Just Checking Up Part Three: An Unexpected Surprise and Confrontation

Silks:

Staring down at the positive pregnancy tests, the past three months played out in my head. Staring at the calendar on the wall, the date was September ninth. Having missed two months of that lovely visitor, an alarm bell had been raised. Raw stupidity brought me to this point. Tucking them into the small drawer underneath the sink, this secret would be hard to tell. Tugging at the oversized emerald sweater, the soft wool floated over my slightly bigger breasts. Hiding the small bump, a quiet fear cowered behind my tired smile. Slipping on my beat up sneakers, a relaxed Rip swept me into a dance the second I stepped into our bedroom. Donning my brightest smile, curious eyes had me worried that suspicions had risen in his head.

“Are you okay?” He queried adorably, the back of his hand feeling my forehead. Tingling danced up my legs, my opaque gray tights beginning to irk the crap out of me. Waving his concern away, the scent of his coffee nauseated me. Clammy sweat beaded on my skin, his finger raising as he excused himself to use the bathroom. Soaking in his modern style apartment, boring white walls was all it had. Pressing my lips into a thin line, it really was nothing to write home about. A mix and match collection of leather furniture provided places to sit, the sleek black cabinets with chic golden handles annoying me to no end. Beggars can’t be choosers, Rip having promised to go furniture shopping with me next week. Collapsing onto our shared bed, the carved dark wooden bed frame spoke of a bachelor life, my fingers clenching the worn gray comforter. Praying that he didn’t find them, a flush on my cheeks swelled the anxiety in my heart. Checking my makeup in the mirror to distract myself, a deep green Egyptian style wing made me look unique while emphasizing the copper in my eyes. Running water shut off, that blasted cup of coffee coming back out.

“Let me finish this up and we can hit the festival. I can’t believe I got today off.” He mused with a twinkle in his eyes, his black band t-shirt and ripped black jeans reminding me of our friendship days. Leaving me to stew in my mental spiral, the bed catching me. Feeling less than my best, something like this could lock us in forever. Poking his head in, another wave of nausea threatened to give away my secret. Swallowing the little bit coming up my throat, Rip mustn’t know about it. Zoning out to keep my sanity, his hand waving in front of my face snapped me back into reality. Popping to my feet, a gentle sway had him steadying me. Checking my temperature, a furrow of his brow threw my mind into a wild panic.

“Time to go to that festival.” I chirped cheerfully, my hand snatching his in an attempt to shut down his concern. “Free time doesn’t occur that often in this home.” Smelling the coffee on his breath, any color drained from my cheeks. Brushing past him, his throat clearing sent chills up my spine.

“Secrets shouldn’t be kept.” He pointed out simply, his sneakers scuffing up to me. “Judging by your behavior, surprises lay on that tongue of yours.” Averting my gaze to the floor, another wave of anxiety crashed through me. People like me didn’t have children, such a gift not being deserved. Draping his arms around my shoulders, a sigh of relief slipped out from in between my lips. Kissing the top of my head, a tender blush replaced a bit of the color to my features. Fighting a wave of tears, the cruel words of my mother began to bounce around my mind. A vein ridden hand slammed onto my shoulder, a shudder claiming my muscles. Mottled gray skin peeled away to expose maggots, a rotting smile popping up in front of my face. Staring back at me was my mother, milky eyes glittering with pure malice. Playing with her wrapped throat, dried black matted the end of her crispy ivory hair.

“Messing around gets you in trouble, don’t you know!” She hissed darkly into my ear, every breath growing shorter. “He’s going to leave you for being a damn fool. Too bad, the edge of my meat cleaver didn’t end you!” Gripping my face violently, her hands forced me to stare at the manifestation of her tombstone in the middle of the room.

“Naughty girl for killing your mother!” She screamed in my face, a loud fuck bursting from my lips. Dropping to my knees into a full blown panic attack, her boots thumped all around me. His words faded in and out, an erratic drum representing my heart rate.

“Shut up, mother!” I shouted into the ceiling, her presence dissolving into nothing. Strong arms burying me into a desperate embrace, his woodsy cologne bringing my breathing back to normal. Cupping my cheeks, his thumbs wiped away my apparent tears. Trembling as much as me, his forehead pressed against mine. Apologizing profusely for scaring him, episodes like that had been happening more frequently when he was at work.

“Hey, you don’t need to worry.” He assured me shakily, his tears mixing with mine. “Please don’t suffer alone.” Sliding my head into his chest, confessions needed to be heard. Gathering my courage, guilt would make her presence stronger. Lord knew that her voice didn’t need to be louder.

“I’m with child, Rip.” I choked out between sniffles, heartbeats echoing in my ears. “Sorry, I am so fucking sorry!” Lifting up my chin with his finger, a big grin met my quivering lips. Mixed emotions flashed in his eyes, wild sobs making me feel like a damn child.

“Here I thought you were going to leave me.” He mused with what had to be happy tears, his lips hovering inches over mine. “Kind of knew but wanted you to tell me. Not using pads for a couple of months gave it away. Hey, who is counting? Hide your tests better, darling. How about I brush my teeth and stop drinking coffee to help with that morning sickness? Let’s celebrate with a trip to that lovely fall festival in town.” Sliding his hands down to my shoulder, a shadow of my smile haunted my features. Unable to speak, Rip accepted me at all turns, none of my shadows scaring him away.

“Stop being perfect.” I wept while banging on his chest weakly, his hands catching mine. “I don’t deserve you.” Lowering them down to his side, his lips kissed away my torrent of emotions. Holding me until the tears slowed to a stop, a warmth heated up my soul. Watching him walk away to brush his teeth, long deep breaths kept Miss Anxiety at bay. Coming back out to me sitting on the bed fixing my makeup, his hand reached for mine. Accepting it without hesitation, his strong arms placed me on his back. Carrying me to the hearse, a spin had me landing on the passenger’s side of the seat. Scooting over towards the driver’s side, pleasant shock illuminated his features at me securing the center’s seat belt. Sinking into his seat, the click granted me a blanket of security. Snaking my arms around his, his real smile refused to leave his lips. Noting how it exposed his tiny fangs, a flutter forced my heart to dance out of step. Rumbles woke me up, rich oranges and yellows flashing by the window. Signs of a festival popped up, Rip parking his hearse by the cemetery. Jumping out, his elbow waited for mine. Hiking towards a bustling festival, social anxiety sunk her claws into my veins. Comforting me with a peck to my cheek, people waved him over. Dragging me along with him, the good news had everyone congratulating him left and right. Nodding and smiling silently next to him, the whole damn small town seemed to know him. Focusing on the sea of colorful Colonial and Victorian homes, little shops and delis dotting the main street full of craft stands along with the farmers selling their vegetables and baked goods. Nudging my shoulders, a sixty-something year old woman with matching emerald eyes to Rip flashed the same fang ridden smile. Putting two and two together, the elegant lady with an average build was his mother.

“Forgive me for spacing out.” I apologized sincerely, a faint bit of distrust lacing her smile. “My name is Silks Smatson. Such an odd name, for sure.” Gone was her smile, a sneer darkening it completely.

“Are you going to kill me too?” She interrogated rudely, Rip stiffening next to me in pure fury. “Even if my mother was going to kill me, I would let her do it. Such a shame. Baby trapping him isn’t going to get me to approve your union.” Sucking in a deep breath, a single tear stained my cheek. Clenching my fist repeatedly, rage mixed poorly with frustration. Fuming behind me, something told me that Rip had grown used to such harsh words.

“Enough, Serpena!” He barked loud enough to draw a crowd, his hand pushing me behind him. “You merely put a roof over my head and fed me. That is all. Cruelty is your specialty, so why expect anything else?”

“Matthew! Knock it off! I am your mother and you will respect me!” She roared back into his face, my patience wearing thin. Poking his chest as an argument broke out, anger twitched my eyebrow. No relationship could be salvaged here, eerie silence coming over the festival the second I stepped in between them.

“Back off, Miss She Devil from Hell itself! Like it or not, this child is coming into the world. You don’t have to treat me with an ounce of respect. Most people don’t. Sorry that I chose to live. Something tells me that you wouldn’t know love if it smacked you in the face.” I uttered calmly, the negative emotions fading away. “Treat him with respect. All day and night he works through endless piles of paperwork to pay for his damn life. Together with his team, people get saved. Is that not enough?” Too stunned to respond to my backbone, Rip stood paralyzed between a mental space of horror and looking impressed. Scowling in my direction, her eyes narrowed into the slits of snake eyes. Raising her hand in the air to smack me, gasps echoed around with the crack of my fingers snatching her wrist. No way in hell was she going to physically abuse me in front of everyone.

“No thank you.” I hissed coolly, Rip’s genuine smile returning. “Stay out of my family’s life. I didn’t survive two serial killer parents simply to be tortured by a potential monster-in-law. Am I understood?” For the first time all day, a steadiness claimed my heartbeat. Yanking me close to his hip, his palm clung to my bump for dear life. Trembling unlike I had never witnessed before, skeletons clattered out of his closet.

“Seems the jury is out, Ice Queen. Never talk to me again.” He stammered with the biggest stutter, a defiant grin spreading ear to ear on her wrinkled face. “Fuck off with that bullshit! Let’s go!” Making his way through the crowd, a world class tantrum kept them entertained. Stealing me away to the corn maze, his arms swept me into a spin. Smothering me in feverish kisses, scarlet flushed my cheeks.

“Not one girlfriend has ever stood up to her. Do you know how amazing you are?” He gushed freely, a strained huh flipping off of my tongue. No, the witch was getting on my nerves. Solutions can’t always be reached, so cutting off the dead isn’t always the worst. Pardon the pun, I thought internally.

“No offense, nerves were simply wearing thin. Nobody bad mouths the father of our little monster.” I returned with a flick to his forehead, freedom glinting in his eyes. “Trust me when I say I know to cut things off. You can always talk to her if you w-” Pressing his lips into mine passionately, time slowed down. Hearing our hearts beat to the same song, our fingers intertwined. A brisk excuse me shut down the kiss, a couple of goofy apologies had the couple smiling once more.

“None of that. I am going to try the no contact thing and see how it works.” He pondered out loud, his finger tapping his chin. “Time to figure out this corn maze. The Ice Queen wouldn’t dare enter this kingdom.” Laughing to myself, medieval speech proved to be our little joke and secret love language. Offering him my hand with a curtsy, his bow had us snorting through a needed fit of laughter. Dying down with synchronized sighs, the fun began. Working together brought us closer, every wrong turn reminding me of what a happy life could be like. Coming out the exit with a lack of stress, something felt off. Swinging me behind him, a sharp crack brought everything to a standstill. Serpena struck her son via the back of her hand, his cold eyes sending chills up my spine. Holding me back from running my mouth, his patience had run out. Please don't destroy your happiness because of me! Guilt weighs you down more over time.

“Any shot of you getting back in my life is now gone. No charges will be pressed. Pull this shit again and they will be. Knock it off!” He growled through gritted teeth, hurt hiding underneath the initial adrenaline rush. “Go home and annoy my father instead.” Brushing past her with me in tow, he made sure to guard me from her next move. Hitting the dirt instead of me, his gaze grew icier with every step away from her. Fuck! What went down between them?

“You will regret this!” She spat vehemently, her fingers clawing at the dirt. “Consider yourselves dead to me.” Striking me as a valid threat, a quick file to the back of my head simply had to occur for safety reasons. Checking me over for wounds brought back to the real world, his bruised face floating centimeters over mine. Guilt ate at me, the center of the problem being me and me alone. Picking up on my tainted thoughts, his lips pecked mine sweetly.

“Ice Queen and I have fought like cats and dogs our whole lives. Leave that guilt behind.” He comforted me gently, his palm sliding down to my bump. “Being with you has granted me the courage to ice her out. Worry not, my dear queen of hearts.” Seconds from another anxiety attack, his chest rose up and down with mine. Shadows came and went with flickers of light, no one having control of it all.

“My king of hearts, dash your concerns with me.” I returned with a wink, my thumb rubbing his bruise. “Such words procured the treasure growing within me. Shall we bite our thumb at the Ice Queen?” Flashing me his real smile, his natural ease flowed back into features. Mumbling something about apple cider and apple rings, members of his team waved at the barn style food stand. No, not now. Did everyone he knew have to be here? Chewing on my lip, his hand cupped my cheek. Zoning out on him, a fiery kiss on lips whipped me out of my downward spiral.

“This baby is going to change our lives in the best way possible.” He sang blithely, pure bliss shining in his eyes. “Life has been tough on you. Lord knows it hasn’t been easy on me but pride courses through my veins. Besides, how cute will you look with a big old bump?” Picturing that for a moment, a deep ruby flushed my cheeks. Grazing my forehead with his lips, something felt so right about this moment. So what if my parents sucked in the parenting department, cycles weren’t meant to be broken. Seeing him grin with vigor made it worth it, the victory allowing me to speak my next line.

“Go on and announce the fantastic news to your friends.” I urged jovially, a storm brewing underneath the surface. “Don’t most of them have kids anyways.” Falling for my casual tone, their conversation flew in one ear and out the other. Congratulating him with hearty punches to his shoulders, a kinship similar to brothers became apparent. Promises to be the greatest uncles the world could offer tore me from my racing mind, my eyes only able to focus on the honest grins. Eye contact scared me, shame preventing me from thanking them in a vibrant way. Polite thanks would have to suffice for the time being. Hugging me from the side, pride shimmered in his eyes. Shoving that down deeper, basking in the fuzziness of the moment granted me the smallest amount of peace. Praying to God, please grant me the luck for the next stage of my life.