Miss Deveroux frowns and doesn’t reply.
“It’s going to work out,” I continue. “We just need to get through the next few months, and after that… we’ll see.”
Another client saunters up to the bar just then, demanding Miss Deveroux’s attention. She walks to the other side with an easy smile already in place. For a while, I sit and watch her as I finish my water.
Then, Katia appears next to me. “Time to go back.”
I slide off the stool and push my hair out of my eyes. “I just need a moment.”
Katia shakes her head. “No.”
Miss Deveroux comes out from around the bar and places her hand on the small of my back. “Why don’t you sit in my office for a bit?”
Katia glances between us, and her eyes narrow into slits. “Whatever the hell this is, it stops right now.”
“She needs a few minutes to herself, so instead of drawing attention, I thought it would be better if she found a quiet place to catch her breath,” Miss Deveroux says. “Unless you want to explain the rumors to Mr. Payne.”
I glance behind her and see several pairs of eyes on us.
Katia places a hand on my arm. She yanks, and I barely have a chance to thank Miss Deveroux before I’m led away. I keep my head down and focus on placing one foot in front of the other until we reach Miss Deveroux’s office.
“I’m right here, so don’t go getting any funny ideas,” Katia hisses from the doorway. She pulls the door shut behind her, and I sink into an armchair. Once my heart is no longer pounding, I walk over to the desk and sit down. The laptop has a handwritten note from Miss Deveroux, and I smile.
I type a few things into the search bar, and a moment later, the screen goes still.
When it starts again, a window pops up, and my hands fly to my mouth when I see my mom and dad on the screen.
“London, what’s wrong? What happened?”
I lower my hands. “I need your help.”
My dad takes off his glasses and peers at the screen. “That woman who helped set this up… who is she? Is she threatening you?”
I shake my head. “No, she’s a friend. She set this up even though she could get in trouble.”
My mom frowns and moves closer to the camera. “What’s going on?”
“I… I’m in trouble,” I say quietly. “I don’t know how much time I have, so I need you both to listen. I’m pregnant. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to… go through with it. Mason knows, and he’s supportive, but …things are getting out of hand. There are too many people to fight now.”
My parents exchange a quick, confused look and say nothing.
“I can’t go into too many details,” I continue, “but it’s not safe for us—any of us…. Mason is trying to make things better, but he can’t be distracted.”
My mom is the first one to break the silence. “Does he know you’re talking to us now?”
“No, and I’d prefer if he didn’t. I’ve got a plan, but I can’t do it without you.”
“A plan?” My mom’s eyes widen. “What kind of plan?”
“Dad, I need you to get in touch with that friend of yours who lives abroad. You remember the one you told me about?”
My dad places his arm around my mom, and his expression turns solemn. “Yes.”
“Don’t give away too much,” I say, “Just make sure he’s willing to help us. And don’t reach out to me. I’ll find a way to contact you when I’m ready.”
“Understood.”
My mom shrugs his arm off and stands up. “Now wait just a minute. You can’t just drop news like this on us and expect us to just go along with it.”
