Chapter 16
Blakely
Except when PMS’ing, I never argue like I did with Jack. It’s been four weeks, five days, two hours and twenty minutes since our fight. I’ve wanted to call him every damn minute. I study the pink stick along with the three others I peed on. They all say I’m pregnant and although dumb-struck, in my heart I knew it the moment it happened.
I sigh as my hand covers my abdomen protectively. How in the hell are we going to co-parent this baby? To think, I almost took a pill and wiped this little life away. It would’ve made my life a lot easier, that’s for sure. Already, I’m envisioning my home office as a nursery.
Ah shit. Not again.In the mirror, tears roll down my cheeks. Ignoring the waterworks, I get on the scale, hoping I’ve gained a few pounds but no such luck. Since finding my sister’s body and leaving Jack, everything tastes like sawdust. Honestly? It doesn’t matter if I eat or not. The few times I manage to get something down, I’ve puked it all out.
Stupid hormones. They’re what started this whole damn disaster. The moment Jack took a flying leap to save Rasha’s life, I was doomed; struck stupid with a bloodstream full of oxytocin and lust.
I need to get my shit together, pull up my big girl panties, and let him know I’m pregnant. Gritting my back teeth, I pick up my phone, and call Mel. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. I’m not even sure we should be talking.” She sounds more than a bit pissed off.
Walking over to my couch, I curl up in an afghan, and turn the volume down on my third Lifetime movie. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called.”
“Damn right, you should’ve. Jack quit with hardly any notice looking like he lost his best friend. I’ve never seen him more miserable. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
How much should I say? If Jack didn’t tell her, it’s not my place to fill her in, is it?“I suppose you saw the news about the serial killer cult in Utah.”
“I did. I’m so sorry about your sister. It must’ve been awful.”
“In a way, it’s a relief to know what really happened to her.” Closing my eyes, I try to dispel the freezer full of body parts. Again, Jack was right. It would’ve been better not to have this horrible vision for the rest of my life.
I try to focus on Mel, now chatting away. “Wow. I can’t imagine. We need to get together when you’re ready to talk. But what has this to do with Jack?”
My stomach suddenly retches and I swallow hard, hoping not to puke. Morning sickness sucks. “You don’t know? He came to Utah with me.”
Her breath hisses. “No… He never mentioned it and the news didn’t either. I only read how the FBI swooped in when some documentary team stumbled upon a freezer full of dead bodies.”
I shudder, reliving the moment. “He was there, along with a couple buddies of his. He saved me, we got close, then I blew it.”
Tears come again and I wipe them angrily away. Why won’t they just stop? How long must I feel like this? I nibble a saltine as Mel sighs on the other side of the connection.
Her voice softens. “Call him, hun.”
I wipe my sore, red nose and blow. “Believe me, I tried. He won’t take my calls but I really need to talk to him. Can you see what you can do?”
“Don’t you worry. I will take care of this.” Her firm resolve gives me hope as I swallow the dry cracker and take another bite.
“One more thing. Do you think your brother-in-law could help me out with a divorce? Jack had to marry me to help me escape. I don’t want it to be a problem for him.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ll text you Andy’s number and give his secretary a heads up.” After Mel and I talk for a long while, I eat a whole piece of toast and peanut butter, feeling much better.
When I call Andrew Quinn, his secretary answers. I explain all of the sordid details of my wedding as best as I can.
She rattles off question after question before asking, “Did you sleep together?”
“Excuse me?”What business is that of hers?
“Sorry. It’s just easier to get the marriage annulled if you two didn’t have sex.”
I could lie, but it might get awkward if Jack tells the truth. I wish I could talk to him and get our stories straight. “Yeah. We were in a relationship at the time, just not ready for marriage.”
“Gotcha. No worries. You’ll hear from our office, soon. Any rush on this?”
“Ah, no.”
“Great. Talk to you soon.”
We hang up and I wish like hell I could have a stiff drink. Instead, I sip more hot chocolate, open my laptop, and shop for clothes. While my belly still isn’t showing, my bras are at the last notch and uncomfortable as hell.
While I search, I remember Jack’s warm hugs, his soft kisses, and the way he’d put his hand around my waist when he walked beside me. How could I fall so hard in just a week? It isn’t normal. To feel this damn despondent, we should’ve been together for years.
