“The court has been notified that Ms. Jackson has accepted a plea bargain from the district attorney in exchange for pleading guilty to a lesser offense,” the judge stated.

My blood boiled as the judge spoke. I wanted that bitch to pay for everything she did to us and to Kayden, but she took the easy way out. She found a way to have her charges reduced from attempted murder to aggravated battery. The court found her unable to stand trial earlier due to a mental problem and ordered her into treatment, placing her on medication. The court now claimed that Lisa was able to make coherent decisions, and she weaseled her way into a plea deal. Kayden rubbed my hand as I listened to the judge’s words.

“Ms. Jackson, you are sentenced to ten years in prison with the possibility of parole in three. Court is adjourned.” The gavel hammered down, and there was nothing more to be done. Kayden squeezed my hand, but I felt deflated by the legal system. Ten years seemed unfair for almost killing the love of my life and the hell she put us both through.

The bailiff walked to Lisa and waited for her to stand. Lisa turned slowly, and as she stood to walk, she looked toward us. She grinned at Kayden, and it caused my stomach to lurch and a lump to form in my throat. It was not an “I’m sorry” grin, but an “I’m not done with you yet” one. I’d be at every single parole hearing to make sure that conniving whore stayed in prison.

“I fucking hate her,” Kayden said as we watched her walk out.

“She almost killed you, and she only gets ten years? It’s unbelievable,” I said, standing up.

Kayden wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in his heat. “We’re free of her for a long time, baby doll. We’ll do everything we can to keep her behind bars. Don’t worry, Sophia.”

I nuzzled his neck, closed my eyes, and inhaled his smell, the scent of home. Kayden had become that to me, made me feel all things were possible, and as a team, we could overcome any obstacle. His lips brushed against my temple with a whisper-light kiss that calmed my stomach and made me believe everything would be okay.

“Let’s go home. You’re looking a little pale, sweetheart. Are you okay?” he said.

I looked up into his big green eyes and smiled. There was no place in the world I’d rather be at that moment than home, wrapped in his arms, the rest of the world shut out. “I haven’t felt myself lately. It’s just the stress of the trial. I’ll be okay now that it’s over.”

* * *

I stared at the calendar on my desk and tapped my pen against the paper. It had been seven weeks since I’d had my period, and I hadn’t even noticed. The craziness of the trial and the stress of seeing Lisa again made it slip my mind entirely. I dropped my pen on my desk and leaned back in my chair before exhaling and closing my eyes. Could I be pregnant, or was something else wrong? I rubbed the bridge of my nose and tried to come to terms with either possibility. I’d given up on any chance of a child long ago, and I thought age had stolen that dream.

I couldn’t wait to find out. I needed to know for my sanity and self-preservation. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door. Instead of going to the local bagel shop for lunch, I made a stop at the nearest pharmacy to grab a pregnancy test.

My fingers felt sweaty against the faux leather steering wheel. My heart pounded feverishly in my chest, and I could hear my blood flowing through my ears. Every thought I had was filled with images of a baby and Kayden…a little bundle of joy with green eyes and chubby limbs. My vision blurred from tears as I pulled into the parking lot to find out the cold hard truth. I sat a moment, steadying my breath and wiping my eyes.

My legs felt unsteady as I walked down the aisle. I wanted to be pregnant more than anything in the world right now. I thought I had made peace with being childless, but it always hurt deep down. Every new person I met would ask me if I had children, and my answer was always the same. No, life had other plans for me. Every time I gave that answer, my heart felt like a tiny needle pierced it. It had been turned into a pincushion over the years.

I paid for the test that claimed to be the most accurate and easy to read. “Is there a bathroom here?” I asked the cashier. I couldn’t wait to get back to work to find out. I walked to the back of the store with the test in my purse, holding it tightly against my body as if it were precious cargo. I tore open the box as soon as I walked through the door and discarded the box, minus the stick. I followed the directions, placed the cap back on, and put it in my purse for safe keeping.

I sat in my car, staring at the stick for a few minutes before. I placed it on the passenger seat and texted Kayden.

Me: Hey, baby, how’s work?

Kayden: Good love, whatcha doin’?

I couldn’t tell him. I didn’t want him to get excited or start planning in his mind if the test was negative. Kayden wanted a family and always felt it was a possibility.

Me: Having lunch. Are you going to be late today?

Kayden: Nah, I’ll be home around five.

I wanted to tell him, wanted him to comfort me, but I thought it would be unfair to him. This was something so very personal for me. Men could have children for their entire life, but at some point, a woman lost that ability forever.

I held my breath as I reached over and gripped the pregnancy stick in my hand, scared to see the result. I slowly opened my fingers one at a time, dragging out my torture and any chance of bad news. My eyes grew wide as the blue plus sign filled the test strip window. My heart stopped as the realization of what I was staring at hit me. I was pregnant…we were pregnant. Large teardrops streamed down my cheeks, plopping onto my dress pants. A sob ripped through me, and I allowed the sound to fill the interior of my car. I didn’t know until that moment how much I wanted a child, this child.

* * *

Kayden walked through the door shortly after five. I had cleaned the entire apartment waiting for him to arrive. I couldn’t sit still and wanted to tell him, but I wanted it to be in person. “Hey, baby,” I said, walking toward him as he kicked off his shoes.

“Hi, love.” He kissed me on the lips and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you okay, love? You’re sweating”

“I’m fine. I’ve just been cleaning,” I said. “Come sit down for a minute.”

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong with you?” He sat down as I faced him on the couch. I grabbed his hand, squeezing it before I spoke. “You’re scaring me, Sophia.”

“Oh, sweetheart, don’t be scared,” I said. “I’m pregnant.” A grin crept across my face as I watched his reaction.

His beautiful eyes grew wide. “Really?” he asked. I nodded my head yes, and his eyes glistened with newly formed tears. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it.” He reached out and placed his hand on my belly. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“I still need to make a doctor’s appointment, but I’m late, and the pregnancy test I took today said I am.” I placed my hand on his and leaned forward, kissing his lips.

Kayden wrapped me in his arms, smothering me with kisses. His lips broke from mine as he held my face between his hands. “A baby. You’re giving me a baby. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. I love you, Sophia.”

“I love you too, Kayden. You’ve given me the greatest gift in the world,” I said, staring into his eyes. Kayden still had the ability to steal my breath like he did the first time he kissed me. Navy blue had been wiped out and replaced by a rainbow of colors. Kayden had filled my world with the color I’d lacked, and now a piece of us would be entwined forever in the form of a child.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading Untanlge Me. There’s two choices to go from here: Kayden the Past to read about the insanity that was Kayden before he met Sophia or Throttle Me to find out what happens to Suzy and the beast of a man she hooks up with.

Untangle Me holds a special place in my heart. It’s the first full-length book I’d ever written and although my writing has changed over time, I still love Kayden and Sophia’s bumpy journey to finding love.

Sincerely, Chelle Bliss xoxo

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