The Perfect Family - on hold

14 . unfortunate hitchhikers

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
• UNFORTUNATE HITCHHIKERS •

-

She was happy. She really was happy with her life. Mikayla told herself that often. At night when she lay in Niko's arms, when she scrubbed the floors with Eve breathing down her neck, when Rosemary passed off Cubby to her to give her "practice."

"I'm so happy," she said out loud as she stood naked in the bathroom, gazing at herself in the mirror. Her skin was paler from lack of sunlight, eyes sunken slightly, and forming bags from sleepless nights. There were old scars littering her wrists, telling tales from previous disobedience and punishments. But most importantly was the protruding stomach. A fetus was growing in her womb. Her baby, Niko's baby, a new child for the family. How exciting could this be?

"Kayla, are you alright?"

"Yeah," she called hastily pulling on a long skirt to cover her legs. With her upper body bare she opened the door. "Look, I'm showing already."

Niko's hand came out to palm her belly, a smile stretching over his face temporarily. "That's great, now put a shirt on. You need to help with breakfast."

"Yeah, right, I'm sorry."

Niko smiled, "It's okay, just don't neglect your duties because you're pregnant, alright?"

Mikayla grimaced but nodded, flinching when Niko grabbed her wrist. "Alright?"

"Alright."

-

It was an entirely normal day. Just like any other since being saved. That's why Mikayla was so caught off guard when she heard a knock. She always assumed this was a farm house in the middle of nowhere, who would possibly knock?

Rosemary and Eve both looked at a loss of what to do. The older woman's skin paled and she clutched at the rag in her hand like she was afraid of what was on the other side of the door.

"Eve?" Mikayla said nervously. As if there was a monster on the outside, Eve crept forward nervously, like something out of a horror movie. There was no peephole to look through to confirm the identity of their visitors. Eve had no choice but to use her key to open the door. Rosemary, who Mikayla had failed to notice in the moment, wasn't at all worried about the door. She was staring at Mikayla, intently.

"Brace yourself," the woman whispered, scooping her baby off the floor and promptly retreating into the kitchen.

"Hello," Eve greeted sugary sweetly, "can I help you?"

There was a trio of young adults at the door. The oldest looking only 26 or 7 at most. He was the first of the two men, the other most likely his brother looked only Mikayla's age, as well as the woman holding his arm.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm sorry for the intrusion. My name is Andy, and this is my little brother and his girlfriend," he gestured to the young couple behind him, "our car broke down a little down the road, you were the closest house and we were hoping for some assistance? You understand, I hope."

Eve's brow furrowed, and her mouth twitched before she grinned. "Of course I do, come right in, make yourselves at home, like family."

As the trio got themselves situated along the couch, Eve grabbed Mikayla's arm. "My name is Eve, and this is my daughter in law, Kayla. My other daughter in law and grandson are hiding in the kitchen. Just us women can't help you much, but once my husband and sons are home they'll take care of you. They're good with their hands, you see."

Something about those last words had Mikayla shivering and shaking out of Eve's grip, she retreated into the kitchen as Eve continued entertaining their guests, seemingly assured with the hospitality with the family they'd been let in by.

Rosemary did not share their comfort. Instead she paced around the room as Cubby sat on the cold tile of the kitchen floor.

"Rosemary!" Mikayla scolded, yanking the baby up into her arms. "What's wrong with you?"

"I've said it once and I'll say it again," Rosemary ran her hands through her hair, "you know nothing."

"I know it's scary to have strangers in your house, but you're being dramatic."

Rosemary laughed, almost loud enough that surely Andy and his family heard her. "I'm not scared of them, I'm scared for them."