Final Apocalypse: Infant

Rejection

They traveled for close to an hour before they finally arrived at his house. Tamara turned to Red as she climbed out of the car. "Could you hang back, just in case things go bad?"

"My job is to protect you. Your wish is my command."

Tamara kissed him on the cheek and walked up to the door. She knocked twice before he answered. "James!" She cried as she jumped into his arms.

James hugged her back awkwardly. "Tamara? What are you doing here?"

She rubbed her stomach and James's eyes widened. He cursed and slammed his fist against the doorway. "You've got to be kidding me. How did this happen?"

Tamara shrugged. "I don't know. Are you upset?"

"Honey, who's that at the door?"

Tamara's eyes widened. "I thought you were divorced. You used me?"

James motioned for her to be quiet. "Just a friend from work," he turned to Tamara. "Let's talk outside. Please, I'm begging you. I'll give you anything, just keep this to yourself."

Tamara smiled as Red appeared next to her. "Three grand every two weeks. Deal?"

James scowled. "Fine. Just get out of here. And take the lumberjack with you."

Tamara blinked back tears and stormed toward the car. Red shook his head. "I'm not a lumberjack." He punched him through the doorway before slamming the door.

When he got back to the car, he could see that Tamara was in tears. He hugged her. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head and dried her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. "It's not your fault. None of this is your fault. The blame is mine alone. A stupid teenager that let herself be taken advantage of by an irredeemable fuckstick. I can't believe I didn't see it before. He used me. Now I'm alone."

Red opened the car door. "Let's go get some ice cream. Would you like that?"

Tamara smiled and hugged her protector. "Yeah. That would be nice. I'd like that a lot."