Lucille✔️ (Kindle version)

Unexpected turn of events

Lucille

After finding out I was pregnant, we made the best of it. The doctor took me off of birth control and placed me on prenatal vitamins. She also scheduled me for my next checkup and advised me what I should and shouldn't do.

It's a change, but it's okay. Grayson has powerful swimmers. We didn't know if the baby was a boy or a girl. On December 28, we will find out since that's my due date.

We told our families the news. It excited them to meet the new member of the family. I'm relieved that I'm not dying, and Grayson told me I'm overdramatic. I told him to wait, and I would get even with his ass. Yeah, he shut his mouth.

We also needed to find a more prominent place. A one-bedroom apartment would not be big enough for our family. We had to buy baby stuff, and I'll have a baby shower. It's lovely that I'll have some spare time before the little bundle of joy arrives.

Over the next few months, I attended my doctor's appointments. The doctor said the baby was progressing, and I had good vitals.

I'm still working. We figured I would work until I went on maternity leave, then stay home. It's all about a compromise. As much as I wanted to work, I also wanted to raise our child. Okay, who am I kidding? There's no compromise since I'm staying home. My decision surprised me too.

We looked for another place, finding a for rent sign in front of a house. We parked in the driveway and exited the vehicle.

We approached the house's door and knocked. An older couple answered it. When we mentioned the rental sign, they explained that it was for the tiny house behind them. The man showed us a cozy, two-bedroom home.

We took it. The people are a lovely couple. After agreeing, we checked out the neighborhood, which appeared friendly. Each house was an older home with a spacious yard with long-term residents.

The man explained that the family next door were the initial residents of the neighborhood. They had nine kids who were adults and married. They explained that the neighbors knew each other and watched their children.

I liked that. If our kids got into trouble, people would tell us.

It was a step before we had our own home. I'm okay with it.

*****

Grayson

We packed up our belongings, and I hired a moving company to move our furniture. We walked into the tiny house and made room for the baby.

The neighbors seemed friendly. An older woman named Lilian made her rounds to the neighbors who adored her. What's not to love? She's one of those people you can't help but love.

In the evenings, someone knocked on our door. We discovered Lilian at our door as Luci invited her in. They would sit and drink coffee together.

The neighborhood kids playing outside made me happy that we moved here. Our kids would have someone to play with while they grew up.

Luci progressed with her pregnancy and still working. Every time I pick her up, something seems off. When I asked her about it, she would tell me it was nothing. It bothered me because she was hiding something.

*****

Lucille

Work had become stressful. Adam would come in and harass us. My boss had to ban him from the salon. When Gray asked me about it, I told him everything was okay.

I hope this ban will end the crisis and allow work to resume as usual. Well, hope is the operative word.

One evening, I cleaned up while waiting for Gray, who ran late. A girl approached me and offered to stay with me, but she needed to return home to her young child this evening. Some people can't stay home.

She left, and I locked up while I waited. Anything, or should I say someone, prevented me from closing and locking the door. The person shoved their foot in the way, keeping me from closing the door.

When I raised my eyes, I saw Adam standing right in front of me. My eyes widened as I saw the knife in his hand. Oh, God.

I tried to shut the door, but he forced his way inside. He pushed me away as I stumbled, catching my footing. I didn't need to fall.

He closed the door and locked it.

"Now, let's have fun," he said.

I panicked as I turned and ran. Adam chased me as I tried to get out of the way while holding my stomach. I'm five months pregnant and needed to protect my baby.

He got me trapped and placed the knife up to me. I tried to stay calm, but it was hard as he pinned me against the wall. No way in hell would I let him harm my baby. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pair of scissors and grabbed them. Hairstyling scissors are sharp.

He moved the knife down my blouse as he used it to lift my skirt. I reached for the scissors, and once I got them, I shoved them into his side, causing him to drop the knife. I pushed him away as he got to his feet, pulling out the scissors.

I didn't make it to the door before he lunged for me. I got out of the way, trying to avoid him as he chased me. I grabbed whatever I could and threw it at him, causing things to break.

Someone knocked.

"Luci."

"Gray!"

The door handle shook as Gray tried to open the door. Adam grabbed me and got me pinned as he tore at my underwear. The door busted open as I screamed.

Grayson grabbed him and started beating the hell out of him as I moved away. I wrapped my arms around myself as Grayson unleashed his rage on Adam.

He beat him half to death as I grabbed a phone and dialed 911. Within minutes, police arrived at the scene.

They arrested Grayson and tried to take me to the hospital, but I refused. I demanded to see my husband. Paramedics arrived to transport Adam to the hospital.

It's a mess.

*****

Grayson

The police came and arrested me as Lucille yelled. I didn't care if they stopped me. That asshole deserved what he got. I would have killed him if I finished. He attacked my wife and unborn child.

They took me to the police station, booked me, and then shoved me into a cell. When they shut the cell door, I speculated about Luci and our baby. I wanted to learn if they were safe. No one would tell me anything, which infuriated me. I punched the wall in a fit of anger, breaking my hand.

It didn't matter if I broke my hand. I was enraged and wouldn't feel pain because of it. I wouldn't be okay until I knew my family was.