I Know What You Did

by N L Hinkens

  As she drove across town, Jo rehearsed in her mind what she would say to Mia. Mostly, she wanted to reassure her that she was still on her side and willing to help her with the adoption process. She was worried that the argument with Noah might have pushed Mia in another direction. Obviously, the girl wasn’t thinking straight, and Jo didn’t want her doing anything stupid on the spur of the moment. Hormones, as she knew only too well, were couriers of confusion, buzzing your mind with so many irrational thoughts that it was impossible to tackle anything in a logical manner.

  It was dusk by the time she turned onto Fairview Court. She drove slowly down the tree-lined road counting down house numbers until she arrived at Mia’s place. To her surprise, Sarah’s car was parked outside. Jo increased her speed and drove on by. She didn’t want to barge in if Sarah had already stopped by to check up on Mia. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing. Sarah was her neighbor, after all, and a very nurturing person. More than capable of talking Mia down off the ledge if it came to that. Jo would just have to wait until tomorrow evening to meet with her and hope for the best that she didn’t make any rash decisions before then. Resigned to her course of action, she returned home and waited for Liam to get back.

  It was close to midnight when she finally heard the front door open. She was wide awake on the couch, clutching the remote, her mind too revved up to sleep or to concentrate on the movie playing in the background.

  “You’re still up.” Liam’s tone conveyed surprise but also a kernel of annoyance that made Jo wonder if he’d deliberately stayed away this late in a bid to get out of talking about the adoption. Didn’t he realize that she was trying to rescue them from the infertility curse that was slowly destroying their relationship?

  “Are you trying to avoid me?” Jo prodded. She knew better than to put Liam on the defensive, but after waiting all this time on him she couldn’t rein in her frustration.

  “Of course not,” he said evenly. “This has nothing to do with us. I ran into some glitches with the network system and the company has a product launch tomorrow. So, I had to make sure everything was functioning smoothly before I left.”

  “And you don’t think a baby is a tad more important than a product launch?” Now she was stoking the fire, but she needed Liam to want this as badly as she did.

  “Honey,” he soothed, “this isn’t a question of which is more important. The product launches tomorrow. The baby, by my reckoning, is still seven months away.”

  Jo blinked in surprise, a momentary flicker of elation almost taking her breath away when she realized that Liam had actually been paying attention when she’d told him that Mia was seven or eight weeks along. Maybe he was more interested than she gave him credit for. The audacious speed at which her emotions could pivot perplexed her, but for now she would embrace the direction they were taking. She patted a spot on the couch. “Sit down.”

  Liam threw his briefcase on the leather recliner and loosened his tie before joining her. He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger before letting out a sigh. “I’ve been thinking about our conversation in the few minutes I was able to snatch at work. You know there’s nothing more that I want than for us to have a family, Jo. If you’re sure you’re ready to move on to adoption, then I’m with you. We might as well begin by exploring this opportunity that’s come our way.”

  Jo gaped at him, her heart somersaulting. “Do you really mean that, Liam? Because I don’t want you to say it just because it’s past midnight and you’re too exhausted to argue.”

  Liam put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. He gently removed her glasses and kissed the tip of her nose. “I mean it. If anyone can make this work, it’s you. I know how determined you are. You’ll stop at nothing.”

  6

  Shortly before seven the following evening, Jo and Liam pulled up outside Tory’s two-story craftsman-style house. Jo hadn’t been able to stop smiling all day. Her face was physically aching from the feat. She reached over and squeezed Liam’s hand before they climbed out of the car. “Let me do the talking. I know Mia reasonably well, and I have a good understanding of where Tory’s coming from after speaking with her on the phone the other day. The fact that you’re here with me is more than enough to show them that you support our decision.”

  Liam gave a mock salute. “Yes, Counselor Jo, happy to take a backseat and watch you wield your masterful powers of negotiation.”

  Jo leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. Why had she ever doubted that Liam was in this with her? He’d always been her staunchest supporter and ally in everything she’d embarked upon—guiding her to shore each time she lost her way on a sea of despair.

  They walked hand-in-hand up the cracked concrete pathway to the wraparound front porch. The house itself had good bones, and this was a great neighborhood, but the dingy facade was in sore need of a paint job. Liam rang the doorbell and, after a moment or two, the door scraped open. A willowy, blonde woman dressed in a loose-fitting black top, black leggings and Vans peered out at them. She glanced uncertainly from Jo to Liam and then back to Jo, her high ponytail flipping back and forth. “Oh, hi. I’m Tory. I … wasn’t expecting both of you.”

  Jo flashed her a disarming smile, taking in her high cheekbones, porcelain skin, and wide, blue eyes so reminiscent of Mia’s. She must have been a very young mom or else she’d had some quality work done. “My husband, Liam, is going to be an integral part of the process, so I brought him along in case you have any questions for him.”

  Tory raised her sculpted brows, but she stepped aside and gestured for them to come in. She led them past the stairs and into a low-ceilinged kitchen with dated appliances and older cabinetry that someone had repainted a shade of moss green in a misguided attempt to spruce things up. It only served to lend a moldy ambience to the room. A stack of dirty dishes peeked out over the lip of a stainless-steel sink, and a long, fluorescent beam light that barely lit the recesses of the room buzzed overhead. Tory grabbed a tea towel and hurriedly wiped down a spot on the table before pulling out a couple of chairs. Jo slid into one, eying the mountain of paperwork and school text books that covered the other end of the table.

  Tory stuck her head around the kitchen door and yelled up the stairs, “Mia! Your counselor’s here.”

  She beamed awkwardly at Jo and Liam as she joined them at the table. “She’ll be down in just a minute.”

  “Not a problem,” Jo said. “Have you two had a chance to talk any more about what you want to do?”

  “Mia was all for giving the baby up for adoption, but after yesterday’s fiasco at school she changed her mind and said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do.” Tory twisted her lips. “She’s all over the place. Crying one minute, raging at Noah the next.” She jerked her head up as Mia’s form darkened the doorway. “There you are!”

  Mia stared brazenly at Liam, arms folded across her chest. “What’s he doing here?”

  “This is Liam Murphy, Mrs. Murphy’s husband,” Tory answered. “He’s here to help with the adoption process. Your counselor was about to explain to us how it all works.”

  Scowling, Mia slumped into a chair at the far end of the table half-hidden behind the huge pile of books.

  Jo took a quick breath and turned to face her. “I told you I would help you with the adoption process, and I will, Mia. The reason I brought my husband along tonight is because, after talking things over with him, we’d like to do more than just help facilitate the adoption.” She threw a quick glance at Liam and reached for his hand before turning back to Mia. “Liam and I would like to adopt your baby.”

  Tory gasped out loud, her hand shooting to her mouth.

  Mia puckered her forehead, as she picked an imaginary fleck from the sleeve of her sweater. “Why?”

  “It’s because—“ Jo began but Mia cut her off.

  “Not you.” Her eyes darted to Liam. “I want him to answer.”

  Liam cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck with his fre
e hand. “Well, Jo and I have been trying to have a baby of our own for the past ten years. It’s been a painful journey filled with disappointment and more miscarriages than I want to remember. We’ve discussed adoption in the past, and when you met with Jo on Monday and told her you were pregnant, she came home and talked it over with me.” Liam paused briefly before continuing. “I want to be a dad more than anything in the world.”

  Tory stared at Liam, her whitened knuckles pressed tight to her face. She shot a curious look in Mia’s direction as if waiting for her to respond.

  Mia trailed her long fingernails slowly through her hair, studying Liam with a catlike stare that Jo found somewhat unnerving. Finally, her lips curved into a cool smile. “Not all men make good fathers. You might, though.”

  Jo and Liam exchanged cautiously optimistic looks, not daring to speak.

  “So, now what happens?” Tory piped up.

  “Well,” Jo began, trying not to sound flustered at the abrupt transition. “If you want to proceed, we’ll need to start by hiring a lawyer to ensure the adoption is legal. Naturally Liam and I will cover all the legal fees.”

  “And we’re happy to help with medical and miscellaneous expenses too,” Liam added.

  “That’s very generous,” Tory said. “It’s tough to keep up with the bills as it is. This has thrown me for a loop.” She threw a loaded look at Mia who narrowed her eyes in return. A tiny shiver ran down Jo’s spine. What was that all about?

  “We’ll go ahead and contact an adoption lawyer to draw up the paperwork to make sure we comply with any adoption laws,” Jo continued. “In the meantime, Mia, you’ll need to make an appointment with your OBGYN, if you haven’t already.”

  Mia gave a disgruntled shrug. “Whatever.”

  An awkward pause ensued during which Tory mouthed an apology to Jo.

  “Well, we should probably get going,” Jo said, looping the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “I’ll bring the paperwork over for you to sign as soon as it’s drawn up. You both have my number if you have any questions.” She glanced at Mia who was staring fixedly at a spot on the table in front of her. “If you need some extra time to catch up on the work you missed yesterday, I can have a word with your teachers for you—unless Mrs. Gleeson already offered to talk to them for you?”

  Mia regarded her with a bemused look. “What?”

  “When she stopped by last night,” Jo hastened to explain. “I was worried about you being alone when you were so upset, so I drove over here to check up on you. I felt better once I saw Mrs. Gleeson’s car outside, so I went on home.”

  A flicker of annoyance crossed Mia’s features. She waved a hand vaguely. “Oh, that’s right. She dropped my chemistry homework off.”

  “Great, well let me know if I can help you with anything else,” Jo reiterated. “And thank you, Mia. I can’t even begin to tell you what a gift you're giving Liam and me.” She hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to give Mia a hug, but it felt like forced intimacy. There was bound to be a more opportune moment further down the line when Mia would be more receptive to such a gesture.

  “Good to meet you both,” Liam said with a smile and a nod as he got to his feet. Tory accompanied them to the door and then threw a quick glance over her shoulder in the direction of the kitchen before lowering her voice. “I’m sorry Mia’s acting so prickly tonight. I think she’s taking it real bad about Noah. She’s convinced he’s seeing someone else.”

  “That’s totally understandable,” Jo assured her. “She’s under a lot of stress. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll keep a close eye on her at school.”

  “Thanks. I’ll make sure she sets up that doctor appointment.” Tory extended her hand and Jo shook it firmly, a shiver of anticipation tingling down her spine at the touch of the woman’s slender fingers. She was shaking hands with her baby’s grandmother. It felt right, a handshake to secure the mutually beneficial deal that was in the making.

  Back in the privacy of their car, Liam exhaled loudly as he turned the key in the ignition. “Well, the offer’s on the table. Looks like we’re going to be parents.”

  Jo grinned at him, blinking back tears. “Mia had her defenses up, but on the whole, it went a lot more smoothly than I expected.”

  “She was throwing poison-tipped daggers my way at first,” Liam said with a chuckle.

  “She wasn’t expecting you to be there. To be fair, we sprang this whole thing on her. But I think hearing you share your heart convinced her.”

  “I meant every word,” Liam responded. “Although I was sweating so much, I can’t remember half of what I said. All I can tell you is that I’ll put every effort into being the best dad ever.”

  Jo traced the back of her finger down his cheek. “The best dad and the best husband. Thanks for sticking with me through all of this. I know it hasn’t been easy at times, but you’re finally going to experience fatherhood. What do you say we celebrate and go catch that new action movie you’ve been wanting to see?” She glanced at the clock in the car. “It starts in fifteen minutes. We can still make it.”

  Her phone rang before Liam had a chance to respond. She fished it out of her purse and stared at the screen. “It’s Sarah. She’s probably gonna try and talk me into that European trip again.”

  She swiped a finger across the screen. “Hey there!”

  “Hi, Jo,” Sarah replied. “I was just talking to Robbie about our trip to Europe and—“

  Jo stifled a laugh and hit the speaker button so Liam could listen in.

  “—I thought I’d ask if you’d run the idea by Liam yet. I know you said it wasn’t in the budget, but if you wanted to go, Robbie and I could spring for the rental car and VRBO’s. I’ve been browsing some really reasonable ticket prices. What do you say?”

  “That’s more than generous of you, Sarah. To be honest, I haven’t had a chance to talk to Liam about it yet. We’re on our way to catch a movie. But maybe over the weekend we’ll take a look at the brochures.” Jo rolled her eyes at Liam and he gave a knowing smile.

  “Which movie?” Sarah asked.

  “Some new thriller Liam wants to see.” Jo raised her brows questioningly at him.

  “Manhattan Mystery,” he said.

  “Oh, I saw it last night. It’s good! We went to dinner first and then caught the seven-fifteen show.”

  Jo frowned. That was odd. Sarah’s car had been parked outside Tory’s house when she’d driven by around seven-thirty.

  “What did Robbie think of it?” Liam asked.

  Sarah laughed. “He was too tired to go. I went with a neighbor. Anyway, enjoy! I’ll catch you tomorrow.”

  Jo slipped her phone back into her purse trying to figure out why Sarah had left her car parked outside Mia’s house. She must have got a ride to the movies from there with her neighbor.

  “We can’t afford Europe and a baby in the same year,” Liam said. “We need to find a way to extricate ourselves before Sarah gets too carried away plugging us into their vacation plans.”

  Jo gave a thoughtful nod. “You’re right, I think it’s time to tell them we’re looking into adoption.”

  7

  On Thursday morning, Jo drove to work rehearsing how to tell Sarah and Robbie about her and Liam’s decision. She would have to say they were pursuing a closed adoption—that way her friends wouldn’t press the issue of who the parents were. She chuckled when she pictured their reactions. No doubt, Sarah would envelop her in one of her hearty hugs and Robbie would crack a few parenthood jokes. In reality, they would be delighted for her.

  She parked in one of the staff parking spots and gathered up her paperwork and purse. She’d arrived early in the hope of catching Robbie and Sarah before class started. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to contain her good news until break time. To her disappointment, neither of them were in their classrooms when she walked by, and their doors were locked. She checked the staff break room to make sure they hadn’t slipped in for a quick coffee, and then hea
ded to her office, resigned to wait until later in the day to talk to them. Time seemed to stretch as she had no early morning appointments to distract herself with. For once, she wished the chair opposite her was occupied by a needy teenager she could give her full attention to. She began cleaning out her file drawers, but her thoughts kept drifting to the delicious secret burning inside her, warming that barren part of her with renewed hope.

  When the bell finally rang, she made her way to the staff break room and chatted with several other teachers while keeping an eye out for Sarah and Robbie. When there was still no sign of them halfway through the break, she made a beeline over to Marshall Harrington, the AP math teacher whose classroom adjoined Robbie’s.

  “Hi, Marshall,” Jo said. “Have you seen Robbie this morning?”

  He scratched his chin, clutching a travel mug in one hand, his bald head glistening under the artificial light in the break room. “Don’t think he’s in today. I saw a sub in his classroom this morning.”

  Jo thanked him and moved off to find out if anyone had seen Sarah. She was surprised to learn there was also a substitute teacher in the art classroom. Growing concerned, she pulled out her phone and texted them both as she walked back to her office. It seemed odd that neither of them had shown up. Sarah had sounded in good spirits last night when she spoke with her, and she hadn’t mentioned anything about Robbie feeling unwell either. Maybe something had happened to Sarah’s mother.

  Neither of them responded to her texts. Frustrated, she sat back down at her desk to prepare for her appointment with Noah Tomaselli. She really did need to take his statement about the altercation in the hallway to make sure there were no repercussions for Mia, but more importantly, she wanted to fish around and see if Noah had any idea that he was an expectant father at seventeen. She had to be certain there were no glitches on the road to adoption. As the minutes rolled by, she grew increasingly annoyed when it became obvious Noah was a no show. He might have forgotten about it, but she suspected he'd deliberately blown it off. He’d only reluctantly agreed to the meeting in the first place. She could send a note to his class and request that he be excused, but it was already well into the class period now. It would be better to try and catch him at lunchtime and have him reschedule. She glanced at her phone screen again, drumming her fingers on her desk, willing it to ping with a message from either Robbie or Sarah. Eventually, she turned it upside down and tried to ignore it. Staring at it was accomplishing nothing, she might as well get to work on something else, like the adoption.