She flinched at his harsh tone and shook her head. “No. I was on antibiotics a couple of months ago when I had a sinus infection. The doctor said they probably counteracted my birth control pills.”
Tony tossed the box and pregnancy test onto the table. “Let me know when you get rid of it.”
“What?” It came out as a breath. He didn’t say that.
He brushed past her. “You know how I feel about kids.”
She followed him. “I know, and I was fine with that. I didn’t mean to get pregnant, but you can’t expect me to get an abortion now that I am.”
He stopped abruptly inside their bedroom and turned. “I can and I do. I was very clear before we got married about being child-free. I told you if it was a deal breaker we’d end it. You said you were fine with it. So now, you decide—me or that.” He pointed at her stomach.
“Tony—”
“End of discussion.” He slammed the door closed.
Five years later
Christian “Tinker” Knight stood at the back of the courtroom. Feet braced apart, arms crossed, chin slightly lifted, he stared at the girl sitting in the witness box. Her small frame and pigtails made her appear much younger than twelve.
The prosecutor stood beside the witness stand. “Melanie, is the person who hurt you in this room?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I need you to speak louder, Melanie.” The judge’s voice was gentle, but firm.
The little girl hunched her shoulders and looked down but did as the judge asked. “Yes.”
“Melanie,” the prosecutor said. “Can you point to that person?”
Her eyes jerked up and briefly found Tinker at the rear of the room. He remained stoic.
“It was…” She faltered and looked quickly at Tinker. “It was John.” She pointed to the man sitting at the defense table.
“Thank you, Melanie. No further questions, Your Honor,” the prosecutor said.
The judge looked at the public defender.
“No questions, Your Honor.”
The judge looked at Melanie. “Thank you, Melanie. You can go.”
Melanie bolted out of the chair, passed her guardian ad litem as she dashed down the short aisle, and launched herself at Tinker.
He caught her in a tight hug when she wrapped her arms and legs around him, burying her face in his neck. Sobs racked her frail body, and he felt the old familiar rage begin to build. Giving in to it and breaking every bone in her mom’s ex-boyfriend’s body would be extremely satisfying, but it would do neither him nor Melanie any good. He squelched the urge and got Melanie the hell out of there, not waiting for her guardian ad litem to reach them.
“Melanie!” Her mom stood from her seat across from the courtroom doors and rushed to them.
Melanie reached for her mom and Tinker transferred her over.
“She did really well,” Amy, the guardian ad litem, said when she caught up with them.
“She was a champ,” Tinker said. “She’s a brave little girl.”
Melanie tilted her head to look at Tinker. “Only ‘cause you were there.”
“Nah. You’d have done it even if I wasn’t there.” He tugged the end of her pigtail.
She smiled, which was what he was hoping for.
