Maria couldn't believe it; she was indeed pregnant. The stick showed a solid plus.
And all of a sudden, it became real to her. She was growing another human inside of her.
But this couldn't have happened at a more inconvenient time.
They were still hiding, and none of them had any money to support this child. They can't stay with Mr. Wyatt forever, yet he has been kind to them. Maria opened the door and saw an anxious Calvin strolling around the room.
"Tell me, Maria? Is there a baby?" Calvin asked, and Maria nodded.
"Yes..." Calvin sat down, took a deep breath, and sighed.
"It's not exactly how I envisioned us having a family together, Maria. We would first travel, get married, and buy our first house together. But I guess there's a meaning to why it's happening now and not in ten years." Calvin replied, and Maria released a breath she retained.
"You're not going to leave me?" She whispers.
"No? I would never leave you." Calvin replied, shocked.
"Don't ever say that," He stood up and walked over to Maria. "I love you," He mumbled, placing his hands over her stomach, "And I love you, whoever you are." He whispered to her stomach, and Maria started sobbing.
Calvin tried to keep calm, even if he was freaking out about this, but he needed to stay strong now. He can't break down when he had a child coming.
________________
A few days later.
Mallory sighed and turned off the TV. She was bored, desperate for something to do in the home.
Hunter set up a girl named Loren to be Mallory's bodyguard.
And Mallory was excited at first until she met Loren and realized she was strict and quiet. She rarely spoke at all.
"Hey, Loren! Do you wanna play cards?" Mallory asked, and Loren nodded. "Sure."
Mallory was surprised with her reply but hurried to get the cards before Loren could change her mind.
"What do you play?" Mallory asked while sitting at the table, and Loren shrugged, "Seven?" Mallory nodded.
"Sure!" Mallory started blending the cards before dealing.
"How long have you been working as a bodyguard?" Mallory asked, a little jittery. "Five years," Loren answered.
"Cool. Are there a lot of tests you need to go through?"
I asked, and Loren nodded. "Yeah!"
"Okay," Mallory replied, and then they played in silence.
________________
Blade got back before Hunter and Loren left.
"How was your day?" Blade asks, and Mallory frowns.
"Good. But Loren is no big talker." Blade sighed, "No, but she's good at what she does." Mallory shrugged.
"How was the day of the crime?" asked Mallory and entered the kitchen. Blade chuckled and followed her.
"Never a dull moment, that's for sure."
"I bet!" Mallory answered.
"When is Hunter coming back?" Mallory asks, and Blade shrugs.
"I don't know; he was pretty occupied when I left."
"With what?" Mallory replied and felt her heart race. -
"I can't discuss that!" Blade answered, and Mallory felt her stomach turn. Hunter must have been busy with a woman.
"Let's grab dinner and relax on the couch," Blace suggested, and Mallory nodded. "Sure..."
Blade knew something had happened recently, and Mall had a crush on Hunter. But Hunter had no intention of starting something.
"Hey, Mall. What would you say if someone came and talked to you for a couple of hours every week? "What do you mean?"
"Well. You've been through a lot; maybe a therapist could help you."
Mallory felt somewhat taken aback by his suggestion.
"I don't know... I am not ready for that. When you and Hunter ask me something, I panic. I want to put it all behind me..."
Blade sighed: That won't help you, Mallory. It's just going to bottle inside of you, and you'll drown in it sooner or later."
"GAH! Leave me alone!" Mallory shouted and went out.
"Come back here, Mall!" Blade shouted at her.
________________
"What's going on?" asked Hunter and entered the kitchen. Blade frowned, "Are you home already? I thought you were staying at least a few more hours?" Hunter sighed, "Yeah, but plans changed, and Duncan sent me home. Now, what's up with Mall?"
"I mentioned therapy, and she got angry," Blade answered, and Hunter got pissed.
"For fuck sake, Blade. I told you I was going to do that." Hunter sighed and rushed after Mallory. "Sorry!!" Blade shouted after him and shook his head, knowing his friend was way over his head about Mall.
________________
Mrs. Wraith stayed with Hollie over the night, but she needed to find her son. She had yet to learn where he had gone and knew her husband had looked into it without success. Thankfully.
Mrs. Wraith stepped out to the balcony and looked down on the busy morning traffic.
Hollie had a two-bedroom flat in the middle of town, the fourth floor, to be exact. Mrs. Wraith was grateful for Hollie's assistance and her brilliant idea of getting Mrs. Wraith to hide in one of the suitcases when Hollie left the residence.
She trembled in the cold winter air, but she finally felt free for the first time in a long time.
________________
Mallory stretched out upon her bed and looked up at the ceiling.
"Great. Now they think I am crazy, too." She muttered and heard her door open.
"Mall?" Hunter said, and Mallory sat up. "Yes?" She replied, a bit nervous.
Hunter came and sat down on her bed. "What's wrong?" asked Hunter, and Mallory sighed. "Blade thinks I'm crazy and wants me to see a therapist."
Hunter frowned. "Did he call you crazy?"
Mallory was silent for a moment. "No..."
"I think Blade was trying to tell you you've been through a lot, Mallory. The state we found you in was horrifying. And I don't know what you've been going through. You're not crazy for seeing a therapist. But that is a way of healing wounds and overcoming mental barriers." Mallory leaned her back against the wall. Maybe she could try it.
"If I do this... Will you be there by my side? At least on the first meeting." Mallory whispered, and Hunter nodded. "Sure. Of course."
Mallory smiled shyly.
They both stared into each other's eyes, and Mallory felt her stomach float when it seemed Hunter was on his way to bend over and... Kiss her?
Mallory swallowed nervously and closed her eyes.
________________
Mr. Wraith was drunk and left all alone in his big house. Both his son and wife had left him, ungrateful as they were. He milled at the thought of their betrayal.
His mother had warned him, and he thought he had it all under control, but no.
So now he needed to hire someone to get them back because he would not accept being left behind; he would rather kill them instead.