7. Chapter 7
Seven Months Later
“Um, Mary,” Alli says as I turn from my spot on her bed and stuff the last of my schoolbooks back in my bag. I look up at her since she’s now standing by the side of her bed, her fingers tug and twist the hem of her shirt, something she does when she’s nervous.
“What’s up, Alli?”
She blushes, then whirls around, grabs a bag from under her pillow and thrusts it in my hands.
I stare at it in confusion, but then through the thin plastic bag, I can read the words on the box that’s inside.
A pregnancy test.
“I wasn’t going to say anything before in case I was wrong, but then I kept thinking I should say something because you keep wondering why you’re so tired all the time, have no energy, you feel bloated, you’ve been complaining that the school lunches are never big enough anymore, so you’ve taken to bringing your own.” She pauses and takes a deep breath. “Mary, I think you’re pregnant.”
I try to take in her words, but my mind keeps freezing on the word ‘pregnant’.
Yeah, what she said is true, but I’ve been getting my period still. Though, they’re always hard to track because ever since I’ve started getting my period, they’ve been light and the time between cycles is erratic. I’ve tried tracking it in the beginning, but there were times where I went months with only the barest hint of spotting before getting a true, but light, period again. I haven’t tracked my period in years though. Could I really be pregnant?
I shake my head to clear my thoughts when I realize Alli’s been talking to me this whole time.
“I’m really sorry. I’ve been stressing about this for a couple of weeks, and I hope you don’t think I’m being a shitty friend, but I was just worried about you.”
Stuffing the test in my bag, I open my arms for a hug. She comes over immediately and hugs me tight.
“I don’t think you’re a shitty friend. You’re an awesome friend who looks out for me.”
She pulls back, wiping a tear away and it dawns on me that she must have been stressing pretty hardcore to be this worked up.
I smile, hoping to put her more at ease, though even I can feel that it’s shaky. “I really do mean it. Thank you for being an awesome friend.”
She worries her lip as her gaze drops to my backpack, then she looks hesitantly back up at me. “Will you text me?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow.” She pouts and I give her a ‘come on’ look. “Alli, your dad has a rare evening off and you guys already have things planned to go out to dinner and the movies afterward. I’m not going to interrupt that for you.”
She huffs. “What if I text you when we get back home? Will you tell me then?”
Relenting, I nod. “Okay, text me when you’re back in your room and then I’ll tell you as long as I haven’t already crashed for the night.”
Giving her one last hug, I shoulder my bag and head downstairs.
Seeing Alli’s mom in the kitchen, I give her a little wave. “Goodbye, Meghan. Have a good night,” I call out as I cross the living room.
She smiles back at me as she loads the dishwasher. “You, too, sweetie. See you later.”
Putting my plate in the sink, I wipe my hands on the towel and clear my throat, hoping to dislodge the lump that feels like it has been there since Alli muttered those four words.
‘I think you’re pregnant.’
I’d barely been able to choke down my food. Thankfully, πατ?ρα? (dad) seemed preoccupied with something from work because it’s tax season, so he didn’t notice I was on edge. At least I don’t think anyway.
“I’m going to head up to my room to study some more.”
He looks up from his phone and finishes swallowing the bite he’d just taken. “Okay. I’ve got to finish some accounts tonight, so it’ll probably be a late night.”
“Still covering for your coworker?”
He nods as he swallows a drink of juice. “Yeah. No one blames her for suddenly needing to go back home because her mom is in the hospital, but the timing sucks.”
I walk over and give him a hug from behind. He pats my arm and tilts his head up. I lower mine and he kisses my temple, just like he does every night.
“Just in case you crash before I head to bed.”
Turning, I kiss his temple in return. “ Σε αγαπ? (I love you), πατ?ρα? (dad).”
“ Kορ?τσι μου (My girl), κι εγ? σ’ αγαπ? (I love you, too).”
The familiar balm of how close πατ?ρα? (dad) and I have become ever since Mom left washes over me as we hug. I mean, we’ve always been close, but her leaving brought so much more peace to our lives. I hardly ever get into trouble or do things I shouldn’t, so he’s more of a best friend than my πατ?ρα? (dad).
Giving him one last squeeze, I pull back and head upstairs.
In my room, I stare at my bag sitting next to my desk like it could bite me.
Taking a deep breath, I grab the pregnancy test, keeping it in the grocery bag just in case πατ?ρα? happens to come upstairs, and quickly walk across the hall to the bathroom.
Setting the test on the counter, I open it and read the directions.
My hands shake and my heart starts beating harder. I set the test down on the counter and stare at it.
Is Alli right? Could I really be pregnant?
My shaky hands go to my stomach and I swear I feel a flutter.
Taking a deep breath, I look up at the test on the counter.
I can do this.
I may be eighteen and wasn’t planning on having kids for a few years, but if this test is positive, I know he or she will have the best parents.
Exhaling, I take the test out of the individual packaging and follow the instructions before capping it and laying it down on the counter. I barely get the timer set because my hands are shaking so much.
Washing my hands, my gaze stays glued to the test and after drying my hands, I can’t help wringing my hands in worry.
I can do this.
I can’t do this.
I can do this.
I’m only eighteen! We took all the precautions. I’m on birth control and Luke always wore a condom. I know they aren’t always foolproof, but we had hoped to get married after we graduated and then once we both had our degrees, him nursing and me teaching, then we’d start having kids.
Hearing my timer go off, I shut if off without looking at the test.
Squaring my shoulders, I close my eyes and give myself a good shake.
If the test is negative, we’ll just have to be more careful.
If the test is positive… If it’s positive, then I’m going to put on my big girl panties and do what I need to for my baby. This may be happening a little earlier than we planned, but sometimes, nature just wins out. And deep in my heart, I know Luke will be there for me regardless of what happens.
Cracking open my eyelids, I peer at the test.
Pregnant .
Fuck…………
Grabbing some toilet paper, I wrap up the test and hide it at the bottom of the trash bin. Picking up the box and instructions, I stuff them back into the bag and quickly run back into my room, making sure not to slam my door in the process so that πατ?ρα? won’t think anything’s amiss.
Flopping down on my bed, my hands instantly go to my stomach.
This can’t be happening…
Closing my eyes, I let myself have a mini-panic attack as I think back over the past few months. I’d been feeling off since October when I really think hard about it, but I just thought I kept catching the flu or something. Repeatedly. I mean, a lot of kids have been sick at school.
The night of our homecoming dance was the start of Luke’s and my relationship getting more serious. While we both wanted to get married after we graduated high school with a small ceremony, both of our families wanted us to wait until after college. I get what they’re saying, but we both want to get married sooner rather than later. We both know that our studies will take up most of our time, but the urge to start our little family with just the two of us is strong for both of us.
Luke wants to follow in his dad’s footsteps into the medical field, but not as a doctor. He wants to be a nurse. I want to go to school to be a teacher. To help kids as they grow. To build and nurture the foundation blocks their parents started. To help guide them as they grow older.
Groaning, I scrub my hands over my face. Then a thought sobers me and drives home that our previous plans for our little family just being the two of us, is now the three of us.
Wait… How far along am I?
Grabbing my phone, I ignore the fact that my hands have started shaking again and look up the information for a women’s clinic nearby. Luckily, there’s one in the next town over. Until I know more, I don’t want my entire family finding out just yet. I dial the clinic before I can chicken out.
Ten minutes later, I’ve got an appointment for tomorrow at 8 am, not caring that I’ll be missing a couple of classes. I need to know how far along I am and if the baby is healthy.
Crawling into bed, I pray that either the test is faulty or that I only just got pregnant. Graduation is at the end of next month, and I had planned to start taking summer classes at the local college to get some of my gen-eds out of the way. Not to mention at a cheaper rate.
My hand goes to my stomach and I freeze.
Pressing a little harder, I feel it again and then bolt upright in bed.
Oh, fuck…
How the hell far along am I that I can feel the baby moving? That was the baby… right?
I lunge for my phone on my nightstand, but then pause.
I can’t call Luke just yet. He and Brady are still at school working on the sets for an upcoming play, but since I wasn’t feeling well, I didn’t stay after with them like I normally would. Not to mention things are still pretty tense between Brady and me.
Shaking my head, I send a text to Luke, asking him to call me when he’s done and back home.
I’m about to plug my phone back in and gather the courage that I’m going to need.
I need to tell πατ?ρα? .
Pocketing my phone, I cross the room but right as I open my door, I hear the sound of glass breaking downstairs. Maybe πατ?ρα? dropped a glass or something? Hopefully, he didn’t cut himself in the process.
When I get to the top of the stairs, my frown deepens. All the lights are out down here and when I get to the base of the stairs, πατ?ρα (dads) nowhere to be found. His office is dark. I look back up the stairs toward πατ?ρεα (dads) room but the door is open and the lights are out as well.
I hesitate, wondering if I should call someone. Maybe Sam? I don’t want to turn on the light and give myself away if there is an intruder inside. Then a muffled noise catches my ear and my worry increases that something happened to πατ?ρα? . Worry ends up being my deciding factor and quietly, I sneak forward while scanning my surroundings.
Another muffled noise and a thud come from the living room and when I peek around the corner, my entire body starts trembling.
Πατ?ρα (Dads) laying on the ground in a pool of blood. Everything else is forgotten as I stare at the growing pool of blood under him.
“ Πατ?ρα? (Dad)! Oh, my God. Πατ?ρα? (Dad),” I cry out as I rush to his side, putting pressure on the wounds in his chest. His bloody hands raise, clasping my arms, and then he tries to push me away.
“Run, … κoritsi … μου (my girl). D-Diego… here… w-wants… you… To… take… you… R-run…”
“No, πατ?ρα? . I need you. Especially now.” I push forward, putting pressure on his chest again, but the pool of blood around him continues to grow. So much blood. Tears stream even harder down my face.
“You must… go… Σε… αγαπ? (I love you)…”
“ Πατ?ρα? (Dad), no!”
His hands fall limp from my arms and his chest stops moving.
“ Κι εγ? σ’ αγαπ? (I love you, too),” I whisper and a sob escapes me as I bury my head against his shoulder, crying.
“Well, isn’t this touching,” a cold voice sneers from behind me and I spin around, only to find Isaac and Uncle Diego pointing guns at me. Πατ?ρα (Dads) words come back to me, and I can’t help but put a hand to my stomach, even though it wouldn’t stop a bullet from tearing through me. Fuck… What am I going to do? How am I going to get away from them?
“Why are you doing this? Why did you kill him?” My throat is tight, but somehow, I choke the words out.
“Easy. He didn’t do as he was ordered to,” Uncle Diego says with a shrug of his shoulders as if he was discussing some mundane topic like the weather instead of my πατ?ρα (dads) death.
No.
Murder.
“What did you order him to do?” I ask through gritted teeth as my mind whirls, trying to figure a way out of here. If I can just get outside, then I can run to Sam’s house. I curse myself for not texting him earlier when I first thought about it.
Uncle Diego’s and Isaac’s faces turn lecherous.
“To hand you over, of course. Being a Vasquez means it’s time to do as your Don orders. Now that you’re eighteen, you are to take a husband to further the Don’s goals. It’s all been arranged and by midnight, you’ll be in your new owner’s clutches. Don’t worry. Your little surprise won’t negate the deal. In fact, it earned me even more money,” Diego says with a sadistic look on his face.
I stumble back, my feet slipping in the pool of πατ?ρα (dads) blood and I land on my ass as I stare up at him.
He’s insane. Completely insane if he thinks I’m going along with this hairbrained plan. And how does he know I’m pregnant? I only just found out myself. At least I think that’s what he means by ‘little surprise’.
“No. No, I’m not going with you. And I’m not a Vasquez. I’m a Catarino.”
Uncle Diego sighs and waves his gun as he looks over at my cousin. “Isaac.”
Isaac slips his gun into the back of his pants and stalks toward me, the lewd expression deepening on his face. “Time for some fun,” he sneers.
I stumble to my feet, but once again, I slip again in the pool of blood on the floor. Bile rises in my throat, but I push it down. Finally, I get to my feet and run into the dining room.
“Gotcha,” Issac says when his hands wrap around my hair, pulling me back against him and then he roughly grabs my arms and throws me across the room.
A cry of pain escapes when I hit my head on the corner of the coffee table. Black dots dance across my vision as I try to force my limbs to scoot backward and away from Isaac.
I can feel a trickle of blood run down my face, but I ignore it. Scrambling to my feet, my foot slipping slightly before I gain traction, I run toward the patio door as Isaac laughs darkly from behind me.
He’s toying with me, I know it, but I still need to try and get away from them.
My hands fumble with the lock, the blood on them making my fingers slip before I’m wretched away and thrown against the wall. My shoulder smashes into something and I cry out as I feel glass digging into my skin.
“Isaac! You’re damaging the merchandise,” Uncle Diego hisses.
“Well, I wouldn’t have had to if your sister had been able to train this overweight brat right the first time. Same for that idiot of a so-called husband.”
“Regardless, you’re still damaging the merchandise. You better hope he doesn’t ask for a discount, because if he does, it’s coming out of your share,” Uncle Diego says nonchalantly.
I feel Isaac’s body tenses against mine and his eyes harden as he stares down at me. He grips my chin hard and pulls his gun out from behind his back. He pushes into me, shoving the barrel of the gun into my stomach, and I bite my tongue to keep from crying out again as the glass pushes deeper into my shoulder as my mind whirls with how to protect my baby.
“You’re going to come with us, or I’ll end this bastard’s life right here, right now. Then I’ll be going house to house. Killing all your little friends and their families. Then I’ll have some fun with Alli and Mandy before killing them, too. Then I’ll have some fun with you. But you, you would die last after seeing the life fading from every person you’ve ever loved or cared about. So, what’s it going to be? Come with us? Or watch us torture, rape, and kill your family and friends before being killed yourself?”
His dark tone sends a chill down my spine and my hands automatically go to my stomach. As if sensing I’m beyond stressed, I can feel his or her little feet kicking. Looking between the two men, I know they’ll do it. I’ll just have to bide my time until I can make a run for it.
Isaac must see the defeat in my face, because he grins, and the darkness in it sends a shiver through me. He yanks me forward and a cry escapes as I feel the glass digging through my skin again, as well as his tight grip on my arm. The pain from the glass rips through me, sending black dots dancing along my vision again, and Isaac takes advantage of my distraction to wrench my hands behind my back.
The pain in my shoulder intensifies at the action, making me cry out again. Something plastic is wrapped around my wrists and then I hear the sound of a zip tie as he tightens it, the plastic digging deeper into my skin.
Duct tape is slapped over my mouth and I look up to see Uncle Diego smiling down at me like he’s won the lottery and considering the fact that they’re selling me to someone, he probably has.
“Nighty night, dear niece.”
My eyes widen as he brings a needle forward, but with Isaac holding me, I can’t get away. I feel the prick of the needle in my neck and my eyes start to get heavy.
The last thing I remember is looking at my πατ?ρα (dads) body one last time before my eyes finally shut and darkness consumes me.