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“Megan, please come home. I’m waiting for you at your apartment.”
“No, I’m enjoying myself. You can wait.”
After a long pause, he gives in. “Fine. I thought we could spend the rest of the day together, but if that’s how you feel, I’ll go home.”
“Good. I’ll see you whenever.”
He scoffs. “Stop acting so childishly and come home.”
“Why don’t we set up a schedule so you can see your son instead.”
“That’s not satisfactory. I want to see you.”
“Well, Dr. Pearce, maybe you’ll be a little more considerate next time.”
Not waiting for a response, I hang up. Chase tries to call me back, but I just let it go to voicemail each time. I tell everyone that I have to go, and after hugs goodbye, I head to my apartment. I’m sure Chase is fuming. Maybe he went back to his place.
As I’m walking away from the fair, I notice the man in the baseball cap following me. At times, he’s ducking behind booths and others, craning his neck to see where we are. The streets are busy with people, and I doubt he’ll try anything, but I’m scared shitless. Pushing the stroller faster, I keep my head down and hurry along. When I finally look up, I’m staring into the angry face of Chase several feet ahead of me, but I don’t stop.
He’s frozen, and I bet it’s because he sees Barrett not far behind me. Then he begins to run, yelling Barrett’s name. Spinning around, I catch Barrett, duck into a side street with Chase following. Unsure of what to do, I decide to continue rushing CJ to my building. Minutes later, I’m nearing the apartment when Chase catches up to me, out of breath and sweating.
“Dammit, Megan, that was Barrett! He was following you!”
“I know,” I admit meekly.
“You know? He could be dangerous. Why don’t you listen to me?”
“What do you want me to say, I’m stupid?”
“I want you to say you’ll be more careful where our son is concerned,” he angrily retorts.
“I was with friends,” I insist. “I was safe.”
“But you’re not now, and he could have done anything.”
“Look, I’m afraid, and I don’t want you to leave us.”
“Who said anything about leaving? If I stay away for a bit, then Barrett will come looking for me. He shouldn’t bother you.”
CJ starts to cry, and Chase kneels to take him out of the stroller. My eyes sting with tears as we cover the remaining distance towards my apartment. By the time we get upstairs, I’m more regretful than angry.
“Let me have CJ,” I demand. “He needs a nap.”
“I can do it.”
“I don’t want you to do it.”
“Megan, I have it,” he says sternly as he heads to the nursery.
I plop down on the couch, deflated and depressed. Not only is Chase angry with me, but I should have listened. The seriousness of the situation with Barrett comes crashing down over me. He’s dangerous. Who knows what he would have done if he saw the chance. Thank God Chase found us before Barrett could get near.
I’m staring at the floor when Chase finds me, and he gently strokes my hair.
“Barrett is a problem now that I know for sure he’s here. Do you know how scared I was when I saw him behind you? He was following you two out in the open.”
“I know. He was following us at the fair. I saw him.”
“Did you go alone?”
