Chapter 26

Aria


I was looking at her with my mouth open wide , Caleb was just looking at her.
“ I'm sorry Gertrude, what did you just say?” Caleb said, looking at her.
“ Let me explain, when Cassandra showed up in Payson ,she was covered in bruises. I took her to my lace and kept her there . I called Grant over and let him see her. She stayed with me for a few days. I didn't ask her anything , I just left her. There was a meeting for the new hospital and some of the senators were here. She was out that day with Grant and she ran all the way back to my place”, she said looking at us.

“ That was the day she told us. Grant met her when she went on a trip with her friend to DC , she didn't know who he was and she was hesitant.she said that was the day their relationship/ affair began”.

“ The relationship lasted for almost a year when she found out who he was and that he was married and already had a child. She wanted to leave but he wouldn't let her. When she found out she was pregnant he got mad. He dragged her to the clinic to get an abortion that's when she ran.” Gertrude said

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Caleb just looked at me.
“ He was still looking for her, so we helped her . There was a woman here in Payson, her name was Florence Garcia, she was a widow and had no family. So we talked to her and asked her to use her name after we explained the situation to her and she agreed.that's how she became Angela Garcia” she said .

“ And is he still looking for her?”, caleb asked her

“ No he hasn’t for years now. Angela left a message for your mother ” , chief Matthew said , looking at caleb.

“ Okay, i'll give her number to you and you can speak to her yourself ” he said looking at him


Caleb

The man whose son was screwing with me was her stepbrother. What a small fucking world. I gave the chief my mothers number before he left.

“ This conversation never happened and Aria, if you ever run into Aaron Campbell ,walk away”, Gertrude said , before walking out the door. We sat looking at each other.

Well this was an eye opener. Isn't his son the one after you Caleb?” ,Holly said.
“ yes. We’ll figure it out” I said looking at her. After she closed up the cafe we left in separate cars , halfway to my place Holly pulled up and she and Ryan switched places. On the drive over to my place she was extra quiet. I held her hand.

“ Don't worry about it ,I'll take care of it baby girl, you won't ever see him and he'll never find out about you” , I said, squeezing her hand.

“ Okay “.

I drove into the garage and closed the door. When I walked into the house I knew something was wrong. I grabbed her hand and walked back into the garage.

“ What's wrong?”,

“ Did you or Holly Come over here?”, I asked her quietly ,and she shook her head. No. I got back into the car with her and locked the doors. I called Chief Mathew.

“ Someone has been in my house and I think they're still here. We're in the garage”. I said into the phone.

“ Okay “ , I ended the call and called Ryan

“ Someone was or is in the house. I already called the chief” ,

He ended the call, I knew he was calling Max and Nathan. She was looking at me.
“ There's dishes on the table and a towel and one of my shirts on the couch. I didn't leave anything outside and Ryan wouldn't either “ , I said looking at her

I didn't know if the person was still here but I wasn't going to take any chances and alert them that we were here. We sat quietly for what felt like hours,when my phone vibrated. I opened the door.

“ Stay in the car, Baby. Lock the doors. The police chief is outside with Ryan, Max and Nathan “ , I said looking at her.

“ Okay” .

I got out of the car and walked back into the house. I went to the front door and opened it. They walked in quietly.

“ Did you leave those?” I asked Ryan, nodding towards the clothes and dishes. He shook his head no. Nathan and Max split up. The Chief walked towards the kitchen. They came back saying it was clear. We headed upstairs towards the room. When we opened my room door, someone was laying in my bed.

When I flipped the lights on, I was lost for a second then I got pissed.

“ HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET INTO MY HOUSE?”I yelled, and she instantly jumped up. Chief Mathew, just looked at her.

“ Lacy Didn't I warn you To keep away from Mr Cross?”he said looking at her.

“ It's not what it looks like “ ,she said, that's when I took notice of what she was wearing.

“ You broke into my house, you're wearing my fucking clothes. What else have you been doing in here?,” , I asked her.

“ Caleb, it's not like……”

“ Do not say my fucking name. Who gave you the right to call me by my name?. Chief Matthew I'm pressing charges “ , I said.

He walked over to her . “ Lacy Andrews you're under arrest for breaking and entering and stalking you have the right…..”

I walked out of the room and went to my closet. I saw half of my shirts gone. I walked back out.

“ What did you do with my clothes?”I asked, looking at her. She didn't answer.

“ How long have you been here?”,

“ Since you left,” she answered quietly.

This girl was absolutely insane.

“ Is my room the only room you've been in?”, I asked her.

“ No” .

“ Chief Mathew please get this girl out of my sight “ , I said . He walked her out. Ryan kept looking at me.

“ I'm not staying here with her. We're going to a hotel in Phoenix “ , I said heading down the stairs.

“ The apartment above the Cafe is good. Holly and the others cleaned it up” ,he said.

“ Okay “ ,

When I walked out into the garage and got into the car she was looking at me.
“ What happened?”,

“ We found Lacy. She was in our bed , wearing my clothes, she's been here since I left.” I said looking at her.

“ Jesus Christ, what the hell is wrong with that girl?Where is she now?”, she asked me.

“ Mathew is taking her down to the station , because I'm pressing charges. We're not staying here. Your choice baby girl, the apartment above the Cafe or hotel Because I'm not taking you into that house until it's been cleaned and I have had every single thing replaced “ , I said looking at her.

“ The apartment, “ She said quietly. I started the car and opened the garage door.I texted Ryan and Max to let them know where we were Headed.

Aria

I didn't know what to think when he said Lacy was in his house. He was pissed and I knew because he barely said a word after he asked me where I wanted to go as we drove back to town.

When we got to my apartment he still hadn't said anything, his body language alone told me he was still angry at finding her in our bed. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him and just stood there. After a few minutes, I felt the tension leave His body.

“ I'm sorry baby girl, I just… she was in our goddamn bed” ,he said.

“ It's just a bed , Caleb. Besides we can buy a bigger one for more fun” , I said, biting his neck. He looked down at me.

“ More fun?”, he asked, walking me backwards until I was against the door.

” What kind of fun do you want to have, baby girl ?”, he asked . Locking me between his arms. We both heard it at the same time, the sound of glass shattering.

“ Did you hear that?”, I asked him.

“ Yes” ,he let go of me and walked towards one of the front windows. He instantly walked back to me.

“ Grab your phone and let's go baby “ ,he said, grabbing my hand.

“ What's going on?”I asked him. I saw a red and orange Glow in the window ,then I smelled it, Smoke. He didn't wait for me. He grabbed my hand and walked through the door. It was starting to get hot and I could Smell the smoke stronger.

Halfway down the stairs, I saw Max running up towards us.
“ We just got here, I called the fire department. Let's go” , he said.

Caleb held me close to him and we walked down the stairs. When we got out through the gates and onto the road, Holly ran over to me. I stood looking at the cafe, being engulfed in flames. I heard the fire truck in the distance,but it was too late. The fire was already in the apartment above. I just stood there lost for words , first my home and now my cafe. I felt him beside me.

“ I can't be here baby “ ,he said. I looked around and saw people starting to show up. I just nodded