Wide Open Spaces

Run For Your Life

Stevie was frozen to the spot, her children still looking around the store.

"Mommy, can we get this? I've never had it before." Callie asks her, holding up an odd looking fruit.

"Sure, baby. Whatever." Stevie says, her voice emotionless and you could tell in her eyes that she was somewhere else.

"What's wrong?" Dylan asks, hearing her odd tone.

"What are you looking at? What do you see?" Callie asked, trying to look from her vantage point.

"I think we should go" she says, forcing them to put the baskets down.

"Mommy, we haven't paid"

"We'll come back later" she says, taking her children's hands in her shaking ones.

"Mom..." Dylan said.

"Yeah, mom" came a mocking voice from behind her and she turned around. "Hey, Stevie"

"B-brock" she stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"Grocery shopping" he says with a shrug.

"Oh. Great." she says, forcing a mechanical smile. "We were just leaving" Stevie attempted to move away from him and push her kids toward the door.

"No, stay. You look good" he said, his hand on her shoulder.

"Babies, go to the car. Take my keys." She opened her bag and began fishing around for them, unable to locate anything resembling her many key chains.

"Daddy has the car, remember?" Callie reminded her.

"Shit" Tears well up in her eyes and Dylan began to feel protective of his mother.

"It's okay, Stevie. I can give you a ride." Brock offered. Something was strange about him. Something in his eyes wasn't quite right. "Don't be scared, precious. I would never hurt you" He caressed her cheek, tucking a long golden tendril behind her ear. "Oh, what do we have here?"

"Don't touch her" Dylan growled, holding onto his sister and his mother.

Brock reached out a hand and pulled back her jacket, revealing a very prominent bump. "You're pregnant, congratulations" he said in a disturbingly sweet tone. He touched her, feeling the baby stir. She winced at the rapid movement, stroking the side of her bump. "A strong one! Boy or girl?"

"I don't know" she lied, her eyes never once leaving his. She was terrified, her children could feel it.

"Let's go, mom" Dylan said, tugging on her hand. Callie was silent, just as scared as Stevie was.

"What's the rush? Talk to me."

"About w-what?" She bit her lip to stop it from quivering.

"We're going" Dylan said again, turning to Brock. "You stay away from her. She's had to deal with you enough"

"Back off! You're just like your dad. You don't know how to shut up. Children are to be seen and not heard" Brock pushed the tall, lanky thirteen year old with such a force that he stumbled and Stevie found her strength.