Something Unexpected

Chapter Twenty-Eight

~Laura's POV~

"You're clear to go, Mr. Hunter." The short doctor announced, a friendly smile on his face. "Keep the wound clean and you shouldn't have any problems. Leave the sling on for about a week, after the weeks up come back and we'll remove the stitches."

Kaiden shifted slightly on the mattress, no doubt eager to get out of this hospital room. The doctor finished dressing Kaiden's shoulder before giving small congratulations on the baby and leaving the room.

"Ready to go home?" I questioned.
Kaiden chuckled deeply, coming around behind me before wrapping his good arm over my middle. "I'm ready to get home, lie down and watch a movie with my girlfriend."

"Well this girlfriend is so ready for that as well. Come on, moms got the car ready downstairs."

Together, we collected the few belongings Kaiden had at the hospital before heading down to the car park. Mom was where she said she'd be, a relieved smile on her face as we slipped into the back seat. "I'm so glad to see you're ok, Kaiden."

"Me too," He grinned, wrapping his hand around mine as we pulled out onto the road.

The drive home seemed shorter than our trip here last night. An unfamiliar car was parked in the drive when we finally got home. Kaiden's body grew tense beside me as his eyes frantically searched the front yard.

"What is it?" I questioned, growing worried myself.
Giving my hand a reassuring squeeze, he replied. "That's my mother's car."

"She's here?" Mom asked from the front seat, quickly shifting the car into reverse. "We need to get you two out of here. Your father can handle this, Laura."

"I think it might be too late for that," I breathed.
Just as Mom started to pull back out of the driveway, the front door opened. Liz stepped out of my house, hair wild and eyes wide as she started toward the car. Unsure what to do, Mom stopped the car before turning back to look at us.

"Kaiden, what do we do?" She questioned, her own body tense.
Leaning over, Kaiden placed a kiss on my head and with a reassuring smile, opened the car door.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, grabbing his good arm. "She literally threw a knifeat you less that twelve hours ago, you can't be seriously considering going out there and talking to her?"

"Laura, I have to. If I don't, she will come back again and again. I don't want her anywhere near you, your family or our son." Stepping further out of the car, he smirked. "It'll be ok babe, I promise. Please stay in the car, don't get out no matter what happens, ok?"

"Ok," I agreed.

I didn't know whether I believed that everything would be ok, but he didn't give me a chance to protest further. I watched silently as he walked around the car before stopping just in front of his mother. I couldn't hear what they were saying but from their body language I could tell they were both yelling.

"Mom, what can we do?" I asked, my voice wobbling. "She's his mother, we will never be able to get rid of her."
Turning in her chair, Mom offered me a kind smile as she took my hand. "We didn't want to say anything but your father and I have decided to file for temporary guardianship over Kaiden. He turns eighteen in six months but until then, we want to help him as much as possible."

"Will they let you do that?" It almost sounded too good to be true.
To be done with Liz for the rest of our lives sounded like a dream come true, but nothing was ever easy with Kaiden and I. It never had been.

"Considering his mother's mental health issues and what happened last night, I believe they will."

Turning back to look at Kaiden, I prayed they would. I was about to ask if we should do something when Liz slapped Kaiden across the face, hard. Fury prickled up my neck as I released my mother's hand and pushed my door open.
Kaiden might not be able to hit that woman back, but I sure as shit could. Moving as fast as my swollen pregnant legs could take me, I pushed passed Kaiden a split second before I balled my fist and swung.

Liz screamed, jumping back as far away from me as she could get. Yeah, take that bitch. Pain ached through my hand but I was too amped up to give a damn. Kaiden's eyes were wide as he looked between his mother and myself.

"Laura," My dad barked from his position at the front door. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Get inside!"

"No." I spat, taking a step toward a slightly cowering Liz. "You listen to me," I stopped to make sure she was listening before continuing. "if I ever see you lay a single hand on Kaiden again, what just happened will seem sweet."

"Fuck you," Liz seethed, spitting red saliva onto the grass. "who do you think you are?"

Taking another step forward, my voice grew cold. "If you so much as look in his direction, I will become your worst nightmare. Do you understand?"

"You're going to let her talk to me like that, son?" She replied, directing her question at Kaiden. "I'm your mother. I deserve more respect than that."

"Do you?" I laughed. "Because from where I'm standing, all I see is a lonely desperate woman who uses physical violence as a means to intimidate people." I was vaguely aware of the people collecting on the street, their eager eyes watching our every move.

"You deserved that knife in the back," Liz spat.
An image of Kaiden's shoulder shot into my mind a second before I swung my fist into her jaw for a second time. Ok, that one really hurt. At the rate I was going, I was going to have bruised knuckles by this afternoon. Liz smiled wickedly which only fuelled the fire in my chest. Moving forward again, I balled my fist ready to hit her ugly face again. I'd never been a violent person but just looking at that piece of trash made my hands ache to hit her. Hands wrapped around my arm, stopping my advancement seconds before Kaiden moved in front of me.

"Go," He yelled, pointing at her car. "Before I call the cops and tell them everything that happened last night."

With a snarl in my direction, Kaiden's mother followed his orders. We all stood on the front lawn watching silently as she drove away. As soon as her car was out of view, Kaiden's hand was around my wrist, pulling me into the house. When we were safely upstairs and, in my room, he turned to face me.

"What the hell were you thinking!" He seethed, "I told you specifically to stay in the damn car, Laura!"

"What was I supposed to do? Let her hit you when she knew you couldn't hit her back? She deserved it."

He paced back and forth, shoulders tense. "How am I supposed to protect you if you don't let me? If you ignore every warning I give and just do what you want anyway?"

"I don't need protecting." I replied, crossing my arms over my chest. 

Kaiden's eyes met mine but instead of the love and warmth I was used to, I was met with a cold angry glare. "You do what you want, never giving a damn about the consequences. That's not how a relationship is meant to work, Laura."

"And how is our relationship supposed to work?" I whispered, chest heavy.

Kaiden's shoulders deflated, "It's not."

"Excuse me?" Surely, I hadn't just heard that right. "What do you mean it's not?"

"I mean we aren't working. I'll be there for the baby but apart from that, it's strictly platonic." He ran a hand through his hair before moving over to the door. Before he was over the threshold, he turned back.

"I'm sorry," was all he said before closing the door.