought. She shook her head. She couldn’t think she even had close to a chance. The way they parted ways was not a good one. The phone rang and brought her out of her memories.
“Hello?” she asked.
“Well hello there beautiful,” A hoarse voice croaked into the phone.
The hair on the back of Lindsay’s neck stood up. “Who is this?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
All she heard was the voice quietly laughing and say, “I am watching you darling and guess what? You are going to be mine soon and very soon. You can’t run from me this time.” The phone clicked dead. Lindsay sagged against the counter. Fear taking her breath away. Tears blurred her vision and she slid to the floor. He knew what she looked like? He was watching her? This creep she had no clue who they were.
“Lindsay? The phone woke me up, who was on the phone?”
She was frozen with fear and couldn’t say anything.
“Lindsay? Lindsay, you are scaring me. Linds, Honey? Lindsay!?”
His panic was evident in his rising voice and it brought her out of her haze. “Jer.” She whispered.
“Dear Lord Linds, you scared me half to death. Who was on the phone Linds?” He slowly walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. Lindsay got up and shakily sat down and put her head on her arms.
“Sorry I was lost in thought. It was just a wrong number.” Her heart still beating wildly.
“What were you thinking about? What did they say?”
“Nothing important.” was all she said. Jeremiah was pretty sure there was more, a lot more that she wasn’t telling him, but he didn’t press her for the information.
Lindsay knew Jeremiah saw right through everything she just said, he was always able to tell. They sat there at the table in silence for a while; just being near him made her feel safe. Through everything that happened in their lives, Lindsay was glad that she had Jeremiah there with her, even if they weren’t as close as they used to be back in high school. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to tell him or not. He seemed to have enough on his mind without all of her problems. The bell on the oven dinged and Lindsay got up and started getting out plates and silverware. This was a good distraction to keep her horrifying thoughts at bay, she couldn’t be afraid anymore.
“Dinner is served,” she said, keeping her voice light and joyful.
“Lindsay,” Jeremiah said, taking her smooth hand in his rough one, “Please tell me what is going on. Who was on the phone? Don’t lie to me; I know you aren’t telling me something. You can trust me.”
“It was nothing. I promise. It was probably just some silly prank.” But even as Lindsay said it, she wasn’t so sure.
“Well I want you to tell me what they said anyway.”
“Jeremiah.”
“Don’t argue with me Lindsay. Tell me. Please.”
“Fine. All they said was that they were watching me, and that I would be his soon and I wouldn’t get away this time.”
“Lindsay, that doesn’t sound like nothing to me. I think you need to tell the police.”
“It was just some harmless prank. Don’t worry about it, Jeremiah. You aren’t part of my life anymore so you have no say in what I do. So just leave it alone, okay?”
“Lindsay, please.”
“I said no. Now eat your food and stop talking about it, I am not changing my mind.”
“I will stop talking about it. For now. But if it happens again, you better tell me.” He caught her gaze and gave her a hard stare to make her agree with him. She thought that just because they weren’t as close as they used to be meant that he didn’t care about her anymore. It was the complete opposite; he still cared about her, a lot. But he didn’t deserve her. Never did and never will. Even growing up she was surprised she went out with him. The bad boy, the one who didn’t have anything going for him. Especially after he turned 10 and his sister died, nothing was ever the same.
Lindsay slept in the guest bedroom of the house like she always did when Jeremiah’s parents traveled, but it was hard to go to sleep when she knew the man she had loved, and thought she would spend the rest of her life with was just upstairs. If she let herself think about it she would find that she actually still loved him. But she wouldn’t let herself go that far. She gave up on love when he walked out on her when she needed him most. She’d been there for him through everything, when his sister died, when he started hating the world, started getting in a heap of trouble. she didn’t think he knew that she knew everything he got in trouble for, but she did, she made sure of it.