01.

“Maybe I should have baked some bread.” Hadassah’s mused out loud with furrowed.

Addison answered with a low hum, taking off his coat to drape around her shoulders, he pulled her closer to him. He placed a firm hand around her waist to steady her as they walked along the uneven path of the lakeside. There was a pleasant chill in the air, spring had brought with her a riot of colours and the overwhelming scent of aggressively blooming flowers. He chuckled to himself thinking of how desperately every flower tried to stand out.

“Addy?”

He pulled her even closer, just to bury his face in her nape, slowly their pace by a considerable amount, prolonging their daily early evening walks. The riotous colours were not the only thing spring brought, the news of their child followed as well. 2 months. He remembered the pensiveness they both shared after the first month, worried that it would become yet another sorrow, another disappointment so they waited, and they hoped, and they prayed as the expectations in their hearts grew as each day passed until eventually, Hadassah’s patience grew thin, and she made the trip to the physician. Of course, he accompanied her as his patience had long since run out, but he understood that whatever pain, whatever frustration, whatever sadness he would have felt, she felt it too even more than he did. She was just like that, she felt deeply and fiercely. He admired that about her but it was just as easy for her to fall into self-blame, a situation they hoped they would never again be forced to deal with. And so, Addison struggled to hold it together, even while the physician examined her and when she returned to his side, her eyes were bright with joy, tears streaming down herself. He lunged at her, and before a word was said swept her into his arms. He knew, finally, that the answer to their heartfelt prayers had arrived. Since then he would cling to her like she was his life.

“Aren’t you cold?” she asked, moving to take off his jacket.

His hold tightened “Keep it.”

“But..”

“Don’t take it off.” He let out a content sigh into her nape “I’m fine. You should have worn something thicker. For you and for our baby.”

She struggled to shrug him off and he resisted “That’s all you’ve cared about lately.”

He finally loosened his hold on her, bringing their snail’s pace to a complete stop. Guiding her by the shoulders to face him fully, he regarded her countenance with the most serious expression.

“My love…” his hands grew heavier on her shoulders “…it could not be that you envy the little one, could it?”

A silent moment passed between the two as her features morphed from a pout to one of shock and then shame and guilt. Quickly, she hung her head, eyes fixed on the grass beneath her feet.

“I’m sorry” she started in a tiny voice “I don’t know what came over me. I just… I…”

Addison’s body shook as he struggled to hold back a laugh.

Clearly frustrated by the turn of events she swatted his hands away and sidestepped him, determined to continue the walk alone. He was teasing her again. His laughter, now unrestrained, grew louder as she stomped away.

“Hey!” he called out after her, but she ignored him and walked further away. With brisk wide steps he made his way to her side “Sorry.” He apologized but his tone contained only mirth “Hadaaassaaaah…” he drew out her name in a low indulgent tone as he swept her into his embrace “Did I upset you?”

She let herself fall into him but gave no response.

“Won’t you look at me?”

His question prompted her to bury her face deeper in his chest. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the action.

“I’m not jealous…” her voice was mousy but her indignance was obvious “…it’s just since the baby, that’s all everyone-” she stopped herself, perhaps concerned about how her words may be perceived. Drawing in a deep and prolonged breath “Forgive me, sometimes I just find myself wishing everything wouldn’t just be about… it’s difficult to put into words.” She clutched his shirt tightly as she stumbled to explain, face still buried away from view.

“I understand.”

“You do?”  Finally, she was willing to look at him, her eyes filled with unspoken affection.

He chuckled again “No.” he held her gently by the chin before she could hide away again “But I am glad that you are willing to tell me, even though I don’t understand.”

“Addy, I really do want this child.”

“I know.”

“And I love him.”

“As do I.” he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead “I love you too, I hope you know that, child or no, it would change nothing.” He watched tenderly as her eyes, filled only with his reflection, grew brighter. Feeling an itch in his heart, he glanced around quickly like a mischievous child. Satisfied that the immediate vicinity was empty, he planted another kiss. This time, on her lips, longer and more passionate.

Laughing again, as he watched her struggle to hide her embarrassment, he led her by the hand as they continued their walk. Soon enough, she was fully revived, pulling him into a conversation about the mundane.

Ahead, several feet away a drunken rowdy trio stumbled and staggered along the path talking loudly about no one knows what. Not that the couple were interested in whatever sputtered about. Addison’s displeasure was poorly veiled as he passed her hand from one to the other, placing her behind him, on the inner part of the pathway, shielding her from them and hoping to limit whatever contact if any. She wholeheartedly cooperated with him, trying her very best to limit her presence. The three were truly an unpleasant bunch, they know that as they have had the rather unfortunate displeasure of hearing about them.

And their efforts paid off, the three continued to stagger along the way, completely ignoring the couple on the pathway. It worked… at least for a while. They barely had time to exhale, unaware they were even holding their breaths, before one of the three called out to them.

Addison’s grip on her hand tightened, as his quickened his pace. Somehow, he was overcome with the need to put as much distance between them as he could. Pulling Hadassah along, he almost broke into a sprint.

“I’m fucking talking to you!” the voice grew louder, filled with impatience.

Addison quickly came to a halt.

Better not to agitate them, right?

He thought to himself as he once again placed himself between Hadassah and the three “Gentlemen…” he started with a polite smile “…out for some fresh air?”

Before they even came close, the couple was assaulted by the pungent odour of alcohol. It wasn’t even dark out but somehow, they had managed to get themselves completely inebriated, and the smell, heavens, what did they do? Bathe in liquor?

“You’rethatpastor!” one of the three exclaimed, he barely managed to get out the words before he staggered, tripping over nothing, only to catch himself before he landed face first into the ground.

“Shall I call a carriage for you?”

“What?” one of the men questioned.

“It’s dangerous to walk around the lake…” his gaze travelled from one drunken man to the next “…in your condition.”

The three exchanged a look amongst themselves “No.” one of the three spoke up, he didn’t seem particularly drunk, at least, he seemed to be the one most in control of his faculties of the three “Don’t mind us.”

“Alright the, goodnight.” Unwilling to prolong the exchange, Addison made a sharp turn on his heels and started to lead his well hidden wife away.

“He’s not alone?”

He heard someone from behind ask, with that, his pace hastened.

“Is that his wife?”

“Who else could it be? Do you think the pastor’s having a little tryst by the lakeside?”

They shared a brief laugh before one of the three spoke up “I heard she’s really beautiful.”

Addison had managed to put a considerable distance between them, but their voices were loud and unrestrained, and the evening breeze carried their words.

“Hadassah…” he started in a whisper “…if you have to, do you think you could run fast enough?”

His sudden question stunned her, “What?” she asked with a frown.

“I want to see her.”

Addison did not have time to explain when those words drifted over. He felt a chill travel up his spine. Hadassah felt it too. The unsettling feeling only grew as the seconds ticked by. The air, saturated with an eerie silence, seemed to thin. Neither dared to look behind, fearing to incur even more of what appeared to be sinister curiosity.

“Hadassah.” He rarely had reason to speak her name with sure a firm tone “When I tell you to run, you run. Don’t look back, just run.” He instructed decisively without ever slowing his pace. He felt her back tense up beneath his palm “Of course, I will be right behind you.” He added with a soft reassuring tone. She nodded obediently, quickening her steps to match his pace. In her bid to match his long legs, she almost broke into a light jog. The quiet air was now punctuated with light thuds. The sound of feet hitting the floor. Addison shoved her ahead “Run.” And she did just as she was told, with barely a glance behind, Hadassah broke into a sprint, moving as fast as her legs could carry her. She ignored the sandals that flew off her feet as she moved. He adored this about her, she wasn’t always obedient, but she knew when to push back, today was a time that called for obedience. He watched as her figure ran up the hillside, not a moment too soon, a figure ran past him at a frightening speed.

Hadassah had just made it up the steep hill, catching her breath, she began to call for help. She could see in a distance a gathering of the townsfolk, not sure what they were there for, but someone would certainly be willing to help. She screamed for help at the top of her lungs waving her arms frantically above her head, hoping that someone would eventually turn around and see her. She drew in another breath, preparing to shout again when a rough hand emerged from behind, covering both her mouth and her nose with one hand and the other, wrapped tightly around her torso. Her eyes stung as she struggled to breathe but he easily overpowered her, dragging her back downhill.

Addison has always been a pacifist. All his life never had he been in a situation where he deemed the need for violence, his upbringing taught him that much. Only a man with no self-control would swing his fists indiscriminately. Naturally, he had never been in a fight and there was no reason to be in one. He grew up in a peaceful household, they believed firmly in peaceful resolution. Rarely was there ever an incident that required him to raise his voice, opting often, to walk away when he found himself getting swept up in the heat of the moment, returning only when he believed he had thoroughly calmed himself. Well, all that changed tonight. He may have never been in a fight, but he had seen some. In his earlier years, he had snuck off with his brothers and friends to watch boxing matches.  He may not have had a first-hand experience, but he could imitate what he had seen. However, that could only take him so far as he was soon subdued. Pinned to the ground, he watched as Laine roughly dragged his pregnant wife back.

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