Page 107 of Missing Marcus

Marcus took Gabby’s empty plate, shaking his head at how fast she inhaled the food. He went to the mini fridge and pulled out a fudge brownie with a dish of ice cream and a side of hot fudge. Gabby beamed in delight.

He went to the connecting door and knocked three times. Patch opened their side and he walked in. “I won’t take long,” he said as he went into the other room.

Gabby watched as he left and turned her attention to the treat. “I don’t think I’ve craved anything sweet other than ice cream. I hope this isn’t too much sugar. Do you think it’ll be all right?”

Patch smiled. “Go for it. I stayed with Samantha and Bryanna while the guys handled some business. They demolished a box of donuts and a whole chicken at the same time. This seems tame compared to them.”

Gabby smiled as she pulled her computer over to her side. “Can you hook me up to whatever internet Marcus wanted me to use?”

Patch took her computer, clicked a few keys and slid it toward her. “You’re all set. Do you mind if I call Claire?”

“No. I’m surfing the internet and stuffing my face.” She picked up the spoon and dipped it into the ice cream and brownie.

Patch smiled as he stood and checked the door with his phone to his ear. Gabby glanced at him and pulled the computer over to her. She typed in PTSD symptoms. She clicked on the link and began reading as she shoveled the gooey goodness into her mouth. She barely noticed as Patch approached and sat beside her while he spoke with Claire. He raised an eyebrow asking permission to borrow the computer.

Gabby nodded and slid it closer to him while she finished off the remaining ice cream.

He typed in several tabs, turned the computer toward her, and walked away. Gabby leaned in and noticed he had sent her to better sites, which also included veterans talking about their experiences. Afraid Marcus might walk in, she saved each tab and closed all but one. Her eyes eagerly scanned the information, and her heart leapt as she recognized some of the things mentioned. The veterans discussed events that had happened to them exactly the way Marcus behaved even before they broke up. He checked the doors and windows even though the cabin contained a security system. He didn’t seem to sleep at night. Sometimes she heard him moving around when the baby woke her up to pee.

Marcus knocked on the door before opening it. Gabby shut the computer page down and turned it to a baby store sight while the men spoke.

Patch winked at her as he left the room.

“Thank you for the food. The brownie hit the spot,” she said as she rose from the bed to go to the bathroom.

When she returned Marcus paced the room and turned on the television. Something he rarely did.

“I hung the plastic sleeve for my cast inside the shower to dry. Will you take it out if you plan to shower?”

“Yeah. I’ll take one in the morning. You might want to get some sleep. We’re leaving early. I asked them to add a few more rest breaks for you and I want to ensure we make it to the hotel before dinner,” he informed her.

“Why do we need to be there by then?”

“I figured it would help you relax if you visited with your friends. I requested Wolf bring a few extra teammates along to secure your room,” he said as he flipped through the channels appearing uninterested in what he watched.

“Won’t you stay with me?” she asked hesitantly.

“Considering we’re leaving for the courthouse first thing in the morning, I thought it best to get a separate room. Wolf and his team will escort us halfway back and Leo said two men will accompany you to the cabin.”

“Marcus, what about you?”

“I’m returning to my condo in Seattle. It’s a rental and I’m not on the lease. Once you’re settled, I’ll pick up my things.”

Gabby felt the unease flow through her body. His tone didn’t sound angry or mad. It seemed like acceptance. Instead of making her feel better, her mind flashed back to the veterans’ conversations.

“Can we talk?” she asked.

Marcus hung his head. “Gabby. You need to rest. I’ll watch over you. Shadow will drive tomorrow and I’ll sleep then.”

“You don’t plan on riding with me tomorrow?” she asked surprised.

“Damn it. What the hell do you want from me?” he seethed. “I’m getting whip lash from trying to meet your needs. First you don’t want me near you and then you do. One minute you want me to comfort you with sex and then you say you don’t trust me.”

His words came out raw and full of pain. Gabby slowly sat on the edge of the bed facing him.

“I apologize. My emotions seem erratic. I never thought you and I…it’s difficult for me, too,” she said softy.

He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “It doesn’t seem like it. You made me promise not to stop the divorce, not to fight you on custody, and I feel like a lamb being brought to slaughter,” his voice cracked. “When we return, I want someone to call me when you’re in labor. I fully understand my actions warranted all of this. I still want my child to know I was present at his or her birth.”

---