Chapter 9:

Lori waved goodbye to her son as he disappeared in the crowd of children. She never thought she'd envy her son, but he had no idea about what was going on between his parents and she wished to switch places with him. She sighed, turning back to her car, tucking her waved hair behind her ear.

"Hey Lori!"

She tensed at the sound of the familiar voice, her head whipping around to face the other mother, "Hey Pam-"

"How are you? I haven't seen you all week?", the dark hair women looked at her with concern as she planted herself in front of her, "Everythan' alright?"

Lori quickly nodded, "Yes, fine, it's just… we've been thinking about redecorating, so I've been trying to reach arrange the house"

"Oh nice!", the woman nodded, a smile appearing on her face, but only for a second, as she soon leaned closer, her tone dropping, "Well I actually wanted to ask you about somethan' I heard…"

Lori's heart began to thump wildly in her chest, "What?"

"Now, I don't want to have you worry, but someone saw Rick leaving the hospital with that black woman, the one who had the car crash? He was holding her child and everythan'..."

Lori nearly stuttered, but covered the blunder with a light chuckle, "Yes he did, he's an officer. It's his job to help people, especially someone in her position"

Pam's eyes widened, "See now, that's what I thought too! Obviously the girls in some trouble so he has to help her out-"

"Exactly. He was escorting her home, and she doesn't have anyone else to help her so… it was nothing"

"I knew it, but people here just love to gossip", Pam tutted as she shook her head, "I have a feeling it was that Mrs Lucy that's been spreading it. She's trying to take the attention away from the fact that her and her husband got into it at the grocery store the other week. You know he snapped? Started yelling at her in front of everyone… it must have been so embarrassing…"

Lori tried to behave normally, nodding her head as the listened to the short tale.

"I think we need to leave her out of the next community meeting", Pam suggested with narrowed eyes, "She has been nothing but a pain lately. Turning up in those skimpy dresses, her and her husband scowling at each other when they think we don't see. They're heading for a divorce and we want no part in any of that"

"That's right…", Lori agreed, her eyes wandering all over the place, "Hey Pam, I have to get to the hardware store, I wanted to get a few paint samples for Rick to look at-"

"Oh yes, go on. We'll catch up later!"

Lori felt light headed. She couldn't believe how her life had changed so quickly, and it was making her sick to her stomach. She wished she harboured the ability to turn back time, but truth be told, she didn't even know when it all went so wrong.

She wished she'd checked the mail more meticulously. If she had seen that card from Michonne, she would have set fire to it, and Rick would have never thought to look for her. She had always known that the woman was Rick's first choice. While she had never seen the two of them together, she saw how he was after she left all those years ago. He was a mess, but she was determined to draw him out of his depression. As far as Lori was concerned, the two of them were meant to be together, as they looked like the perfect couple on paper. Her parents had always told her that he was the person she was destined to marry, and she could understand why. They should have fit together.

Though, If she would allow herself to be completely honest, it was Shane that she secretly pined for. It was only a few years before hand that she noticed how attractive her husband's best friend was. He was lively, charming and funny. The more time he spent around their family, the more she wondered what It would have been like, if she had ended up with him instead.

But she wasn't a stupid woman. She knew it would never happen, and that was mainly the reason she settled for sleeping with him. It was something to look forward to, something that kept her feeling young and desirable. She loved stealing little glances at Shane when Rick wasn't aware, or buying lingerie especially for their trysts. Seeing Shane was the highlight of her day, sometimes her week, and it left her feeling empty when he called it off.

She understood why. He felt horrible for betraying his best friend that way, and she also did to an extent. She cared about Rick, but not as much as she was expected to as his wife.

I need to speak with you.

Lori froze when she read the text message from her mother in law. She had been avoiding the woman since news of her pregnancy broke. Her parents had even advised her to wait to tell them, as it could quite possibly change everything.

She sat in her car for a moment, her chest rising and falling considerably slower. She snapped her eyes closed, shaking her head as she gathered herself. It was something she had to deal with, so she straightened up and started the vehicle.

The drive felt quicker than usual, and she wasn't sure if that was because she was hoping to bide sometime.

Rick's parents' home was a large one, with a white picket fence and a bright red door. It was the kind of home she hoped to live in someday, as it was very similar to her parents. She climbed out of the car, smoothing back her hair and fixing her flowing dress. She was purposely wearing clothing that didn't cling to her as her waist had started to thicken.

The sound of heels could be heard pounding towards the door, and her mother in law snatched open the door. Her eyes travelled up and down Lori, before she turned back into the home, leaving the door open for her to follow.

"Mr Grimes isn't home… and I'm glad, as I wouldn't have known how to tell him about… this. He'd probably have a heart attack if he knew", Her mother in law sat down in the armchair and crossed her legs, her eyes stern and her mouth tight.

"Leslie, I can explain-"

"Your pregnant, with Walsh's baby. Please do?"

Lori sat down with a huff, "It was never meant to happen-"

"You're damn right it was never meant to happen! After everythan' you witnessed between me and my son, you have the audacity to present such a scandal to me! You didn't even have the guts to tell me! Rick did! And if I hadn't have seen him I know he wouldn't have said anythan'!", The woman's face contorted in anger, "We spoke just yesterday! You didn't even say somethan' then! But Shane already knows, his ex-girlfriend knows-"

"His ex-girlfriend?", Lori repeated with a furrowed brow.

Leslie's top lip curled, "Oh, don't you dare, missy. That is the last thing you should be worried about!"

Lori tucked her hair behind her ears, her eyes wandering all around the room, "I don't know what to do. Rick's already planning on moving out as soon as possible, and he's pressuring me to sign the divorce papers… my parents even tried to talk to him but he just won't listen-"

"You need to figure somethan' out. And quick", Leslie ordered harshly, "Because if my son moves out of that home, then there's is no way we can allow you to keep living there with that other child of yours"

Lori's shoulders fell and her mouth fell agape.

"That home was for my son and his family to live in. That child you're carrying isn't his, and neither of you will be Grimes anymore if you sign those divorce papers", Leslie stared at her with cold eyes, "So unless you can convince my son to stay with you and raise that… child... as his own-"

"You can't do this to me! After all I've done for your family's name!"

Leslie's face pinched at her words, "What did you do?"

"I still got with him, even after everyone was talking about him getting together Michonne-"

"Oh honey, we could have found another 'you' regardless. All you did was flick your hair and bat your eyelids at a few dinners. I'm the one that went into overdrive cleaning up that damn mess, so don't you dare. Don't you dare try to take credit for that", the older woman sneered, "So as I said, you better-"

"Her boyfriend. Michonne's boyfriend. I'm trying to get them back together", Lori hurriedly explained, "If she gets back with him then Rick will stay with me. I know he will"

The older woman raised her eyebrow at her, "You're in contact with the man?"

"He escaped from the hospital… the police are looking for him but I'm trying to get he and Michonne back together before they catch him-"

"And what makes you think she'll want him back? The man abused her, if I'm not mistaken?"

Lori's mind raced, "I'm working with him-"

"That's a very, very poorly thought out plan Lori", Leslie almost growled, "You're helping a wanted man, and if you get caught then you'll be in trouble to, and then everyone will know that you opened your legs to your husband's best friend! Did you not think about that?!"

"I won't get caught! I know what I'm doing!"

Leslie balled her fists, cursing under her breath, "You better hope, this little plan of yours works, or else you won't have to worry about where to live because you'd be in a damn cell"

"She'll take him back. She will. I'm going to make sure of it… I just need to work on-", Lori's phone rang loudly in her purse, and she quickly retrieved it.

"Is that him?", Leslie probed, sitting forward.

Lori nodded, before answering, "Mike?"

"Where are you? I need some more cigarettes", the man demanded with a husky tone.

"I'll bring them to you, I can't be caught driving around with you in my car", Lori countered.

"I want to get to a bus station or something. Get out of this hick town-"

"What? Why?", Lori began to panic.

"Because I'm sick of hiding here! I need to leave-"

"What about Michonne? We need to find her so you can talk to her-"

"She's probably shacked up with that cop husband of yours-"

"Exactly!", Lori insisted as she stood up, starting to pace, "How does that make you feel? You don't like that, right? She's yours. She has your son. They're not his, they are yours, your property and you need to fight for them!"

Mike was silent for a moment, "They are mine-"

"The longer you're away from them, the more he believes that he has them. That's your family, you own them, not him. You need to find Michonne, and you need to remind her that you are the person she loves and that the two of you can really make things work this time. If you don't then, you'll have lost her. She'll think she can be with someone else… and she can't. She belongs to you"

Mike was silent again, before finally barking, "Your right! We need to find her-"

"We will, okay? I'm working on it, so just sit tight, call me later and we'll arrange to meet up, okay?"

"Alright"

She hung up and sighed, slapping her hand to her forehead, "I need to find her. I know Rick knows where she is and I think she's in town. Every night he leaves after putting Carl to bed and he doesn't come back until late or in the morning"

Leslie stared at her with an expression she couldn't quite read. The woman eyed her, standing from her seat, "I really hope that this goes the way you plan, or else, you are going to have a shit storm to deal with"

"It will".

Lori hoped her plan worked too. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't worried about Mike, as the man did seem unstable. He could barely talk about Michonne without getting angry, his eyes darkening and his fists balled. She wanted to change that, as she didn't want the man to hurt her, or their child when they did reunite. She'd never be able to forgive herself if such a thing happened, but she wanted her family to stay intact, and she was willing to take the risk.

She left her in laws home and drove into town, hoping to find some indication of where her husband's love interest was. She had thought about following Rick when he left, but she knew he was a smart man, and such a thing wouldn't be easy.

She was waiting to take a turn on to the next street when a police car flashed the siren behind her. She groaned, pulling over highly annoyed.

It was only when the officer approached her window, did she realise it was Shane, and she soon felt nauseous.

"I think we need to have a little talk", He breathed, resting both hands on his sides.

"I don't think so", She dismissed, looking straight ahead, out the windshield.

"This town isn't big enough for you to hide from me, Lori. I've been trying to call you for weeks now, I would have stopped by the house but I know Rick wouldn't have liked that-"

"What do you want?", She snapped, looking up at him with squinted eyes.

"I want to talk about our child-"

"This child has nothing to do with you-"

"Yes it does. I'm the father and I have a right to-"

"What do you think is going to happen? You think I can just let everyone know that I'm carrying your child and not my husbands?"

"I don't care about anyone one else! That child's mine, and I'm going to do the right thing for it!"

"Keep your voice down!", She breathed through the gritted teeth, "You will have nothing to do with this child, is that clear?"

Shane bowed his head, shaking it in disbelief, "I will. You can't stop me"

She frowned at him, "My parents will not allow you to-"

"You're still hiding behind your parents?", He scoffed, "You're a grown woman! You're just as bad as Rick! Hell, even he's come away from all that! You need to own up to your mistakes and deal with them, or else you're only going to make things worse-"

"Like you have? You've lost your best friend and your girlfriend now, haven't you? How does that feel?"

"It feels like shit but at least I'm not hiding anythan' anymore! I may have left it a little late but he knows, and I wasn't going to let you fool him into thinking that my child was his! You're breaking your neck to keep everythan' from coming out but you know what happens when you do that? It all comes spilling out in the worst way"

She inhaled, her hands gripping the steering wheel, "Who else have you told?"

He threw his hands in the air, "What does it matter? You seriously think you can stop this coming out? You won't even be able to hide it in a few months! And what are you gonna say then? You're gonna tell people it's Rick's? Then when he says it's not, then what?"

"This is none of your business!", She slammed her foot down on the pedal and pulled into the street angrily.

He was right. She didn't have the faintest idea of what she'd do if her plan didn't work, especially if her in laws were planning on throwing her out of her home. Rick wasn't even waiting for her to sign the divorce papers, he was moving out as soon as he could and then she'd really be stuck. She knew her parents would be more than happy to take her in, but she knew as soon as she'd step foot in their home, her reputation would be left in tatters.

She stopped by the petrol station and bought Mike his cigarettes, then stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. She wanted to avoid the store, as that was one of the many places that the other wives would congregate, gossiping amongst each other. She would usually take part, but with everything that was going on with her life, she hadn't the time.

"Hey Lori! Oh, we haven't seen you here for a while!"

The two women smiled at her from behind their shopping carts, both still leaning close from their whispering. Lori gave a fake smile, "Hey Linda, Kate"

"We spoke to Pam a while ago-", Kate began.

"She told us about what happened. We just wanted you to know that we didn't believe it either". Linda finished, "You and Rick have always been so happy and you'd never be in such a position"

Lori tensed, but still chortled, "Oh, it's just idle gossip. I know Rick would just laugh if he heard it"

The women laughed, nudging each other and nodding, "That's what we thought"

Lucy sighed as her smile quickly faded, "Pam also told us that we won't be having Mrs Lucy around anymore. Her and her… problems have been leaking out into the open to much-"

"It's shameful", Kate hissed, "All that disgrace around her is just embarrassing-"

"You know they were here having an argument the other week? I saw the whole thing and let me tell you, I just had to leave because I couldn't have anyone think that I was involved in such infamy-"

"We don't have time for that at all. I'll tell my Jason not to serve her anymore, she can go out of town to get her homemade pies from now on-"

"And I'll tell Jeffrey to leave her car alone, too. She can get it towed to another mechanic"

Kate rolled her eyes, before they almost bulged, "You know who else is having problems? The Andersons"

Lori's couldn't listen any further, "I'm sorry ladies but I'm meant to be meeting my parents, but we'll catch up another time!"

"Oh, of course, we won't keep you-"

"Send your parents our love!", Linda waved, and Kate mimicked her.

Lori left the store shortly after parting from the women, and while she had no prior plans to see her parents, she chose to anyway, feeling like she was at the end of her tether. She could have easily imagined those women talking about her in such a way, but she was glad to have a higher social standing than Lucy, so the women wouldn't automatically turn on her. It would have been more ideal if Rick wasn't so open, but she knew he didn't care. He wasn't going to hide Michonne, which only made Lori's task even harder.

She parked in her parent's driveway, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. She didn't expect the day to be such a draining one, but it was, and she was growing even more anxious as the hours passed.

"What's wrong dear?"

Her mother rested her hand on her back as they walked into the kitchen. Lori felt comfortable in her parents' home, and almost safe, hidden from the rest of the town.

"Everything is just… Rick gave me the divorce papers and he's moving out soon… I saw Shane today and he's not backing down… and on top of that all the women are talking about Rick taking his mistress home from the hospital after she had the baby…"

Her mother gasped, "Oh god"

"Yeah… I told them he was just escorting her home… they seemed to believe me but everything else…", Lori huffed, smoothing her hair back, "I spoke to his mother as well…"

"What?", Her mother sat down with raised eyebrows, "We told you to wait-"

"She knows. Rick told her. She said if he leaves then… I can't live at the house anymore"

Her mother looked stunned, her mouth hanging open, "She said that?"

"She did. She said that we'd no longer be Grimes, so we'd have to go"

"We should have known", The older women rubbed her forehead, "What did Shane want?"

Lori rolled her eyes, "He wants to be a part of the baby's life. Said he won't stop until he is"

"Oh great", her mother groaned, slapping her hand on the breakfast table, "And Rick?"

"Rick doesn't talk to me unless it's about Carl. I barely even see him. He comes home from work, spends his time with Carl until he goes to sleep and then he leaves. I know he's with her"

Her mother's eyebrows rose again, "Is she in town?"

"I think so. He's out every night so I figured she is"

"That hussy."

"Mom, I don't know what to do… I feel like I'm drowning here", Lori leaned closer to her mother, placing her hands over hers, as her eyes filled with tears, "Everything's just falling apart in front of my very eyes and I don't know how to stop it! Please mom, what do I do? Tell me what to do?"

"Oh honey-"

"Please! I don't know what to do, I'm so lost and I'm scared! I just want my life back!", She pleaded, the tears rolling down her cheek.

Her mother looked at her with sad eyes, "We'll think of something honey, don't you worry. We'll have to talk to Rick's parents, maybe even Rick-"

Lori blinked at her, then let go of her mother's hands angrily, "No! That won't work! I'm done talking to everyone! You have the money, you know the right people, make this go away, mom!"

"Lori, honey, you know it's not that easy-"

"Make it that easy!", Lori yelled, "You and dad have to! You wrote this life for me, so now you have to fix it! You said my life would be easy if I married him! You said I'd have the life every girl in this town wants! You lied to me! My life is falling apart and this is all your fault! You pushed me to marry him so you have to fix this! Now!"

"We will try-"

Lori slammed her fist on the table, "Don't try! Do it!"

"Alright honey, please, just calm down, okay? I promise you, we will fix this", her mother insisted, taking her hands in hers again, "We won't let any of this get out, and your father and I won't stop until we find a way"

Lori calmed, her breathing returning to normal.

"We'll figure out how to keep Shane quiet and we'll make sure Rick doesn't go anywhere. We're going to do this for you, so don't you worry about it, alright honey?"

Lori nodded in a childlike manner, wiping her eyes, "Okay".

"It's all going to be just fine".