Hostility

I love you. Please say yes."

"Yes!"

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her passionately. Unaware of the person standing in the shadows across the street, watching the building balefully.

+++++

Rachel rose slowly to allow the nausea to pass. She was six weeks gone but already plagued by morning sickness.

Since their wedding a month ago, her life has changed dramatically. She lived in the Mitchell's mansion, had her car, and received a generous allowance, and Kingsley had promised to find her a job after the baby was born. 

Her life would have been perfect except the Mitchells despised her and made no secret of it. The marriage had come as a shock to them. They had initially resisted, then reluctantly agreed to let her live with them, but they made her life miserable at every opportunity. They refused her entrance to every room except the laundry room and insulted her constantly. 

Kingsley was away most of the day, so he knew nothing of the mistreatment, and she rarely reported the confrontations to him, fearing it would make things worse. She had decided to wait until the baby was born and then persuade Kingsley to move out. 

She looked at the time: 8.30 a.m. She knew she would have no breakfast. Once she wasn't at the dining table by 8 a.m., Mabel would make sure she would get no food, except on the weekends when Kingsley was home. Gently, she rose and went to the medicine cabinet to take her vitamins, then took a bath, got dressed, and headed downstairs.

Mabel and Lucy were in the dining room, finishing their breakfast. She greeted them but was ignored as usual. She sat down at the dining table.

"What's for breakfast, mom?" She asked Mabel without much optimism.

She was ignored. She knew the kitchen would be locked. So she didn't bother checking.

Lucy rose. "I'll be on my way, mom," she said. "I have a lecture at 9.30 a.m."

"Ok, dear, bye."

"Mum, anything for my breakfast?" Rachel asked gently.

"Breakfast is at 8 a.m., 'Sleeping Beauty'. If you are not up by then, you go without it," Mabel said disdainfully and rose. 

"But I always get up early. Today I was feeling unwell, you know, being pregnant."

"Your usual excuses—a pregnancy that's not even Kingsley's. You may fool him, you little rat, but not me."

"Now go to the laundry room and take care of the laundry!" 

"If you are so hungry, you can eat the crumbs on the table; that's what dogs like you deserve!" Angrily, she left the room.

Rachel sighed; she was used to the insults.She decided to go out to eat, but first, she'd have to take care of the laundry. She rose and went to the laundry room. She heard Mabel preparing to leave for her bakery. She usually left at 9 a.m. and was back by 2.00 p.m. Lucy would be back by then, as would Franca, who came by almost every day and stayed till late. 

When the three had lunch together, Rachel was often their topic of discussion. They would talk and laugh about her, not minding that she could hear them. She took to having her lunch in the garden or eating at restaurants to avoid their toxicity. Money wasn't an issue; Kingsley gave her a generous allowance. All she wanted was the love of the family, something she was yet to get. Since Rachel was to be home alone, Mabel, as usual, locked all the room doors, so Rachel would have nowhere to stay except her bedroom or sit in the garden. She finished the washing and hung them out to dry, then went to change and headed to a café.

By the time she came back, her three adversaries were settling in for lunch. She decided to sit in the garden. She sat content and happy, obviously, about what was ahead. 

She thought of her mom; she hates the memory of her past. "Mum, I wish you hadn't gone so early. Life wouldn't have been this messed up, you know." 

"Thanks to Kingsley, he's lightened up my life and brought much comfort, but for his family and that loser, Franca." 

Hmm! "I wonder when she will give up trying!"

"Whatever! I won't give in to defeat, not when Kingsley and I are going to have our cute baby." 

She kept musing over her circumstances. She was a strong girl who had survived a lot; this was just another phase that'd come to pass, or so she thought.

*******

The next day was Saturday, and Kingsley was home. They spent the morning in bed, then had a shower together and came down for a late breakfast, reluctantly served by Lucy, who could barely conceal her anger.

"Let me help my dad sort out a few files, then we'll go shopping for the baby," he told her.

She kissed him and finished her breakfast.

"To hell with you having that baby," Lucy muttered, eyeing her hatefully.

Rachel heard her and was hurt. She withdrew to the garden to wait for Kingsley.

She began feeling unwell, a feeling that persisted and got worse. She decided to go to her bedroom and lie down. She passed Lucy, who smiled sardonically. 

Lying down seemed to make the situation worse. She was experiencing sharp stomach pain and queasiness. She lay down, groaning and sweating, before discovering she was in contact with a wet, sticky substance. When she removed the covers, she was shocked to see that she was bleeding.

No! No!No! She panicked. She tried to call out for help, but her voice was weak. With much effort, she got up and tried to walk towards the door. 

Just two steps ahead, she collapsed to the floor.