8|Answers
I sat in my car as I watched him.
He was laughing with his friends like nothing ever happened.
Like he hadn't murdered my mother.
The muscles in my jaw tensed as I gripped the steering wheel.
I should've moved on by now, but how could I when he's still walking around New York free?
In the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of Eden's car seat.
Her little pink blanket was still draped over it.
Naomi and I had picked it out around two weeks before she went into labour.
The toy elephant I had gotten for her sat beside the car seat.
And the funny thing about this is that in Naomi's car, there was nothing.
She had thrown away the car seat and gotten rid of anything else that ever proved Eden existed.
Like grief could just be boxed up and thrown with the trash.
Focus, Nate, focus.
They suddenly turned into a bar and my stomach dropped.
Of course. A bar.
The last place I should be.
My hands twitched on the wheel.
The urge came fast and sharp, like it always did.
Just one drink.
Just one night.
Just to feel nothing for a few damn hours.
Just to forget about Eden and my mother and my messed up marriage.
But I knew what came after that.
I took a deep breath before parking and making my way into the bar.
I just needed to see him.
As I entered the bar, music mixed with laughter filled the room.
I quickly scanned the room quickly, heart pounding harder than it should've.
It wasn't from fear, but restraint.
I didn't drink when Eden died, and I sure as hell won't now.
My eyes finally landed on me laughing it up with his buddies.
I quickly clenched my jaw and fists, and began to move forward, but someone stepped in my way.
The was a woman with a tray in her hand, giving me a bright smile.
"You look like you need something strong," she said. "First one's on the house."
I didn't answer. Just stared at her, jaw locked.
"Rough day?"
Rough life.
I ignored her and returned my attention to him, but this time he was watching.
It wasn't that much of a surprise.
I'm tall and the only one in here wearing a suit.
"I'm not interested," I muttered to the bartender before moving towards him.
"Nathaniel," he sighed when he saw me. "Don't tell me you still think I killed your-"
I grabbed him by the collar before the sentence was even finished, yanking him off the barstool so fast his drink spilled across the counter.
"I don't think," I glared at him. "I saw you."
I pulled him closer, my voice low and cold.
"I don't care how long it takes, or what I have to lose," I told. "One day, I'm gonna fucking kill you."
He froze as I moved away.
So far I've been following the law, but I'm tired.
"You're insane," he said which made me smile.
"Yeah, I know," I said as my eyes drifted to someone who looked oddly familiar.
I dropped him before walking over to the man drinking heavily by the counter.
"Julian?" I called and he flinched when he saw me. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, Nathaniel," he cried. "Ana left me and I didn't know what else to do. Without her...what's the point?"
His words hit harder than I expected.
Because I knew that feeling.
Too well.
...
I sighed as I closed the front door and quietly made my way upset.
It was well past 12 by now.
I had gotten Julian home and talked to him for a little.
He was in pretty bad shape, and I'll probably have to check up on him in the morning.
However, he'll be out cold for the night.
When I opened my bedroom door, I paused when I saw Naomi inside.
Her back was turned to the door as she stood near the window.
For a second, I didn't know what to say.
"I don't get it," she suddenly spoke.
She didn't turn around.
She just kept looking at the night sky.
"I don't get how you can function in here," she said.
I stepped inside, closing the door behind me.
"I threw away everything," she spiralled. "The car seat, the clothes, the toys...all of it."
She finally turned around to face me, her eyes glossy. "And you kept everything."
I didn't say anything.
"How?" She angrily asked. "Is it because you put all the blame on me, so you don't feel guilty?"
I sighed. "Naomi-"
"Answer me!" She demanded, but I kept quiet.
She scoffed before beginning to leave, but I held her arm.
She angrily dragged it away.
"I don't want your pity," she glared. "I want answers."
I turned away from her. "I blame you."
...
"Naomi, just stop for a second and think about this," I tried to stop her by blocking the doorway.
Her coat was draped over her shoulders, flats already on, and her briefcase in hand.
And her belly was full, round, and stretched beneath the fabric of her blouse.
She was eight months pregnant.
"Her husband says no other lawyer in Italy will defend her," she stubbornly said. "That woman in Italy needs someone to defend her."
"You're eight months pregnant!" I snapped, trying not to panic but I did.
"You're on bed rest," I reminded her. "The baby's already showing signs of distress. You can't just fly across the world like it's nothing!"
She exhaled shakily and braced one hand on the wall. "Nate, it's not nothing. I feel this baby constant. I feel all her kicks."
"Then why are you risking her life?" I asked frustratedly. "You're going to defend someone in a damn mafia!"
"Will you do it?" She asked and I sighed.
"You know I don't defend criminals, Naomi."
"Then don't tell me what to do," she glared at me. "I'm not going to just let that woman rot in prison over a crime she didn't commit!"
"Honey, I admire you, but you're not the only lawyer in the world," I pleaded to her. "I'm begging you to stop being a hero right now and try to be a mother."
"I can be both," she stubbornly said and I lowered my head.
"Naomi, I don't want to do this, but if you walk out that door right now...I swear, I won't just lose my respect for you."
"I'll hate you," I promised her.
She turned halfway, her jaw clenching. "Are you threatening me?"
"I'm telling you the truth," I snapped. "If you walk out the door right now, not only are you risking Eden's life, but this marriage too."
"Try being locked up in some prison cell, all alone thinking no one will come to your rescue," she glared at me before storming out.
...
"I still don't regret leaving that day," she said from behind me. "She was pregnant too."
I quickly turned around to her. "So someone else's baby was more important than ours!?"
She narrowed her eyes. "She didn't have anyone else."
I scoffed bitterly.
She never wanted this baby in the first place.
For all I know she did all of this on purpose.
I walked to the window, keeping my back turned to her. "You should go."
"Yeah, I should," she bitterly said before her footsteps faded.