Her Baby Plays Cupid

Chapter 5 Difficult phone calls

Leah's POV

I spent the rest of the morning and the early part of the afternoon calling Jake and Bernice's family. They didn't have a large extended family, in truth there were only five relatives that I had to notify. What took the time was diplomatically answering their questions about the when, how, and why. I was deliberately vague regarding the circumstances of Jake's death, only saying he was shot in the line of duty.

By the time I got off the phone with Jake's aunt, I was fuming. That b***h wasn't even subtle when trying to pry information about Jake and Bernice's finances. It was clear she was thinking about how she could profit from their death. Thankfully, I was the only one that had the digital door lock code for Bernice's house. I had arranged for Graystone Security to upgrade her security system after a failed break-in a year ago. Both Jake and I suspected the culprits had been his uncle, aunt and cousin, but without proof there was nothing we could do.

Thinking about this now, I called down to Jose and asked him to send a couple of security guards to protect both my apartment and Bernice's house. I wasn't going to take any chances of either places being burgalarized. Jose immediately dispatched four guards for each location then called me back to let me know when they were on site. It's a good thing I had thought of this, because upon arriving at Bernice's house, the guards found Jake's cousin Matthew trying to gain entrance. They detained him, and had him arrested.

Jose made track for the precient where Matthew was taken. I knew if information could be extracted by anyone, it would be Jose. I would have to wait until later to get any further news.

By two-thirty I was on my way to my place to pack a bag including documents, then Bernice's to get her documents before heading to the funeral home. Carly and Greg stayed glued by my side, and four Graystone Security men were along as protection.

There followed one of the most diffucult two hours of my life to date. Bernice had already prearranged her funeral, done six months ago just two weeks before her cardiac bypass surgery. She had opted for immediate cremation, finding the whole viewing of the body a barbaric ritual. Jake had voiced a similar opinion, remembering his grandparents funerals where mourners saying 'doesn't he look well' struck him as satirical at best. "If he was well, he wouldn't be dead," Jake had muttered under his breath.

Knowing Jake's opinion, I chose immediate cremation for him, with a joint memorial service to be held in the funeral home's chapel. Their family members could disagree all they wanted, but I had legal documentation naming me as executor of their estates, with all decision making responsibility regarding their funerals.

Paperwork filled out, obituary written, and a date and time arranged for the service, we shook hands with the funeral director, then headed back to the Graystone Security building. I would stay there for the next couple of days, safe, protected, and surrounded by my work family and friends.

Back in the suite I let go. I let the strain of the day leak away along with the tears. It was now, in the quiet that reality hit once again. The stoic demeanor that carried me through the day crumbled, leaving me a sobbing mess. I so badly wanted a drink, anything to numb the pain. But even that was denied me. I had to protect the little one growing inside me. The last gift that Jake would ever give me. I vowed to myself that I would love and protect our baby to my dying breath. I would love, and nurture him or her, ensuring Jake would never be forgotten.

The ringing of my cell phone broke the stillness. I wiped my tears, blew my nose, then found my phone in my purse. The call had gone to voice mail which was fine with me. Rather than listen to it right away I went to the bathroom to relieve myself, washed my hands and splashed cold water on my face. The reflection in the mirror as I patted my face dry showed a pale face with red-rimmed eyes. Not surprising, considering I've cried for most of the past twenty-four hours.

Feeling more in control of my emotions I went back to the kitchen area of the suite and made myself a coffee. Thank goodness there was a Keurig machine and a selection of K-cups including decaf, as well as powdered creamer. I carried the mug of the steaming brew into the living room, picked up my phone and listened to the voice mail message. It was Carly, letting me know that she and Greg would bring supper over in about an hour.

Looking at the clock on the wall I saw I had time to make the last, yet most difficult call of the day. I entered the number from memory. The phone rang a couple of times before it was answered by a voice I hadn't heard in the past three years.

"Leah, honey, is that you?" Liam's voice asked hesitantly, but hopefully. Liam, my twin brother, older by two whole minutes. The brother who had disowned me because I refused to accept an arranged marriage with Luca Garabalidi, thereby terminating a merger with the Moretti family. The same brother who sent me a very nasty letter telling me he was ashamed of me when I married Jake Turner.

"Yes, it's me." I whispered, my throat tight, my voice hoarse.

"God, Leah. We, your brothers and I have missed you so much. We're sorry for cutting you off. Please say you forgive us." Liam pleaded, not something the head of the Murphy family would normally do. Not something I ever thought I would hear.

"Liam, can you Connor and Colin come see me? Jake's dead, killed in the line of duty." I sobbed out, all control breaking as I spoke to my big brother for the first time in three long years.

"Where are you, little sister? We will be right there!" His answer was one I knew I could count on, no matter the circumstances in which we parted three years ago.

I gave him the address of my apartment, then hung up. I grabbed my purse, and went next door to let Carly and Greg know where I was going. They insisted on coming with me, so we went down to the parking garage and took Carly's work vehicle to drive the five blocks to my apartment building.

We let the security guards in the lobby know that my brother's were coming to visit, then took the elevator to my floor. Keith Sturgeon, one of the guards, was stationed outside my apartment door, alert and at the ready when the elevator doors opened. Recognizing us, he relaxed slightly, extending his sympathies before giving me an update.

"Leah, there was a woman that stopped by about an hour ago. She claimed to be Jake's mother who was coming to get some documents. Jose had already let us know that Jake's mom also passed away last evening, and that no one other than you was allowed into your unit, so I turned her away. She was extremely rude and verbally abusive so I took a great deal of pleasure in having her escorted out of the building." The wry smirk gave truth to the pleasure he had felt in getting rid of the woman.

I pulled out my phone and brought up my photo album, scrolling through until I found a photo taken at Jake and my wedding. It was a photo of his uncle, aunt, and cousin. I showed the photo to Keith who immediately pointed to Jake's aunt and stated. "That's her. That's the b***h that was here!"

Nodding my head, I asked for his cell phone number. "I'm forwarding this photo to you, and also one of Jake's other two uncles. These five people are not to be allowed into the building, no matter what. Also, can you send the photo to the guys over at Jake's mother's house? These two places are off limits for these five people, okay?"

"Consider it done, Leah," he confirmed as he busied himself with forwarding the photos along with my instructions.

"Keith, my three brothers will be here shortly. I already left a photo of them with Brian downstairs. Just knock on my apartment door when they get here." I showed him a photo of me and my brothers that had been taken three plus years ago. We were all a bit older now, but there was no doubting we were related.

"No problem, Leah." He surprised me by reaching out and gently squeezing my shoulder as a sign of comfort and support. "We're all going to miss seeing Jake. He and Greg here became our brothers, our family."

I blinked back my tears. "Thank you, Keith. Jake felt the same way about our Graystone Security family. He had been looking forward to our upcoming family day picnic. Told me he was going to finally beat you at a game of horseshoes."

We all smiled at that, knowing full well that beating Keith at horseshoes was about as likely as winning the lottery. Not going to happen.

I turned around and entered the code to the digital lock. Pushing the door open I automatically reached to the right and flicked on the overhead light, walked into the apartment that had been my marital home with Jake. The faint scent of his aftershave lingered in the air, making my breathing hitch.

It was then that I understood I couldn't continue to live here. Not without Jake.