Cooper layed next to me in bed he was fast asleep. I sighed sitting up and looking down at the big round stomach. I touched it gently and smiled, "yeah ice cream does sound good." I giggled and walked out of the room.
Mom was already up, her face was pale. "Hey what's wrong?" I asked smiling. "Nothing," she forced a smile. I frowned. "You sure?" she nodded. I sighed. "Mom will you be here for me...when the baby comes?" I asked. She brightend at the new subject. "Of course sweetie," she laughed Taking my bowl of ice cream and stealing a pinch of cookie dough. I laughed. "Okay" I said savoring some ice cream. "She smiled and there was a smile in her eyes. "Have you decided on names?" she asked. "Heidi Ann if it 's a girl, and Jimmy Robert after daddy and his daddy and Rob if it's a boy," I smiled. mom laughed. "Well I don't like the name Heidi, and no grandaughter of mine is going to be named that," she said. "Well Cooper loves the name...he's set on it," I laughed. "You don't like Amanda, or Merrit?" She asked. "Nope," Cooper put his arms around me. I smiled up at him his eyes were droopy I smiled and kissed his chin. she smiled. "Hmmm Ice cream," he lickied his lips and got the carton out for himself. I smiled watching him.
That afternoon I went with a walk with mom we took the dogs and talked about everything. I couldn't believe I hadn't lived with her my entire life.
After our walk we returned to the house. "I wonder if rob has company?' Mom said shading her eyes. I didn't recognize the cars. But I had an idea. I walked inide cooper was on the couch eyes swollen and nose bleeding her was nursing his lip. missy and skipper barked angrily. "Who's here?" My mom asked worried. "Guess," Cooper said looking right at me. I gulped he wasn't happy. i searched the den for my phone or any phone. "Em what's going on?" My mom looked worried. "Fear not mom," Nicander appeared form the stairs. "Who are you?" mom looked surprised lest scared. i was leased Nicanders eyes were equally as swllen and his lips and nose were equally bleeding as bad Cooper. "nicander, your son in law...if youll allow," He smiled kissing her hand. for the first itme Mom was speechless. "How'd you find me?" I said angirly. Nicander took my hand and twirled me. And then he kissed my hand and then touched his hand o his lips and then laid it on my stomach. "For our child," he murmered. "Get away," I said shaking. It was weird, I wasn't scared just mad and I wantedhim to go. "Emily don't get so up tight it isn't good for the baby," nicander said picking up a brief case. he walked with me to the car. "Thank you," "for taking such good care of my wife," i looked at cooper. Cooper looked hopeless. "do you remember Greg?" nicander asked. i nodded sitting in the back seat. "Well i called him and he told me that ou two had a fling, but it was too long ago to make it seem tha tyou had cheated on your scuzz bucket of a husband, so I'm taking you with me...forever, we're eloping nad then you may have your horses back and we can live at Evergreen and raise our family there, or my love if yo prefer we can buy a house." NIcander, you're crazy," I spat," He laughed "Crazy for you," he winked. i sighed and felt the baby kick. I walked with Him into his house...it wasnt really more like a mansion. I sighed taking hs hand and just acting for my baby;s sake. Because he was riht. The more upset, the worse it was for my baby's health. I rubbed my stomach achingly hungry. "Nicander." I whispered he turned smiling a devonaire. "I'm hungry, " "Well what do you want?" he asked with a yawn. "A turkey sandwhich with pickles, babecue chips and orange juice," I said He snapped his finger and three people came, a maid, a butler, and a chef. He wrote down somethings on a piece of paper and handed it to the chef. "Now my dear let me give you a tour,"
After lunch nicander took me to a maternity mall and bought me three formal gowns clothes and shoes. I watched from his side. And to my surprise people just smiled and oed and awwed at us, if they saiw Cooper the'd look right past," I thought. Acheing for cooper. i felt the baby hiccup. I laughed. "What's so funny?' nicander smiled in the limo. "Nothing,' I said dully. "Emily, please cheer up, this is good for you. I was inlove with the moment I met you,' he said. He looked sincere to my sickening surprise. "Well i'm not in love with you, i'm inlove with Cooper! he's the father of my child, he is one man I feel safe with. nicander smiled. "Oh emily I can be that, I promise," nicander brused my cheek with his thumb and I grabbed it it and threw it out of my face. nicander was hurt. I was so mad.
Dinner was worse. "I now know why my son took so many trips up here," Mr. Lewis smiled at me. I looked at nicander who in the presence of his father was a meek little 10 year old boy playing house. "Well, it's his fault, I told him to use protection and he said that I was just filled with nonsense. I touched my tummy. "Well look who's filled with nonsnese," I smiled and smiked at nicnader who shot me th cruelest look.
that evening in my bedroom Nicander came in. i turned and smiled. "You liitle crook, I jsut got n hours worth of lecture over sex," he spat. "Well you know yo're jus tplaying house. This isn't you're baby. I did the right thing didn't I ? I made it seem real," I hissed. He took his shirt off and unfolded the covers. "Get in," he smiled. "No," I said firmly. "Emily my love get in the bed,' he said. i laughed. "No!" I hissed. "We've got to make it look real," he reminded me with a small small and a large one in his eyes. i grumbled curses under my breath eand curled into the covers.

A rather irritated, disturbed Cooper called me bright and early in the morning.
"Hello?"
"Scarlet?" he said hastily, "Have you heard from Emily?"
"Ummm, no, why?" I asked.
"Nicander took her. I don't know where. She hasn't called. She left yesterday. I'm so worried. He loves her. He thinks she loves him. And he thinks the baby is his..." he explained. His speech was quick and choppy. I didn't blame him.
"No," I sighed. "I haven't heard from her." I shook my head. "This guy is crazy! But I can't call the police... he's not hurting her..."
Cooper sighed.
"Well, if it's any help, he won't hurt her. She won't let him touch her," I said firmly. Emily could definitely fend for herself.
Cooper sighed again.
"What do you want to do in the meantime? Any plans?"

-Scarlet