No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

There was anger, there was repression, and there was a readiness to strike.

This was a side of Shirley I had never seen before, and for some reason, it made me incredibly tense.

I swallowed hard, "If you hate him so much, and you know what he's done, why would you..."

I trailed off, unsure of her thoughts.

Given her hatred, she shouldn't have had Nancy. Another child meant she couldn't make a clean break. But she did have her.

"Why have Nancy, right?" Shirley picked up on my thoughts.

I nodded, glancing towards where Nancy was, "If you two really fall out, what's going to happen to her? She's innocent."

"Do you think I wanted to have her?" Shirley drained her glass of wine in one go.

Watching her painfully swallow the wine, I felt a pang in my heart.

Shirley shook her head, replying, "When I first got pregnant, he had the doctor take my blood, found out it was a girl, and then hired six nannies. Officially, they were to take care of me, but in reality, they were there to watch me."

shocked, "You didn't want

me?" Shirley said, her gaze drifting towards Nancy, "You

a thought struck me, and I looked towards her belly,

a

compliment I didn't need. I looked at her, "Lord doesn't want this child, wants you

said he'd bring someone first thing tomorrow," Shirley said, reaching for

her hand, "You're

let it stay," Shirley

having Nancy was against her will, forced by Lord, and now, with this child, when Lord

woman was indeed full

to keep this baby?" I asked

said, "I want to ensure Nancy has a close, true relative by

with despair. Thinking back

for the long haul,

day she and Lord would end

a kind of respect in me, one that comes from not settling for fleeting riches and comfort, from not abandoning vengeance. "Then you could fight

shook her head, "It's