Marshall's P.O.V:
I tap my feet against the floor as I wait for Tessa to come home. She's been staying at a hotel for the last week but today's the night she said she would finally come back home. She talks to me every night on the phone. I can tell she's confused about what's going on or rather what's happened. I still don't believe Nick but I know Tessa does.
I just hope Tessa comes home soon. We haven't talked about Karla and Chris and we haven't talked about her breakdown. Our conversation last less then two minutes. She asks about the kids and how i've been and that's it. We say goodnight and hang up.
My head shoots up when I hear my phone ring. I stand up and walk towards the table and take out the charger and pick out my phone. I throw my head and let out a long sigh before I flip the phone open to answer the call.
"Tessa." I sigh.
"I didn't wake you up did I?" She asks. Her voice sounds heavy. I'm guessing she's been crying again.
"No. I was waiting for you to come home." I state. It goes quiet for a few minutes as I wait for her to speak but she doesn't. "Are you still there?" I ask and take a seat.
"Yeah." She sighs and clears her throat. "Yes, i'm still here." She adds.
"Are you coming home?" I ask.
"I need a couple of more days." She tells me. I let out a sigh as I run my hand through my hair. "How are the kids?" She asks.
Back to the same conversation we've been having every night.
"They're great...Yeah." I shrug. "They miss you." I add.
"I can't come see them right now. You know that." She says and lets out a small sigh.
"I'm running out of excuses to feed them whenever they ask about you, baby. Please come home." I say. It goes quiet for a few long seconds before I hear her sob. "Tessa. Baby, please let me come see you." I say.
"No. I need to be alone." She sniffs.
"I can't do that." I shake my head. "Just tell me where you are and i'm coming, honey." I say as I stand up. I reach for my keys on the table.
"I can't." She says. "I can't let you come see me, Marshall. I'm sorry." She adds. I pick up the magazine with Tessa's name on it that I haven't seen. I flick through the pages until I see the article about her. I stare at the picture of her walking into the hotel. I've stayed at this place before...
Atheneum Suite Hotel.
"Okay." I say a bit too quickly and bite down on my tongue.
"I need you to stay with Jameson." She tells me, her voice weak due to all the crying. "I'm tired. I will talk to you soon." She adds.
"Okay. I love you." I say and wait for her to say it back. She stays on the line for another twenty or so seconds before the line goes dead.
***
"It's suit 1047." The teenage boy tells me as the elevator comes to a stop.
"Thanks man." I say as I pick up Jamesons baby seat and walk out of the golden elevator with Ryder right next to me. We walk down the empty hallway as Jameson babbles and laughs to himself. I turn the corner and stop by door 1047. Iris is at home with Nathan and Milo. I woke Nathan up to tell him where we're heading incase he wakes up.
"You think mums awake?" Ryder asks. I was about to walk out with Jameson before Ryder followed me. At first I didn't let him come but he really wanted to see Tessa.
"Yeah...She should be." I mumble.
I clear my throat and knock on the door lightly. I knock again when she doesn't open the door. I get my phone out of my back pocket and just when i'm about to call her, the door swings open. Her puffy eyes land on me before she closes her eyes and leans her head against the door.
"Marshall." She shakes her head. She opens her mouth to say something but when she sees Ryder no words come out, she embraces him in a tight hug and kisses him.
"It's 2 in the morning and you have school." She tuts as she smoothes his hair down.
"I know but I wanted to see you." He shrugs.
"Can we come in?" I ask. She lets out a small sigh before she straightens up and steps away. I walk into the hotel room and watch Tessa as she kisses Jameson on his cheek.
"Ry, I need to talk to your mom. Can you take Jameson in the bedroom." I say, making him nod. He picks up the baby seat and wonder off into the suit "I'm sorry for turning up without calling you." I say as I take off my jacket once Ryder is gone.
"You shouldn't have come here. What if somone saw you?" She says and folds her arms across her chest.
"There were no papparazi so if you're worried about our managers finding out then don't. No one took any pictures or anything." I say. Tessa doesn't reply as she keeps her gaze fixed onto the far wall. "Come here, Tess." I let out a small sigh as I dump my jacket onto the couch.
I walk towards her when she doesn't move and place my hands on each side of her face. I make her look up at me and even when we're facing eachother, she looks away from me and at the far wall. I place my lips against her forhead and kiss her softly, making her close her eyes.
"Baby, please. Say something." I whisper as I move back and look down at her. She looks away from me when hear lower lip trembles slightly. Her eyes flush with tears and she shakes her head as she steps back and walks away. "What if Nick got it wrong." I say as I follow her.
"And what...If he hasn't." She says, her voice breaks slightly. She hides her face for me and shakes her head. "They died, Marshall. They died because of us." She whispers. "Do you have any idea how hard and painful it will be for me to live the rest of my life knowing that I killed them?" She says, making me shake my head.
"We didn't know the contract would be this...Serious." He says.
"And that still makes it okay?" She throws her hands up in the air.
"I didn't say that." I say quickly.
"I can't do this Marshall." She rubs her hand across her face. "I can't do this with you anymore." She says, making my heart drop.
I stay stunned and glued to my spot as I watch Tessa stand up before she walks away towards what I think is the kitchen. She wouldn't leave me. She would'nt just walk out on me. No...We have to stick together. I mean, what the fuck am I going to do without her?
"Tessa." I call her. I walk into the kitchen to find her standing over the sink. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I raise my voice slightly.
"Please. Stop yelling. My head hurts." She puts her hands up.
"What did you mean back then?" I ask.
"They were killed because of us." She states. "We have blood on our hands!' She says louder. "The blood on our hands is going to haunt me forever!" She adds.
"No. We didn't know that they would do something like that. Hell, we don't even know if that's fucking true or not!" I raise my voice lightly.
"Go home." She says.
"I'm not leaving until you come with me." I state. I grab a hold of her hand but she pulls away. "Tessa. Look at me." I stand right behind her, our bodies almost touching but still she refuses to look back. "Look at me!" I shout.
"No!" She screams. She covers her face as she shakes her head. "I'm only going to end up coming home with you if I do turn around." She cries. "Marshall....Please just go." She starts to sob.
"I'm not letting you leave, you hear me?" I say in anger. I watch Tessa's shaky hands reach out for the white pill bottle before she unscrews the lid. I watch her empty the pills out into her palm. She's sober. She's supposed to be sober.
I knock the pills out of her hand, making them fall into the wet sink. She cries as she pushes me away. I grab onto the pill bottle in her hand when she tries to take out more pills.
"Let go!" She shouts through sobs as she tries to take the bottle back.
"I'm not letting you do this to yourself!" I shout back.
"Let go of me, Marshall. Let go!" She sobs. I finally manage to move her hand away and throw the pills into the wet sink and wrap my arms around her body to stop her from reaching out to get them. "Let me go!" She screams as she turns around to face me, her face red and scrunched up in pain and her cheeks wet with tears.
"Calm down." I say calmly as she starts to hit me and push me away. "Tessa. Calm down!" I yell.
"Let me go!" She says as she scratches my face, making me move my head back. I grab a hold of her hands and pin them behind her back. "Just get out!" She screams before she breaks down into another sob.
"I'm not fucking leaving you!" I scream back at her. "Now we're going to sit here and talk like adults." I shout.
"I just want you to go. Please just leave me alone." She sobs as she slaps her hands on my chest. I sigh and stay still as she slaps me on my chest and pushes me. "Why can't you leave me? Why can't you leave?" She cries.
"Because." I sigh. "I promised you when we made our vows that I would never leave you on your own....Espically when you need me the most." I add. Tessa sobs but this time she doesn't push me away when I wrap my arm around her.
***
"Dad." I look away from Tessa and at the dooway. Ryder's eyes scan Tessa as we sit on the kitchen floor with her wrapped up in my arms as she sleeps. "I should get going. I have school." He tells me. I look away from him and at the clock. It's 5 in the morning and we've been here since 2 am.
"You can take the day off, Ry. You're probably tired." I say quietly.
"No, I have a project to hand in." He tells me, making me nod slowly.
"I'll drop you off home." I say, making him shake his head.
"I'll catch a taxi." He says. "I'll drop Milo off at school and take Iris with me too." He adds.
"Here. Take my car." I say as I move Tessa's head slightly and take out my keys. "I'll come home with your mom." I add, I throw the keys at Ryder which he catches with one hand.
"Is mom coming home then?" He asks.
"Yeah. She will." I nod. "I'm guessing you heard us arguing." I add.
"I didn't understand much since Jameson was crying but I'd be suprised if the whole hotel didn't hear you two fighting." He mumbles as he straighten's up and pulls on his jacket.
"Can we keep this between us? I don't want Iris to find-" I start and get cut off.
"I won't tell Iris." He promises. "The thought of mom leaving you will kill her." He says, making me nod. "Are you going to tell me why mom wants to leave you?" He asks.
"Not today, Ry." I say, making him nod.
"Right. Well...I'm off." He mumbles before he walks off.
"Bye." I let out a sigh. I look down at Tessa and shake my head lightly. She still has the wedding ring on her finger. I push her hair away from her face and kiss her on the forhead softly, bring careful not to wake her up.
I let out a sigh as I throw my head back against the cabinet. Our arguing carried on until three in the morning. Tessa was so tired that she collapsed and fell asleep as soon as I lay her on my lap.
I can't imagine living a day without her by me. She can't just leave me. She's my wife. We have been through so much. We have a family together. Is she going to walk out on our kids too? Is she going to leave me alone with them?
A part of me doesn't believe that the creator's of contract killed Chris and Karla but then again they attacked us at the club. They left Tessa for dead to teach us a lesson and didn't care when she lost her memory. They shot at Nick and left him in a coma. They're capable of anything.
I look away from Tessa and at the doorway when Jameson starts to cry. I let out a small sigh before I move Tessa off my lap. I stand up before I pick her up and wrap her in my arms. I walk out of the kitches and lay her on the couch. I walk towards the bedroom and find Jameson laying in the middle of the kingsized bed with pillows all around him to stop him from falling.
"Ay....Ay, ay, ay. I'm here." I pick him up and kiss his cheek. "I'm here, Jameson." I whisper as I rock him in m arms. "Quiet down. Mama''s sleeping." I whisper as I walk towards the window. Jameson looks up at me when he stops crying. I smile down at him and kiss his forehead. "Good boy." I smile down at him, making him giggle lightly. "You're a good boy." I whisper.
My smile slowly fades away when I see a little bit of Chris mixed with Karla in him. I squeeze my eyes shut as I shake my head. I feel Jameson clutch onto my chains as he laughs lightly. I hope Nick got this wrong. I hope they're making this up to separate us. I hope it's all lies.
"I'm sorry..." I sigh. "I am so sorry." I open my eyes and look down at Jameson who smiles up at me as he plays with the chain around my neck.
***
I hang up my phone and place it back into my pocket before I look back at Tessa who's scrunched up in a ball on the couch. I follow her gaze which lands on Milo who's watching cartoons as he sits on the floor.
Tessa looks away from Jameson before her eyes land on me. We hold eachothers gaze for a few seconds before she closes her eyes. She open them but this time she's staring at the far wall.
"You must be hungry." I break the silence. Her bloodshot eyes land on me. "I'll order some food for us." I add, making her shake her head.
"I'm not hungry." She croaks. "You need to leave." She adds.
"No." I sigh. "Like I said before...I'm not going anywhere without you, Tess." I say, making her shake my head.
"They'll find out you're here." She sits up.
"The contract isn't over yet. They can't stop me from talking to you." I say as she stands up.
"They can do anything they want." She states. "You should know that by now." She adds.
"Tessa. We haven't talked about what happened." I state, making her look away from me. "Can we talk." I say.
"There's nothing to talk about Marshall." She shrugs. I let out a small sigh and squeeze my eyes shut when she breaks down and cries. "They're dead because of us. We killed them." She says before she covers her face.
Stop saying that!
"Don't say that, baby." I shake my head but she talks over me. Jameson turns his little head around and watches Tessa with his mouth slightly open.
"Why not. There's no one else to blame. We did it." She throws her hand up in the air.
"We fell in love. What's wrong with falling in love." I say.
"It's wrong when we have a contract to stick to." She says quickly. "I just want you to go, Marshall. Please...Please just go." She says as she holds up her hands.
"I can't leave you alone." I state.
"Why not?" She asks.
"Because." I let out a sigh. There's no telling what she'll end up doing in the state that she's in.
"Because why, Marshall!" She raises her voice, making Jameson cry. I get up but Tessa beats me to it. I sit back down and watch her make her way towards Jameson before she she picks him up. She cries silently as she rocks him in his arm. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." She whispers as she rocks him in her arms.
I bury my face in my hands as I let out a big sigh. I stand up from the couch and pick up my jacket, making Tessa look up at me as she stands by the window. She watches me as I pull on my jacket before I text Proof to pick me up since I gave my car to Ryder.
"Promise me you'll come home soon, baby." I say. "I want to talk about this without us shouting at eachother." I add, making her nod. "You're my wife and I want you to stay as my wife. We'll try to figure this out." I add as I walk towards her. "Will you come home?" I ask.
"I need space-" She says, making me talk over her.
"I'm giving you space." I say. "Take how ever long you need, i'll wait for you." I add as I wipe away her tears. "I love you." I say as I rub my thumb across her cheek.
I drop my head when Tessa moves her head away. I let out a sigh as she walks past me with Jameson in her arms as she wipe's her cheeks. She walks into the bedroom, making me follow her. I stand in the doorway and watch her pull on Jameson shoes as she whispers to him. She pulls on his coat before she picks him up and kisses his cheeks a few times.
Tessa avoids eye contact with me as she walks out of the bedroom and towards the couch area. She places Jameson in her baby seat before she buckles him in. She kisses his cheek one last time and smiles at him before she turns away from him, her back facing me.
I clear my throat as I lean off the doorway and make my way towards Jameson. I make sure he's buckled in and pull the hood over him before I pick him up. I walk towards Tessa and stop next to her.
"You haven't answered me yet." I say, making her sigh before she turns to face me. "Will you come back home?" I ask, making her nod.
"Yeah." She says.
"You promise?" I say, making her nod again.
"I promise." She says, making me smile a little.
"Okay." I sigh. "Come on buddy." I look down at the baby seat before I walk towards the door with Tessa a couple of feet behind us. I pull open the front door befotre I turn to face Tessa. "I'll see you soon. I love you." I say say as I place my hand on the back of her head and place her kiss on her forhead.
I turn away and walk out before Tessa closes the door behind us. I hear her lock it and let out a heavy sigh. I start to walk away but stop when i'm a couple of feet away. The sound of her crying fills up my ears, making me walk back towards the door. Just when i'm about to knock, I take a step back and shake my head.
Give her space to think, Marshall!
♤♤♤
Two updates in one night....I'm trying to make up for the shitty, boring and depressing chapters lol.
It's 4am and I am really tired and haven't edited this chapter or the last one so please do excuse any spelling mistakes I have made, thank you!
Anway, hope you guys enjoyed reading and thank you for reading. I'll be back with an update very soon.
I'm off to bed, night guys!