Ties That Bind
3. Can’t Escape The NightmareFearing Zac would make good on his threats, Beth didn’t tell anyone about his visit. When Jen went out for the night a month later - Zac made another surprise visit.
Beth was in the kitchen making a glass of strawberry milk and humming to herself. She was stirring the syrup into the milk when she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her, pulling her against a firm body.
“Hi baby.” she heard Zac whisper as she felt a kiss to her neck, the arms that were holding her spread out, his hands now resting on her stomach. “Miss me?”
“W-what are you doing here?” Beth whispered, seemingly frozen where she stood. She was scared of Zac but knew if she ran away from him, she wouldn’t get far in her condition. He would easily catch up to her and do whatever he wanted to her regardless, so she stood there and dealt with the man she loathed. Waiting for him to whatever he came here to do and leave.
“I missed you.” Zac turned Beth around, to face him. “I saw you leaving the Doctors office the other day. How’s the baby doing?”
“Fine.” Beth whispered, her eyes downcast to the floor.
“Did you get a sonogram done?” Zac asked forcing Beth to look up into his eyes.
“Yes.” came another whispered reply.
“Where’s the picture? I want to see it.”
Beth turned her head towards the fridge, Zac followed her gaze. He reached over and pulled it off from the magnet that was holding it. Looking down at it, a small smile graced his lips.
“Do you know what we’re having yet?” Zac glanced up at Beth before looking back down at the picture.
Beth nodded before replying, “A boy.”
Zac’s eyes lit up. “My son.” he whispered as he pressed his body then his lips against Beth. She began to feel his happiness about having a son pressing into her stomach as he kissed her.
“Say that you want me, just this once.” Zac moaned as his kisses moved to her neck then back up to her lips as they became sloppy wet kisses.
“No.” Beth whispered beginning to cry.
“Please..” Zac spoke in urgency as he continued his kisses. “You’re the only one I want to be with. I love you.”
“Then please… s-stop doing this to me.”
“I can’t. I need to feel you in every way, it’s like I can’t get close enough to you or my son.”
“No, don‘t do that again - please.” Beth whispered into Zac’s hair as he kissed her neck, as her tears became heavier.
Just then Zac heard a car door slam outside, he stood upright - quite alarmed at the sudden interruption. He leaned down and kissed Beth quickly on the lips, “I’ll be back again soon. Take care of my son. I love you baby.” then Zac bolted out of the room, just in time before Jen came walking through the back door.
“Hey Snookie, what’s up?” Jen greeted while walking over and setting a grocery bag on the table, oblivious to who she just scared off.
“Not - not much.” Beth said clearing her throat and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Is everything alright? You seem upset.” Jen asked worriedly as she stood in front of her friend.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just got a little emotional after watching Titanic.” Beth sniffed and wiped her eyes again.
“So sad when Jack dies, gets me every time too.” Jen affirmed as she walked over to a grocery bag she had brought into the house with her and began unloading junk food from it.
“You’re home early from your date, everything go alright?” Beth questioned trying her best to not break down in tears again over Zac’s return visit to see her and the baby.
“Ah, he was a dirt bag. Only wanted to get in my pants. Read that bastards signals after my third shot and I was outta there!” Jen gestured with her thumb. “Thank God I drove myself tonight.” Jen replied shaking her head in disbelief.
“I’m sorry your date didn’t go well, there’s always another guy out there for you.”
“Wanna watch some TV and pig out on junk food - I have ice cream, pickles, chocolate chip bits and - chips! I am sure all of these mixed up in a nice gooey lump sounds good to your pregnant belly!” Jen grinned widely as she held up the ice cream in one hand and the bag of chips in the other hand.
Beth caught Zac watching her through the kitchen window out of the corner of her eye. He was shaking his head no - in disagreement of the unhealthy foods Jen was offering his son‘s Mother, not to mention his son would be eating the same junk and he highly disapproved of that.
“Yeah, the chips look good but I think I’ll pass on the ice cream though.” Beth smiled as she took the chips out of Jen’s hand and turned around to grab her strawberry milk, while shooting Zac a dirty look before heading into the living room.
“Alright, Lets go watch some TV, little Momma!” Jen affirmed, grabbing a spoon out of the strainer before following Beth into the living room with her ice cream and chips.
*
Beth managed to talk Jen out of dating for awhile, at least until this trial was over. She knew if she was always in the present company of Jen or another person, Zac wouldn’t bother approaching her. She had succeeded with that plan until her co-workers at the office decided to throw her a surprise baby shower, a week before the trial. Right in the middle of it, she had to go to the bathroom, she figured Zac wouldn’t venture up to her at her place of employment and risk being caught by someone - he hadn‘t done it yet so she figured he probably never would, the trial date was too close for him to risk it. There was that factor and the fact that there were a lot of people in the office that day so she felt safe enough to go to the ladies room without someone going with her.
As she was peeing she heard the ladies room door open and close, but thought nothing of it. Probably just another office worker having to use the rest room too. She heard a stall swing open and close, affirming in her mind that it was just another woman in the ladies room with her.
Beth finished up and walked out of the stall and over to the sinks to wash her hands, as soon as she turned on the water, the stall door opened.
Beth looked up to see Zac walking towards her. Her heart sank and joined the baby in the pit of her stomach. She moved as quickly as she could to the door, reaching out for the door handle but Zac was quickly behind her and pulled her against him.
“Door’s locked.” he whispered in her ear.
Beth hung her head in defeat as Zac turned her around and pulled her into an embrace.
“Hi baby.” Zac greeted. “That was nice of your co-workers to throw you a baby shower. Are you having a good time?”
“Yes.” Beth replied but it was muffled due to half her face being buried into Zac’s shoulder.
Zac pulled away from her slightly but only keeping the distance the baby bump caused. He kept his arms around her. “How is our son doing? Good I hope.”
Beth shook her head yes.
“That’s great to hear. You haven’t been alone lately and I just had to talk to you before court. I know you want to do what’s right for our son, and that means I should be in his life permanently. And once I beat this bullshit charge you pinned on me, we can start working on being a family.”
Zac turned Beth around and walked them over in front of the mirror, put his arms around her, interlocked his hands within hers as he rested them on her stomach, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“See that refection,” Zac started as Beth looked into the mirror. So many emotions flowed through her simultaneously as she stared at the image of the two of them together while listening to Zac speak at the same time. “It’s our future. The only one I want to be a part of. You two are my life and I won’t live without either of you. That refection we see now is the only picture we have of our family, until we can make this a forever kinda thing.”
Beth stood there thinking to herself, that Zac was crazy in thinking they were going to be together. She became anxious and couldn’t wait to get away from him. She wondered why no one had come into the bathroom yet and interrupted them, it was never this unoccupied - ever. She had to think of something to get herself out of this situation and fast before he wanted to have sex with her again.
Zac placed a kiss on her neck, just as Beth began to speak.
“I - I really need to go, ok? People are probably wondering where I am by now.” Beth managed to say in a calm voice.
“Yeah, your right, you are the guest of honor babe.” Zac turned Beth around to face him. “By the way don’t even bother bringing up my last few visits with you in court while your testifying. It’s not like you have proof that I’ve been seen near you anyways.” Zac let out a laugh that made Beth sick. But unfortunately he was right - she had no proof of his presence, therefore he couldn’t be reprimanded by the judge for disobeying his order and coming to see her. Beth felt like she was fighting a losing battle and her tormentor was winning, he would be following her around for the rest of her life. - Clearly a future Beth didn’t want. So she had to figure out a way to win the jury’s sympathy and make sure they were convinced enough to send Zac to jail for a really long time. That would defiantly give her enough time to move away and start over with her child and get away from Zac forever.
Zac leaned down giving her another hug, holding her in his arms for awhile before he leaned in for a kiss, Beth sensed he was trying to make it long, sweet and romantic as he cupped her face and gently pressed and held his full lips to hers, before taking in her bottom lip and sucking on it slightly. He groaned as he pulled away.
“Remember, no matter what happens - I love you and my son. We’re a family!” Zac stressed his final statement firmly at Beth as he squeezed her hand. “Get going and I’ll be seeing you again soon.”
Zac released his hold and stood there as he watched Beth walk away quickly and back out to the safety of her baby shower. Zac slipped out a moment later - unnoticed as usual.