-Cheryl-

It breaks my heart when I see the pain on my husband's face with the knowledge that the man he considered his friend, his brother, would do such horrible things. I shiver when I think that if it were not for Patty, we would not have been aware of the man, the monster, that Todd is. That's not until he abducted me.

"You okay, Babe?" Reed rubs my arms in an attempt to warm me up. I smile at his sweetness.

I give him a weak smile. "I'm good."

We finished with Detective Lynch and were almost out of the front door when I remembered leaving my strawberry jam on the meeting room table. I released Reed's hand and ran back down the hall.

"Babe?" I hear Reed call to me.

I turn my head and smirk. "I just have to grab something that I forgot."

Hurrying into the room, I retrieve my precious jar of deliciousness and rush back to Reed, who still stands where I left him. He looks at me quizzically, and I proudly hold up my treasure.

Reed looks at me, confused. "What the hell is that?"

"This, my friend, will take your PB&J to a whole new level," I inform him.

He shakes his head in amusement. "Why do I think there is a story behind that jar of jam?"

I genuinely smile this time. "Because there is. I'll tell you the whole yummy story on the way home."

I link my arm to his, and my husband, whom I love so much, takes me home.

***

We arrived home late that evening. Reed felt uncomfortable staying at the house with Todd still on the loose. We had called Kandie and Tank, and they insisted that we come and stay with them. Reed had called Detective Riggs and expressed his concerns regarding our home. The detective sent two police officers to meet us at our house to ensure Todd was not lying in wait.

One officer cleared our home while the other waited with Reed and me. After they cleared our house and there was no sign of Todd, we could enter our home and pack a few things. We made our way to Kandie and Tank's home.

When we arrived, Tank insisted that we park our car in the garage. If Todd somehow figures out where we are and finds their address, he won't see our car. Detective Riggs had also recommended having a plain-clothed officer watch our friend's home. I felt as safe as I possibly could with that monster out there, determined to make me pay for stealing his best friend from him.

We enter into our friend's home. Right away, the aroma of something delicious tickles my senses. "Please tell me that is what I think that it is!"

Kandie confirms my suspicions, "Homemade pepperoni and mushroom pizza."

Reed and I step into the kitchen from the garage. Kandie runs to me and wraps me in her arms. We both begin to cry uncontrollably. Several minutes pass while both of our men are rubbing our backs, comforting us.

After a few minutes, we pull away, and we both exclaim, "Pizza!"

The men roll their eyes at how quickly we went from crying to excited about pizza. We laugh as we grab a couple of slices of pizza and place them on our plates.

Kandy goes to her refrigerator. "Lemonade or iced tea?"

"Decaf iced tea?" I ask.

Kandie gives me a look and then looks down at her belly. "Girl, did you think you had to ask me that?"

I shrug. "Iced tea, please, and thank you."

The men grab beers out of the fridge and fill their plates. We sit around their kitchen table, and Reed and I go back and forth, sharing today's horrendous experiences. After we eat, we move the party into the living room.

Kandie becomes serious. "I can't believe you could escape from that basement. I hate even to think what could have..."

Kandie puts her hand over her mouth as tears fill her eyes. I place my hand over hers. "Don't think like that. I got away. I'm here."

She shakes her head at me but still can't speak. I squeeze her hand. "What's important now is for the police to find Todd."

Everyone agrees.

I begin to yawn. Reed asks me, "Are you ready for bed, Babe?"

I nod. "Yeah, I think I am."

Reed turns his attention to our friends. "I can't begin to thank you enough for taking us in. We appreciate it."

Tank quickly responds, "It was no problem at all. We set up the guest bedroom for you."

Reed stands and offers me his hand. I take it, and he pulls me from the couch. "You two are the best," I say as I yawn again.

Kandie and Tank stand, and we hug and say our goodnights to each other.

We enter the guest room, then Reed shuts the door behind us and places our bag on the bed. I grab our toothbrush and toothpaste, and we go into the bathroom attached to our bedroom. We brush our teeth together, sharing the sink. Afterward, we go back into the bedroom, and I remove every piece of my clothing. Reed hands me a nightgown. I take it and place it back into the bag.

I stand there naked before my husband, who has just pulled on pajama pants. "Take them off," I command.

Reed raises his eyebrows at me as he realizes that I didn't put on my nightgown, and now I'm requesting him to remove his pajamas as well. "Babe? I don't think..."

I place my hand over his mouth. "I need skin-to-skin cuddling, Babe. I need to feel you. I need you to wrap your arms around me with absolutely nothing between us."

He doesn't say a word; he removes his pajama bottoms and boxers and pulls back the covers. He places our bag on the floor and crawls into bed. He reaches his arms to me. I got into bed and laid in his strong arms. He pulls me close, and we meld together. I place my head on his muscular chest, and I go to sleep, listening to the beating rhythm of his heartbeat and the light touch of him tickling my arms.

*****