“When the baby comes I can.”
“You have to get DNA from me. Besides, you know I don’t have the money.”
“Yeah, you do. You got that trust fund.”
“I’ve been cut off. I didn’t do exactly what ‘Daddy’ wanted.”
“Then start doing it. You need the money and so do I,” she said. She shifted on the chair, not able to find a comfortable spot. How bad would it get if she already couldn’t sit easily?
“I can live like a pauper.”
“Well I don’t intend to. And I don’t intend to raise this baby on welfare.”
“How about that ex-husband?”
“He’ll do the math and figure out he couldn’t be the father.”
A pain raced down her abdomen. She shouldn’t have had such a spicy lunch.
“Oh well. Guess this baby will be without a father.”
“Where are you?” she asked.
“Where I’ve been since you told me.”
“Coward. Besides, I don’t believe you.” Her breath seized as the pain came back. “Ouch.”
“Dolores?”
“Just gas, I’m sure.”
“Then get some antacids and stop calling me. Our fun is over and I’m not coming back.”
“I’m sure I’ll find a way to get you back.”
The pain again.
“Nope.”
“Ouch,” she said.
“You okay? Maybe you should call your doctor. I’ll let you go.”
She dropped the phone as a harder pain seized her abdomen.
“Dolores? Dolores?” His voice came from the received on the floor, but she couldn’t reach it to answer.
This time Zach was already naked. “Let me in, Grace.”
For a moment relief swept through her. Then a longing for release took hold of her. His expert hands had her body thrumming.
Then he began a slow and easy rhythm. “Is this good?” His voice came out in deep breaths as if he couldn’t control himself. “Tell me what you like.”
“Oh, God. This and more.”
He smiled down at her his eyes dark with desire. “Slow down, Grace.”
“No, speed up.”
“The journey.”
“No, the climax.”
His chuckle rumbled from deep inside of him. She was going to disintegrate. Soon. She wanted to be there.
His breaths grew short as his eyes went dark. She knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. She only had to reach the top of the hill.
Her fingernails scraped across his back. He groaned.
And when she thought she would let go, she was catapulted out of the dream.
Her body ached from the effort. Her spirits crashed as she knew she’d never find satisfaction with anyone else.
She sat up, but exhaustion pushed her back into the pillows.
Zach had been in her thoughts more than she liked, and with her dreams she had less control.
Pacing the apartment she tried to decipher what it all meant. She had no one to talk to in this instance. Her gut told her not to let Mark know all that was going on. She wished she knew why.
A movement outside on the driveway had her looking out. She parted her curtains, but stepped aside. Once again a man stood on her driveway. She thought he was looking up at her window.
Without turning on the light, she fished in her purse for Zach’s card. Dolores wasn’t supposed to die for another day, but she wanted to be sure.
He answered on the second ring. “Holten.”
“Zach, it’s Grace Harmony.”
“Is something wrong?”
He must have heard it in her voice. “Yes that guy’s back. He’s standing on the driveway.”
“Did you call the cops?”
“I called you.”
“Well get off the phone and dial 9-1-1. I’m on my way.”
Grace did as he instructed. The man had moved closer to her apartment. She slipped a robe over her shoulders as she relayed the information to the dispatcher.
Hanging up she sat on her sofa bed for a moment, chewing on her thumbnail. She checked outside again, but that man just stood there. Not liking cowering in her room, she belted the robe and strode out her front door.
A siren wailed at the end of the street and the man turned and ran away from her. She sprinted to where he had just stood, but he’d disappeared into some bushes.
“Damn.”
The patrol car pulled into the driveway. She pointed in the direction the man had run. “He went that way.”
“You okay, Miss?”
“Yes, just get him.”
The patrolmen set off on foot, but came back a moment later. “I didn’t see him. You get a good look?”
“I’ll tell you what I can.”
She described the man the best she could. As the officer finished taking her report, Zach pulled in behind the cop’s patrol car.
“Someone you know?” the cop asked.
“Yes.”
The cop acknowledged the newcomer. “I didn’t see anyone when I arrived.”
Grace eyed Dolores’ house. She thought she’d seen her come in earlier and she wondered why the woman hadn’t been awakened. Several of the neighbors had turned outside lights on to see the action.
As if reading her mind, Zach said, “She sleeps pretty soundly.”
“Maybe you should check on her.”
Zach cocked his head. “Something you want to tell me?”
Her anger spiked. “No.”
Zach moved his car for the cop then pulled back into the driveway. Grace stood in her robe suddenly feeling vulnerable.
“If you don’t knock on her door, I will,” she said.
“I’ll do it. Let me call her first.”
He dialed a cell phone he had retrieved from off his belt. Shaking his head he hung up. “Odd that she didn’t answer. You sure she’s here?”
“I thought I saw her come in.” Grace looked over her shoulder. “Her car’s in the garage. I heard the door.”
“Did you actually see her?”
“Well, no, but I did hear the door.”
Zach frowned at her in the moonlight. “Okay, I’ll check.”
He had Dolores’ key on his chain. Guess they were close. “She gave me a key because she sometimes locks herself out.”
“I didn’t ask.”
