HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

And now she was pregnant. And he was threatening to take away her baby. He seemed to be looking for new ways to make her life miserable. Like he hadn’t done enough.

She rubbed her forehead tiredly, willing the ache to go away. She was tired, and in no position to defend herself from whatever onslaught Daniel was preparing.

Her fingers tightened and anger penetrated the haze. Why the hell was she sitting on a park bench hiding? She wasn’t in the wrong. Daniel couldn’t make her do anything he wanted; and, furthermore, he would leave her apartment or she would get a restraining order against him. He had no power over her.

She breathed in deeply, steadying her shot nerves. Yeah, he had caught her off guard. She hadn’t been prepared to see him… Or prepared to hear him say what he had said. But that didn’t mean she was going to let him mow over her.

Even as she made that resolution, nervous fear fluttered in her chest and tightened her throat. She was stubborn, but so was Daniel. And knowing that she was pregnant with his child, he wouldn’t leave her alone.

“One thing at a time, Emma” she murmured.

The very first thing she had to do was get Daniel out of her apartment so she could weigh her options. She may not have his money or connections but that didn’t mean she was going to fold at the first sign of adversity.

A raindrop hit her forehead and she sighed. It had begun sprinkling again, and if she didn’t get back, she would be caught out in the downpour that was surely coming.

As she trudged in the direction of her building she cheered herself up by imagining that he wouldn’t be there. That he had given up and left.

——————————

By the time she climbed the stairs to her apartment, she was soaked through and her hair clung limply to her head. She shivered as she let herself in.

It didn’t surprise her to see Daniel pacing the floor of her living room. She stiffened her shoulders just as he whirled around.

“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded.

“None of your business.” she replied.

“The hell it’s not. It’s raining and you are soaked to the skin. Are you crazy?” he asked.

She laughed and shook her head. “Clearly I am. Or I was. But not anymore. Get out, Daniel. This is my apartment. You have no rights here. You can’t bully your way in here. I will swear out a restraining order if I have to.”

His forehead wrinkled and he stared at her in surprise. “You think I would hurt you?”

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Physically? No.” she said.

He swore under his breath. Then he ran his hand through his hair in agitation. “You look… I don’t know… Tired. You need to eat. You can’t continue cooking now. And you have to get out of those wet clothes”.

“My, my, one would think you cared,” she mocked. “But we both know that isn’t true. Don’t worry about me, Daniel. I’m taking care of myself and my baby just fine.”

He stalked toward her, his eyes blazing. “Oh, I care, Emma. You can’t accuse me of not caring. I know that I hurt you and I’m sorry. I didn’t leave because I didn’t care. I need you to believe me. And I wasn’t really going to take the baby from you. I just want you to let me be a part of this. I want to help”

Emma held up a hand and hastily backed away. Her fingers trembled and she felt precariously light headed. “Get. Out.”

His nostrils flared and his lip curled up as if he was about to launch another offensive. Then he took a step back and blew out his breath.

“I will leave, but I will be back at nine tomorrow morning.”

She lifted one eyebrow. “What for?”

“You have an appointment to see a doctor. I’m taking you.” he replied.

He had been busy while she was gone, and he worked fast. But then for a man like Daniel, all he had to do was pick up a phone. He had people to do his bidding. She shook her head in disgust.

“Maybe you don’t get it, Daniel. I’m not going anywhere with you. We are nothing to each other. You aren’t responsible for me. I have my own doctor. You aren’t hauling me to another one. Don’t pretend that you care,” she said softly. “Just do us both a favor and leave.”

He looked like he was going to argue, but again, he bit back the words. He walked toward the door and then turned around to her again.

“Nine o’clock tomorrow. You are going if I have to carry you there myself.”

“Yeah, and maybe hell will freeze over,” she muttered as he slammed out of her apartment.

—————

Daniel mounted the steps to Emma’s apartment the next morning. He had stayed up all night worrying about her. He didn’t want her to be alone in this. The problem was that she wouldn’t accept any help from him. She was just so damn stubborn. All he wanted right now was for her -and his baby, to be safe. They could figure out something when the baby arrived.

It annoyed him that her door wasn’t locked. He pushed it open to find her on her hands and knees, dressed for work and peering under the table. She made a sound of frustration and then pushed herself upward.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked surprised.

She shrieked and whirled around. “Get out!”

He held out a placating hand. “I’m sorry I frightened you. Your door was unlocked.”

“And so you thought you’d just come on in? Did the art of knocking escape you? Get a clue, Daniel. I don’t want you here.” she said.

She went into the kitchen, opening and shutting cabinets, obviously looking for something.

He sighed. It wasn’t that he had expected her to be any more compliant today, but he had hoped after she slept, she would be a little less…angry.

When she got back down on the floor again, a surge of irritation hit him once more. He crossed the room and leaned down to help her to her feet. “What are you looking for?” he asked.

She shrugged off his hand and wiped her hair from her eyes. “My fucking keys. I can’t find it. I have to go to work”

“Fine. Relax. I will help you look for it” he said. “Just sit down and let me look around”

“I don’t need your help,” she said. But she was obviously tired because she sat down.

He smiled. See. He thought. She needed him.

He looked around the house for a few minutes and later found it in her bathroom.

“Found it!” he said when he returned.

Emma stood up. “Thanks,” she said. She lunged for it but he held it higher out of her reach.

“Give it to me, Daniel.” she said.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

He put his hand out to ward her off and shook his head. “Sit down, Emma, before you fall. Did you even get any sleep last night? You look so tired. And what the hell are you doing bending like that.” he asked.