Chapter 2
Amanda had just gotten John to sleep and she cradled him in her arms. John James. John after John Kramer; and James after Mark's father. When Amanda was in the hospital after delivering John, they were debating middle names. They had already decided John ahead of time, but they didn't know what could be the middle. Mark had suggested Amanda's father, Liam. But Amanda loathed her father. He had beaten her and her family. He was an alcoholic that led to the result of Amanda's cutting, and her mother's death. Plus on top of that John Liam didn't sound good. So they had agreed on James after Mark's father.
Amanda kissed John on the head and laid him in his crib. She was watching him sleep when she felt arms wrap around her waist, sending shivers of delight through her body. Mark kissed her neck, then rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Amanda asked quietly.
"Yes." Mark replied, then kissed her neck again. She turned around to face him and smiled.
"Would you ever want to have another one?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. Mark shrugged.
"Yeah. Would you?" He asked. She nodded eagerly. Mark knew how much she loved John. He knew how important he was to her. He knew that she would take another child without a second thought. Mark kissed her, then they left John's room and headed back to their own.
Amanda woke up the next morning to find Mark's arms wrapped around her. His face was buried in her hair and she felt his soft breathing on her neck. She smiled; happy that he was with her and not at the police station. Then she heard John cry over the baby monitor. Unfortunately Mark heard it too, and woke up. He unwrapped his arms from her waist and rubbed his eyes. He sat up on his side of the bed and looked down at her.
"I'll get him." He yawned. He climbed out of the bed and walked out the door. Amanda looked at the clock and realized that it was 7:00 am. She groaned and buried her face in the pillow, unintentionally falling asleep.
This time when Amanda woke up, Mark was not there. She rolled out of bed and walked to the living room. Mark was sitting on the sofa watching TV. He smiled when he saw her and she sat down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked. She nodded. He kissed her forehead. "Jill called." He said. She sat up and looked at him. "She's coming for dinner." He smiled guiltily. She glared at him and punched him in the arm.
"Ouch!" He yelled. He rubbed his arm and looked apologetically at Amanda. "I'm sorry, okay!" She sighed and sunk down in her seat.
"I really hate her." Amanda groaned. Mark laughed.
"No you don't." Mark said. He wrapped his arm around her again and kissed her forehead. Amanda rubbed her eyes.
"Why does she call everyday?" Amanda asked. Mark smiled.
"Because she's jealous. You have John, but she never had Gideon." Mark said. Amanda immediately felt a knife go through her stomach. She almost cried in that second. Mark never knew. He never knew about Amanda's role in Jill's miscarriage. He never knew how much pain and guilt it had put her through. It was her fault that Jill lost Gideon. Her fault. She had convinced Cecil to take the drugs. It was her idea all along. Her idea that killed Gideon, and eventually Cecil.
"'Manda?" Mark asked. His tone concerned. "Are you alright? You look..upset." Amanda shook the look off her face.
"Sorry. Yeah, you're right about Jill." She said. That only confused Mark more. She stood up. "I'm gonna go feed John."