I had to take some time out, just for a few minutes, after Harvey's stinging comment. In my short absence, Jake talked him off the bed and out of his room with the use of his iPhone and Google. Satisfied that spiders weren't harmful to humans, Harvey apologised to me, visibly upset and confused.

With Jake having rehomed the spider outside, Harvey went back to bed but refused me tucking him in.

"I'm nearly nine, Mum. I'm a big boy now."

Any other day, those words would have made me smile, but today, it just cemented in a little firmer that my baby boy was outgrowing his mummy. Maybe it was time I stopped treating him like a baby and fussing over him constantly.

I clambered back in bed and flopped down on the pillows. "Do you think I baby him too much?"

Jake climbed in next to me and put his arm around my waist. "Given the circumstances, no. You're trying to reassure him that you're there for him. This is nothing you've done, Lou. You're a fantastic mum."

I smiled and cuddled closer into him. "Tell me though—if you think I'm mollycoddling him. Please."

"I will." He ran his hand up and down my back and kissed me. "Last night was incredible. How are you feeling?"

I blushed. "A little sore but it was more than worth it."

"I don't have to leave for work for another hour..."

"A whole hour? Well, I am a lucky girl."

He chuckled before melting his perfect lips to mine.

***

Before Jake left for work, he surprised me with something I'd never expected.

"I'm taking you both down to my house for the weekend," he said, smiling. "Be packed and ready to leave for early afternoon."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. Words were stuck in my throat.

"It's not that shocking is it?" he asked, chuckling. "I just thought you could both use a bit of time away to chill out and relax. Forget as much of this as you can."

Tears welled up in my eyes. Not only was it incredibly sweet, but very much needed. "Thank you. That would be perfect."

Leaning down to kiss me goodbye, he simply said, "No need to thank me, baby. It's my pleasure."

After he left, I laid in bed, dozing in and out sleep. To just rest and do nothing was starting to become a friend of mine. It almost felt as if each hour I spent just being was another piece of my tattered self being stitched back together.

Once the spring sunshine illuminated my darkened eyelids, I gave in and forced myself away from the comfort of my bed. Getting Harvey ready for school, we were both silent. His eyes were red and shadowed by bags underneath. He didn't make eye contact with me once. I suspected he was feeling as awful and awkward as I was. Despite his age, Harvey was a sensitive lad who always thought of other people's feelings.

He trundled downstairs for breakfast, mumbling a 'Morning' to Marco. I grabbed my phone from my bedroom, pulled a brush through my hair, and tried to think positively for the weekend ahead. I wasn't even thinking as far ahead as Monday when I was due to go back to work, and also when Jake would be leaving for his promotional tour in France.

Sorting out bowls of cereal, I hummed to myself as I sat down and started eating. Like any other morning, I tapped my phone screen to bring it to life so I could take it off silent. My heart stopped dead in my chest. A breath lodged in my throat.

Fifty-six text messages, seventeen missed calls and three voicemails.

"Marco...," My voice trembled as I called for my walking mountain.

He bounded over to me in three steps, his face contorted into confusion, and then, understanding as I held my phone out to him. He furrowed his eyebrows together as he looked at the swarm of communication.

"Have you read any, Miss Simmons?"

I shook my head.

"Get Master Simmons ready for school and leave me to deal with this." He gave me an affirmative nod before disappearing outside.

My stomach churned over in consistent knots. Harvey looked up at me from over the table, his innocent little face covered with worry. The thought to keep him home today crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. If things escalated, he'd be safer at school anyway. Plus, being around his friends, in a normal routine, and distracted with school work would do him more good than being here with me.

Marco came back in, holding my phone out to me with a blank expression on his face. "If Mr Wilson contacts you again, please let me know immediately. Do not reply to him under any circumstances."

I nodded to him before asking, "What about Harvey?"

"Reply to him about Master Simmons but nothing else; strictly nothing else."

I nodded again, itching to read through the barrage of texts. I hesitated for only a moment before opening my inbox.

The first text said, Can we please talk about Harvey and possibly us? Please text me back. I would love to hear from you.

Two minutes later, he'd sent another. Roses are red, violets are blue, don't ever forget I'm so in love with you.

Then two minutes after that, Can we please talk about Harvey and possibly us? Please text me back. I would love to hear from you.

Another two minutes later, Roses are red, violets are blue, the only person I want to be with is you.

They carried on in this alternate pattern; the 'roses are red' poems altering slightly each time. I read half a dozen or so, rolling my eyes at the pathetic messages. I had to give him full marks for effort though. He'd never gone to this extent; not even when we were first dating. About to exit out of my messages, something niggled at me to look at the last message.

Roses are red, the violets are dead, I can see myself now, cutting off your head.

I gasped. A small whimper escaped. Oh my goodness. What the hell? Panic fuelled me to read the previous handful. I shouldn't have.

Roses are red, the violets are dead, you will soon be strapped to my bed.

Roses are red, the violets are dead, the demons are running around in my head.

Roses are red, the violets are dead, YOU are the demon fucking up my head.

Roses are red, the violets are dead, your blood will soon be all over my bed.

Roses are red, the violets are dead, to the earth your body will be fed.

I pushed my phone away. I couldn't read anymore. He'd stepped into realms of insanity. He was unhinged. But the one thing nagging away at me was the fact I knew he was more than capable of carrying out the perceived threats in his words.

I left my cereal and walked over to Marco. "Please keep a hold of this. I can't...I feel sick."

Nausea swirled around and around inside me like a washing machine on a spin cycle. I regretted reading those messages, but as is often said, what has been seen cannot be unseen. Unfortunately, that also meant the chilling images trying to break through to the forefront of my mind. I repeated to myself over and over that I was safe; I had Marco by my side. In a few hours, Jake would be back, and we'd be heading somewhere Adam didn't know about. Both me and Harvey would be free of worry and doom, even if only for a couple of days.

Marco drove Harvey to school, locking me inside the car whilst he walked Harvey to his classroom. I was on high alert; any movement, even a leaf skipping across the road, caught my eye, making me assess the danger it posed. When Marco reappeared, I asked him to take me to Charlie's. I needed someone to keep me grounded, I needed to know she was ok, and I wanted the extra security of Jonny being around too.

Charlie was pleased to see me, and surprisingly didn't seem at all bothered by having Jonny around. Her eyes and her cheeks now harboured an internal glow I'd not seen in her for a long time. Tyson wasn't much better this morning, but he hadn't worsened, so that was optimistic at least.

As we mucked out the stables, I filled her in on the latest Adam adventures. Then, feeling as guilty as hell, told her what Jake was planning for the weekend.

"That's good," she said. "You need it. And you'll be stepping foot in Jake Murphy's house. Did you ever imagine you'd be doing that?"

I giggled. "There's a lot of things I'd never imagined I'd be doing, let alone with Jake."

She looked at me, narrowed her eyes, and grinned. "Have you seen him naked yet?"

My cheeks rose to a hundred degrees in seconds. I looked everywhere but at her. If I looked directly at her, she'd have me melting on the spot from heat.

"Oh my God," she said, squealing in delight. "You have to give me details. Is he big? Was he good? How long did he go for?"

"Charlie!" I said, waving my hands at her to quieten down. "I'm not telling you anything like that. Stop it."

She stuck her tongue out at me, making us both burst out into laughter. "I'm pleased for you," she said. "You've come such a long way."

"Thank you."

The crunch of tyres on gravel echoed around us. Marco and Jonny, who were stood by the barn doors, both stepped outside with their hands on their gun holsters. Charlie and I exchanged glances.

"You expecting a feed delivery or anything?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I have nothing until Tuesday when the farrier comes."

Heading towards the doors, we peeked around the corner to see a flower delivery van. A young woman held a beautiful arrangement of lilies, pink carnations, and purple chrysanthemums. Marco took them from her, thanked her, and looked at the typed envelope taped to the bouquet.

He turned around and walked to me, his frown increasing with each step. "I presume they're from Mr Murphy, Miss Simmons. He mentioned earlier he was going to surprise you today."

Warmth squeezed my heart. He was so thoughtful. What did I ever do to deserve him? Despite his words, something didn't sit quite right.

"Marco, why are you still frowning?"

He didn't answer me. He shoved us back inside, out of range of the opening in the doors. Jonny followed suit, banging the huge metal doors shut behind him. Ripping the white envelope from the delicate wrapping paper, he threw the flowers on the floor. He pulled a cream coloured card out, scanned across the words, looked at Jonny, and nodded.

My heart fell to my feet, splattering onto the concrete with lead filled dread. "What is it?" I said, part of me wanting to know, the other half wanting to run a thousand miles.

"I think it's best you not know, Miss Simmons."

"Are they from Jake?"

"No, Miss Simmons."

Fear took a hold of me. "What does it say, Marco?"

He and Jonny looked at each other, some sort of silent communication passing between the giant pair. After a few seconds, Marco relented and passed me the card. I clearly hadn't learned my lesson from this morning.

Roses are red, violets are blue, who looks beautiful today? You, you, you.

Lilies are white, carnations are pink, of death and death only, they absolutely stink.

The mums are purple, finishing the scene, ready for the blood spill of my Queen.