If Only

C H A P T E R 34

LOVING HAND

MIRANDA

It was 4:00 a.m. when I awoke and found Raven sitting on the floor as she leaned on the bed. Body facing her, I was lying near the corner but not close enough to fall down. Her hand had mine in hers as the other hand laid protectively over the swell of my belly.

Such an adorable face but I think I prefer her sleeping. We're not fighting and she doesn't pretend to care for me.

My thoughts echoed with everything Ruen said a couple of days ago. I didn't know if I was ready to forgive Raven but I sure know that I'm not angry anymore. It was more like I couldn't trust her just yet.

How do I know she won't make a complete one-eighty on me next time and just decide to take the baby from me?

I won't let her and besides, I was still enjoying watching her jump through hoops trying to get Ruen to ease up on her. It won't be anytime soon as dear Rue was having such a good laugh at her expense. Raven should be grateful that she was only doing this much.

Normally, she would have had Raven beaten raw or jailed.

This is so unlike her.

Then I thought about what Tessa said. It was hilarious seeing and knowing Raven was going through pregnancy symptoms.

I think she's ok now. Or else, she wouldn't be able to do the odd jobs my friend has endlessly thrown her way.

I touched her soft curls and then her face.

"Wish the baby would have your eyes and hair."

But please, none of the temper.

I don't know how to deal with two of 'you'.

* * *

Raven was no longer around the next time I woke. It was 5:30 in the morning.

Why did that make me a little sad?

Shaking the feeling off, I decided to go down and get something to eat and drink. The lights were still off but the light in the kitchen area was on. It was around there where I found Raven standing behind the wall.

So she hadn't left.

I didn't want to startle her so I did not call her attention until I reached her. But before I could tap her on the shoulder, I saw Amelia, back against us, standing and leaning against the counter. Ruen was sitting on top of the marble fixture. Her arm around her wife's neck and undoubtedly, they were kissing.

Pinching Raven's ear and covering her mouth, I whispered, "Your inclination for all things perverted was too much to be even caught ogling while my friend and her wife are going at it."

"I–"

Raven wanted to protest but then I heard Amelia asking about what Ruen did to deal with Stouffer.

In a voice I often heard my friend use when she wanted to get away with doing something dangerous, she said, "I met with him alone."

"What? I can't believe you'd act so recklessly!" I rigidly took a step closer but no more because I don't want to reveal us.

"What if Stouffer did the same thing he did to your mother. I'd have no reservations about spending life in prison if he did, I'd end him!" Amelia was mad but very worried. She pulled her wife in for another kiss. "Please, love, don't seek him out with no security escorting you."

"I won't have to see him in this lifetime if he withdraws and returns to his cell."

"Will he?"

"I threatened to sue him for what he did to Ria and for assualting me." I know determination when I see Rue like this. She's going all out.

I saw Amelia turn to leave but was stopped by my friend. "Where are you going?" Rue asked.

"I'm going to kill him!" Amelia screamed. "You told me he didn't – why would you hide that from me?" The blonde woman was about to cry.

Did he try to take his own child?

Only Raven's arms around me stopped my shivering. He's a waste of space. I shouldn't have stopped at just having him put behind bars. I should've done more.

"He didn't touch me sexually," she clarified. "Amelia, he did nothing to me. I was ok."

"Nothing? You were not ok!" Her wife was incensed. "He was this close to killing you. I almost lost you."

"I am here with you," she took Amelia's hand and placed them on her face. "I just threatened him that I'd tell the courts that."

"He didn't?" Amelia had her forehead pressed against Rue's.

"Never did." My friend assured her. "But he did whack me up pretty bad." Rue chuckled.

"It's no laughing matter." Amelia frowned.

"Believe me, I know. I couldn't even breathe properly without loads of painkiller in my system. I dare not laugh back then." Amelia playfully swatted her in the arm.

"But he made you run back to me," she kissed her lips.

"With or without him in the picture, I would have come back for you either way," Amelia said. "I love you."

"I love you, mine," Rue said. "But please understand I can't let him go free."

"I know but let's find another way." Amelia insisted.

"He committed a crime punishable with death. It trumps over the ones he's currently convicted for. Only that would make him think twice."

"I want to help Miranda. I do but she wouldn't like you to do this. You didn't have to go there alone and accost him. You didn't even have to be the first one to come out and formally file for a crime Stouffer has been notorious for as he hides behind his wealth." Amelia's right. I don't like it one bit. Especially since she looked like her mother, who knew what he could have done.

"I tried to find Stouffer's other victims but no one was willing to step out claiming it happened long ago and that they have no evidence to support their claims. There were no other children born from his crime because he has gotten himself fixed. It won't be a strong case with just the victim's claims; I needed a concrete case with fresh valid evidence. The victims didn't have it." But Ruen did. She was the evidence. "The fact that Stouffer's blood runs in my veins, I only need a blood test done. It would take little to prove that Stouffer raped Ria when she was seventeen."

"Ria's not strong enough to face him. You saw how she was then. She barely escaped as she left you for dead!" Just like Amelia, I hated how Ria kept on treating Rue.

"Let's just hope Stouffer would drop the motion for re-trial and go back to jail with no fuss. Maybe after ten or fifteen years he'd have a chance for parole and live the rest of his wretched life. Or else, what's the matter with adding a new reason for Ria to hate me. She already does." She had to go against her own mother for me. "I will bring him to court and make sure he is convicted and then executed."

"I have already talked to a judge and lawyer whose relatives were victims of that man. They would back me up as I take him on."

"You've had everything planned out." Amelia huffed.

"I will make sure that Stouffer's case on the fabricated evidence won't see the light of the day when I tell the world about what kind of monster he really was," she said. "I would never let them dig up anything. I would never let him touch Miranda."

Accepting the fact that she wouldn't be able to stop her wife, Amelia told her she'd be beside her for whatever she'd need her for. "Just promise me you'll be extra careful and tell me everything. No more hiding things from me."

Amelia had no knowledge of what we did. But Penelope and Ruen knew only half the truth. When we brought Stouffer down, they acted on the basis of the evidence I created.

"Yes, ma'am, I promise." Rue kissed her again.

I was crying and shaking terribly as Raven gathered me up in her arms. She told me, "Everything will be ok."