Blackmailed For Love

My mother was back home.

She was feeling a little drowsy from all the medicines but no one woul even guess that from how Anna and her Gammy had greeted each other.

One would think that instead of just a day they had been separated for a month.

1 I smiled as Anna regaled her grandmother with all the details of what she did downstairs with Bianca.

was pleased to know that my daughter had hit it off with her babysitter, who was really a nice girl.

"Come on, it's time to go to bed."

I said as I stood from the chair I was sitting on while my little angel went on and on about the new friends she made.

Walking to my mother, I kissed her forehead and whispered, "Good night."

I looked at my daughter and said, "Tell Gammy good night and come here."

Anna pouted even though she was blinking hard and there was exhaustion in her eyes.

"But, Mama, I missed Gammy."

"And, she will be here tomorrow.

Come on, then…"

I rounded the bed and held my arms open for her.

She pouted but turned to her grandmother and kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Gammy."

"Good night, my angel."

My mother replied, caressing her head in a loving gesture.

Anna stood up on the bed and padded toward me.

I engulfed her in my arms and she said, "You know, Mama I'm too big now."

I kissed her cheek, pretending to eat her soft cheek.

She let out a high pitched giggle and I said, "My angel will never be too big…"

1 She circled her arms around me and laid her head down on my shoulder.

I could feel that she was going to fall asleep in the next ten minutes.

When we reached the bedroom, I made my way straight to the bathroom.

I sat my angel down on the counter and said, "It's brush time."

Without saying anything, she held out her hand for her toothbrush like the good girl she was.

It was when we both were sliding under the covers and she had her face buried in my chest, she asked, "Mama, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, baby…"

I caressed her dark hair, marveling at the gift god had given me even though most of the time he ignores my prayers, I will always be grateful for her.

She looked up and met my eyes.

this morning were exactly the same as hers but hers

"What is his name?"

who she was talking about, I

she talked about a 'him', it was her father she wanted to know

licked my lips and replied, this

her

into my body and asked

arms tightened around her and I replied, "Soon,

"Good night, Mama."

looked up

and brushed

"Good night, my angel."

close and fell asleep, all I could think about was

the look

so furious and vulnerable like he hated how much I had hurt him and how much I still affected

his arms, cared for me

pop back open when my phone indicated an

turned around without jostling the little angel attached to me and picked up

it, his text appeared

"Open the door."

at the three

if I should reply

think that I was asleep and go

came just then, "Open the door or I'm going to ring the doorbell and stand here until

fingers shook as I quickly typed back my reply, "Are you insane? It's

just fell

Go away."

"I am waiting."

and looked at the sleeping angel by

of the bed and

robe from the chair and pulled

out into the hallway and made my way toward the

peeked through the peephole

door,

know you're standing right

at his deep voice and

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

lips, I cleared my throat and

let you

you

in

made me frown in

He was talking oddly.

little girl… I want to take you upstairs to my

on the door, it wasn't loud but it made me jump all

"Little girl?"

he would start banging loudly and wake

I opened the door and my eyes fell on

standing there without a shirt, wearing only low hung pajamas looking like he had just walked out

are you doing

asked, "And why are you

his strong arm circled my waist and pulled me closer into his

"Kristian!"

your mother to wake up,