“We’ll go to the next town and then we’ll make a doctor’sappointment.”
“Okay.”
Pregnant.How the hell could I be pregnant?Well… I knowhow,but this can’t be happening.
I sit in the passenger seat wringing my hands until we finda drugstore.Sandy keeps telling me not to worry, but how can I not?I’m surethis violates Helena’s dictum.Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.Surely acatch-22 if there ever was one.I’m dead.I’msodead.
In the drugstore, I stare at the shelves in confusion.“Whichone?”
“Why don’t we take one of each?I’ll go pay, and you waitfor me in the bathroom.”
“Okay.”
I pace the bathroom until Sandy joins me and hands me thetests.I pee on five sticks, and we wait for the results.
“Calm down, Case.This isn’t a bad thing.You love eachother.Even if you’re not together, I’m sure he won’t abandon you.”
“No, he won’t.”But his mother will kill me.“But… there’ssomething you don’t know about him.”
“What?God, don’t tell me he’s married.”
“No, he’s not.But he has money, Sandy.”
“Money?What are we talking here?”
“Like billions money… I think.I don’t really know.”
Her eyes open wide in shock before comprehension of thesituation settles in.
“You’re worried he’ll think you did it on purpose?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, if he does, he doesn’t deserve you, and you did theright thing leaving his ass.However, something tells me that won’t be thecase.Don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll try.”
She takes a deep breath and looks at her watch.“It’s time.”
Three of the sticks have a plus sign, and the other two say “Pregnant.”I’m fucked; which is exactly how I got into this situation.
***Ethan***
“You’re sure you didn’t see her talking to anyone who mighthave upset her?”I ask.
“I’m positive.She was getting along with everybody.Everybody loved her.”
“Thanks, but let me know if you remember anything, okay?”
“I will.”
That’s the tenth person I’ve spoken to already.They’ve allsaid the same thing—everybody loved her.Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree.TheCouncil.They’re the ones who were most against her from the beginning.I grabmy keys and decide to head out to my parents’ place.For the first time in along time, my mother greets me with a smile and a hug.
“Ethan!Come in, darling.”
“Mother.Where’s Dad?”
“He’s in the study.Is something wrong?”
