~Alice~
Spring had came and gone. No sign of Connor nor Assassin nor other Templars. I was growing as well. The non-existent bump had began to bulge and was present underneath my dress. My cabin fever was getting the best of me. Haytham would leave before I awoke and return before I went to sleep.
I didn't dare try to escape. I had no idea where I was or how I would get home. Haytham always brought back gifts though. It started with small stuffed animals. Bears, dogs, even a cat. Then it became larger items. A crib, blankets, he even told me of the rocking chair he was having made in town.
Of course I didn't know where "in town" was exactly.
The empty storage room next to the conjoined bedroom would no doubt become the nursery. For the child I would never get to raise as my own. How would life be after the baby was born? Would I be free to go? Or would I be held prisoner and married off to Shay once more?
"Alice." I was busy reading a thick novel when Haytham poked his head into the room. I licked my thumb and turned the next page, eyes staring at him with wonder. "You have a visitor." The small smirk on his lips was hidden when he turned around and trotted back down the stairs. I arched my brow but stood from the seat with a small groan.
My joints felt like those of an elderly woman. My feet scooted across the hardwood floor and down each step until my muscles finally screamed in relief when I reached the bottom. Smaller footsteps raced from the kitchen and into the living room. Katelyn was standing with a broad grin on her face and childish eyes.
"Alice!" She wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my chest. It seemed like she had grown in the past weeks. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail, still as long and black as ever. She stepped back and her eyes grew wide at the sight of my growing stomach. "Can I touch it?"
"Yeah, sure." I took her hand and pressed it to the top of my belly, waiting for the soft shift. Her eyes grew wide and mouth dropped. The faint elbow to the ribs could be felt throughout my abdomen.
"Wow!" Kate exclaimed in awe. I rusted her hair and drew my eyes upward to the man leaning against the frame. Shay cleared his throat and gave a small grin. His posture seemed to wither. He was, after all, growing old. I took Kate's hand and lead her into the kitchen to fetch a snack. She lifted herself up onto the chair and grinned when I passed her some fresh crackers and a cup of warm tea.
I placed a cracker in my mouth and savored the salty taste on my tongue. Katelyn sipped away at her drink and swung her legs under the table. Shay peeked into the kitchen with an awkward stance. Katelyn giggled at her father's odd behavior and finished off her crackers. "Do you think your father would want some tea?" I asked the young girl.
Her grin was all the answer I needed. I grabbed a small cup from the cabinet and poured the steaming tea in slowly. Shay walked forward and I carefully handed it to him, watching the pink tint rise to his face.
"You look well, lass." Shay commented. My smile was tight lipped and small. Katelyn placed her cup on the counter and asked to see Lucius.
"He's out in the stables. Just be careful, he's been rather skittish lately." Katelyn raced out the back door before I could finish. Shay chuckles and shook his head. The mood suddenly became thicker. Too tense for my liking.
"Haytham says that he plans on taking my child." Shay seemed taken back by my blunt statement. I could see the hesitation to answer behind his eyes. "Do you have enough balls to try and take it away from me?"
"Alice I-" I held up my palm towards him with a small laugh. Shay swallowed the lump in his throat and looked down. "That baby deserves to stay with both you and Connor." I was weary about his answer, shrinking back into the chair I was leaning against. "No matter what goes on between the Templars and Assassins, no child should ever be harmed."
"You would defiantly be a better Grandmaster than Haytham. The stick in his ass seems too far gone by now." Shay didn't find the joke funny, but I could feel the mutual agreement between us. "Shay, can I tell you something?"
"Of course." He placed his tea against the table and became serious. Well, more than usual at least.
"I want to let Connor know I'm alright. To tell him not to worry about me. Can you help me out?" Shay's facial expression shifted from understanding to amusement.
"Sorry lass, but that would sink me in hot water with Mister Kenway."
"I'm not asking you to deliver it to him personally. Maybe I can write a small letter and have an errand boy deliver it." My eyes were filled with hope. Shay seemed to be having an internal battle with himself.
"I'll think about it." We both turned towards the window when the sound of squeals filled our ears. Katelyn was laughing as Lucius nudged her face with his wet tongue. Her cheeks were peek and glistening with saliva, she wiped her face with her coat sleeve.
"Just imagine if this was your child, Shay." The older man glanced over towards me with confused eyes. "What would you do?"
~Chapter End~