*****

I hope you know any time i tell you to get home safe, stay warm, have a good day or sleep well what i am really saying is i love you.

*****

"No way." Sharleen deadpanned.

The other four in the room looked at her silently waiting for some explanation.

"No fucking way." Sharleen repeated her stand strongly.

The room went dead silent for some seconds, everyone looking at one another.

"Why not, if i may ask?" Naomi asked her daughter in law, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Simple. I can't stand his presence." Sharleen answered simply like she was asked the easiest question on earth. Her eyes were glaring daggers at non other than Sam, just to prove her point.

"You two have met?" Matthew asked looking at Sharleen keenly, watching her reaction to his question.

"Unfortunately we have, and he had the worst first impression." Sharleen spat, not hiding her disgust.

"Sam is a very good man, Sharleen. Just give him a chance." Naomi said pleadingly.

"First impressions have got no second chances mum." Sharleen said while sighing.

"Why don't we sleep on this today and talk about it tomorrow again? I am sure it was a lot to take in." Matthew suggested.

Sharleen nodded quickly not wanting to spend a minute more in the same room as Mr. Creepy. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him looking at her, scratch that, glaring at her with unwavering eyes that made her squirm on the sofa uncomfortably.

Matthew stood and joined his son and the two walked out of the room leaving the ladies alone.

"My daughter, your safety is my biggest priority. Even I am not at all comfortable marrying my son's wife off when even the soil on my son's grave is still fresh! But i have been in this family for long and these dangers are real. Please think about what we have talked about." Naomi asked with begging eyes and a voice filled with warning.

"I will think about it mum, but i make no promises." Sharleen said while touching Naomi's right shoulder respectably.

Naomi nodded, gave the two a sad smile and left, probably going to her room.

Sharleen and Nicole stayed sitting, the two looking at each other, none wanting to be the first to comment on whatever the hell happened.

"That was... totally unexpected." Nicole broke the silence, her voice full of concern.

"Yeah. Totally unexpected." Sharleen repeated her friends comment, not knowing what to add.

"We are really late for the appointment. Let's hope the doctor won't charge us double for that." Nicole said trying to change the subject.

"Right. We should leave already." Sharleen said and stood up heading for the door with Nicole following her steps.

***

Reaching the clinic, the doctor that attended to them was one in a million. With a baby face and a smile on her lips, the doctor attended to them without even asking the reason for their lateness.

"If i was swinging the other way i would have married you doctor in a heartbeat!" Nicole, of course not knowing when to shut her mouth commented earning her a blush from the doctor and a slap in the back of her head from her friend.

"Your baby is eight weeks old and very healthy." The doctor said happily making Sharleen smile genuinely in return.

"Do you want to know the gender?" The doctor asked.

"No. I want it to come as a surprise." Sharleen answered quickly.

"Okay. You are good to go. You will experience abnormal body reactions like feeling tired, mood swings and loss of appetite, all that stuff, but you should not worry, that is to be expected. Come back on this day i have written on your card for the next checkup and call me if anything, and i mean anything out of the ordinary happens." The doctor instructed, still with her sweet smile and cute dimples.

Sharleen just nodded with a smile of her own. Too excited to comment.

Nicole just watched the doctor with a sly grin.

"Congratulations again. I hope to see you back here in a month's time." The doctor concluded and they said their goodbyes.

While they were at the hallway heading to the main gate, Nicole could not help it but voice out her thoughts.

"Did you see her dimples? She is so cute! And so sweet!" Nicole exclaimed.

"Are you crushing on the doctor Nicole?" Sharleen raised her eyebrows at her friend.

"No. She is just cute and sweet! I just want to hug her!" Nicole tried explaining to her friend.

Sharleen just laughed at her friend's comments but she could not totally disagree. The doctor had a really strong welcoming aura that Sharleen felt calm and at ease while being examined by her.

For once in a very long time Sharleen felt content. She felt that her baby was in safe hands.

After exiting the hospital, Nicole was needed urgently at the flower shop so Sharleen decided to go to visit Kevin by herself.

The walk to the grave yard was refreshing. Sharleen was surprisingly able to clear her head in the few minutes walk. Her body felt more relaxed like someone had magically pressed the delete button after highlighting all her problems.

When she reached her destination, Sharleen was not surprised to see non other than Devlin sitting the exact spot that he was yesterday. A smile tugged on her lips.

Without waiting for his invite this time round, Sharleen joined him where he sat. As usual, they sat there for some minutes enjoying the comfort brought by the silence, each of them missing deeply the one that was buried six feet under in their own way.

"I think i have discovered your hideout." Sharleen said, clearing the silence.

"And who said i was hiding? Maybe i am where i am supposed to be." Devlin gave his companion a small smile.

"At this rate i would not be surprised if Kevin sends you a dream that your presence has become wanting." Sharleen commented with a smile of her own.

"I won't be surprised at all. Kevin can do just that!" Devlin gave a small laugh.

The two talked and talked. Their hearts opening up to each other in a deeper depth. Their souls consoling each other from the shock and grief that they had endured.

Just like the previous day, the two were totally oblivious to time. The evening wind that blew ferociously was what made them aware that time was not on their side.

Just like last time, the two walked side by side headed to Sharleen's home.

"There is something wrong with you." Devlin observed out of the blue.

"Am i really that easy to read?" Sharleen asked curiously.

"There is a way you absentmindedly let your fingers play with the hem of your dress when you think too hard or something is bugging your mind." Devlin answered simply.

"Oh." Sharleen was surprised by the new information.

"So i guess i am right." Devlin stated.

"I am pregnant." Sharleen decided to share the piece of information with him.

Devlin was surprised at first but recovered fast. "Congratulations! How long?"

"Eight weeks." Sharleen answered simply.

"You will make a great mum don't worry. I can't wait to spoil him or her." Devlin grinned.

"Nicole said the same thing too. Should I be worried?" Sharleen asked feigning seriousness.

"Oh, you probably should. You should be very very worried." Devlin said evilly making Sharleen giggle like a kid. Giggle.

Silence prevailed after that. An uncomfortable silence.

"There is something else bothering you." Devlin observed again.

Sharleen opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish in water.

How could she explain she was to be forced to a marriage soon?

How could she explain that they had even found a man for her?

How could she explain that she hated the man's gut as much as she hated the smell of rotten eggs?

As if Devlin saw her internal battles, Sharleen found herself suddenly in between Devlin's large arms, feeling more secure than she has never been in years. His masculine scent washing away all worry and doubt like they were never even there.

"Calm down Sharleen. Be calm and tell me whatever is going on. If it is not something that i might help then i will find someone who can." Devlin's soothing voice calmed her down like magic.

"My mother in law... She... she... Marriage..." Sharleen tried talking but her words did not make sense. She felt as if talking about it would make the situation even more real.

"Is it about the proposal of marrying you off to someone your mother in law trusts?" Devlin asked carefully.

"How... How did you know about that?" Sharleen asked surprised.

"Yesterday when i took you home i heard that statement accidentally as your mother in law was talking to an old man." Devlin explained.

"That old man is Matthew." Sharleen explained. "The man who's son they want me to marry." Sharleen felt the tears moistening her eyes a clear indication that any minute she was about to break down.

"Calm down Sharleen. You cannot marry anyone you don't want to." Devlin tried calming her down

This will not be the first time, she wanted to say but decided against it. Instead she said, "They say it is for my own protection."

"What? How is marrying someone you don't even know a dime about going to protect you?" Devlin asked, his anger slowly rising.

"They said Kevin left me a lot of money that makes me a target to the greedy ones in the family. I must get married so that the money can be protected." Sharleen explained with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"What? Aren't there police to keep you safe? The banks are there too, your money would be safe." Devlin tried giving her solutions.

"You think i hadn't thought of that?" Sharleen was now crying. "I told them all that and guess what? They said those greedy men are not afraid of playing dirty. They want the money and they would do anything to get it." Sharleen explained while rubbing her tears from her cheeks with the back of her hands.

Devlin took a step back and ran his right hand in his hair making it even messier. He was so deep in thought that Sharleen had stopped crying and was now looking at him expectantly.

After some minutes, Devlin looked at Sharleen with eyes full of determination. "Be mine."

"What?" Sharleen asked him quickly as if she did not hear him right.

"I will marry you. I will keep you and my only friend's baby safe. Any bastard that wants you mess with you must come through me first. Be mine"

*****