Dave noticed Aidan’s fist and backed off, holding his arms up in a mocking surrender. “Calm down, buddy,” he laughed. “No way to treat your guests.”

Aidan snarled, relaxing his hand a little. “You’re not my guest. I want you out by the end of today.”

With that, he marched off, dragging Tammy with him.

~

Tammy fell silent as she watched Aidan fidget with something behind his back.

He had started acting strange the second he had returned to the house, but his behavior had since amplified when he disappeared into another room, for all of a minute.

He smiled, his face suddenly glowing. “I bought you something,” he said, passing the object he held behind him between his hands. “You’re gonna love it.”

Tammy wished she could share his enthusiasm, but the more she thought about the previous events, the more her hope fled.

She had pinned all chances of escape on that family down at the bungalow, but now they were leaving, so what could she do?

Her heart sank at the thought of staying here forever.

Whilst she had nothing but an apartment at home, she had even less here.

Aidan stared at her, his eyes wide with expectancy. “Well, what do you think?”

There in his hand was a vest; a tiny, white vest made for tiny people.

Tammy’s hands turned cold. “Oh no,” she spoke aloud, uncertainty clouding her voice.

Aidan’s smile faded as he witnessed her disappointment, “You’re upset,” he stated, his mouth twitching. “I figured we could get blue or pink when we find out if—”

Tammy grabbed a breath, interrupting him before he had the chance to finish. “Why would you do that?” she asked, her voice breaking in places. “I’m not pregnant and we have never done anything.”

Confusion now clouded her thoughts, leaving her with an instant headache. Just a few moments ago Aidan had been raging. Now, he had seemingly forgotten about his feud with Dave and was talking about babies.

He laughed, showing her the vest again. “Not pregnant, yet,” he corrected her, eyeing up her empty stomach. “I know you said you wouldn’t, but I know you’re going to change your mind.”

Tammy frowned, her cheeks burning with rage. “That will never happen,” she retorted, not caring if she offended him. “I’m going back home.”

“Come on, Tam,” Aidan lowered the vest and took a step forward. “You could have everything here. What have you got back there? A dead fish?.”

Tammy lowered her head. “You know nothing about me,” she replied, remembering her goldfish, Pop.

“I know you have a dead fish,” Aidan smirked. “I also know I have a lot of money and could give you and our child a lovely life.”

Tammy snapped, her patience cutting short. “We don’t have a child.”

Aidan’s smile grew even bigger, his eyes shining bright. “Not yet.”

Somewhere in the baby conversation, Tammy had decided she was in desperate need of help.

Aidan was openly talking about babies, and having children with her. She didn’t want to know what else he was thinking inside his deranged mind; nothing good, she expected.

Tammy held back. It would serve her no use to argue with him, and she was quite convinced that if he wanted it bad enough, he’d take it.

Antagonizing Aidan further wouldn’t help her at all.

For all Tammy knew, the longer she was in Aidan’s company, the more chance of something unfortunate happening.

She had to get away, and she had to move today.

Thinking fast, she was eager to change the subject. “Where’s Ben?” she questioned, meeting Aidan’s unforgiving gaze.

She found herself regretting the question when he smirked, his eyes darkening at the dog’s name.

“You haven’t done anything to him, have you?”

Aidan shook his head. “Of course not. Our child needs a dog to grow up with.”

Relieved, she sighed. “Let me take him on a walk. I won’t go past the bungalow and I’ll be back within five minutes.”

He narrowed his eyes at her suggestion, a look of amusement crossing his face as he bit his lip. “You must think I’m stupid,” he replied, looking her up and down.

Tammy hesitated, running out of ideas. “Please,” she begged, “I need to think about this.”

Her eyes set upon the vest in Aidan’s hand as she hoped he’d take a hint.

“Fine,” he said, with a slight growl. “You have five minutes