the steps to the huge mahogany door. She knocked and waited, nervously wringing her hands together. Not getting a response, she knocked harder as an unexpected wave of anger invaded her body. âSo you are going to kill me, huh? We have nothing while you and your wife have everything,â Tiny muttered furiously.
Suddenly the door opened and a smiling Mrs. Gregg stood before Tiny with her little bundle of joy in her arms. âHello. May I help you?â she asked Tiny pleasantly as she gently rocked the baby.
Tinyâs mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. Puzzled, Mrs. Gregg stared at the young lady standing before her. She vaguely remembered Tiny from church and wondered what she was doing at her front door.
âHe said if I told anyone that he is the babyâs father that he would kill me and my aunt,â Tiny said quietly as she stared unblinkingly at the beautiful woman before her.
âExcuse me?â Mrs. Gregg was perplexed. âWhat are you talking about?â
âPlease, Iâm begging you, talk to him. Aunt Madge is going to need some help with the creature. Hmmm, I mean the baby.â
Mrs. Greggâs eyes widened as the impact of Tinyâs words slammed into her gut. âLittle girl, are you saying that you have a baby and my husband is the father?â she asked.
Tiny nodded her head and looked down at the floor. The courage she felt a few seconds ago was slowly creeping away. âIâm sorry for everything,â Tiny mumbled, her eyes still fixated on the floor.
âYou are sorry! Look at me when Iâm speaking to you, little girl!â Mrs. Gregg screamed.
Awakened by his motherâs loud voice, the frightened baby began to cry. But Mrs. Gregg was too angry to tend to him right then. âNow listen to me and listen carefully.â Mrs. Gregg took a few calculated steps toward Tiny, and the terrified girl stepped back in fright. âTake your bastard child and go and find the idiot who knocked you up. Leave me and my family alone.â Her face became ugly with anger and hatred as she continued on her warpath. âIf you ever go around spreading these lies about my husband, I will be the one to have you and your aunt killed!â
Tiny whimpered in fear. She turned away from the livid woman and quickly ran down the steps into the yard. Taking a frightened glance over her shoulder, Tiny screamed, her enlarged eyes glued to the big clay flowerpot flying at her head. Ducking in time, it zoomed by her, smashing in pieces near her feet. âHelp!â Tiny yelled as she dodged another flowerpot that exploded in front of her.
âHelp?â Mrs. Gregg shouted furiously. âYou need help, huh? I got something for you.â With the shrieking baby draped over her shoulder, she grabbed another flowerpot with only one hand. Bitterness poured from her eyes as she took another shot at Tiny, hoping to have a better aim this time.
Tiny was yelling and hopping over sharp pieces of flowerpot as she tried to make a getaway. Constantly looking over her shoulder, she finally made it to the walkway where she sprinted away from the house and the pissed-off woman as fast as her legs could go.
By the time Tiny got into town, her blouse was soaking wet with perspiration. Huffing and puffing, she bent over with her hands on her knees, sucking deep breaths in her exhausted lungs. Now there was no doubt in her mind that she had to leave the community and she could not return. She knew if Officer Gregg did not get her first, then surely his crazy wife would.
Tiny hopped on to the next bus heading for Kingston and went and sat in the far back with her head held low. She did not want anyone who knew her or Aunt Madge to see her. Luckily for her the bus filled up quickly with passengers and in less than ten minutes she was moving away from a haunted life . . . and unbeknown to her . . . into a hellish nightmare.
Chapter Seven
The bus zoomed into the noisy
Anna Hackett, Anna Lowe, Leigh James, Ember Casey, Zoe York, Ruby Lionsdrake, Zara Keane, Sadie Haller, Lyn Brittan, Lydia Rowan