I was enjoying a pleasant dream when Franklin woke me. I blinked, a little disoriented. “What is it?” I asked, my mind still groggy.

“My friend is here with his family. They brought dinner. Get dressed and join us.” There was a strange coldness in Franklin’s voice that I couldn’t quite comprehend. Had I done something wrong?

From what I could tell, the sex had been amazing. We had both seemed to enjoy it. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He was looking at me with this strange look in his eyes.

“Okay.” Slowly, I rolled out of bed and slipped into the bathroom. I freshened up a bit before throwing on an outfit and following him into the kitchen.

There, the table was already set, and a steaming dish of shepherd’s pie looked so good that I nearly started to drool. It was only then that I realized how hungry I was. When was the last time I had eaten?

Taking care of a baby was an all-consuming task - no wonder people hired nannies.

“Cruz and Amelia, this is Lauren… my…” Franklin hesitated. At the hospital, he had so easily called me his girlfriend, but now, there was something holding him back. “Well, it’s complicated, but in any case, she’s the mother of my child.” The mention of the word child instantly made me perk up my head and look for Frankie. He was swaddled into a bouncing chair that rocked him to sleep. Again, I tried to figure out how Franklin had managed to remodel the guestroom and buy all the baby stuff during the time I was in the hospital. A part of me felt like I didn’t deserve all the attention he was giving us. I had done nothing to help him…

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Cruz shook my hand with a firm grasp. “Sorry I couldn’t drop by sooner. Amelia and I have been on our honeymoon, and since we’ve been back, it’s just been one thing after another. I’m sure you know how it goes.”

“Oh, congratulations.”

“Thank you.” He nodded.

Amelia watched me with a curious eye before pulling out her phone and typing furiously. I wondered what on Earth she was writing, and I prayed it wasn’t about me, but I had a hunch it was. Great…

“Well, let’s eat.” Franklin clapped his hands together and started to dish out equal portions to everyone.

Chatter filled the kitchen table.

By the end of the meal, Cruz kept looking at his watch. “We should get going.”

“Where?” I asked, a little afraid of staying home by myself. My kidnapper was still out there somewhere, and even though the house was guarded, I still felt a pinprick of fear creeping under my skin.

But, deep down, it wasn’t the fear of being left alone - it was the fear of seeing Franklin leave. He had been by my side every single minute since I left the hospital, for three whole months. I don’t know if we got closer during that time, but I could feel a fondness growing in my chest.

I cared about him… and maybe much more than that.

“I have to do some work. It shouldn’t take long.” Franklin squeezed my hand under the table. “But don’t wait up for me.”

“Sorry for whisking him away, but this is something that needs to be taken care of.” Cruz placed his hand on Franklin’s shoulder. “Do you want to come with us, Gina?”

She glanced at Hunter and nodded.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Before I knew what was going on, they had all filed out of the house. I was now all alone with my baby. To soften the edge of loneliness, I took him into my arms, cradling him into my chest.

The doctor had told me that I’d be unable to breastfeed. My milk just didn’t produce the required nutrients to keep a baby healthy. This had saddened me. I had pictured myself sharing that special bond with my child, only to have it ripped away from me.

Formula would just have to make do.

I held the bottle, watching him suckle it with zest. I had no doubt that he would grow up big and healthy.

When he was done, he burped almost instantly. I smiled down at him and started to tickle his feet.

In that moment, everything felt perfect. There was nothing that could get between me and my son.

Soon, we both fell asleep on the couch. I had my arms wrapped around his tiny body, keeping him safe and sound.

When I awoke, Frankie was still asleep, a peaceful look on his face. Gently, I picked him up and carried him to the nursery. There, I tucked him into the crib.

I thought about watching some TV, but I didn’t want to leave him alone, so I sat down on the big blue chair and started to read some of the children’s stories on the bookshelf. I imagined myself reading them to him when he got a little older. My mind quickly traveled into other fantasies, some far into the future. I knew, deep down, we would have a happy life together.

But all of a sudden, a chill ran down my back. I looked up, scanning the room. I had the feeling that someone was watching me, but that was impossible. Franklin hadn’t come back home. I would have heard the door opening.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. I was just being paranoid. But the feeling didn’t go away. Goosebumps decorated my skin. I scanned the room once more, but all I saw were Frankie’s toys tucked into a chest, half-hidden in the shadows. I got up and turned on all the lights, driving away the gloom.

From what I could tell, nothing looked out of place. Just to be safe, I checked the closet, but I found no boogieman.

“It’s all in your head, Lauren…” I whispered to myself, rubbing my arms to try to keep warm. I grabbed one of Frankie’s blankets and draped it over my shoulders. It was only then that I realized that the window lock was open. Had it been open before?

I walked up to it, my heart beating fast.

As soon as my fingers touched the cool glass, someone grabbed me from behind.

Before I could put up a fight, my body had already crumpled to the ground, unconscious.