Their Double Blessing

It was nice to be heading home. She wanted to be in her own bed and prepare a meal in her own kitchen. Being taken care of was nice. But her independent streak couldn’t tolerate that for long, working hard and community activism was deeply ingrained. After all the losses in her past these were things she could control and keep close. Once bed rest time came she wasn’t sure how to survive. That was months away though and not something she had to think about.

The taxi had to stop a block away due to heavy traffic. She paid and walked the rest of the way. Stretching her legs out in the open felt great, walking among people on the street like it was an ordinary day even with all the amazing and strange things that had transpired. This was actually nice, to relax and be normal, not the woman carrying a risky pregnancy. Or dating a white billionaire who was away on a business trip. She was just a mall security guard about to take leave from work. Soon she would be in her apartment ready to take a load off.

This time she took the elevator. Avoiding that pseudo death trap was a top activity. But a second of double vision made the decision for her. At least there had been no reports of a serious breakdown. It creaked all the way to her floor. Crinkling her nose at the bad smells, Patricia focused on staying healthy for the baby. She was already starting to feel the strain from that nice walk. The last thing she needed was to call an ambulance for pickup because she overdid it. Perhaps having a quick snack and a nap might help take the edge off.

Finally on her floor she headed straight for home. The bed was calling her name at this point. Was this side effects of the drugs or her body reacting to the knowledge of being pregnant? There was no way to be sure but a good rest was in the cards. When George came back tomorrow she wanted to be ready and refreshed. No girlfriend wanted to look haggard when their boyfriend returned from abroad. Who knew what kind of women were trying to flirt while he was away? He never seemed the cheating kind but men often noticed beautiful women.

Patricia started opening the door when she felt something in her back. Her training kicked in and she reached to flip the person over. In security you were trained to disarm opponents. Such practice could save lives because there wouldn’t always be a weapon available. She had no idea who had come to rob their building, but she was confident that this robber would regret choosing someone they thought was weak and defenseless. Women were always underestimated and it was both a tragedy and a gift. Plus she had no intention putting her baby in danger by waiting for this unpredictable attacker to even think of pulling the trigger.

“Touch me and I’ll fire. Don’t fight me Patricia, just come quietly.” The click of the gun had Patricia freezing but not so much as the voice of her assailant. This could not be happening. How could life deliver such a terrible curveball? Was a risky pregnancy and George’s terrible panic attack not enough bad luck in a few days? She knew there was something suspicious and did her best to follow those instincts. Being in public and keeping her phone close. But going home by taxi was not enough to deter the person now holding her at gunpoint.

“Mary what do are you doing? Is this about me not accepting Ronald? Is he making you do this?” She hoped a conversation might get her sister out of whatever moment of insanity this was. Then the authorities could be called to help Mary and take in that horrible fiance of hers. That was who had to be behind all of this. Guess scamming and injuring witnesses was no longer enough. Armed kidnapping was a big step up and it was cowardly sending her sister to do the deed. If he had shown up she would have made quick work of that loser.

“Of course you think this was all Ronald’s idea. I’m just the flighty sister with no sense of self. Thinking you’re better than me and stealing that billionaire under my nose. I should be the one pregnant with that moneymaker not you,” Mary spat venom as the gun shook.

“You’re insane, my sister would never say these things,” Patricia said. “You’re a good person and George loves me. He’s not the kind of guy you go for, there was no chance.”

“If you weren’t in the picture I would have had a chance. We connected, I know all the top class things needed to be his woman,” Mary snarled. “But no matter, my true love Ronald came back. He wanted us to drain you for cash through that sugar daddy. But I knew you would never go for that. So I decided to go with kidnaping.”

Patricia felt her heart drop. If this was true then there was no way out. “What’s going to happen after you hold me for ransom? Are you going to hurt George?”

“You’re a smart cookie. Why would I hurt the golden goose?” Mary asked.