The woman comes around with a white clothing bag in one hand and is carrying a large duffle bag in the other.
“What’s all that for?”James asks.
“Why for her wedding, silly,” the woman states.
“Wedding?”the question leaves my mouth before I can swallow it.James squeezes my hand tightly, and I’m thankful for the comfort at this very moment because my knees feel ready to give out.“I’m not getting married.”
“Shepherd Walter said that it’s time; Mr.Sanchez has arrived,” the woman divulges, ignoring me completely.
“Run along, boy, we’ve got it from here,” one of the men instructs James.“Go be useful somewhere else.”
James starts to protest, but I squeeze his hand, stopping him from saying anything.
“It’s okay, James,” I look up at him and realize just how young he looks.He deserves so much better than this life.I pray that he’s able to get away from all this before it ruins what is left of his childhood and innocence.Leaning over, I swing my arms around his shoulders and bring him into a hug the best way I can with my bulging belly in the way and whisper, “Remember what I said.Go—gethelp.”
He nods then releases me, taking a step away from the group.James takes off in a sprint the opposite way from where the plane and SUVs were headed.
“Let’s get you ready, shall we?”the woman says while walking past me heading down into the bunker.
My feet are planted on the ground, unmoving.
“We can do this the hard way or you can walk on your own,” the other man informs me when I don’t follow the lady.
A hand latches onto my elbow and forcibly pulls me towards the door and steps.My mind is reeling.If Mr.Sanchez came on a plane then that means he’ll leave on the plane, which in turn, will include me.Getting on that aircraft will seal my fate, and I’ll never be found or be able to run.
“Watch your step,” I hear growled, not even realizing that I’d been shuffled down the stairs and almost miss a step.“Shepherd Walter said not to harm the child.”
Why do they care about my baby?
“Come, take a seat, let’s start on the hair,” the woman motions to a chair next to the wall.“I don’t see an outlet, so I’ll have to improvise, I guess.”
She does realize this isn’t some hotel but a freaking bunker in the middle of a field on a farm, right?I think to myself.My face must give her a confused look, because she narrows her eyes at me.Her calm demeanor is starting to slip slightly.
I’m hauled over to the seat, and as soon as my butt hits the chair, I’m poked and stabbed by pins, clips, and brushes.Once it’s up to her standards, she starts to put makeup on me.I’ve not had access to a mirror except for the shower I was allotted a few days ago, so I’m sure she’s pulling out the big guns to cover up how miserable I look.
“This is all I was able to find on such short notice,” the lady says, stepping away once she’s put the last of the makeup in her duffle bag.She holds up the clothing bag by the hanger and shoves it towards me.When I don’t make a move to reach out and take it from her, she huffs out a breath, annoyed.“We all serve a purpose here with The Fellowship.It’s something I’d expect you know since you’ve grown up Shepherd Walter’s oldest daughter and all.”
I hate when everyone wants to lump me in or expects me to fall in line with what my father is into.How hard is it to believe that I’m my own person and make my own decisions?
“I guess I’ve outgrown the concept of following blindly behind leaders who only have their best interest in mind,” I taunt.“Heaven forbid a woman does what she wants and chooses her own path.”
The lady looks as though I’ve just kicked a sickly dog.The disgust on her face tells me I’m barking up the wrong tree and not penetrating a single word to her simple mind.
With her nose scrunched up, she lets her eyes roam over me from head to toe.
“You should be so thankful that someone is willing to take on such a lost soul.Especially, in the condition you let yourself get into.”
It’s my turn to return the disgusted look.“You can’t possibly mean how my boyfriend and I made this beautiful child together.Or that we love each other so deeply that no amount of time will stop him from finding me or our baby.”I place my hand over my growing belly.
The lady steps forward and shoves the bag into my chest disliking what I’ve just revealed.Even though Beckett and I haven’t said the actual words to each other, I know we feel that way.
A loud knock shakes us out of our staring match.
“Shepherd Walter wants her ready in the next five minutes,” the voice calls out.
The woman steps up to me and with jerky movements, she tears the zipper down the clothing bag revealing a plain white dress that looks to cover me from chin to toes.
“Hurry up,” she snips.“We mustn’t keep him waiting.”
