Can He Love Me After This

She started for the bedroom, but only took a few steps before the kitchen door swung open. There stood Mr. Marty holding Cassie.

Elizabeth started to run to the bedroom, but stopped and turned toward him when she heard, “Elizabeth,” with a sing song tone. He had Cassie in one arm and had pulled his gun with the other, pointed at her. Elizabeth stood frozen, unable to move.

“Have a seat,” he offered with a smile. He pointed to a chair with his gun, as if he owned the house.

Elizabeth sat in her rocker before Mr. Marty put the gun away. She was angry that he acted like the house was his, but she wasn’t in a position to complain. He put Cassie on his lap when he sat down on the couch facing her. Elizabeth gathered that Cassie had made friends with them all, remembered them, and worse yet, saw them as being good. She wondered where the other men were, but was relieved that it was only one.

He eyed her protruding belly as his smile grew, “It’s mine, you know.”