“Because you were with that ass hat—Jake, and last I checked, he beat the shit out of you and threatened to come after your sister. Telling you about Karlie’s baby wasn’t part of the plan, little girl.”
“Ryan, please, swear words,” she said, covering her enormous belly as if covering the baby’s ears. “And stop calling me ‘little girl,' it pisses me off. I’m a fully grown, twenty-year-old woman who will be a mother in a couple of weeks.”
“Or sooner,” Ryan teased and winked at Jenna. Karlie didn’t know what the hell was going on, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. Before she could ask, Drew interrupted Jenna and Ryan’s little back and forth.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Drew demanded. Jenna started to protest Drew’s word choice, but then looked at Karlie and started to bawl again.
“Karlie, I’m so sorry! I should have believed you. I should have listened to you from the start. Jake lied to all of us.”
Karlie cocked one eyebrow, “Really, you don’t say.” Her sister looked like she had had a rough time of it, but she couldn’t help her sarcasm. “He was lying the whole time?” Drew chuckled as did Ryan. Jenna looked down at her belly.
“I wanted to believe him because I didn’t want to believe that the father of my baby could be so horrible. In the beginning, he told me that you two had broken up. That’s why I hooked up with him; I thought that you two were over. Really, I should have talked to you before jumping into bed with him, but he was so persuasive, and it happened so fast.”
Ryan moaned. “I don’t need to hear this, Jenna. He was my best friend, and you were just a kid. Maybe I should wait outside.”
“Don’t be silly,” Jenna went over to the sofa and sat down next to him. “And I’m not a kid,” she put her hands on her belly to prove her point. Karlie was curious to hear the rest of Jenna’s news. Drew had sat down and pulled her into his lap, cuddling her, resting his hand protectively on the baby. “How far along are you, Karlie?” Jenna was smiling at her and Drew.
“About four months now,” she gushed. “I got pregnant the weekend of your—well, what was supposed to be your wedding.” She looked up at Drew, and he kissed her.
“I’m so happy for both of you,” Jenna sounded like she meant it. “You deserve to be happy. That was all I wanted with Jake, but he wasn’t capable of happiness. We got married the Mondayafter he attacked you at the church. We went to the town hall and had a civil service. He convinced me that you went crazy, trying to get back at him on the day of our wedding. He said that you went after him and that he shoved you away, and you fell, busting your lip. I didn’t know,” Jenna looked down, “I didn’t know that he had been beating you for all those years. I didn’t want to believe you. I hoped for my son’s sake that you were lying about the abuse. Dad told me last week that it was all true. He showed me the texts that you sent him from Jake. I was so sick and disgusted; I went back home and confronted Jake. He told me that Dad was a liar. He told me that Dad made it all up to break us apart. Dad was so good to him. He gave him a job and gave us money for the house. He did everything to make Jake feel like he was part of the family.”
“Including alienating me,” Karlie said remorsefully.
“We all did that, and I’m so sorry, Karlie. I can’t ask you to ever forgive how we all treated you. You must hate me.” Jenna was looking at Karlie, so sad and upset. Karlie knew that there was only one thing she could say to her little sister.
“I’ve already forgiven all of you,” Karlie whispered. “I love you; you’re my little sister. How could I hate you?” Jenna met Karlie halfway across the little living room, their bellies bumping as they hugged and cried.
“I hate to break this up, princess, but we came here for a reason. You need to speed this story up.” Ryan looked over at Drew, causing him to frown.
“There’s more?” Drew questioned, concern in his voice.
“Yes, and you’re not going to like it.” Ryan was sitting on the edge of the sofa now. “Jenna, park your little ass over here andfinish your story. The sooner you get done, the sooner Drew and I can work out a plan.” Karlie looked at Drew, worried as she returned to his lap and arms.
Jenna waddled back over to the sofa and turned to face Ryan, “I told you to stop swearing in front of the baby. And stop calling me all those mean names. I am not a princess.”
Ryan smiled at her, “Sure you’re not—princess.”
Jenna frowned at him and shook her head, giving up. “Well, I went home to confront Jake about the texts, and he told me that Dad was lying. I told him that I didn’t believe him and that I wanted him out of our house. Dad gave us the money, and the house was mine. That’s when he went crazy. He grabbed me by my hair and knocked my head into the wall. I must have passed out because when I woke up, he had locked me in the closet. I was so afraid that what he did would hurt the baby,” Jenna paused, rubbing her belly. Karlie was furious. How could a man do that to a woman who was pregnant with his child? Drew was nothing but gentle with her and their baby. Drew must have felt her tension and started rubbing her back.
Jenna went on, “It felt like he left me in the closet for hours. I’m not sure how much time had passed. Dad was the one who found me. He took me to the hospital and had me and the baby checked out. We were both fine. They kept me overnight, in case of a concussion. When I got home the next day, Officer Peterson was at my house, asking if I wanted to press charges. I did, Karlie, and I think you should too. The officer told me that you didn’t press charges against Jake because you didn’t want to hurt me. Jake will hurt both of us if we don’t put him behind bars. I think he’s coming after you, Karlie. That’s why Ryan and I are here; we wanted to warn you.”
Drew’s hold was so tight on Karlie that she almost couldn’t breathe. “I got another text from Jake, just before you got here. He threatened to find me.” Karlie couldn’t help but notice the look that Drew shot at Ryan.
“Baby, Ryan and I are going to go to the kitchen and talk. Why don’t you and your sister catch up out here?” Drew and Ryan started for the kitchen.
“No fucking way—sorry for cursing, Jenna—are you two leaving us out of your plans?” Karlie hissed, causing both men to turn and face her. “We’re the ones that got ourselves involved with a crazy man, not you,” Karlie went on, “he's our problem, not yours. So, you two running off to fix our problems isn’t going to work for us.” Karlie and Jenna were now standing united, in the middle of the room, holding hands.
“Not our problem?” Drew stalked toward Karlie, anger clear on his face. “I thought that you and I decided that we are a team.” He stood, towering over both of them, looking down at Karlie, who stood up a little taller.
“Exactly,” she spat back, “we did decide that we are a team. You and me,” she motioned between her and Drew, “not you and Ryan running off to the kitchen while us pregnant womenfolk stay here and chat.”
Drew smiled down at her, softening immediately. “Smart girl,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. “You’re right—this is between all of us, not just me and Ryan.”
“Although, I’m not too sure why Ryan is here,” Jenna questioned.
“Well, someone had to keep your ass out of trouble. Your dad and Drew asked me to keep an eye on you. After Jake attackedyou, your dad told me to get you out of there. He’s the one who told me to bring you here. Only he and Officer Peterson know where we are.” Ryan turned to Drew, “So what’s the plan for keeping the women-folk safe?” Ryan cringed when Jenna smacked him, seeming to expect it. He grabbed and gently held her hands in his and laughed.
Drew looked at Karlie and cocked an eyebrow. “Well, this is unexpected,” he whispered in her ear.
