AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Was he insane? I didn’t care what was best for Martin. I had scars that would never heal, physical and emotional wounds that I would always bear. Winston and Grace would soon have my daughter to raise and their deranged son to keep away from her. We would never be at the end of this.
“Here.” Winston picked up the pen that lay beside the stack of papers in front of me. “Aren’t you ready to sign?” He was either oblivious or in denial, I didn’t know which.
I wasn’t ready. Unbidden, a wish floated into my mind.
If only Rachel or Barry were here to advise me.
But I hadn’t contacted them. My sister and Daniel had their life, a good one because it was free from me. Barry was young and had his whole future in front of him. Though I longed for my sister’s love and my best friend’s strength and gentleness, I couldn’t allow my mess to taint their lives.
“I’m ready.”
Tears welling again, blurring my vision, I pulled in a breath and picked up the pen. With a shaking hand, I scrawled my name. Afterward, I placed my hand on my abdomen that hadn’t noticeably swelled yet, and silently begged my baby for her forgiveness.
I wasn’t putting on weight yet. I had difficulty making myself eat because it was a constant struggle to force food into my mouth. For my baby, though, I managed it. I also took prenatal vitamins each day as instructed. Thankfully, the obstetrician Grace took me to assured me my baby was well.
I was resigned to the fact that I might never be well, especially now that this was done.
Addy
When Winston and I returned from the lawyer’s office, Grace didn’t wait for us to come into the house. She met us on the driveway.
“Is it done?” she asked, wringing her hands.
“Yes,” Winston said. “It’s done. Both signed.”
He took his wife’s hands, and they smiled at each other. For them, today was cause for celebration. For me, it was just another sad chapter in my life that should serve as a cautionary tale.
In a daze, I wandered toward the house. I didn’t have a plan. Didn’t know what would happen next. Darkness and despair weighing heavily on me, I was sluggish, finding it difficult to make my body move.
“Addy,” Grace called, and I slowly turned. She broke apart from her husband. “Can I speak to you a moment?”
“Yes.” I stood like a statue as she closed the distance between us.
Her husband passed me on his way toward the house.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. I glanced up, expecting a stray cloud.
“Addy,” a familiar voice said low, and emotion gripped my throat. It wasn’t a cloud.
“Barry.” I choked out his name as large hands gently gripped my shoulders. A warmth in the breeze I hadn’t previously felt caressed my skin.
“Are you okay?”
He turned me. Studying me, his concerned gaze was like the sun, a light that cut through the darkness.
“You don’t look good,” he said. When I just stared at him numbly, he glanced at Grace. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She has quiet spells like this periodically.” Grace made a clucking sound. “Let’s get her in the house.”
“I don’t want to go inside.” Finding my voice, I planted my feet on the pavement. After having been stuck inside for so long against my will without any options, I wanted choice. Craved it. But I was too emotionally battered to make decisions right now.
“May I take her for a walk around the grounds?” Barry asked Grace, and I tumbled within the melodic currents of his voice.
“Yes, absolutely.” Grace shook her head sadly. “Maybe you can convince her to do what she needs to. God knows I’ve tried.”
Like a distant observer of the scene, I slowly blinked at Barry.
His black hair was loose. The breeze lifted a few of the thick layers that were longer now. The bright white cotton of his T-shirt stretched the breadth of his shoulders and conformed to his chiseled chest. His dark indigo jeans were molded to his narrow hips and long legs. Barry was handsome, and I’d missed him, but I couldn’t summon the energy to reach for him.
