Chapter 11
One month later…
Istand in the bathroom, nervously watching the clock on my cell. The test takes three minutes, but it’s the longest three minutes of my life. Already knowing what the test is going to say doesn’t calm my nerves at all. I’ve been tired, my period is late, my breasts are tender, and I’ve started feeling nauseous when I wake up in the morning. Still holding onto hope that I’m wrong and my body is just stressed, I can’t get the picture of Luca out of my head.
A knock on the door startles me out of my daydream. “Maci, hon, are you okay? Come out so we can look at the test together, sweetie. I’m here.”
Misty has been a great friend; she let me cry on her shoulder for the first few days after meeting Luca’s wife. My heart is shattered, and I will never trust another man again.
I unlock the door and walk out. “I can’t look. What am I going to do if this test is positive, Misty?”
“You know Luca has been asking everyone where you are. He even threatened me if I didn’t give him your address. Why don’t you talk to him? He should at least help take care of the baby financially.”
“Misty, I can’t tell a married man I’m pregnant with his child. He’s got a wife, a wife who loves him, and I refuse to put this on the poor woman, on top of everything else. Besides, he probably won’t want anything to do with me or our child.”
I jump at the timer going off. Standing in front of the bathroom door, I’m afraid to look at the test. Thankfully, Misty walks in and grabs the test from the bathroom sink, taking the decision out of my hands.
“Honey, you’re pregnant. The test is positive.” Misty looks uncertain if she should congratulate me or cry for me. She knows this isn’t a joyous occasion. There won’t be a happy ever after for me or my child.
My heart shatters all over again and a single tear rolls down my cheek. I’ve made a huge mistake. If Luca is looking for me now, I can’t imagine how he’ll act when he finds out that I’m carrying his child. On top of that, I’ve heard word around the city that he’s now on the Mafia’s payroll. He will probably kill me if he finds out that I’m pregnant, and I can’t allow harm to come to my child. The only other option is that he might want to keep me as his filthy mistress. The mere thought of being the other woman makes me sick and covers me in a cloud of shame.
This makes my decision to leave town so much easier. As I hold my arm across my belly to cradle my unborn baby, I mentally make plans on how to pack and move for our fresh start. We are getting as far away from this baby’s father as we can go on the cash I have saved up. He’ll never have to know that I’ve taken a piece of him with me.