Behind the Scenes

E: The Escape

Elizabeth Brooks

I packed up my belongings and the gifts I received during my two day stay here. I was terrified to go home with Jake. Not because I didn't want to, but because of all the drama it would bring. Having my baby made me step back from myself, and look at the bigger picture.

This was way more than anyone should have to handle. I wasn't going to join them and their drama anymore. They needed to take that somewhere else.

Kimberly pushed her head through the door, a large smile on her face. "Are you ready?" she whispered.

"You don't need to whisper" I scold. She was having way too much fun. Seeing as how I couldn't extend my stay in the hospital, I decided to head back to the condo... Without Jake finding out.

I knew he wouldn't approve so I waited until he was forced into work by the help of Sara and Jason.

She grabbed my belongings and I wrapped Zachary's sleeping body in his blanket as we headed out of the hospital room.

---

I woke up with a sudden jolt. Instinctively my hand reached out in front of me to feel. Empty. I took in a freighted breath, my heart hitting a hundred miles per hour in a slit second.

"He's with Kimberly" he whispered in my ear. "But I'm happy you now know how I felt when I arrived at the hospital to take you both home."

I shrunk into the sheets, not daring to turn around and face him. I pressed my face into the pillow, my throat losing it's moisture. "I just wanted peace" I mumbled.

"And I couldn't provide that..." he trailed off making me feel even worse.

"Your parents-"

"Are confused" he interrupted. "But their confusing has nothing to do with our family, Elizabeth." He didn't give me a choice anymore. He turned me on my back, ensuring our eyes met. I let out an exhaustive breath at the sight of him. I forgot how much I adore this man every time we are way from each other.

"I don't want to be around them. At least here I can control who gets in" I mumbled quietly, afraid to raise my voice. He made me feel like a child without trying. The way he looked at me made everything blurry. I could see in his eyes that I was truly the only one he saw.

"You also control who gets in at home, baby." He soothed, his fingers running along my lips now.

I paused. "So let's say I lock the door when your parents stop by, what would you do?" I challenged.

"Head to my study and close the door" He answered without missing a beat. His study would be the perfect place to go, it was soundproofed. Nothing gets in or out.

"And they call your phone?" I added

"My cellphone automatically goes off when I go in there." he raised a brow at me, enjoying my questions.

"Then how come I get you?" I wondered.

"Because you call my work phone" He explained.

"Then what if they call that?" I pushed.

He sighed heavily, brushing my lips with his now, tasting them ever so slightly. "Only two people have that number. Jason and yourself. And the only reason he has it is because I don't want him bothering you when he can't reach me"

I pressed my lips against his with more desire than I thought I possessed. He poured himself into me too, covering my body with his. His legs forced mine open so he could settle in between them.

"When are you going to marry me?" he breathed against my face, my eyes closing as I struggle to catch my breath.

"When I can fit into my old dress size again" I grumbled. I didn't want to talk about the wedding right now because it was giving me anxiety. "and my old work clothes"

"Work?" he frowned.

"Yes, work" I blinked, preparing myself from the tone in his voice.

"You don't need to work baby." He calmed, his lips falling to my neck, no doubt to try and seduce me. But It wasn't going to work.

"You're right, but I want to. I want to have my own money Jake. To remain independent."

He stared down at me illustrating the obvious discomfort the idea brought him. "Money is not the problem," he reassured, sitting up and pulling out his personal credit card. He handed it to me suggestively, but I refused. "Please" he begged, pushing the card towards me.

"That's not what I meant and you know it." I fumed.

"Okay Elizabeth. What are we going to do? Put Zach in daycare and have someone else raise him?"

"The fact that the immediate pressure and guilt falls on me to raise our child is exactly the reason why I want to maintain my independence" I almost shouted, raising from the bed. The sudden movement made me a bit dizzy but I continued to storm from the room.

Kimberly was muttering unintelligent words to Zachary, her face expression changing every split seconds. The pressure in my breast made it uncomfortable to walk as I entered the living room.

I sat down on the armchair and waved her over. She placed Zach in my arms and in an instant, my irritation with his father was gone. His large eyes peered up at me and he smiled. I pulled out one of my heavily breast and placed it into his mouth. Immediately he was latched on to it, his tiny body curling into me. His arm rested on it as his eyes closed, and his body falling into peace as he sucked.

"I want to have a baby now" Kimberly pouted as she watched.

I laughed and shook my head as I relaxed into the chair. Jake appeared from the hallway, leaning against the wall. He was quiet and observant as he stared at me. His eyes gave nothing away, and his posture was calm with both hands in his pocket.

After a few minutes when the pressure from my breast was relieved, I carefully dislodged his gums, and switched him to the other breast before he could cry in protest.

"Do I get a turn?" Jake joked, his eyes falling in apology. He gazed at me through his eyelashes, a small smile on his lips.

I couldn't hold back my laugh no matter how hard I tried. Kimberly turned to him in repulsion at the same time she headed to open the door in response to a knock. She let in two men in working pants and t-shirts. "What should we move?" one of them asked Jake.

My mouth opened as he gave him instruction on what to move from the condo. Of course he didn't just come here to check up on me and Zach.

"It's time to go home" he muttered to me when the men got to work.