"Maybe." I closed my eyes, utterly exhausted. "Now he'll never know."
"You tried. I have to admit, it would have been tough to try to work things out with someone like him."
"Someone like him?" I asked.
"You know, a ruthless killer. A weapons dealer. Whatever else he's into."
My heart pounded painfully at the reminder of how dangerous the Gallaghers were.
But Burke had been anything but dangerous when we were together. He'd been sweet, attentive, and playful. I'd easily forgotten what he did for a living when he looked at me like I was his entire world.
In the end, though, he'd proven his actual character was cruel. He'd forgotten me quickly enough, even before he'd left town. He would never know I loved him, never know I would have given up almost anything to be with him and, worst of all, he'd never know he had a child.
By the time Brenda got home from work, I was nearly asleep on the couch. Danny filled her in on what happened, and she went to make up the bed in the tiny guest room.
Danny cooked, and I was pleased things weren't awkward. I didn't have to be the third wheel if I chose not to see myself that way. We were friends, and we'd soon be living together full time.
"I sent a text to Mom that I was staying with you, Brenda. I don't want to worry them, but I don't know how to keep them safe and also tell them my plans."
"Well," Brenda said. "How about you tell them you're staying here with us permanently?"
"Here? They'll expect to see me."
Danny said, "I hate to say it, but you're going to have to actually disappear. Don't tell them anything, just go. If you think the Gallaghers are going to come after you, your best bet is to hide out here until we move."
I stared down at my plate. "Just don't show up to work? Make my parents think I'm missing?"
"Maybe we can leave them some kind of note when we pick up your things," Brenda suggested.
"Saying what?"
"That you had to leave, but you're safe and you'll be in contact."
"When will I be in contact, though? I can't just send them letters or whatever with my new address once I disappear." Part of me couldn't believe it had come to this. I'd never wanted to keep the baby a secret from Burke, but what choice did I have?
Danny pointed at me with his fork. "You write a note and ask them to tell Mrs. Johansen you moved away suddenly. The day we leave, you withdraw all your money from the bank. We don't have to submit an address change for you. But, yes, you have to disappear as far as your parents and this town are concerned."
"Ever consider cutting your hair? Changing the color?" Brenda twirled a lock of my dark brown waves around the end of her finger, and I grimaced.
"I don't think I have to go that far."
"No, probably not. I don't think they'll pursue you if you don't make contact and don't come back to Chester."
Danny nodded. "I think you're right. Plus, we have no reason to go to Boston to stir up more trouble for you."
"I'll get a job when we move, and I have some savings. I'm not mooching off the two of you."
"Not worried about it," Danny said around a mouthful of food.
Brenda smacked his shoulder. "Any help is appreciated, but I think we'll be okay. We've been saving for this move so we won't have trouble catching up."
Suddenly, I thought about having to pay for all the things a baby needed without having a job. I had money from working because I only had to pay for gas and personal groceries at home. When I got to Bristol, I'd have to think about more than the basic needs.
I wondered if Burke would live the rest of his life not knowing I'd tried to call him, or that when I tried harder to tell him about his baby, his father's reaction to the news was to threaten me and our unborn child's lives. Resting my hands on my stomach, I made a silent promise to protect what we'd created. In my mind, it was based on love, and that was what I would pass down.
Unconditional love.
9
