Logan's Flower

Chapter 18

The next day I call my OB/GYN. I lie that because of an unplanned work event I can't make it to the appointment Thursday and she suggests I come on Wednesday.

After kindergarten, I drive around town, so Logan is forced to leave to Triple D without me. I text Dean that I won't be coming in and sleep for most of the evening.

It's a little past three in the morning when I hear Logan returning, but he doesn't come to me, and that's good.

Wednesday, I go to my appointment and smile when it's necessary. Everything seems okay and I have another quick ultrasound. My doc schedules the next one, because the baby needs to be properly measured and then I'm ready to leave. Arriving home, I add the next picture on the fridge and lock myself in my room. A while later there's a knock on the door.

"Daisy, the dinner is ready."

I don't answer, so about two minutes later Logan leaves. I don't know how much time has passed, but there's another knock on the door.

"Daisy, you need to eat. I left your dinner in the fridge."

I don't want to eat, but I know I need to. For the baby.

I hear Logan going back downstairs, so I lie in my bed and wait. I feel exhausted, but sleeps isn't coming. My thoughts are jumbled and I feel restless, but at the same time, I can't concentrate on one thing. Our conversations spin in my head and I know that it's stupid, but I fell so sorry for myself. All my dreams, my plans, all my work, it's useless. I'm now a single mother with two jobs, but at none of them, I qualify for maternity leave. I don't have savings and I live in Logan's house.

When I hear Logan's footsteps on the stairs, I wait for another knock, but instead of knocking, I hear Logan entering his room. When I think enough time has passed for me to go to the kitchen, I stand and unlock my door.

I eat my dinner alone and afterward take a quick shower, then I returned to my room, locking my door, and sleep.

This pattern repeats for the next two days. On Saturday I spend my morning in my room and drive myself to the Triple D. I don't talk with Logan more than it's absolutely necessary, but smile and joke with Dean and Zach. At least I try. I stay the night at my brother's place and apparently sensing than something is off, Dean and Zach keeps their distance without questioning me.

I was planning on telling Mom and Dad about the baby, but I don't feel like explaining myself right now, so I push all my thoughts about them away and just do my work. Sunday is similar. I eat, smile, and do what is asked of me. Logan tries to talk with me, but I don't say more than one-word answers.

By the end of the night, he has given up on talking with me. That's good. That's better.

On Tuesday I exit my work planning on driving around the town until Logan leaves for his shift, but my thoughts are interrupted as someone yanks my hand, twisting it behind my back and covers my mouth with his hand as he drags me around the corner in two steps. I try to twist, but it's pointless. Before I can manage to do something, my back is pressed to the wall and the hand that was holding me now goes to my throat, circling it painfully.

"Missed me, bitch?" Rickey hisses in my face as I claw at his hand at my throat. When that turns out pointless I try kneeing him, but he presses closer to me trapping me between the building and his body. "You think you can humiliate me like that and get away with it?" he growls and I feel the alcohol on his breath.

I try to drag in a breath, but it's hard with him squeezing my throat and his hand covering my mouth.

"This is just heads up, you whore. You'll pay for what you and your goon did." He removed his hand from my mouth and I try to suck in a breath, but his hand pushes painfully at my belly.