Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

Chapter Thirty Eight
Hallie
I’m in much better spirits after my day out in the world.
I had to leave Hollis hanging to walk to the bakery with Charity because I knew if she saw I had
a limo with me, she would definitely have questions, and she wouldn’t let me change the subject until
I answered them.
After lunch and dessert with Charity, I swung by Nordstrom with my new credit card to see if
they had the shoes Calvin bought me in any other color. They’re beautiful and also super comfortable,
so I’d have no problem owning more than one pair. Fortunately, they did. I was able to get a creamy
nude pair, and a pair the same shade as Calvin’s mahogany desk.
Oddly, I only really bought the second pair because they reminded me of Calvin. I’m not sure I
even have anything in colors that will match them. I suppose I could accessorize a white summer
dress with a belt in that shade if I can find one.
I pictured Calvin telling me how I can wear them in Italy, and a smile tugged at my lips.
Until I decided to brave the baby section.
Fear and anxiety replaced those light, amused feelings.
I gazed at booties, touched tiny little sleeves and poofy little skirts. I went through the baby gear
and snapped a picture of a baby carrier I liked before I realized the absurdity of shopping for a car
seat when I wasn’t even convinced having the baby was a good idea.
Calvin and I haven’t discussed any other options. In a normal situation with a man I had a normal
relationship with, I would never even briefly consider any other option, but this… this is no normal
situation, and I’m truly afraid of the power a baby will give Calvin over me.
I know without asking, though, Calvin doesn’t consider there being more than one choice in all
this. I’m pregnant, so we’ll have a baby. He doesn’t have to think about all the possible consequences
of that decision because he has all the power, he decides how everything will go.
Sure, I could cost him some money, but he doesn’t seem to care about that. I assume it’s because
he has enough—or continues to make enough—that he knows he can’t spend enough to run out, but I
can’t conceptualize that being anyone’s reality.
I wonder if he knows there’s a lot more to babies than financing them, though. He did say he was
an only child. Does he have friends with children at least? I’m not sure. I realize I don’t really know
anything about his friends, other than the fact that some of them are obviously really dangerous.
How do you meet people like that?