"Oh, baby!" I cried. I knelt down and grabbed Ken, hugging him close. "Mommy, you're hugging too hard," Ken whined. I didn't let him go. I just kept squeezing him. "I was so worried about you! Why did you leave the dress store?" Worry and anger mixed together with my relief. I never wanted to let my son go again!"I… I…""Olivia, you don't need to smother the boy," Ellis chastised. He put a firm hand on my shoulder. Sighing, I slowly released my son. I put my hands on his shoulders and looked him over, checking for any marks or bruises. "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked. Ken shrugged and nodded. I kissed his cheek and stood up. Ellis picked Ken right up and gave him a hug. "I want to take you to my private doctor to get a checkup, okay?" he asked. When Ellis hugged Ken, I saw how he closed his eyes and breathed a huge sigh of relief. I didn't always get to see him being emotional and vulnerable. Smiling lightly, I put my hand on his arm. "Do I hav
"Mommy, mommy, wake up!" Ken cried, running into my room and jumping on the bed. I groaned and rolled over, pushing him off of me. "Oh, Ken, it is too early for this.""But it is a big day," he cheered. Sighing, I blinked the sleep from my eyes and sat up. Other than Ken, the bed was empty. "Where is your father?" I asked. Ken shrugged. "Getting ready.""Getting ready for what?" I asked, smiling at him. I grabbed my son and pulled him close, tickling his belly. Ken shrieked with laughter and wiggled away from me. "He's getting ready for the party," he said. "What party?" I asked. I stopped trying to catch him. Ken's laughs started getting quieter and quieter now that I wasn't tickling him. "The engagement party, remember? You just got a dress for it," Ken reminded me. "Ken, I don't think we're going to have the party today," I said. I laid back down and patted the bed next to me. Ken got closer. He laid down and snuggled up to me. I looped my
**Olivia POVEllis seemed almost despondent by the words, and I had felt the same. He said the thing I was hoping he would never have to say out loud. Yet, here it was.We would have to call off the engagement.I tried my best to remain calm because we were in the middle of an engagement party! I had guests and appetizers… a band was playing happy music for a celebration! Now we had nothing to celebrate and I couldn't tell anyone about it.I knew the panic on my face became more apparent as I worried about how to break the news. I buried my face into my hands for a moment, knowing my mother would have a fit if I told her the engagement was off.It's not like I could answer questions, either. I didn't know what was going on. Later, I could speak with Ellis in private. I had to deal with the party guests first but I didn't have the slightest idea on where to start."Mommy," Ken breathed, pressing his hand on my leg in concern. "What's wrong? Are you and Daddy not—""Hey, everything is fi
I tossed another outfit into my suitcase and swallowed looking at the mound of clothes piling in the bag. I wasn't sure how long we would be gone, but I wanted to be prepared for everything. Who knows what could happen?I reached for my next pair of shoes on the top shelf and felt a hand brush into my shirt, grazing my skin with a warm, welcomed touch. It still made me squeak in shock and I fell backwards into Ellis' grasp."You scared me," I snapped, pushing forward.He yanked me right back into his possessive hold, his lips moving against the back of my ear. "I love when you're feisty.""Very funny," I teased.He kissed my neck and I groaned, melting in his arms. I wanted to stay like this forever, but I needed to pack! Everything had to be ready to go for this trip, no matter what might happen while we were there. Whatever we were about to face, I just knew it wasn't good. I couldn't let Ellis see that faltering fear, though."Are you okay?" I asked, feeling his lips pause on my sk
**Ellis POVIt was a shorter plane trip to upper Maine where my grandfather resided than I had anticipated. Maybe it was my nerves, but I felt like we were deplaning as soon as we got on. Ken skipped out onto the tarmac while Olivia chased after him. She was still smiling at this point, but I knew that would fall soon. I didn't want her to be upset, but if my family is good at one thing, it's making people frown. Especially if they're seen as a threat.I pulled Olivia into the car with me and Ken tried to buckle himself in next to me. I helped him along while the driver gave us a brief look. I could feel him staring at my beautiful lover in the seat next to me. If Ken wasn't on the other side of me, I would have let the driver have a piece of my mind.Olivia leaned into my side, slipping her arms around my midsection tenderly. I kissed her head, clinging to her like she could be ripped from me at any moment.I pulled her hair off her shoulder and kissed the warm skin that sat there. S
**Olivia POVI sat down at the end of the table, Ken propped up in a chair beside me. Joan had tried to usher Ellis near her at the head of the table but he sat firmly beside me, instead. I felt calmer with him here, even if he wasn't feeling the same level of relaxation I wanted him to.He had reason to be upset and anxious, but he would have to endure it either way.The appetizers came first and while everyone was given a lovely array of fish and caviar, Ken and I were given some kind of mushy vegetable mix. I swallowed my concerns and just looked at my plate, I turned to help Ken as the squash flopped off of his fork."Mommy, I don't like this," he whispered to me, as though to not insult the chef. I reached for his plate, only to hear a scoff come from across the table."Little girl," Joan spoke. I somehow knew she was referring to me and glanced over, her beautiful eyes catching mine. "Have you no etiquette?"I gave Ellis a helpless look while he refused to touch his refined
**Ellis POVI admired the bedroom they chose for me. It had large windows and gold framing around the walls. I was surprised to see a few portraits up, one adorned with my father and one of his wives.It was hard to remember which wife it was, he had so many, but I recognized my father instantly.He had a tall, lanky body that looked well with his expensive, lavish suit. He wore pinstripes like some kind of gangster in the city, and he had the most blue eyes I'd ever seen. I couldn't see myself in his image, but I could remember myself chasing after his approval as a child.I knew he had a lot of children, and swimming in that sea was never easy. I never had a sibling I could trust with everyone vying for my grandfather's wealth.When they all began to die, I stopped attending their funerals.My father suffered his own fate and I wish I could be upset about it, but he had unleashed enough suffering into the world, pricking poison into the veins of this family every week, and I had to l
**Olivia POVI opened the door to our room, Ken clinging to my leg with little fists scrunched into the fabric of my jeans. I was certainly underdressed for dinner, but it felt like I was still underdressed for this room. The view was gorgeous, looking over the farmland that sat adjacent to the mansion.I knew the Peterson's had money, but this took things to the extreme. I could see for miles before I finally found Ken and my bags tossed recklessly under the bed. I unpacked our things into the large wardrobe doors and Ken scoped the place out."Mommy," he grumbled, shivering as he looked up at a tall portrait on the wall. "This place is creepy.""Why do you say that, son?"He pointed to the man in the photo, surrounded by children of varying ages. I stalked closer to get a look of it as well, surprised by the amount of well-behaved children in one snapshot of a picture.I could find Ellis in the front, his small tuxedo no bigger than Ken's from the engagement party. He had a beautiful
Ellis POVI sat in the executive chair in the office, getting work done as well as I could under the circumstances. Even with the new legal troubles, some things never changed. “And tell them if they don’t they will have to answer to me,” I said. “Got it,” my project manager, William, said, looking a little shaken. Handling contractors came with the job, and was mostly a matter of patience, and being commanding. Much the same as handling a child having a tantrum. I relaxed a little as the call went away, taking more of the immediate problems with it. There were other problems hanging over my head that I didn’t like to think about. A little annoyed and very tired I loosen my tie, which had come to feel like a noose. After the house arrest, theoretical as it might have been, I hardly wore one anymore.I felt Olivia’s absence in my chest, like a weight. One I tried to lighten with another drink. Sipping lightly from the tumbler of rum, careful not to get drunk. I wanted to be alert
**Olivia POVI woke up still groggy, the world going from a dark blur to a light blur. Everything that had happened slowly rearranged itself in my mind.Pain came back along with the memories, if in a reduced form. With a wince, my head turned just right, and I saw Ellis seated by the bed, where he’d always been before getting arrested and would always be if I had anything to say about it.Ellis looked troubled, something I rarely saw. He was always so capable and in control of himself if not the situation. I reached out to him instinctively, and Ellis took it tenderly.“Can you be here?”“Of course,” he said.“No, I mean your house arrest.”“That is taken care of. Even if it wasn’t, I think this counts as compassionate grounds.”I relaxed a little, letting out a breath. Then I remembered what happened with the baby.“How is she?” I asked.He squeezed my hand, letting me know something was wrong, no matter what he might say.“She will be fine,” he said, “I’ll take you to the NICU to se
**Olivia POVI’d always heard bad things about hospital food. Fortunately, this proved not to be true. Everything Amber brought was great. I started to feel stronger just from the diet alone.If it wasn’t for hospital policy, I probably could have walked on our twice daily outings onto the hospital grounds. The baby seemed better too, moving even more than before.I started to suspect Nurse Anderson might have cooked the meals at home and smuggled them onto the hospital plates.I was near the end of my bacon and eggs, when a familiar face peeked in through the door.“Mom!?” I asked, more delighted to see her than I had words to say.“Hey, baby.”Mom came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek, like she used to do when I was little and feeling sick.“Me or her?” I asked, patting my belly.“Both of you, really,” mom said with a rare smile.Mom put her hand on my belly and felt it as the baby moved again.“Hello, little one, it’s Grandma.”I was surprised to hear her use the term. Something
**Ellis POVI paced the hallway, resisting the urge to hit something. The control I showed in most situations was carefully built up over years. There were times I worried about Ken and his potential impulse control. Then again his mother was so patient and gentle, except when truly riled, it could be her genetics that might win out. I went to the door again, just to see if I could hear what was being said. The wood was too thick and all I could hear was muffled hums. “You know you could just go in right? You’re on the list.”Spinning on my heel, resisting the urge to yell in fright, I saw Nurse Anderson with a food tray. “I can’t actually.”“Why? Is the door locked?” she asked, testing the knob. “Yes, but that is not the biggest problem.” “Oh, how so?” Nurse Anderson asked. “It was locked from the inside,” I said.“Yes, that is how it works.” “By someone else, on purpose I mean.” “Who?” “Some Fed, I think he said his name was Smiley.” “Agent Smiley?” Nurse An
**Olivia POV Ken came out of nowhere. The only warning of his arrival, an excited shout echoed down the hall. He still hadn’t got the hang of his ‘inside voice.’ Like a shot he was in the room, shattering the quiet solitude. I couldn’t have been happier. Kevin was more subtle, coming in behind and waiting to be beckoned before coming forward. There was something about hospitals that made him less than comfortable. “Mommy,” Ken cried, up on the bed like a shot. “Hey, baby,” I said, as he took me in a near-choking hug. “Hi,” Kevin said, quietly, keeping his wheelchair near the door.. “Get over here,” I said. Kevin came up beside the bed, not needing to be told twice. From my bed I hugged Ken and held Kevin’s hand tightly, tears started to roll with little choice. “Mommy?” Ken asked. “Happy tears, baby,” I said. “Oh.” The room felt smaller all of the sudden and all I wanted to do was go outside with my boys. Pressing the button to page her, Amber appeared in no
**Olivia POV Day came again even as I was sitting on the plane back to New York. It had been a dream, and Ellis was still there, looking deeply worried. “How are you doing?” he asked with a smile that once melted me. “Fine and only getting better. As soon as the doctor gives me the all clear I’m going home with Ken.” “Ken is at home,” Ellis said. “Not your home, my home,” I said. I could see the words cut deep, and almost felt sorry for him. Second thoughts were just coming up when the doctor came in, his expression grim.I instinctively reached for Ellis’s hand. Bad news no doubt on the horizon. “It can’t be that bad,” Ellis and I blurted at once. “It can actually,” the doctor said, looking at the chart. “How so?” Ellis butted in. It didn’t really concern him anymore, but he was the sort to think he needed to be the center of attention in any situation. He must have been a joy at funerals. “You are severely dehydrated, Mrs. Peterson. The amniotic fluid is mu
**Ellis POVI held her hand in the back of the ambulance, never letting her go again if I had anything to do about it. I had gotten far too close to losing her. “We’ll be there soon,” I said, minding the volume. She flinched at the smallest noise if it was unexpected. God only knew what the sick f*cks had done to her, and it was best not to think about it. Anytime I did, the urge to kill them rose. I didn't want to kill Carl, no matter how much of a f*ck up he was.No matter what he did he was still my son. People like us had other ways to deal with our kids when they got off the track. Military service was one popular option, as well as “career opportunities” in another country. Olivia stayed silent, her head lolling to the left before she closed her eyes. “Everyone is excited to see you again,’ I tried, “especially Ken and Kevin.”Olivia winched at the mention of their names. It was probably a touchy subject, after she’d been away for so long, not sure if she’d ever get ba
**Olivia POV“How are you doing, honey?” I asked, rubbing my belly. The baby didn’t move, but she could have been asleep. Apparently, they did that a lot. Resting up for the rest of their life. Bethany and Carl were down there for a few hours. Mostly quiet but with the occasional argument. Things shifted and I heard steps coming towards the attic. I held my breath hoping everything would be okay. I wasn’t sure I’d done the lock up right, and hoped they wouldn’t notice if they came back. It would be an obvious sign of what I’d done, and the punishment could be awful. There was no telling what Bethany might do. She could be merciful and just break my ankles. Or my wrists, to stop me from getting the lock picked again. It would make Ellis really mad, but it didn’t sound like they were planning to stay around, after everything. The clock clicked open, making me flinch and the baby move. I nearly cried to feel her again but had to hold it together. If we were going to get out of
**Olivia POVI felt a thrilling chill run over my body and the baby moved in response, celebrating in my womb. The door was open and we were close to freedom. I rubbed my belly, calming her down. I would need all my focus for the next part. Carl and Bethany could have been back at any time, and I had to be gone before then if there was going to be any chance of getting back to the boys and Ellis tonight. I cracked the door open slowly and I listened to the deafening silence. All was dark but I could just make out the staircase below the door. There was no light from below, so I had to try to get down blind. A little at a time, always sure to hold something, down I climbed. Getting one foot down on the stairs and then the other. Holding the sides of the steps in a death-grip, I finally reached solid ground. The floorboards down below creaking like the ones up above. There was another door at the base of the steps and my heart sank to think that I might have to work to pick another l