The Fallen Shadow

Avery was still left reeling from the mind-blowing information she discovered in just one day. She found herself struggling to come to terms with the sudden twist of events. 

She was just 14 years old, wet behind the ears and definitely not a match for the likes of her stepdad and mother. 

Going by everything, her usefulness to Fred and Karen would elapse in 4 years time when she clocked 18 years. 

She would be tossed aside , abandoned or most likely killed when they would be done with her. There was definitely no hope for an in-between. 

She reckoned that to entrap a devious mastermind, she must become a devious mastermind herself. 

Just as she reasoned before, getting the law to arrest them was showing them mercy which they absolutely didn't deserve and as far as exacting vengeance was concerned, an eye for an eye was justifiable in this case. 

Any connection she ever felt with Karen, she severed. 

Whatever feelings of filial piety she killed and buried. 

Meanwhile, Karen went for grocery shopping after her visit to the clinic. 

She had exciting news for Fred so she had to prepare something special. 

She prepared roasted sweet potatoes, green veggies and roast chicken. 

Although the potatoes were a little overcooked, the food tasted good. 

The titillating aroma filled the entire house. 

As a rule, except for morning meals, Avery wasn't permitted to join them at the dinning table in the evenings.

She ate her evening meals in her own room. 

That was the perfect time for devious minds to bond and plot.

After a hard day's work, Fred was doing justice to the meal. 

Karen beaming with joy retrieved the test results from her bag and tried to hand it over to him. 

Fred engrossed in his meal, looked up, curiosity etched on his face. 

"What is this?" He asked without collecting it from her.

Karen's face lit up as she revealed the news. "I'm pregnant" She exclaimed waving the test result. 

The room fell silent and Fred's expression changed from curiosity to shock and then to concern, certainly not what Karen had hoped to see. 

Fred took in a deep breath, his eyes avoiding Karen's face. 

"We need to talk about this." Fred said, his voice measured and calm. 

Karen's excitement began to falter, sensing something amiss "What do you mean Fred? Isn't this exciting news!?" She exclaimed.

Fred hesitated, choosing his words carefully "I know this isn't what you want to hear but... I think we should consider an abortion" 

The room seemed to freeze. Karen's face fell, her eyes welling up with tears. She felt as though someone punched her in the gut. 

"What? Why?" Karen asked, her voice shaking with emotion. "This is our child, our family! How could you even suggest such a thing?" 

Fred's expression remained resolute, though a hint of uncertainty flickered in his eyes "We are not ready for this, Karen. I'm still paying off debts, the company hasn't been doing well and my creditors give me no space to breathe. A child would be a huge responsibility right now, financially and emotionally" 

Karen's shock gave way to anger and hurt "Are you still thinking about this in terms of money and convenience? What about the life growing inside me? Our child deserves a chance at life too!" 

"I've lost my appetite" Fred rose up and left the dining room. 

Karen's heart broke and she cried as she watched Fred walk away.

She resolved to keep the child notwithstanding opposition from Fred. 

"Avery, wake up" Karen's voice sounded dull as she shook Avery awake that morning "There's no bread left in the house. When you are done eating your breakfast, go to the bakery for some" 

"Okay mom" replied Avery "Mom, you don't look too good this morning, are you alright?" 

"Yes I'm fine. Don't ask so many questions. Wash up quick and come down to eat" Karen replied 

When Avery got to the dining room, her eyes locked with Fred's and for a moment, her expression almost filled with rage; she caught herself immediately. 

"Good morning mom, good morning Sir Fred" Avery's usual morning greeting and the usual reply; a resounding silence. 

Now whenever Avery saw Karen and Fred, her ever burning desire for vengeance always rose by more than a margin. 

She sat down in her chair, careful not to let slip of her growing hatred for them.

Breathing the same air as them became suffocating so she rushed through her meal and stood up to leave. 

"Mom, I'm done with my food. How many loaves of bread do you want me to get from the bakery?" She asked. 

"6 loaves should be okay. Be fast and return home, do I make myself clear?" 

"Okay mom" Avery replied. 

Immediately Avery left, Karen calmly faced Fred, "I asked Avery to go to the bakery so she won't hear us bicker. I thought long and deep last night about what you said yesterday and I just want to let you know that I'm keeping this baby and nothing you say will change my decision" 

She continued "You know I neither loved Samson nor wished to marry him but even now that he is no more, he has a child. Avery is that child. You're the one I have always loved and I find it hard to believe you would ask me to abort our baby growing inside me. I can't and I won't accept it. This child is mine and I'm keeping it" 

All the while she was talking, Fred just looked at her quietly. When she was done, he got up, still not saying anything, picked up his car keys and left for work. 

Avery had not immediately left for the bakery. She guessed she was being sent out so she wouldn't listen in on their conversation so on exiting the door, she quietly ran to the back of the house and positioned herself to eavesdrop by the kitchen window. She knew no one would see her there. 

She heard everything Karen said to Fred. 

She didn't find it surprising for Karen to be pregnant; she was even long overdue for it but she was a little amused that Fred wasn't keen on having a baby yet.

.