Page 17 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

Saverin smiled crookedly. “I want you to have my kids. But if it ain’t the right time then it ain’t the right time…” He spread a hand on her flat stomach, a tender caress that sent a shiver through her womb. He spoke barely above a murmur. “Notnow…but someday. When God wills it. Tanya, come live with me. I’ll get your stuff; you can stay with me as long as you want.”

“You’ll have me pregnant in a month, then,” she accused.

“Less than that,” he grinned.

Tanya laughed shakily, throwing the stick in the bin. “I guess Rory’s gonna make me that drink after all.”

“What if it’s wrong?” Saverin asked, looking down at the bin. “What if it’s a false negative?”

“The box says ‘99.99% accuracy’. I’m not pregnant, honey.”

Saverin nodded, and his face regained that cool mask which hid every emotion from view.He really did want a baby. Tanya stood on her tiptoes and kissed him gently. “Someday,” she whispered.

Still, the mask. “I know, darlin’,” he said.

He opened the bathroom door for her, and Tanya walked out, still not sure if her empty womb was a cause to celebrate or mourn.

“A villa in Jamaica!”Gwen said. “And a castle. I want a castle. Do they have those in America?”

Rory flushed. “RememberLord of the Rings? You can make something like that elf palace.”

“Exactly,” Gwen breathed. “Now you’re talking, Rory.”

“I just want a nice, simple house,” Tanya said. “With a pool we can use in the summer. So I can finally learn to swim.” She lay across Gwen’s couch, her legs draped over Saverin’s lap.

“How about we buy this trailer park, and we make everybody pay us rent?” Gwen mused. “That’s what they call ‘passive income’.”

“The first thing you ladies need is a lawyer,” said Saverin, who had become the annoying voice of reason. “Until you get legal representation and you have that money in the bank, don’tsign any checks.” He directed this more towards Tanya, having already judged that Gwen was a lost cause. “You girls ought to take the lump sum and invest as much as you can in stocks and bonds. Ten years from now you’ll have double the money.”

Tanya ruffled his hair. “Have another drink, Mister Serious.”

“That’s a great idea,” Gwen agreed. “Rory, can you make us some Cowboys?”

Saverin stiffened.

“Oh, no. Nuh-uh,” he said. “Won’t do it.”

“What’s a cowboy?” Tanya asked.

“Dangerous,” replied Saverin grimly.

“Oh, it’s just tequila and peach juice,” said Gwen. “With vodka, sometimes. And a Natty Light if you’re feelin’ nasty. RORY! DO WE HAVE VODKA?”

“Yup,” Rory called back.

“This is the best night ever,” said Gwen happily.

Many hours later,Saverin stumbled through a doorway down an unfamiliar hall. He was three sheets to the wind and had somehow lost Tanya inside a two-bedroom double-wide trailer.

“TANYA!” he roared.

“In here, baby,” came a giggle to his left.

He went through the door. It was dark as pitch. “Where’s the fuckin’ light?”

“Just follow my voice and quit hollerin’,” Tanya hissed.

He took three steps forward and Tanya’s hand found him in the darkness.

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