Take A Chance

by Micalea Smeltzer

  I couldn’t see him from this vantage point, but I hoped that meant he couldn’t see me either.

  I had counted to thirty in my head when he finally crossed the threshold into the bathroom.

  I was shaking like a leaf, but I knew I had to do something.

  I jumped up, taking him by surprise.

  “Arden!” He made to grab for me, but by some miracle I was faster. My arm had reared back with the flashlight and I brought it down on his face.

  His nose shattered with a satisfying crack and blood spurted all over the bathroom as he stumbled back.

  I ran from the bathroom, but my foot stumbled over the stupid stuffed panda and I went tumbling to the floor. My knee sliced with pain and I rolled over in time to see Todd running from the bathroom.

  He collapsed on top of me, pinning me to the floor with his weight.

  My face stung with a sharp slap from his hand and I whimpered.

  “Fucking bitch.” He spat blood on my face.

  “Get off of me,” I cried, struggling against his hold.

  When I’d fallen the flashlight had rolled from my grip and I had no idea where it’d gone.

  Now, I was completely and utterly defenseless.

  “I can’t believe you ever thought you could get rid of me.” He held my arms above my head.

  “You left me, remember?” I bucked against him, my face wet with tears.

  “Bitch,” he shook me, and my head rolled on my neck, “you were still mine. That pretty boy thought he could have you, but he was wrong.” Smiling sadistically he made a show of looking around, and said, “And where is he? Because he’s certainly not here.”

  “Look again.”

  My whole body sagged with relief at the sound of Hayes’ voice.

  Todd’s lips twisted in a smile and he glanced over his shoulder to see that Hayes had emerged from the closet.

  I heard the click of a gun and my body froze before I realized that Hayes was the one with the gun.

  “If you know what’s good for you,” Hayes said slowly, like he was speaking to someone stupid, “you’ll get off of her.”

  “You’re not going to shoot me.” Todd laughed. In the face of a gun the fucker actually laughed.

  “Do you really want to tempt the guy with the gun?”

  “Have it your way then.” Todd stood slowly.

  “Hands in the air,” Hayes warned him.

  Todd chuckled. “What are you? The police?”

  “No, but they’re on their way and they have even bigger guns.”

  Todd threw his head back and laughed. Once he was completely standing Hayes directed him to step away from me—which he did, after he managed a good kick to my stomach.

  Hayes growled his disapproval, but kept his eyes and the gun trained on Todd.

  “Are you okay?” He asked me.

  “Yeah,” I squeaked, clutching my side and trying to regain my breath.

  “Well aren’t you two just the sweetest.” Todd’s voice dripped with false sweetness and then he lunged toward Hayes.

  I screamed, crying out like I was the one that had been hurt.

  The gun went off with a loud pop and I was sure my heart had stopped with it.

  “HAYES!” I yelled out as he stumbled back.

  Todd fell to the ground, clutching the bloody area of his groin, and I sobbed in relief that Hayes wasn’t the one hurt.

  Todd bellowed on the ground, crying out in pain.

  “Oh shut up,” Hayes groaned, pushing a piece of hair from his eyes before reaching down to help me up.

  “Ow,” I mumbled, holding onto my ribs.

  “Do you think they’re broken?” Hayes asked me, keeping his eyes on Todd in case he decided to lunge for us again.

  “No,” I breathed out through the pain, “just sore.”

  “Momma! Momma!” Mia cried from inside the closet.

  The pain I felt was momentarily washed away by a burst of adrenaline.

  I ran past Hayes and into the open closet. Mia was still hiding behind the box and I pushed it out of the way, dropping to my knees, and wrapping my arms around her.

  Her tears wet my shoulder and she clutched at me like she was terrified I might be ripped away at any second.

  “Is da bad man gone?” She sniffled, her little hands clinging to my shirt like it was the only thing holding her up.

  “He will be,” I promised. “It’s over this time. He’ll never bother us again.”

  Outside I heard the sound of sirens and I breathed a sigh of relief.

  Mia sobbed against me. “I twas so scared momma.”

  “I know, baby girl, but you did good. You kept quiet just like I asked.”

  She hiccupped and I pushed her back slightly so I could dry her face with my hands.

  “The police are here and they’re going to arrest the bad man,” I promised her. “You’ll never see him again.”

  She continued to shake in my arms and I picked her up, carrying her out of the closet.

  Todd still clutched the injured area on his upper thigh; sweat beading on his top lip.

  Hayes kept the gun trained on him, just in case, and I held Mia’s head against my shoulder so she wouldn’t see it. I was sure the sound of the gunshot had traumatized her enough.

  Downstairs we heard the front door being busted open.

  “We’re up here!” Hayes called.

  Feet pounded on the steps and a moment later at least five cops burst into the room, guns aimed at the ready.

  It was like something you’d see in a movie or a TV show, only this was very much real.

  The officers grabbed Todd and handcuffed him roughly.

  “Hey, careful, I’ve been shot,” Todd whined.

  “Oh, shut up.” Officer Myers shook him a bit before pushing him forward. “Anyone that kidnaps a little girl and breaks into a house to…I don’t even want to know…deserves a lot worse than what you got.”

  Todd growled and started shouting out obscenities, his eyes roaming around crazily. It seemed that he’d only now realized he was actually being arrested and there was no way he was getting out of this.

  The officers escorted him from the room and a paramedic came into the room to look all of us over.

  Mia flinched away from the paramedic and tears stung my eyes. My poor baby girl had been through more than most adults. I was beyond worried about her well-being, but I kept comforting myself with the fact that kids were resilient.

  “Sweetie,” the paramedic coaxed, “I need to make sure you’re okay. Do you want your mommy to hold your hand while I check you?” He kept his voice as calm and even as possible.

  Mia nodded against my shoulder and I set her down on the bed. I didn’t move from her side as he checked her over.

  “All good.” He smiled at her and with a flourish produced a sticker from his pocket. It was a pink glittery unicorn. “That’s for you.”

  “Tank you,” she said, and quickly scurried back into my arms.

  Several officers returned then, taking our report of the account for their records.

  Mia clung to me tightly, like a little monkey.

  Hayes smoothed his hand down her back, trying to comfort her.

  “What the hell is going on?” Greg asked, strolling into the bedroom.

  Hayes rolled his eyes. “I was doing your job, that’s what. Thank God Trace insisted I get a gun license and learn to shoot, it sure came in handy tonight.” He glanced down at the bloodstain on the carpet from Todd’s injury.

  “Ah, hell,” Greg groaned, tugging at the strands of his hair.

  Casey appeared in the doorway behind him with his shirt on backwards and wearing two different shoes. “We heard sirens.”

  “Really?” Hayes said sarcastically. “I must’ve missed that.”

  “So…he showed up here?” Greg asked, staring around the room nervously.

  “Obviously…and just so you know, if Mia wasn’t here right now I’d call you some pretty colorful names but
I’m trying to be a grownup.”

  “I’ll let you pity punch me later,” Greg mumbled.

  “We’re heading out now,” one of the officers spoke, tossing a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s all we need from you, but once this thing heads to court you’ll both need to testify.”

  “Of course,” Hayes sighed. “I’ll walk you out. You two, come with me.” He eyed his bodyguards.

  Everyone filed out of the room and it was just Mia and me.

  “I don’t wanna be in hwere,” she confessed, looking up at me with wide blue eyes.

  “I don’t blame you, baby girl. I don’t want to be in here either.”

  I stood and carried her into Hayes’ room. She scurried up the bed and under the covers.

  “Can I watch a mwovie?” She asked, drawing the blankets up to her chin.

  “Yeah, sweetie,” I said, rummaging through the DVDs in the bedroom. There were a few of Mia’s movies in here so I held them aloft and let her pick. I wasn’t surprised when she chose The Little Mermaid.

  The movie had just started when I heard Hayes top the stairs.

  “We’re in your room!” I called, knowing he’d check the guestroom first and freak when he didn’t see us.

  Stepping into the room he leveled me with a look. “Our room.”

  I shook my head. “Nope, your house, your room.” I climbed into the middle of the bed beside Mia.

  She watched the TV like the movie was the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen. I hoped the movie helped to ease the thoughts that were no doubt plaguing her. I brushed her hair away from her forehead and kissed the skin there.

  Hayes looked down at me sternly before getting in the bed.

  “I want you guys to stay here.”

  “Hayes,” I mumbled. “You have to be kidding. After everything you want us to stay?”

  “I’m serious,” he said adamantly. “The thought of staying in this house without my girls…it makes me sad. I love having you both here. I thought I was content by myself, but this short time with you guys has shown me how empty this place was. Now that it’s filled with laughter and love I don’t want to see it barren again.”

  “You really have a way with words,” I told him.

  He chuckled. “Maybe I was Shakespeare in another life.”

  I patted his chest mockingly. “That’s cute that you think that, but no.”

  Laughter rumbled in his chest. “It doesn’t feel like I should be able to laugh right now,” he admitted, “not after everything we’ve been through.”

  “It’s over,” I whispered. “We can’t dwell on it forever.” I glanced over at Mia and was surprised to find that she’d fallen asleep. I sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t have any nightmares, but I doubted that would be enough to keep the demons away. Rolling back towards Hayes, I said, “We were supposed to leave for Disney in two days.”

  “I know,” he winced, “I guess I should cancel that.”

  I shook my head. “I think the opposite. It would probably be good for Mia to get away from here for a while—instead of surprising her I think we should just tell her though. I wouldn’t want to scare her.”

  He nodded and a small smile graced his lips. “Sounds good. We’ll tell her in the morning.”

  I rolled over onto my other side then and snuggled close to Mia. I wasn’t at all surprised when his body wound around mine.

  Neither of us were perfect, and everything we’d been through was enough to tear us apart, but we were both fighters and nothing would ever bring us down.

  A lot can happen in two years.

  People get married.

  Babies make appearances.

  And others, well they end up in jail rotting for the rest of their days—good riddance Todd, nobody will miss you.

  On this particular day, we were gathering together to celebrate a wedding.

  My wedding.

  To Hayes.

  Hayes and I were getting married.

  Finally.

  Our relationship had roared like a fire from the very start and I knew Hayes would’ve married me when we’d only been dating officially for six months, but I didn’t want that. I wanted to take things slow after everything we’d been through.

  And now the day had arrived where I was going to make that man my husband.

  I clutched the bouquet tightly in my hands.

  “Breathe,” Sadie whispered, blowing out her own breath in an effort to get me to copy her movements.

  Her body was swathed in a pale blue fabric that accentuated her ever-growing baby bump. She’d become Mrs. Ezra Collins only a year ago, and Ezra hadn’t wasted any time with getting her pregnant. Sadie was thrilled though, positively glowing, and couldn’t wait for the arrival of her baby boy, Everett, the latest Willow Creek baby.

  “Are you okay?” She asked me. “You’re not going to pass out, right?”

  “I’m good,” I assured her with a smile.

  “Okay. I’m going to go take my seat.”

  Hayes and I had opted to keep our wedding small and not have any bridesmaids or groomsmen.

  The only person that would be up there with us was Mia.

  She strolled up to me and smiled before taking my hand.

  She was no longer my baby anymore. She’d grown into an intelligent six-year-old who constantly blew my mind. Sometimes she still had night terrors, left over effects from her kidnapping and the break in, but other than that she was fine. We still took her to see a counselor every week, just in case. I never wanted to look back and wonder if I could’ve done more for her.

  “Ready, mommy?” She asked, beaming up at me with a wide, toothy smile. Her red hair curled down her back and she wore a dress in her favorite color, purple.

  “I’m definitely ready, baby girl.”

  I heard the music start up and knew that was my cue.

  Together Mia and I rounded the corner and stepped into the ballroom.

  Hayes stood at the end of the aisle, looking the best he ever had.

  He wore husband well.

  Hayes grinned at me and butterflies assaulted my stomach.

  I’d once thought that fluttery, jittery feeling would go away, but I’d been wrong. It only intensified as I fell more in love with him.

  When I reached the end of the aisle and stood in front of him with Mia at my side I thought I might burst.

  “You look beautiful.” He mouthed.

  “You’re not bad yourself.” I mouthed back.

  He chuckled and ducked his head.

  “Shall we begin?” The minister asked.

  “Um, no actually,” Hayes cleared his throat.

  I stared at him in confusion.

  “There’s something I need to say first.”

  My confusion only deepened when he got down on his knees.

  He grabbed Mia’s hands and held them in his own. His were so large that hers completely disappeared.

  “I have some vows for you first,” he spoke to Mia. “I may not be your real daddy, but I vow to be one in all the ways that matter. I vow to be a shoulder for you to cry on when you’re sad. I vow to hold you in my arms and hug you whenever you need it. I vow to protect you always, in any way you may need. I vow to hunt down any guy that thinks he can date you—you’re going to be single for life Mia, just accept it. But most importantly, I vow to love you with all my heart and take care of you always.”

  By this point tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I glanced out at our friends and family and saw that nearly all of them were crying as well. My mom and Hayes’ mom both had a tissue pressed to their faces, wiping away smudges of mascara. Even Jessica, Hayes’ older sister, was tearing up. She and I had worked through things. We certainly weren’t best friends, but things were civil between us.

  “I love you.” Mia said and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Hayes hugged her back fiercely and kissed her cheek before standing.

  Willow, Maddox and Emma’s daughter who was nearly two now
, let out a squeal that broke the emotional bubble that had formed around all of us.

  Everyone laughed at her outburst and the minister cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention.

  In what seemed like seconds we were both saying, “I do,” and slipping rings onto each other’s fingers.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Hayes wasted no time in taking my face between his hands and kissing me deeply.

  “Woohoo! Get some!” Maddox yelled and Hayes laughed against my mouth.

  Placing one last tender kiss on my lips he pulled away, murmuring, “Wife.”

  “Daddy,” I replied back.

  His eyes narrowed in confusion. “Are you trying to be kinky, because I’m not sure I’m into that.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “No.”

  His mouth parted in shock and his eyes widened. “Are you saying…?” He prompted, one of his hands moving to cover my flat stomach.

  By now everyone was staring at us in confusion, trying to figure out what we were saying.

  “I’m pregnant. I just found out yesterday and I wanted to surprise you.”

  Hayes thrust his hands into the air and turned to our family and friends. “I’m going to be a daddy again!”

  I laughed, pleased that he was so happy with this unexpected news.

  Everyone burst into excited chatter and shouts of congratulations.

  “I’m going to be a big sister?” Mia asked, her eyes filled with wonder and delight.

  “That’s right.” I squeezed her shoulder lovingly.

  Hayes leaned forward to kiss me again and reached down for Mia’s hand.

  “Girls,” he smiled crookedly, “I can say, without a doubt, this is the best day of my life.”

  I stretched up on my toes—still too short to reach his ear even in my heels, and whispered, “And it’s just getting started.”

  INTERVIEWER: Thank you for taking the time to sit down and talk to us today. I hear congratulations are in order, wedding and a baby?

  HAYES: That’s right. We work fast.

  ARDEN: We’re very excited.