Author's Note: I can't apologize enough for how long it takes to update. Stupid job and school getting in the way. Please keep voting and commenting. If you haven't commented yet please do. I love hearing what you guys think about my story. It inspires me to write more. Enjoy

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For the next few weeks I tried to avoid looking at Tommy as much as I possibly could. He would scowl at me and I noticed that his eyes were always locked on my stomach. I would cross my arms over my belly, like I was protecting my baby from his evil glare.

Jimmy didn’t notice this. He was still trying to do every little thing for me, but I still found it sweet. He helped me put away the dishes when I washed them after dinner. He would bring me up to our room after dinner and tuck me into bed. After, he’d sit down beside me and read to me. It was always sad when he stopped reading, but he gave me a kiss on the forehead and insisted I needed sleep.

One morning, I woke up before the alarm clock went off. Jimmy was stroking his fingers down my arm and then would twist it around a strand of my hair. Him kissing my cheek caused me to stir and he kissed me harder until I was awake.

“Julie,” he whispered. He brushed away the hair off of my face and lightly pressed his lips against mine. I opened up my eyes wider to see that the room was flooded with sunlight. Jimmy mustn’t have set his alarm. We were usually up before the crack of dawn. I can’t remember the last time I’ve slept in this late.

“I slept in,” I told him as I started to rub my eyes with the back of my hands.

Jimmy started to chuckle.

“I let you sleep in,” he said. “Dad and Tommy were going into town today, but Tommy’s sick. Dad can’t go alone so I’m going to go with him. I tried to convince Dad to go next weekend, but he refuses to. Maybe we’ll buy some meat today.”

Sunday was the only day Charles allowed me to cook meat on. The weeks were dragging on and I could see how much their patience was beginning to wear thin. Even Jimmy would snap at me for taking too long to get dressed or doing the dishes too slowly. I didn’t dare speak to Charles or Tommy when they were like that.

I began to feel disgusted with myself for the way I was thinking. I was praying for somebody to come onto our property soon. I wanted somebody to be capture and dragged down into the basement of this house. I wanted anything to make them happier. What I had once feared so much would now become a miracle. The snow had begun to blanket the grass outside and I was doubting anyone visiting anytime soon.

“I’ll be alone with Tommy?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said nodding his head. I could see him gnawing on the corner of his lip. “I don’t want you to leave this room. I’m going to tell them that you’re sick and staying in bed.”

I shook my head and reached out for Jimmy’s hand. The last time I was left alone with Tommy he had pinned me down to the ground and ripped off my shirt. I didn’t know what he dared to do now that he was hungry.

“Jimmy,” I whined.

My fingers were curled around Jimmy’s wrist and he shook them off of me quickly. I pulled my arm back towards me and cradled my belly with it.

“Julie, don’t whine,” he warned me. “Trust me, I hate this idea just as much as you, but there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s why I need you to stay in our room.”

“What if Tommy comes?” I asked him.

“He won’t come,” he assured me.

“But what if he does?”

“Juliet,” he said sternly. I knew Jimmy was losing his patience with me. It was rare that he ever used my full name. “Stop asking questions and just trust me. You’re going to be okay.”

I had to nod my head. There was nothing else I could do. I just had to trust Jimmy, just like I always have. He always wanted to protect me, especially now that I was carrying our baby boy.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “I’m going to miss you.”

Jimmy’s lips lifted up into a faint smile and he brushed strands of my knotted hair behind my ears. He leaned in and kissed me before getting off of the bed.

He walked over to the wooden rocking chair that sat in the corner of our room. He picked up the orange and yellow knitted blanket that was draped over the back. He unfolded it as he walked over towards me.

“Lie down and get comfy,” he told me.

I nestled back into the bed and pulled the sheets and comforter back over me. Jimmy draped the blanket over me before tucking me in tightly. He sat down on the edge of the bed beside me and kissed my forehead.

“I brought up some the toast for you when you were asleep,” he told me. “I don’t want you leaving this room, but I don’t want you to go hungry. We shouldn’t be gone for long.”

“Okay,” I said. “Be safe.”

“Of course,” he said as his lips curled into a smile.

He leaned in and kissed me quickly before planting another kiss on the top of my forehead. He got up off of the bed and I a shiver ran up my spine. He opened up the bedroom door and Buster burst through and jumped up on the bed. I pulled my arms out from the tight cocoon Jimmy had just made for me and scratched his rough fur.

“Do you want him to stay in the room?” Jimmy asked me.

“Yes please,” I said continuing to pet him.

“Alright,” he said. “You remembered what I said, right?”

“I’m not going to leave the room until you get home,” I repeated.

“Good girl. I’ll see you soon.”

And then he closed the door.

--

I must have fallen back asleep because when I woke up I felt someone lazily twirling my hair around in their fingers. My heavy eyes opened up and my lips grew into a smile.

Jimmy must already be home.

I looked up to see Tommy sitting on Jimmy’s side of the bed. He had his legs crossed underneath him and his lips curled into an evil looking smirk when he saw that I was awake.

There was a quick clicking noise before I felt the cold metal of his pocketknife up against the side of my throat.

“Rise and shine, Jules.”