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Adam got the stroller stowed away in the trunk and turned to shake Randy’s hand.
“Bullshit,” he said, ignoring the hand and hugging Adam. “I’m worried about you, dude. Watch your back.”
“I will. Try to get over by me for lunch before I have to go back to work. I haven’t taken her out to a public place yet so I’ll cook or get something from the store.”
“Okay, see you later.”
Adam got into the car, looking in the rearview mirror at baby Adelaide who would be ready for a bottle and a diaper change as soon as they got home. When the highway turned into Main Street, he noticed that the same car that had been behind him for the last five miles was still there. He slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road to let the car go past, but it also pulled behind him, and he watched from his side-view mirror. The door opened and Ashlie got out and started to run to his car.
“Oh, hell no,” he said, giving the car some gas and when he was sure it was safe, pulled back onto the road, watching Ashlie in the mirror, giving him an obscene gesture with her finger.
***
The experience left Adam shaken. He no longer went anywhere alone. After listening to the taped encounter in Randy’s office and hearing about the incident on the street, the judge still refused to issue a restraining order, but gave a stern warning that he’d give Ashlie one more chance and if she approached Adam threateningly, it would be grounds for arrest.
Randy and Adam left the courthouse together.
“It’s like a restraining order, without the paper,” Randy said, perplexed. “It means nothing. You still need to watch your back, Adam.”
“I know what women must feel like now,” he told Randy. “I’m six two and weigh two hundred pounds and I’m afraid my kid is going to get kidnapped out of my arms. Since my male friends are mostly at work during the day, I have to take my grandmother with me for protection if we go out.”
“Ha! It’s not that bad,” Randy said, laughing. “Go home and get some rest. You look like you’ve been up all night with an infant.”
The ride back to Cypress Cove was nerve-racking. He kept looking in his rearview mirror, but this time, fortunately, no one followed him.
The bright spot in the mess was hearing from Katy every evening. She wanted to see Adelaide, so they would do FaceTime as he put her to bed. She’d recently graduated to her own big crib in the nursery when every fart and burp woke Adam. Then he’d pour a glass of wine and they’d talk for an hour. He hated to dump on her, but she’d asked if he was okay and he told her the ugly truth about the encounters with Ashlie.
“Adam, that’s awful. I’m not surprised though. I had a feeling she would regret allowing that jackass to make such an awful demand.”
“When are you coming home?”
“I’m saving up for it now,” she said. “I’ll take a long weekend next month.”
“You don’t have to save up. I’ll pay for it,” he said.
“I don’t feel right taking that much money from you.”
“Why? You’re a college student. I have the money, let me pay.”
“Why would you pay?”
He thought about what the correct answer would be. “Should I make it official?”
She laughed. “It might help.”
“Will you go steady with me?” he asked, chuckling. “Do they still call it that?”
“Of course. And yes, they still call it that. Now you can buy my ticket.”
She’d be home the following Thursday night until Monday afternoon.
“Three full days,” he said. “You’ll be ready to get away from me.”
“I’ll have to check in with my family,” she said. “You’ll get a little break.”
“Whatever you need,” he said. “It can’t come soon enough.”
“I agree. I’ve been so busy that I have given little thought to a trip back home but now I want to come right away.”
