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.

and betrayal in them just this morning were exactly the same as hers but hers were filled with

"What is his name?"

who she was

it was her father she

licked my lips and replied, this time with the truth,

her

to pressing her face into my body

around her and I replied,

"Good night, Mama."

looked up

lips and brushed it to

"Good night, my angel."

to close and fell asleep, all I could think about was him as my mind played out what had happened in his office like

the look

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

had held me in his arms, cared for

pop back open when my phone

without jostling the little angel attached to me and picked

unlocked it, his text appeared on the

"Open the door."

the three words

I

I didn't, he would think that I was

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

I quickly typed back my reply,

mother just

Go away."

"I am waiting."

gritted my teeth and looked at the

bed and tucked the blanket

chair and pulled it on over my camisole

into the hallway and made my way toward the

peephole

door, little

you're standing right

breath at his deep

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

my lips, I cleared my throat and said,

let you

want you

"Not in your

soft scoff which made

He was talking oddly.

on, little girl… I want to take

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

"Little girl?"

door or he would start banging loudly and wake up both the other residents in

door and my eyes fell on him, I was rendered

low hung pajamas looking like he had just walked out

you doing here,

why are you

gasp as his strong arm circled

"Kristian!"

We don't want your mother to wake up, do