She sat up, twisting around to face him, shaking her head as she pressed a trembling hand against his cheek. ‘Not that. I want this baby. Our baby. I love them already.’ Her other hand drifted to the tiny swell of her belly. ‘I’m just scared. It all feels impossible.’
‘I know we can do this.’ Aidan covered the hand resting on his face with his own. ‘We’re strong, you and me. We know how to survive.’
‘I don’t want to just survive any more. Surviving sucks.’ She shook her head, voice breaking on the words.
‘I’m not pretending it won’t be hard, at first. But I believe in us. As long as we work hard, stick together, we can make it through.’ He lowered his face to meet her eyes. ‘One day, we’ll have land of our own for our children to play in. Picnics and bonfires. Full plates with plenty of leftovers. I’ll build you an art studio in the garden, with giant windows to let the light in. And even if we don’t have much, our home will be full of love. Like it was with you and your mum. That’s enough, isn’t it? We can be happy, as long as we’re together.’
* * *
Only, as winter slipped into spring, past Aidan turning seventeen and Hattie starting to wear baggy jumpers and letting out the seams on her school skirts, even Aidan started to accept that it wasn’t going to be enough.
The lump of anxiety grew to a constant pulse of panic. Aidan tried to reassure her that they would be okay, he’d find a way, but the fear in his eyes told her the truth.
Until, one day, he arrived at the chapel with a grim set to his jaw, the look he gave one of bleak resolve.
‘I’ll not be able to meet you for a few days.’
‘What?’ Hattie sat up from where she’d been leaning against his chest, his hand idly stroking her bump. ‘Are you going to find us a house?’
He shook his head. ‘Not yet. I’ve got something I need to do first.’
‘What do you mean?’ Hattie said, unnerved by his evasiveness. ‘What do you need to do?’
He wouldn’t look at her.
Apprehension tightened around her stomach.
‘It’s nothing.’
‘If it’s nothing, then why can’t you tell me?’
His face twisted up.
‘I just can’t. Okay? You have to trust me on this. I… it’s better if you don’t know.’
Then it hit her.
‘It’s your family, isn’t it?’ The brief flicker across his features was answer enough. ‘What are they making you do?’
‘They aren’t—’
She didn’t let him finish, gabbling now because she knew this couldn’t be good.
‘Because you don’t have to do it. You mustn’t do it.’
‘Hattie, you don’t understand…’
‘No, I do understand! I understand that they’re bullies, and criminals, who don’t care about who they hurt or get into trouble, and they expect you to go along with it because you’re a Hunter. But you owe them nothing. Nothing! They might be your family, and need your help, but whatever they’re up to, it won’t be good. And I’m your family now.’ She grabbed his hand, pressing it against her rounded middle. ‘We’re your family, we’re what matters. Aidan, what are they making you do?’
‘They aren’t making me do anything! Please don’t worry. It can’t be good for the baby.’
‘How can I not worry when you’re going away and won’t tell me why?’ Her face crumpled into a sob. ‘When you won’t even look at me?’
He took a deep breath. Eventually dragged his eyes off the floor and turned to face her.
‘I am helping my family with something. But it’s not dangerous, there’s no chance of anyone getting hurt, or finding out. And it’ll make us enough money to finally get out of here. That’s what I was going to tell you. As soon as I get back, we can leave. You’ve got three or four days. Can you be ready by then?’
‘I… I don’t know. I can try. But I don’t want you to do this, Aidan. Please, I’m begging you not to do it. What if something goes wrong, and you end up in prison like your brother? What will we do without you?’
