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.

dark desire and betrayal in them just this morning were exactly the

"What is his name?"

to know who she was talking about, I

it was her father she wanted to

my lips and replied, this time with the truth,

her eyes and

went back to pressing her face into my body and

arms tightened around her and I

"Good night, Mama."

and looked up

and brushed it to

"Good night, my angel."

eyes refused to close and fell asleep, all I could think about was him as my mind played out what had happened

the look in

he hated how much I had hurt him and how

had held me in his arms, cared for me until he had

pop

turned around without jostling the little angel attached to me

his text appeared

"Open the door."

eyes widened at the three

wondered if I should

didn't, he would think that

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

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

mother just fell

Go away."

"I am waiting."

my teeth and looked at the sleeping

out of the bed and tucked the blanket around her

from the chair and

and

the peephole and yup there he

door, little

know you're standing right behind

at his deep voice and the

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

lips, I cleared my throat and said, "Mom

can't let

don't want you

in

made me

He was talking oddly.

on, little girl… I want to take you upstairs

hand on the door, it

"Little girl?"

fumbled to unlock the door or he would start banging loudly and wake up both the other

and my eyes fell on

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

are you

asked, "And why

strong arm circled my waist and pulled me closer into

"Kristian!"

"Hush… We don't want your mother to