Chapter 29
Nick rushed thru the doors of the daycare center where Nina
was. The woman behind the desk with curly red hair and freckled face looked up
at Nick and smiled. “Hi, Mr. Dawson!”
Without smiling, Nick responded seriously, “Hey, is Nina okay?”
The woman looked slightly confused but kept her smile on her face. “Yes, she’s fine.” She then spoke into an intercom stating, “Veronica, pick up for Dawson.” She handed a release form for Nick to sign. The woman noticed a sense of urgency with Nick as he barely spoke to her or smiled. “Is everything okay, Mr. Dawson?”
Nick nodded briefly.
As he waited for Veronica to bring Nina to him, the woman asked, “You want to go in the back?”
“No, hey, has anyone been by here for Nina other than my wife?”
The woman looked puzzled. “No. Not that I know of.”
Within the next second, the woman named Veronica buzzed thru the door with Nina in her arms. “There’s daddy.” Veronica said to Nina pointing to Nick.
Nick smiled brightly when he saw Nina unharmed. Nina started to wiggle with excitement when she saw Nick. With open arms, Nina jumped into Nick’s arm.
The red haired woman behind the desk asked Veronica, “Hey, did anyone come by here for Nina other than Mrs. Dawson?”
As Veronica handed over Nina’s baby bag to Nick, she responded, “Oh yea. A woman with blonde hair came in. She said she just wanted to see her because she was leaving town. She said that Nina was her niece, but I didn’t allow her to go back since her name wasn’t on the list. She got angry and left.”
“Was her name, Cindy?” Nick asked and then clenching his jaw muscle.
“No. I think she said her name was Dakota.”
Nick knew it couldn’t have been his cousin Dakota. She was in school. She would have no way to get here or even know that Nina would be here. Nick knew it was Cindy. The red haired woman noticed Nick looked upset. “Is everything okay, Mr. Dawson?”
Snapping out of this thoughts, Nick replied holding on to Nina tightly, “Yeah. Hey, thanks ladies. Thank you very much.” Nick walked out of the daycare center with Nina in his arms.
Without smiling, Nick responded seriously, “Hey, is Nina okay?”
The woman looked slightly confused but kept her smile on her face. “Yes, she’s fine.” She then spoke into an intercom stating, “Veronica, pick up for Dawson.” She handed a release form for Nick to sign. The woman noticed a sense of urgency with Nick as he barely spoke to her or smiled. “Is everything okay, Mr. Dawson?”
Nick nodded briefly.
As he waited for Veronica to bring Nina to him, the woman asked, “You want to go in the back?”
“No, hey, has anyone been by here for Nina other than my wife?”
The woman looked puzzled. “No. Not that I know of.”
Within the next second, the woman named Veronica buzzed thru the door with Nina in her arms. “There’s daddy.” Veronica said to Nina pointing to Nick.
Nick smiled brightly when he saw Nina unharmed. Nina started to wiggle with excitement when she saw Nick. With open arms, Nina jumped into Nick’s arm.
The red haired woman behind the desk asked Veronica, “Hey, did anyone come by here for Nina other than Mrs. Dawson?”
As Veronica handed over Nina’s baby bag to Nick, she responded, “Oh yea. A woman with blonde hair came in. She said she just wanted to see her because she was leaving town. She said that Nina was her niece, but I didn’t allow her to go back since her name wasn’t on the list. She got angry and left.”
“Was her name, Cindy?” Nick asked and then clenching his jaw muscle.
“No. I think she said her name was Dakota.”
Nick knew it couldn’t have been his cousin Dakota. She was in school. She would have no way to get here or even know that Nina would be here. Nick knew it was Cindy. The red haired woman noticed Nick looked upset. “Is everything okay, Mr. Dawson?”
Snapping out of this thoughts, Nick replied holding on to Nina tightly, “Yeah. Hey, thanks ladies. Thank you very much.” Nick walked out of the daycare center with Nina in his arms.
About fifteen minutes later, Nick pulled up to his house
where there were two police patrol cars at his house. Nick grabbed Nina, who was making spit noises
with her mouth, out of the backseat. Nick was a little apprehensive as he
walked toward the door. He started to think about what George said, that the
police would be looking for him if Cindy reported that he raped her. Nick noticed the broken glass on the ground
from the door. Nick walked inside and
walked into the living room where Selena was talking to an officer with her
arms crossed in front of her. Even though it had only been one day since Nick
had seen Selena, it felt like it had been months. He thought she looked beautiful
even though she had a distressed look on her face.
Selena made eye contact with Nick as he stepped into the
living room. “He’s here, he knows her full name.” Selena said as she walked up
toward Nick reaching for Nina. Taking Nina into her arms, Selena started to hug
and kiss Nina all over. Nick and the officer made eye contact. “Are you the
husband?” the officer asked.
“Yeah…” Nick hesitated as he extended his hand to greet the officer. He was still nervous that he may mention something about the supposed rape.
The officer greeted Nick. “Your wife says you all know who might have done this.” He stated more in a question form.
Nick thought for a moment. He looked at the other officer in the living room who was talking in his walkie-talkie about being over at Nick’s house. Neither one of the officers seem to have any idea about a rape case dealing with Nick. This made Nick realize that Cindy may have been all talk. She may have claimed to George that she was going to the cops but apparently she never did. Why would she do that and then come over here and break into the house? Nick thought. The police would be all over her bullshit story.
“Mr. Dawson?” the officer said snapping Nick out of his thoughts.
“Oh…uhm…no we thought we knew who did this, but we’re not really sure.” Nick replied to the officer.
Selena snapped her head to look over at Nick as she held Nina close to her. “Nick, what are you saying? We –“
“We thought about this one person, but we’re not going to press charges or anything.” Nick said interrupting Selena.
Selena frowned at Nick. “Nick, what –“
Nick widen his eyes at Selena as if telling her to be quiet.
“So, you know who did this, but you don’t want to do anything about it? Is that what you’re telling me?” The officer asked confused. “Yes.” Nick replied.
“Let me warn you, Mr. Dawson, you don’t want to take the law into your own hands.” The officer stated in a firm tone.
“I understand that, sir.”
“So, even though the most expensive thing stolen was your wife’s wedding ring, you don’t want to press charges?”
Nick looked at Selena in a slight shock. He wondered why she would even have her wedding ring off her finger in the first place. Was she still serious about getting a divorce? Nick self consciously touched his wedding band around his finger as he looked back at the officer with a disappointed expression. “Uhmmm…”
“We just need a last name. Your wife said her name is Cindy. We can put her name down for future reference if need be.” The officer said reassuring Nick.
Still touching his wedding band around his finger, he finally responded softly, “Cyrus. Cindy Cyrus. Yes…press charges.”
The officer wrote the name down. He then told the other officer they were ready to leave. “Alright, we are on it. Give us a call if anything were to change.” The officer said as they walked out.
Nick turned to look at Selena once he closed the door behind the officers. Selena was walking upstairs carrying Nina on her hip. Nick followed. He could smell his cologne as he walked up the stairs. As Selena was making sure Nina was okay in the nursery, Nick walked into his bedroom. The bedroom was a total mess. It was like a tornado had whipped thru damaging everything. He saw a few pictures where Selena’s face was scratched off. Nick then walked into the bathroom where he read the message on the mirror written in pink lipstick. Nick took a deep breath out of disbelief. He couldn’t believe Cindy did this. She was truly a crazy person.
Nick slowly walked into the nursery where Selena was changing Nina’s diapers. Nick noticed her toys gone and Nina’s closet was slightly empty from her clothes being missing. Nick turned to look at Selena when he heard her speak. “What, you didn’t want to rat out your dumb bitch to the police? You didn’t want her to go to jail? Is that it?” Selena said without looking at Nick.
“No, that’s not it.” Nick replied softly as he watched Selena change Nina’s diapers.
“So why did you act like you didn’t want to tell the police anything? Sounds like you’re trying to protect her. Excuse me for getting in between you two.” Selena said angrily as she flipped her hair behind her shoulders still not looking at him.
At that moment, Nick noticed a mark on her neck. He frowned wondering if it was a hickey. He slowly walked up to her to get a better look. Damn, he thought. It’s a hickey. Nick was so hurt, he couldn’t find the words to say anything. Selena picked up Nina and walked away from Nick. Nick followed her as he began to explain about Cindy. “I didn’t say anything to the police, because I didn’t want the police to talk to her since I have the feeling she would say that I raped her.”
Selena stopped before she was about to walk back down stairs. “What? Raped her?”
Nick proceeded to tell her everything that happened to him since they had been apart. He told her about Cindy coming over to the hotel he was previously staying at, and how he choked her and supposedly leaving marks on her neck from doing it. He told her about Cindy talking to George and claiming he sexually harassed and raped her. He told her about him being under investigation and suspended from work without pay until further notice.
By the time Nick had finished telling her everything, they were now both sitting in the living room as Nina played on the floor on top of a blanket and some old toys. Nick sat in their plush chair cornered from Selena sitting on the sofa. Selena was leaning forward listening to Nick as he told her everything.
Selena flipped her hair over to the side exposing her hickey unknowingly. Nick stared at it, finding himself getting angry at the sight. “So…what are you going to do?” Selena asked as she watched Nina play on the floor.
“About…?”
Selena started to rock back and forth out of anger. “All of this is your fault, Nick.” She said calmly. “I don’t think you realize that if that bitch would have touched Nina, I swear, you would have had to bail me out of jail right now.”
“Likewise.” Nick said calmly trying to calm his anger.
Selena looked down and then looked over at Nick. “Did you rape her?”
Nick was hurt that she would even ask him. He firmly answered, “Hell no. Sel…you saw the pictures. It was consensual sex.”
Selena chuckled slightly, “Oh, yeah…that’s right. Not once…but twice.”
Nick didn’t respond. Unfortunately she was right.
Selena stood up and said, “Well, Nina and I are not staying here in this house. That bitch is crazy. I don’t care what she tries to do to me, but I swear if she touches my baby…”
“I know. That’s why Im thinking I need to be here.”
“No.” Selena said quickly.
Nick stood up and asked loudly, “Why not?”
“I don’t want to be around you right now, Nick. None of this shit would be happening if it weren’t for you!”
“Selena what do you want me to say? I said I was sorry. I –“
“I need time, Nick. This is just too much for me, right now.” Selena said as she walked over to the window.
“Time? Alright…fine. If you don’t want me to stay here with you and you don’t want to stay here alone, where are you going?” Nick asked slightly upset.
“I don’t know. I’ll probably see if Chelsea wouldn’t mind us staying over there for a couple of days.”
“Oh hell no!” Nick said abruptly and harsh.
Selena turned around to look at him. “You can’t tell me what to do!”
“Be real, Sel. I mean what the fuck? You tell me you want a divorce, you already took your ring off, and you’re already fucking Taylor?” Nick said angrily as he walked up to Selena.
Selena was slightly taken back by his anger and his accusations noticing his jaw muscle clench. She knew he was angry when he did that. “What? Im not fucking Taylor!”
“Then what the fuck is that?” Nick yelled as he roughly turned her head to expose the hickey on her neck.
Selena backed away from him as she pushed his hand away from her face. Selena had forgotten about the hickey that Taylor left on her neck. “Stop it, Nick!”
“You just couldn’t wait to kick my ass out of here for him, right? Is that why you didn’t want me to come over last night? Because of Taylor?” Nick yelled at her.
Selena was a little scared by Nick’s anger. She had never quite seen him this angry with her before. “Nick, stop it alright! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Selena yelled back at him as she started to walk away from him.
Nick grabbed her arm hard almost snatching her up. “Just tell me now if you don’t want this shit to work out between us. Do you want Taylor, now?” Nick asked harshly.
“Nick, stop it, you're hurting me! Let go of me!”
“Answer the question! Did you fuck him?!”
“NO!!” Selena shouted loudly at Nick with tears in her eyes.
Nina started to cry as she looked up at both Nick and Selena.
“Let go of me, asshole, you’re scaring Nina.” Selena said in a low angry tone as she gritted thru her teeth. A tear slowly fell down her cheek.
Nick let Selena go.
Selena walked over to pick up Nina and tried to calm her. “Its okay, baby. Daddy is just being an ass.” Nick walked over to the window and punched the wall with his fist making a slight dent in the wall. He then propped himself against the wall burying his head under his forearm.
As Nina buried her head into Selena’s neck, quietly calming down from crying, Selena wiped a tear from her cheek. She realized how angry Nick was to think if she had sex with Taylor. She realized that because there was a hickey on her neck, Nick would think she may be lying to him. The same way he lied to her when she saw the hickey Cindy had left on his neck. Selena wiped another tear as it slid down her cheek and quietly spoke. “Nick, I didn’t have sex with Taylor, alright? I swear. Yes we made out to the point where he gave me this hickey, but I swear I didn’t have sex with him." Selena paused as she felt her voice start to tremble. "Sorry…I guess I love you too much to do that to you.” Selena started to sob a little. “Im sorry, you can’t say the same thing for me.”
Nick raised his head and turned around to look at Selena. “Don’t say that. I do love you. I love you so much, that I just get angry to think that another man had his hands on you.”
“Oh, but its okay for you to have another woman have her hands on you?”
“No, its not," Nick said calmly yet firm. "Look, I know I was wrong, and there are no excuses for what I did, but Sel, you pushed me away. You always push me away. Ever since we got married, you’ve pushed me away. You always made me feel like it was my fault that your family were on that plane when it crashed, but when you pushed me away, I stood by your side comforting you like a husband should. You made me feel like it was my fault that you got pregnant so early into our marriage. No, we weren’t ready, but I did everything I could to support you. You made me feel like it was my fault you had to drop out of nursing school to have Nina, but I was there for you and told you whatever decision you made I would be there for you. You made me feel –“
“You weren't there for me, Nick!” Selena shouted thru her tears.
“Baby, I WAS there for you!” Nick shouted back as a tear dropped down his cheek. “I was trying to get a promotion to get paid better so no matter what you did, if you were to never work again in your life, I could support you! My family! Yes, I was working a lot, but I just needed you to be there for me! Just that one time, I needed you and you kept pushing me away!” Nick pleaded. He was now standing in front of Selena.
Nina started to whine as if wanting them both to stop arguing. She reached for Nick.
Nick stopped and took a deep breath as he looked at Nina's sad face full of tears. He calmed down and took her into his arms. Selena walked away trying to control her tears. Nick watched Selena walk into the kitchen. He sat down on the floor kissing Nina’s forehead as he cuddled her against his chest. Nick rubbed his forehead out of frustration. He wondered if things would ever be the same again.
TO BE CONTINUED...
******CLICK HERE To Continue...****
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was listening to Cascada “What hurts the most (slow version)” while writing this chapter & some of the next chapter– soooo, sorry if it’s a little sappy - LOL)
“Yeah…” Nick hesitated as he extended his hand to greet the officer. He was still nervous that he may mention something about the supposed rape.
The officer greeted Nick. “Your wife says you all know who might have done this.” He stated more in a question form.
Nick thought for a moment. He looked at the other officer in the living room who was talking in his walkie-talkie about being over at Nick’s house. Neither one of the officers seem to have any idea about a rape case dealing with Nick. This made Nick realize that Cindy may have been all talk. She may have claimed to George that she was going to the cops but apparently she never did. Why would she do that and then come over here and break into the house? Nick thought. The police would be all over her bullshit story.
“Mr. Dawson?” the officer said snapping Nick out of his thoughts.
“Oh…uhm…no we thought we knew who did this, but we’re not really sure.” Nick replied to the officer.
Selena snapped her head to look over at Nick as she held Nina close to her. “Nick, what are you saying? We –“
“We thought about this one person, but we’re not going to press charges or anything.” Nick said interrupting Selena.
Selena frowned at Nick. “Nick, what –“
Nick widen his eyes at Selena as if telling her to be quiet.
“So, you know who did this, but you don’t want to do anything about it? Is that what you’re telling me?” The officer asked confused. “Yes.” Nick replied.
“Let me warn you, Mr. Dawson, you don’t want to take the law into your own hands.” The officer stated in a firm tone.
“I understand that, sir.”
“So, even though the most expensive thing stolen was your wife’s wedding ring, you don’t want to press charges?”
Nick looked at Selena in a slight shock. He wondered why she would even have her wedding ring off her finger in the first place. Was she still serious about getting a divorce? Nick self consciously touched his wedding band around his finger as he looked back at the officer with a disappointed expression. “Uhmmm…”
“We just need a last name. Your wife said her name is Cindy. We can put her name down for future reference if need be.” The officer said reassuring Nick.
Still touching his wedding band around his finger, he finally responded softly, “Cyrus. Cindy Cyrus. Yes…press charges.”
The officer wrote the name down. He then told the other officer they were ready to leave. “Alright, we are on it. Give us a call if anything were to change.” The officer said as they walked out.
Nick turned to look at Selena once he closed the door behind the officers. Selena was walking upstairs carrying Nina on her hip. Nick followed. He could smell his cologne as he walked up the stairs. As Selena was making sure Nina was okay in the nursery, Nick walked into his bedroom. The bedroom was a total mess. It was like a tornado had whipped thru damaging everything. He saw a few pictures where Selena’s face was scratched off. Nick then walked into the bathroom where he read the message on the mirror written in pink lipstick. Nick took a deep breath out of disbelief. He couldn’t believe Cindy did this. She was truly a crazy person.
Nick slowly walked into the nursery where Selena was changing Nina’s diapers. Nick noticed her toys gone and Nina’s closet was slightly empty from her clothes being missing. Nick turned to look at Selena when he heard her speak. “What, you didn’t want to rat out your dumb bitch to the police? You didn’t want her to go to jail? Is that it?” Selena said without looking at Nick.
“No, that’s not it.” Nick replied softly as he watched Selena change Nina’s diapers.
“So why did you act like you didn’t want to tell the police anything? Sounds like you’re trying to protect her. Excuse me for getting in between you two.” Selena said angrily as she flipped her hair behind her shoulders still not looking at him.
At that moment, Nick noticed a mark on her neck. He frowned wondering if it was a hickey. He slowly walked up to her to get a better look. Damn, he thought. It’s a hickey. Nick was so hurt, he couldn’t find the words to say anything. Selena picked up Nina and walked away from Nick. Nick followed her as he began to explain about Cindy. “I didn’t say anything to the police, because I didn’t want the police to talk to her since I have the feeling she would say that I raped her.”
Selena stopped before she was about to walk back down stairs. “What? Raped her?”
Nick proceeded to tell her everything that happened to him since they had been apart. He told her about Cindy coming over to the hotel he was previously staying at, and how he choked her and supposedly leaving marks on her neck from doing it. He told her about Cindy talking to George and claiming he sexually harassed and raped her. He told her about him being under investigation and suspended from work without pay until further notice.
By the time Nick had finished telling her everything, they were now both sitting in the living room as Nina played on the floor on top of a blanket and some old toys. Nick sat in their plush chair cornered from Selena sitting on the sofa. Selena was leaning forward listening to Nick as he told her everything.
Selena flipped her hair over to the side exposing her hickey unknowingly. Nick stared at it, finding himself getting angry at the sight. “So…what are you going to do?” Selena asked as she watched Nina play on the floor.
“About…?”
Selena started to rock back and forth out of anger. “All of this is your fault, Nick.” She said calmly. “I don’t think you realize that if that bitch would have touched Nina, I swear, you would have had to bail me out of jail right now.”
“Likewise.” Nick said calmly trying to calm his anger.
Selena looked down and then looked over at Nick. “Did you rape her?”
Nick was hurt that she would even ask him. He firmly answered, “Hell no. Sel…you saw the pictures. It was consensual sex.”
Selena chuckled slightly, “Oh, yeah…that’s right. Not once…but twice.”
Nick didn’t respond. Unfortunately she was right.
Selena stood up and said, “Well, Nina and I are not staying here in this house. That bitch is crazy. I don’t care what she tries to do to me, but I swear if she touches my baby…”
“I know. That’s why Im thinking I need to be here.”
“No.” Selena said quickly.
Nick stood up and asked loudly, “Why not?”
“I don’t want to be around you right now, Nick. None of this shit would be happening if it weren’t for you!”
“Selena what do you want me to say? I said I was sorry. I –“
“I need time, Nick. This is just too much for me, right now.” Selena said as she walked over to the window.
“Time? Alright…fine. If you don’t want me to stay here with you and you don’t want to stay here alone, where are you going?” Nick asked slightly upset.
“I don’t know. I’ll probably see if Chelsea wouldn’t mind us staying over there for a couple of days.”
“Oh hell no!” Nick said abruptly and harsh.
Selena turned around to look at him. “You can’t tell me what to do!”
“Be real, Sel. I mean what the fuck? You tell me you want a divorce, you already took your ring off, and you’re already fucking Taylor?” Nick said angrily as he walked up to Selena.
Selena was slightly taken back by his anger and his accusations noticing his jaw muscle clench. She knew he was angry when he did that. “What? Im not fucking Taylor!”
“Then what the fuck is that?” Nick yelled as he roughly turned her head to expose the hickey on her neck.
Selena backed away from him as she pushed his hand away from her face. Selena had forgotten about the hickey that Taylor left on her neck. “Stop it, Nick!”
“You just couldn’t wait to kick my ass out of here for him, right? Is that why you didn’t want me to come over last night? Because of Taylor?” Nick yelled at her.
Selena was a little scared by Nick’s anger. She had never quite seen him this angry with her before. “Nick, stop it alright! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Selena yelled back at him as she started to walk away from him.
Nick grabbed her arm hard almost snatching her up. “Just tell me now if you don’t want this shit to work out between us. Do you want Taylor, now?” Nick asked harshly.
“Nick, stop it, you're hurting me! Let go of me!”
“Answer the question! Did you fuck him?!”
“NO!!” Selena shouted loudly at Nick with tears in her eyes.
Nina started to cry as she looked up at both Nick and Selena.
“Let go of me, asshole, you’re scaring Nina.” Selena said in a low angry tone as she gritted thru her teeth. A tear slowly fell down her cheek.
Nick let Selena go.
Selena walked over to pick up Nina and tried to calm her. “Its okay, baby. Daddy is just being an ass.” Nick walked over to the window and punched the wall with his fist making a slight dent in the wall. He then propped himself against the wall burying his head under his forearm.
As Nina buried her head into Selena’s neck, quietly calming down from crying, Selena wiped a tear from her cheek. She realized how angry Nick was to think if she had sex with Taylor. She realized that because there was a hickey on her neck, Nick would think she may be lying to him. The same way he lied to her when she saw the hickey Cindy had left on his neck. Selena wiped another tear as it slid down her cheek and quietly spoke. “Nick, I didn’t have sex with Taylor, alright? I swear. Yes we made out to the point where he gave me this hickey, but I swear I didn’t have sex with him." Selena paused as she felt her voice start to tremble. "Sorry…I guess I love you too much to do that to you.” Selena started to sob a little. “Im sorry, you can’t say the same thing for me.”
Nick raised his head and turned around to look at Selena. “Don’t say that. I do love you. I love you so much, that I just get angry to think that another man had his hands on you.”
“Oh, but its okay for you to have another woman have her hands on you?”
“No, its not," Nick said calmly yet firm. "Look, I know I was wrong, and there are no excuses for what I did, but Sel, you pushed me away. You always push me away. Ever since we got married, you’ve pushed me away. You always made me feel like it was my fault that your family were on that plane when it crashed, but when you pushed me away, I stood by your side comforting you like a husband should. You made me feel like it was my fault that you got pregnant so early into our marriage. No, we weren’t ready, but I did everything I could to support you. You made me feel like it was my fault you had to drop out of nursing school to have Nina, but I was there for you and told you whatever decision you made I would be there for you. You made me feel –“
“You weren't there for me, Nick!” Selena shouted thru her tears.
“Baby, I WAS there for you!” Nick shouted back as a tear dropped down his cheek. “I was trying to get a promotion to get paid better so no matter what you did, if you were to never work again in your life, I could support you! My family! Yes, I was working a lot, but I just needed you to be there for me! Just that one time, I needed you and you kept pushing me away!” Nick pleaded. He was now standing in front of Selena.
Nina started to whine as if wanting them both to stop arguing. She reached for Nick.
Nick stopped and took a deep breath as he looked at Nina's sad face full of tears. He calmed down and took her into his arms. Selena walked away trying to control her tears. Nick watched Selena walk into the kitchen. He sat down on the floor kissing Nina’s forehead as he cuddled her against his chest. Nick rubbed his forehead out of frustration. He wondered if things would ever be the same again.
TO BE CONTINUED...
******CLICK HERE To Continue...****
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was listening to Cascada “What hurts the most (slow version)” while writing this chapter & some of the next chapter– soooo, sorry if it’s a little sappy - LOL)
© 2011 CelebritySuperFan
3/20/11
3/20/11