Chapter 41

L I N D Y

“What?” Harry gapes. “What do you mean he knew about the gift?”

“He was rambling about how I shouldn’t live life in fear and then he brought up something about a gift.” I mumbled with my words.

“How did Griffin brought it up?”

“He went like you don’t deserve to live a life filled with fear. The gift must have made you feel scared. Those were his words Harry and it’s driving me nuts just thinking and wondering about it right after he threatened me with his knife again.”

I cry and cry for more.

“Oh my God.” Harry commented. “Are you home? Are you safe?” His voice thickens with worry and fear.

“I am home. I feel safe here. Bailey was there to help me and Griffin had ran away as soon as she arrived. I was so glad she arrived..” I replied.

“Made sure you locked all doors, okay?”

I nod even though he cannot see me, “Okay. I already did that.”

“Jesus Christ, I don’t know what Griffin has something to do with Jolene. I mean I have known her for years and she never mentioned the name Griffin at all.” Harry says.

“Maybe Griffin was her past lover?” I grit on my nails.

Harry takes a pause before he finally answers, “Jolene never really talked about her personal life aside from her art. I don’t know anything about her love life.”

“Harry I am intensely scared.” I mumbled to myself and cried in silence.

“Oh baby, I am as terrified as you too.” He tells me.

“I don’t know what else to do from here.” I muttered to myself. “I don’t even want to go out anymore. Whenever I go there’s just this fear and anxiety that Griffin could be anywhere I go.”

“I know.” He answers. “Just for now, I want you to stay home okay?”

“But I have class tomorrow.”

“Can’t you miss for a day until someone is with you? I can ask Martha for a favor and--”

“I can’t always depend on her.” I wipe my tears as I begin to walk back and forth. “I just can’t seem to stop myself from worrying and thinking about Griffin that he would just pop out of nowhere and--”

“Lindy.” He cuts me off. “You have to relax, okay? Worrying is not good for you. You are only putting yourself into more anxiety. Just relax, we will find a way through this.”

“Oh God Harry.” I cry.

The next morning, I decided to stay home and locked the doors to make sure that no one had entered my house. Martha and I had a video call in the afternoon to keep me company. We talked about a lot of stuff and told me that she would come over for the weekend to spend time with me. I told her it was really not necessary but then she insisted and now it is something I am looking forward.

I told Martha all about Jolene and her relationship with Harry but left out the part of what Harry has done in the past although I think she already had a hint for it. Martha mentioned that she doesn’t think that it’s the real Jolene and that someone is just playing the role of Jolene to scare Harry and I. She even suspected that Griffin is either Jolene’s psycho ex-boyfriend or her brother, which made sense if he was her relative since he has more motive to torture me living in fear.

Harry, on the other hand, was too busy that he was gone for hours since morning. I understand that he is a celebrity and his time is divided for me and his job all the time. God I wish I could complain but then I don’t want to have that kind of petty control over him. I don’t want him to choose over me and his job because his career is his own dream and I need to support him as much as I could. I try to tell myself that he was just doing work and not with something or someone else and that he had a lot of things to do as always.

As the night went by, I reached out for him but he hasn’t answered anything from his end and I wish he did. I kept on waiting and waiting that I eventually had fallen asleep.

Around midnight, I was woken up needing to pee and through the darkness of the room I was completely taken aback as soon as I felt something heavy on my side and was shocked to see a hand laced over my bump. The hand came from behind me since I was sleeping on my right and in an nanosecond, my heart was already beating fast inside my chest wondering who it could be.

I froze for a second feeling all worries running from my head down to the tip of my toes thinking that it could be Griffin. I prayed inwardly to God and hoping that it was not him because I would lose my mind if it was really him. When I finally had the courage, I carefully move to my left trying not to wake the person who is sleeping beside me. The moment I laid my eyes on the person sleeping next to me, it was a topless Harry sleeping peacefully.

My heart swells seeing him when all along I thought he was in London getting busy with his job as a celebrity. My tears were then quick to fall out of the corners of my eyes as I begin to scoot closer to his chest. He subtly wakes up as he pulls me in with his arm wrapped around me. I feel his huge hand rubbing my spine and his lips planting against the top of my head.

“I can’t believe you are here.” I say softly.

“You’re more important.” He says with his groggy voice.

I tear up a little, “When did you arrive?”

“Just an hour ago.”

I pulled my head up and stared at him face, still with his eyes closed and plump lips slightly parted apart from each other. I pull my hand up and cup his cheek while he slowly opens his eyes and landed them on mine.

He smiles a sleepy smile, “I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you I was coming over,”

“It’s okay.”

“Did I frighten you?”

“A little. I was scared seeing the hand.”

“I’m sorry.”

I smile as he watches me, “Thank you for coming here.”

“Anything for you. I felt like you needed me but didn’t say anything.”

“Because you have a lot of things to do.”

“You’re always on top of that list, okay?” He smiles weakly.

I nod with a smile on my face too, “Thank you Harry.”

“You’re always welcome, baby. Now why don’t you let your man sleep?”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

We kiss for a while before we fell back to sleep in each other’s arms.

Hours passed, it was a Saturday morning when Harry and I finished taking a shower and headed downstairs to eat breakfast. As soon as I arrived the kitchen, I almost jumped when I saw Louis preparing the dining table. When he saw us, he had a bright smile on his face and greeted, “Good morning Lindy!”

“Louis!” I chimed happily as I rushed to him and gave him a hug.

“Ohh, put in there love.” He wraps his arms around me and gave me one of his best and warmest hug like always. “I have missed you a lot.”

“I missed you too.” I can’t describe how happy I was seeing him again in person. “I cannot believe you are actually here.”

“Well yeah when I heard Harry was going back to see you, I had to grab the opportunity to see you as well.” He answers before we finally pulled ourselves away from each other. He smiles at me, “How are you Lindy?”

“I want to say that I have been better but a lot of things had happened lately and….”

“You’re fine.” He holds both of my arm and with his brotherly love he adds, “You are safe and you are looking absolutely stunning.” His eyes scanning over my tummy with a happy smile on his face, “And damn that’s a really huge bump.”

I laugh with his as Harry joins us and stands next to me, “I hope you don’t mind having Louis here.”

“Oh Harold, she doesn’t mind for sure.” Louis answers jokingly and I was smiling.

“Are the other lads here as well?” I asked.

“It’s just me. You know how it is when the five of us are together.” Louis narrates while all of us sat on our chairs. “Girls would lose their shit seeing us.”

“But the rest of the lads sends their regards.” Harry adds and Louis nods.

“Thank you so much guys.”I can’t help but say. “Having someone over is really comforting for me especially with what’s going on.”

“Yeah it’s crazy. It’s like one after another.” Louis commented. “But don’t worry, you have us, Martha and your family. We are here for you.”

I nod with a smile.

“So this Griffin guy, why is he after you anyways?” Louis asks while he focuses his eyes on his meal as I take a glance at Harry who looked guilty.

I clear my throat, “Well, umm… I don’t… I don’t really know why he is after me. But I heard he has erotomania.”

Louis pulled his head up, “Eroto what?”

“Erotomania.” I clarified.

“Well what the hell is that?” Louis questions.

“It’s like a mental problem where a person imagines that they are a loving relationship with someone even though it is quite the opposite to reality. I read online that these people are associated with schizophrenia or something like that.” I explained.

Louis nods, “Like an obsession?”

“Yes.” I replied.

“Well, that’s scary.” He commented. “His obsession to you is his only motive?”

I glance at Harry who is just having his head down low, “I… guess so.”

“Louis, can we not talk about that stalker early in the morning?” Harry politely asks.

“Oh, sorry. I was just really curious. Anyways, what’s our plan for today?”

We spent most of our time lounging by the backyard pool where Harry and Louis talked to me about their new songs. I wish Martha was here, she would totally flip if she would hear these highly information from the singers themselves. At night, we watched some rom-com which was really kind of fun since Louis was being his usual funny and loud self.

The following morning, I was in the garden with Louis and Harry having our outdoor meal in the gazebo. All of a sudden my phone rang and I see my Avery calling me.

Harry stares at me and so does Louis, “Who is it baby?”

“It’s Avery.” I answered. “I will take this call, excuse me.”

I headed back inside the house and finally answered the call, “Hello Avery?”

She was crying, “Lindy you have to come and help.”

My heart raced thinking that she was in danger again with her drug-addicted friends.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“It’s mom.”

With those two simple words, I felt a sudden shock of electricity inside my body making both of my knees really weak.

“What happened to mom?” I asked as tears were already building behind my eyes.

“I will tell you once you are here, please come home. Please.” She begs and cries.

“O-Okay. I will be there as soon as I can.” I answered. “Is mom okay?”

Avery took a minute before she finally answered, “She’s in a critical condition.”

My heart sank.

“You have to come home Lindy. Please, we need you. Please. Dad’s been on the edge lately with what happened to mom and I don’t know what to do with him since he still hasn’t talked to me.” She sounds so sad and worried.

Oh my God.

“I… I will be there.” I answered. “Please take care of dad.”

“I will.”

The call ended and I lowered my head to cry inwardly.

“Is everything alright?”

I look over my shoulder and it was Harry. I rushed to his chest and hugged him.

“What happened?” He glances at my face.

“I have to go back to Canada. It’s my mom.”

“What?”

“She’s on a critical condition. I have to be there for her, dad and Avery.” I pulled my head up to him, “Please we have to fly to Canada now.”

Harry nods, “Of course. Let me make a phone call and set the flight right away.” He releases me. “Relax. Just relax okay?”

I nod as Louis walks closer to me and hugs me too.

“It will be okay love.” He tells me.

“Hello?” Harry holds his phone against his ear. “Yeah, this is Harry. I’d like to see if you can fly Louis, my girlfriend and I to Canada?… Yeah today. If possible, in two hours? Uh huh. Yeah, okay. I see. That would be more than fine. I really appreciate that. Thanks.” He hangs up and faces me.

“Well?” Louis asks.

Harry states, “We have a flight to Canada in an hour.”