“Hey! Hey! Get a hold of yourself.”
“I can’t live like this! I can’t! I can’t!” she wailed.
“Live like what? Zoe!”
“He won’t leave me alone! He keeps… and then he… and I found... and… and… and…”
“The stalker?”
Zoe’s flow of tears increased. Zac hugged her to him.
“It’s going to be okay -” he began.
“No it’s not! It’s never going to be okay!” she sobbed, pushing Zac away. “He’s never going to leave me alone!”
“Zoe, we’re doing all we can to -”
“It’s not enough! It’ll never be enough! He’s just going to keep coming and one day he’s going to get me and he’s going to -” she stopped short as Zac slapped her face.
“Get control of yourself, Zoe,” he warned as she stared at him in stunned silence. “He is never going to get you so long as Peter, Chris and I are around.”
“You slapped me,” Zoe answered quietly, somewhat astonished.
“And I’ll do it again if you going into any more hysterics.”
Zoe defiantly allowed the last of her tears to drip down her face. Zac sighed.
“I’m not sure how long I can take this, Zac. The calls, the notes… I can never get away from him.”
“I promise you, Zoe, we’re going to find this guy. And he’s going to pay for all the misery he’s caused you.”
**********
Austin helped Alex out of the car. A car they bought and modified especially for Alex and his wheelchair. Alex had been home from the hospital for about two months now, and he had just come back from a therapy session.
“So, do you want to watch a movie?” Austin asked.
“No.”
“Play a video game?”
“No.”
“Umm, read a book?”
“No. I don’t want to do anything.”
“Except mope it seems.”
“Da-ad.”
Austin sighed. He just didn’t know what to do any more. Alex had been so miserable ever since the earthquake. More than ever he wished Jess was still alive. She always knew how to cheer them up.
Money was going to be a problem if he wasn’t able to get another acting role soon. The difficult part about that was that Alex required so much time at the moment. There had been talk of making a Star Trek movie based on the characters of the Star Trek series he had been in, but at this stage he was uncertain he could take it without taking away from his son.
“Why don’t you hire a nanny?” Marie suggested that night on a phone. “Or a nurse, or whatever is applicable?”
“I don’t feel right doing that.”
“Well, you are going to have to do something. You can’t be expected to be able to do everything that Jess was able to do and still earn money to live on. Say, why don’t you talk to Morgan? I know she’s working on another script. Maybe she can make a part for you.”
“I don’t feel right doing that either.”
Marie sighed.
“You’re in a pickle, Dad. And y’know, getting help from people is not a bad thing. Hey, I’ve got an idea! Why don’t you take Alex to some paraplegic sporting event? Like, umm, basketball or something. I know he’s into sports - that might spike his interest.”
“Good idea,” Austin replied, a smile appearing on his face. “I’ll look into that.”
“Good. Don’t worry Dad. I’m sure everything is going to work out just fine.”
“I hope so Marie, I really hope so.”