After I told Reid the news, he scrolled on amazon for hours looking for baby items, it was adorable seeing him get excited about baby clothes. I nearly bust a rib laughing when he started asking about maternity pads, I am not explaining that one right now. I actually let myself get a little exited, its not something I’d planned, this wasn’t meant to happen for a long while yet, but it has happened, so best I get on board pronto.
Sitting at the dinner table with Reid and his mum later on, we start discussing baby things. Hayley is adamant about us still staying here so she can help us with the baby, and to be honest, it sounds like the best option. I have a little money stashed away in a savings account that I can get baby clothes with, it was going to be used to get me away from my mum, not going to need that now. Asher is working late tonight, so didn’t make it to dinner. I can tell Hayley misses him, even it it has only been a day. Hearing a ringtone, Reid pulls out his phone and excuses himself, his mum continues to chat about the baby, saying she is planning to learn how to knit so she can make him a blanket. When Reid returns he says he has to pop out to help Lizzie, her daughters’ car has broken down and she needs a hand getting it on the low loader “I’ll be an hour, two at most okay?” he says as he kisses my forehead “Go, we’ll be fine” I smile pushing him out the door.
Me and Hayley sit down in the front room and start making a list of all the things we’re going to need for the baby now we are keeping it. Its mindboggling how much we’ve got to buy and sort out, luckily Reid’s room is plenty big enough to fit a crib, so we will be okay here for a while “I’ll buy your crib for you, so don’t worry about that. And if it’s a boy I still have some of Reid’s baby clothes in the loft, we can see if there is anything you like. They may have gone out of fashion now though” she says with a chuckle “I can’t let you buy the crib Hayley” I feel bad she’s having to spending her money on me, she doesn’t earn a lot at her receptionist job “My mum left me some that’s been sitting in a savings account. What better use than to spend on my grandbaby” she says with a beaming smile. Except, it may not be your grandbaby, the little voice in my head says. Trying to ignore it I smile “Okay, well thank you. I can’t get my head around all this stuff we need. At least we have time to sort it all out” I’m not far along, so we can get thing gradually. Hearing the back door open, we assume its Asher “Hey honey, long day at work?” Hayley calls out “Oh, its about to get longer” a familiar voice says making me and Hayley freeze. No…it can’t be. Gary walks into the front room, gun in hand pointed at both of us.
No.
Hayley has gone completely white as she stares at the star of her nightmares…. And mine “Hails, baby. Did you miss me” he says pointing the gun to her chest. My phone vibrates in my pocket, trying to discreetly answer it I slowly put my hand in my pocket “I don’t think so” he says as he walks over to me and shoves his hand in to grab it, throwing it against the wall. Having him near me again is making me feel lightheaded, it makes me remember… the pain, the way he violated me… trying to control my breathing like Abi taught me, I count back from 10 in my head “And you, didn’t think you would look so well little one. Clearly I didn’t break you enough” he says as he strokes my cheek with the barrel of the gun, silent tears track down my face as I squeeze my eyes shut and continue to count in my head “Both of you on the sofa, now” he orders waving his gun around. I walk over to Hayley and grab her as we both sit on the very edge of the sofa “How have you been Hayley? Blossomed I see” he says crouching in front of her “I’d be a lot better if you got the hell out of my house” she tells him, face of fury. I can see the tremor in her hands though. She’s trying to be brave “Well well well, look who grew some balls, about time. I guess that jumped up boyfriend of yours helped with that huh?” he says stroking her leg, she jerks it away giving
