Chapter 9 #2
At night, she’d rub her little belly and tell her baby about Drew.
She didn’t ever want to paint her child’s father as a bad person.
Her baby had been conceived out of love.
It wasn’t her child’s fault that Drew cheated on her with Lisa; it was just something that happened.
After she got back to Atlanta, she packed what she could and took off.
She started driving and ended up in a little town just north of her family.
She loved Tennessee, and her new little apartment had everything she needed: a bed, a kitchen, and a little bathroom.
It wasn’t in the best neighborhood, but she knew how to take care of herself.
And her neighbors all looked out for each other.
Her dad was the only one who knew where she was.
He was the only one who knew about the baby.
She didn’t tell her mom, and there was no way to tell Jenna.
She never wanted Jake to know about her baby.
Since she left home, Jake had texted her—every day at first, telling her that she deserved everything that had happened to her.
He told her that she drove men to their breaking point and was such a boring lover that they had to cheat on her.
His texts demanded to know where she was, that he would find her, and take good care of her.
She was scared and didn’t know where to turn.
So, she called her dad and forwarded him Jake’s texts.
Although her father hadn’t been too accepting of her side of the story, she knew that he couldn’t refute written evidence.
He called her and they talked openly, for the first time in a year.
Her dad seemed to be coming around and knew that Jake wasn’t all that he told everyone that he was.
She wouldn’t go as far as to say that her dad believed her, but he was softening toward her, especially after she told him that she was pregnant.
He begged her to tell Drew and said that he had a right to know about his child.
She just couldn’t bring herself to tell him.
He’d want to do the right thing, and she wouldn’t have him take care of her or be with her out of obligation.
If Drew was going to be a part of her life in any way, he could be a father to their baby.
And, for the moment, there was nothing he could do for the baby.
After he or she was born, she’d contact Drew to let him know that he was a father.
She’d let him be involved in the baby’s life.
As much as it would kill her to see Drew with Lisa, she’d do it for her baby.
She knew that a child needed a father and a mother, and she would make sure that her baby had both.
Her cell phone chimed just as she was kicking off her shoes and collapsing onto the sofa.
“Hey, Dad,” she had to smile when she saw his number on her caller ID. She was so happy to have any kind of relationship with him again.
“Hey, honey, how are you feeling today?” He sounded worried.
“I’m fine, Dad. The baby is good. I went to the doctor's yesterday and heard the baby’s heartbeat. He said that I am about 10 weeks now, which I pretty much guessed.” Her hand went immediately to her belly as if protecting her baby. She already loved her little peanut so much.
“Have you thought any more about telling Drew about the baby?” he asked.
“No, Dad—we’ve been through this. I don’t want him in my life until after I have the baby.
He can’t do anything for him or her right now.
His job will start after the baby gets here.
Besides, I can’t face him and Lisa together again, yet.
I need time to get over him. I’m still in love with him, and seeing him with Lisa will kill me.
I’m sure the stress wouldn’t be good for the baby either.
” Playing the “good for the baby” card seemed to work, so far.
She’d only found out about the baby about six weeks ago when she thought she had a wicked stomach flu.
She had been shocked and so scared; she hid away in her new apartment for days.
She slowly accepted the news and on the fourth day, got up, showered, and went to her new job.
She told them she had a stomach virus since she couldn’t afford to get fired just yet.
She felt bad lying to everyone, but she had to put a roof over her head and food in her growing belly.
“I hate to tell you this, Karlie, but Drew was here today. He found out from your old landlord that I know your new address. He was desperate, Karlie. The man begged me to tell him where you are. He said he’s still in love with you.
He told me that Jake set him up. He said that Lisa snuck into his bed while he was in the shower and that Jake planned the whole thing, wanting to break you two up.
” Her father stopped talking, and for a minute, she thought she had lost her connection.
“Hello, Dad?” she whispered.
“Yeah, I’m here. Karlie, I believe him. Jake and Jenna came in while he was here, and Jenna told him that she misses you.
Don’t get me wrong, she still believes Jake, but she wants you to be happy.
Drew seems desperate. He said he won’t stop until he finds you.
” Now it was her turn to be silent. She didn’t know what to believe.
She didn’t want to think that Drew could cheat on her like Jake had, but she found Lisa in Drew’s bed.
Lisa made it sound like she and Drew had just had sex.
She saw the evidence with her own eyes, caught Drew just like she caught Jake.
Now, she was to believe that Drew was set up.
“I don’t know, Dad. Let me think about it, and I’ll let you know what I decide,” she offered.
“Okay, but for the record, I think—"
“Yeah, yeah—you think I should tell him about the baby,” she said, interrupting her dad.
“Not just that, Karlie—I think you should hear him out. You should give him another chance and keep an open mind. I think that he does love you,” her father said.
She was ready for some food and sleep. “Okay, Dad, I’ll think about it. Love you.” With that, she ended the call. “What do you think, Peanut? Should we give your daddy a second chance?” Karlie patted her belly, and it growled in hunger at her.
“Just like your daddy, so growly,” she giggled and went to raid the fridge.
What she’d give to be able to eat more than a few Saltine crackers.
Her hungry tummy gave her hope that she’d be able to keep more than crackers down.
She needed some extra energy to think about what to do.
She knew that Drew wouldn’t just let her keep running, and honestly, she just didn’t have the energy.
∞
“Hey, buddy, what’s going on?” Ryan’s voice sounded weak and far away. Nevertheless, it sounded damn good to hear his brother’s voice.
“Ryan! How the hell are you? Everything good?” No matter how many times his brother called, Drew always worried that something was wrong while Ryan was deployed.
“I’m good, just checking to see how you are. I had one call, and I just got a letter from mom—”
He didn’t give Ryan the chance to finish his sentence. “And she told you what was going on with me and Karlie, or the lack of what is going on,” Drew finished for him.
“Yeah, so what’s going on with Karlie? You find her yet?” Ryan asked.
“No, I know her father knows where she is, but he won’t tell me.
I don’t know if he just doesn’t believe me or if he’s protecting her from something or someone.
He seems so concerned about her. He told me things are going on that I don’t understand.
I just need to find her, man. I’m going out of my fucking mind.
” Drew was running his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end.
He had done that a lot since Karlie disappeared.
“I know, man, you’ll find her. Have you asked her mom or Jenna if they know where she is?” Ryan questioned.
“They don’t have any more news than I do. Her dad seems to be the only one in the loop. I just feel like, if I could just get two minutes with her, I could tell her—show her how much I love her,” Drew knew he sounded desperate, but he didn’t care.
“Wow, Drew, you have it bad for this girl, huh?” Ryan chuckled, laughing at his brother’s expense.
“I don’t have it bad,” Drew growled, “I’m already gone over this woman. I am going to find her and marry her.” His brother laughed again, causing Drew to scowl.
“How’s Jenna doing?” It was odd that Ryan asked about Jenna.
It was probably because he felt guilty about what Jake did to her.
Ryan called Drew just after the wedding that never happened to find out how everything went.
After Drew spilled all the details, Ryan cursed and yelled about needing to come home.
His brother felt bad that he didn’t warn Jenna about Jake’s lying before he was deployed.
Ryan wanted Drew to tell Jenna everything, but he had other things on his mind, namely Karlie.
“Is Jake still treating her right?” Ryan went on, “Does she know about all his lies yet? You have to tell her, Drew.” Ryan's words were hurried, and Drew knew that he was running out of time to talk.
“Don’t worry, man, he’s living up to his promise to take care of Jenna. Jake is a snake, but he’s staying out of trouble. I tried to tell Mr. Angel about Jake, but he just stood behind his new son-in-law. I’ll keep an eye on Jake, don’t you worry.”
Ryan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Thanks, man, I just feel so bad that I let Jake get away with all his shit. I feel bad that he did that to Karlie, and I hope, for Jenna’s sake, that he keeps his shit together.”
“Yeah,” Drew laughed, “I’ll make sure he keeps his shit together. Jenna deserves better—her baby deserves better. Remember when she used to follow you around after we first moved here? She was like what—twelve, and you were—"