Page 15 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

“Golly, Gwen’s got a whole drawer of pregnancy tests,” Rory said.

“Those areusedpregnancy tests.”

“Why the hell do you keep— nevermind.” Saverin’s scarred face twisted in either horror or amusement.

“I got a new one, Tanya, fresh in the box!” Gwen offered. “So we could shoot this dog between the eyes right now. Let me go get it.”

Am I dreaming?Wondered Tanya as Gwen whirled her into the bathroom, followed by a tense Saverin. She stumbled over a pair of stripper heels, and then again over a very fat orange cat. Objects passed her vision in a blur. She could hear her own breathing.

“Don’t be nervous,” Saverin told her, putting a hand on her waist. “We got this together, alright?”

“Rory,” Gwen ordered, watching the couple thoughtfully. “Go mix us some drinks, will ya?”

Rory plodded off and then Gwen, in a rare moment of perceptiveness, went after him to give Tanya some space.

Tanya twisted the door left and right, trying to pull it open. Saverin pushed it. It opened.

“Oh,” she said. “Thanks.”

“Tanya,” Saverin tried to say before she went in. “I just want you to know that—”

Cutting him off, she ducked into the narrow bathroom and shut the door.

Time condensed into that moment. Every decision she had ever made was bearing fruit; would it be sweet, or bitter? INSTANT PREGNANCY TEST, read the box.

Here goes nothing.Tanya opened it with trembling hands. She didn’t know what she wanted in that moment. Another child?A child I couldn’t afford. But Saverin promised he’d take care of me. Of us.She remembered again:I won’t even need Saverin. I have all the money in the world now.

So what did she want?

A brother or a sister for her baby Amari, who had been kidnapped? Who might still be alive…or not?Amari’s replacement, a nasty voice said in her ear.

“Shit!” She dropped the box and the contents exploded all over the linoleum. Thank God the test was wrapped, anyway.

“Everything alright?” Saverin asked through the door.

Yes, Tanya nearly said.Yes, I’m fine, I can handle it.

But maybe it was time to stop pretending she could take on everything herself. She took a deep breath. “Can you come in here?”

Saverin was through the door in a heartbeat. The bathroom suddenly becamemuchtinier. He nearly cracked his head on the fixture. “Ah, fuck. What does it say? Are you— are we—”

“I can’t open the wrapper, I’m shaking too much. I haven’t taken it yet,” she told him.

“Here, let me, darlin’.”

He squatted on Gwen’s bathroom floor while Tanya sat on the covered toilet, massaging her aching temples. The bathroom was surprisingly clean. Quiet. Safe. Maybe she could just stay in here all night with Saverin. Or possibly, forever.

“My head is killing me,” she admitted.

“Maybe your friend’s got some Tylenol in here.”

“No– let’s do this first. Give me that stick.”

Saverin hesitated before ripping the small package open. “I need to say something first. Just so you know, this won’t change anything for me,” he said. “Everything I said earlier tonight stands. You’ll never have to worry about a thing if you’re with me, Tanya. I have land, a house, and money. Plenty of each. You and our kids– Amari too– will be taken care of without touching one cent of your winnings. Alright?”

She whispered, “Don’t make me cry again.”

“I don’t ever want to make you cry.” He opened the wrapper and handed her the stick. “Fire away.”

---