Page 45 of Confined Space

"Then what are you giving him?"

Good question because I want to know too.

"Honestly, I lied to him. I just agreed to get away from him. He'll never know what I really decide to do."

Before we can ask any more questions, the nurse comes in to discharge her and we head home. She sits in the passenger seat, looking out the window and not talking to me. I know she's working something out in her head that I'm not going to like because she won't hold my hand and is distancing herself.

My mother rushes out to hold her and hug her when we pull up to the house. Coral stands like a statue and then heads inside.

"Rowdy, what is going on with her?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

"Good, because what I just saw is someone pulling away. She's going to try to leave us."

"I won't allow that."

I storm inside and find her in the nursery crying and holding Archer to her body as best as she can. I give her a moment and head into the room we've been staying in. I'm staring out over the backyard through the patio doors when I see her reflection in the glass as she walks into the room. I turn to face her and her body stiffens, the walls coming up around her. This is what she was like when I first met her. I can't let her go back there. I walk toward her and pull her into my arms. She remains stiff for a moment, then wraps her arms around me too as the sobs roll through her.

I hold her all night as she clings to me. When I get out of bed to take a shower in the morning, she goes to clutch for me again in her sleep.

"I'll be back, Mouse," I say, and she relaxes.

She is tossing and turning, crying out in the bed as I step out of the shower. I reach out and touch her arm and she screams in terror. Her eyes are bright with fear, and it takes her a moment to come back to me.

"You’re okay. You’re safe.”

"He raped me," she says, and the tears consume her again. I fall to the bed and hold her to me. I had figured as much. "I don't remember it. He drugged me,” she confesses. "I just wanted you to know."

"Mouse, that doesn't change how I feel about you. You are still mine and I'm still yours."

"It has to change us. It will change us. I can't let you be a part of this fucked-up life I've created for Archer and me." The cuss word coming from her lips throws me for a moment, but I feel her stiffening up. "I need to make some phone calls before we leave for the hospital."

She pulls away from me and walks out onto the patio with her cell phone. I'm only going to give her until I get dressed and then I'm going to end whatever she's got running through her head.

I quickly dress, but my mom distracts me before I can get outside to see what Coral has planned and what she's trying to do. When I step out on the patio, my breath seizes in my lungs.

"I need to come home. I need to get Archer and myself away from here. It's not safe."

"So you'll bring your harlot ways and bastard child here.” Coral has the phone on speaker. “You think we'll keep you safe?" a woman with a thick southern accent shouts.

"Mom, I spoke with the attorney. I know what you’ve been doing. You can’t impersonate me anymore. You told him to donate my monthly allotments to your church. I won’t press charges but know that I’ve worked everything out. You won’t have to see Archer or me. I just thought you would like to know we’ll be there.”

"You don't deserve that money. She was my mother."

"And you'd have given all of it to your church."

"Is there anything wrong with that? It's better than paying for your lazy ways."

"I'm not lazy. I was going to college."

"Then you got pregnant, you little whore. I knew Satan was in you from the moment you were born."

I can't handle the words and hate anymore. I storm over to Coral and take the phone from her hands. Her eyes flare wide and a flush works its way up her body from her anger and hurt over what this woman has said to her, but I'm angrier over her trying to leave me.

"You don't have to worry because Coral and Archer are mine now. Don't bother to send congratulations when I marry her and adopt him. Goodbye." I disconnect the call.

"Your mother speaks to you like that?" I look down at Coral.

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