Authors Note- I'm back!
Chapter Twenty- Five- Guess Who
Scott's eyes twinged, bringing himself back into consciousness. He felt that his body was horizontal, his head searing in pain, and an odd amount of eight on his chest. Opening each eyelid, he came face to face with Morgan, who was sitting on his chest.
She smiled, with that innocent five year old smile that she had. The grin faded as she screamed " MOMMY!" at the highest lung capacity that she had. Scott winced as she rolled off his chest.
Shelby entered the bedroom holding a baggie of ice in her left hand. " It's always in the movies that a guy faints over a pregnancy scare- welcome to reality".
He attempted to sit up, but Morgan pushed him back down on the mattress. Shelby sat on an angel, placing the bag under his neck, " I like to keep you on your toes" he commented. " But that's a nice prank to pull"
She blinked, " Scott, that wasn't a joke" he attempted to find any kind of lie in her eyes, " we're really having twins".
Scott closed his eyes, " good thing I'm already laying down".
Shelby began wondering if impending parenthood was beginning to take a different turn. But before she could make her husband verbally aware of that, the front door began knocking. Upon her departure, Morgan laid her head on Scott's shoulder, " don't worry", and kissed his cheek.
" I'm coming, I'm coming" Shelby paced herself to the door, only to find Chris on the other side. " I'm sorry Chris, this isn't a good time right now".
He placed his foot in the door, " well maybe you can tell me when it will be a good time?".
She looked away from his grin, " I don't know, I'll have Scott call you" she wasn't winning the struggle to get him to leave.
" Why don't you just push me away with that bulge of yours?".
In a sudden rage, Shelby's head didn't catch up with her hand fast enough, it flew across Chris's face too quickly. He pushed through the doorway, pinning her to the wall by her neck. She saw how his eyes had darkened, starting directly into hers. For once, she was scared. There was a sudden flashback racing through her mind, laying on his bed years ago, trapped in the same circumstances. She grabbed his wrists in an attempt to loosen his grip, but there was no use.
" Mommy?".
They both looked over hi shoulder to Morgan standing in the hallway, having emerged from the bedroom. Chris released her beck and bolted out of the apartment. Choking enough to get back on a regular breathing pattern, she slid to the floor. Morgan ran to her side and sighed, " what am I going to do with you two?".
Shelby continued rapidly knocking on the door. She was somewhat silent about it, but was hoping that it wasn't that late at night. The lock unlatched from the door, she could hear it, then it slowly opened into darkness.
" Shelby?" a groggy voice asked, and the door opened more.
She wiped a droplet from under her eye, " I really need to talk to you. I know it's been awhile, and I'm sorry. But, please".
" Of course" Peter said, " come in". He turned on some lights that led into the family room, " let me take your coat Shel". As soon as the cloth was off her shoulders, he noticed her stomach, " damn, I really need to get e-mail".
Shelby felt her hands trembling, " I'm having twins in a few months, and I don't think my marriage is going to make it that far".
Peter gestured for her to sit on the couch, then sat down next to her, " okay, tell me what's going on".
" We" she inhaled deeply, " we've just been edgy lately. It started after we found out that he was the father of the babies".
His eyebrows narrowed, " the father? I hate to be shallow Shel, but, you had an affair?".
She shook her head, sniffling back tears, " no, I was raped" she could no longer control herself, " by a man who won't leave my family alone".
