by Moore, Lila
I followed her out of the house. As soon as we reached her car she grabbed my elbow and pushed me against the hood.
“Hey!” I protested. Her nails dug into my skin.
“What exactly are you playing at?” she asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know you were together the night before he left.”
She didn’t have to say anymore. I knew she was referring to my stepbrother.
“You’re sick,” I said.
“Am I? Jackson told me all about your little late night swim with my husband. He even fished your wet panties out of the pool.”
I squirmed and tried to shake my arm free from her grip, but her nails were like talons digging into my skin.
“Jackson? You mean the father of your baby?”
Mia’s eyes narrowed. “My baby is Nathan’s.”
“Then why didn’t you tell him about it? Why haven’t you told anyone about it?”
“That’s private, but for your information, Nathan knows.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Sure, he does.”
“I hope you’re happy. Not only did you sleep with my husband, but now Jackson’s gone because of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He had to leave with Nathan.”
“They both redeployed?”
Mia laughed. “You really don’t know anything, do you? They’re not in the Marines anymore.”
Nathan had vaguely mentioned a job, but I had no idea he worked with Jackson for a private company.
“Where are they?” I asked.
Mia released my arm and stepped back. A grin spread across her face. I knew immediately she wouldn’t tell me. She was smug in the knowledge that she knew something I didn’t.
Before she could respond, I quickly asked: “Why was Jackson spying on us?”
The change of subject wiped the smile from her face.
“He went to confront Nathan. For some reason, he’s convinced the baby is his. I’ve told him repeatedly its Nathan’s, but he won’t accept it. That’s when he saw the two of you together in the pool. After you’d gone, he found your underwear floating in the water. He brought it back to me as proof. It wasn’t until last night that he showed them to me. And now he’s gone.”
“What are you really upset about? The fact that you can’t have your cake and eat it too? You think you’re entitled to a husband and a boyfriend? Everyone knows Jackson is the father; everyone in town is talking about it.”
I knew it would drive Mia crazy to know people were gossiping about her. She was always so desperate to control her image as the sweet, bubbly blonde housewife. If she knew what people really thought of her, she would lose her mind.
“Lies,” she hissed. “You’ve been spreading stories about me. When Nathan finds out, he’ll cut you out of his life for good.”
“No he won’t. Not when he finds out what I have to say.”
I bit my tongue. I was so angry I almost told her I was pregnant with Nathan’s baby.
Mia narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. I took a step back.
“What are you hiding?”
“That’s between me and Nathan,” I said.
“There is no ‘you and Nathan.’ There’s only my marriage.”
Mia’s raw anger was starting to frighten me. I’d really struck a nerve.
“You may think you can keep a secret, but I’ll find out eventually and when I do, you’re going to regret the day Nathan came home.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I’ve known for years that Mia had a dark side, but I’d never been in her crosshairs until now. Without thinking, I put my hands over my stomach protectively. I had to find Nathan.
PART TWO
1
“Olivia! Come quick!”
My mother shouted from the other side of the house, but I heard her clearly in my room. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Her tone was frantic. My thoughts immediately went to Nathan. Had something happened to him?
I’d been puzzling over my dilemma for weeks. I was pregnant and the father, my stepbrother, had disappeared without a word as to where he was going. I desperately needed him, but I had no idea how to get in touch. The only person who knew his whereabouts was my sister-in-law Mia and she wasn’t talking.
I jumped out of bed and ran out of my room to find my mother standing in the living room. Her face was ashen; her cell phone was clutched in her hand.
“What?” I asked. “Is it Nathan? Is he okay?”
“What?” She looked confused as if she didn’t really hear me. “Nate, he’s…”
“What? Just tell me.”
I thought I would lose my mind if she didn’t tell me.
“He’s in jail.”
“What?” This was not what I’d expected to hear-to say the least. “For what?”
“Mia… she’s in the hospital. She’s in critical condition. She was attacked and she says Nathan’s responsible.”
“Bullshit.”
“Olivia, watch your language.”
For a second my old mom was back and then she remembered the situation we were in. The far off look returned.
“We have to bail him out or talk to a lawyer.” She started to ramble. “They say he attacked her-his pregnant wife.”
She said it as if it was a puzzling question, not a statement of fact. At least my mother hadn’t turned her back on Nate.
“I don’t believe it,” I said.
“No. Of course not. There must be some misunderstanding.”
I ran to my room to grab my things.
“Where are you going?”
“To talk to Nate.”
“No, they won’t let you. Not until he’s been released on bail.”
“Fine,” I said, grabbing the car keys off the dining room table.
“Where are you going?”
“To talk to Mia.”
2
The hospital was buzzing with activity. Visitors walked the hallways; nurses pushed patients in wheelchairs. I had to wait for twenty minutes at the front desk before the admittance nurse would speak to me. When I told her I was trying to find the room of my sister-in-law, she sighed: “What’s her name?”
“Mia Allen. She’s in critical condition.”
My heart sank as I said, ‘critical condition.’ For all Mia’s faults, I didn’t wish this on her. I hoped they caught whoever attacked her.
“Mia… Mia…” she said as she typed on her computer. “Mia Allen. She’s not in critical condition. She’s stable and in a room on the third floor.”
“Oh. I was under the impression her injuries were serious. What happened?”
“You’d have to speak with her doctor, but from what I can tell her injuries were minor.”
Who had called my mother and told her Mia was in critical condition? It was probably just a simple mistake, I hoped. I’d hate to think of someone deliberately misleading my mother into thinking the situation was worse than it was.
I shook off the thought as I headed to the elevator. When I reached her room, I paused outside the door. She was inside speaking with someone. The door was slightly ajar. Their voices drifted over the sound of talking nurses and beeping equipment to reach me.
“I don’t know what happened,” she was explaining. “I’m sure it was an accident. Nathan just lost his temper that’s all. That’s when he hit me with the-with the car.”
My mouth fell open. My hand went to stomach protectively. How could this be true?
“Thank you for your statement,” a man, I took to be a cop, responded.
“You will let him go, won’t you? It was just an accident.”
“This is a serious matter, ma’am. You need to rest now.”
I pressed myself flat against the wall as the cop exited her room. He didn’t even glance at me as he left.
I entered the room not knowing what to expect. Mia lay in a hospital bed. Her blonde bo
b was perfectly quaffed with a slight curl at the ends; her makeup was flawless. A light bruise was visible just below her eye. She was stretching her arms above her head as I entered. When she saw me, she narrowed her eyes.
She didn’t look bad, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. This was no time to attack her after she’d just been through something horrible.
“Mia, I don’t want to fight. I came to check on you. Are you okay?”
She scoffed. “No, obviously not. I’m in the hospital because of your stepbrother. He attacked me with a hammer. I’m lucky to be alive. What if something had happened to the baby?”
“A hammer?”
“Yes. Are you deaf or just stupid?”
“I overheard you talking to that cop. You said Nathan hit you with his car.”
Mia paused then shook her head. “That came after.”
It was obvious she was lying. I was starting to lose my temper.
“What happened to your face?”
“I hit my head on the sidewalk and then-no wait, before that, he flew into a rage.”
“Cut the bullshit. I know you’re lying.”
Mia opened her mouth to protest then stopped. Her expression changed. “You’ve just got it all figured out, don’t you? First you fuck my husband. Then you come here to berate an injured, pregnant woman in the hospital. You’re a real piece of work.”
“I’m a piece of work? You’re faking this whole thing. What about Nathan? What if he goes to jail? This could ruin him.”
“Yes, it could,” she said with deep satisfaction.
“Unbelievable.”
I didn’t know what to do. Our only hope was to go to trial. I was sure her injuries didn’t match up with what she told the police, but that didn’t necessarily mean Nathan would be found innocent.
“There is a solution to this problem,” she said with a smile. “I’ll be more than happy to tell the police this was all one big misunderstanding-on one condition.”
“What?”
“You get an abortion.”
For all of Mia’s scheming, this was a new low. I’d always known she was phony and mean-spirited, but this level of manipulation was beyond even what I expected. Besides, how did she know I was pregnant? No one knew. I wanted to tell Nathan first so we could figure out how to move forward together. Was she simply bluffing? Was she that clever?
If she didn’t know for sure before, she did now. The truth was written all over my face. I couldn’t conceal my shock and guilt. I tried to change the subject away from my pregnancy.
“Does Nathan know what kind of woman he’s married to?”
“Nathan’s a survivor. So am I. What are you? Nothing more than a helpless little girl wandering around from one scene to the next, looking for your hero to save you. Nathan will never want you-not really. He needs a woman on his level.”
I balled my hands into fists; my blood ran cold.
“If that’s true,” I said, struggling to keep my voice even, “then why are you threatened by my baby?”
Mia tilted her head to the side like a predator sizing up its prey. Her face twisted slightly. I smiled. For all her tough talk, I’d made her flinch.
“You weren’t sure were you?” I asked. “Well, you guessed correctly: I’m pregnant with Nathan’s baby. As for me not being on Nathan’s level, well, if that were true, then why did he spend his one free night with me instead of you?”
Before she could respond, I added: “You’re going to call the police and tell them that you made it all up. You’re going to tell them the truth: Nathan never laid a finger on you.”
“Why should I?”
An evil part of me actually thought it would be better to let her continue with her lie. If she brought false charges against Nathan, he would never forgive her. My stepbrother would be mine, but at what cost? Nathan’s reputation, his job; they would all surely be lost. I couldn’t stand the thought of him being treated like a criminal.
My cell phone rang. I looked at the caller ID; it was my mother. I hit Ignore.
“You’re going to do what I say because if you don’t-”
My phone rang. Again, it was my mother.
“Better answer that,” Mia said with a grin.
I rolled my eyes and answered the phone. “Hello?” It was hard for me to hide my irritation.
“Olivia! They let Nathan go. They’re dropping all the charges.”
“They are? Why?”
Mia’s full attention was on me now.
“I don’t know, but Nathan’s free to go. Are you with Mia?”
“Great,” I replied, ignoring her question. “I’ll be home soon.”
“Bye.”
“Who was that?” Mia asked.
“Nobody. Got to run,” I said cheerily.
“Wait! Come back here.”
I was out the door before she could say anymore. I sped home, half-thrilled and half-dreading the prospects of running into Nathan there. When I pulled up to the house, he was sitting on the porch.
I ran up to him. I’m not sure what I expected, but he didn’t rise to greet me. Nate looked up at me sadly, then back down at his feet.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He nodded absently.
“Mom said the charges were dropped. That’s good news. I’m glad the cops figured out the truth.”
“The truth?” he asked.
“That Mia was making it up.”
Nathan frowned.
“What?” I asked.
“They didn’t figure out the truth.”
“You don’t mean…”
My stomach twisted into knots. He couldn’t possibly have hurt Mia. He would never-would he? Nathan looked hurt.
“No-I didn’t mean…” He sighed. “I would never hurt her, or any woman. What I meant is that they didn’t let me go because they knew she was making it up… they let me go because they were ordered to.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The people I work for have a lot of influence with law enforcement and politicians. All it took was one call and they released me.”
He looked disappointed.
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it? They took care of the problem for you. Going to trial is always a risky proposition especially if you’re innocent of the charges and Mia-”
“I don’t want to talk about Mia.”
I bit my tongue and sat down beside him. I wanted him to be angry at her. How could he brush this aside? Then I remembered my secret. I needed to tell him before he found out from Mia.
“Nate, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Don’t,” he said.
My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t face rejection now.
“We can’t be together,” he continued. “The people I work for…”
“What do they have to do with anything?” I was talking loudly. If I didn’t get a grip on my temper, my mother would hear me shouting.
“This is between us,” I said. “It’s none of your company’s business.”
“It’s not that simple, Liv. The security firm I work for deals with a lot of powerful clients. I can’t talk about it, but I signed away my life to them for the next two years.”
“If your life belongs to them, then what are you doing here?”
“I had to come back to settle things with Mia. She’s having my baby.”
He looked down shamefully. My heart broke at the sight of it. Still, I wondered what he was talking about. The last time we talked I told him about Mia and Jackson. Why was he taking responsibility for a baby that wasn’t his? Was he that desperate for a family?
“Nate, you know the baby’s not yours,” I said quietly. “I know you don’t want to talk about Mia, but she’s a liar. I mean, she had you arrested on false assault charges. I overheard her talking to the cops. She told them you tried to run her over with your car. I’m sorry, but she’s crazy.”
“I didn’t want to say anything, but the baby could be mine.”<
br />
“What?”
“A few months back, I came home on leave. I didn’t want anyone to know. I was depressed and wanted to be alone. Anyway, I found my way home to Mia after a night of drinking and well…”
“What about Jackson?” I protested.
“Jackson has been dealt with.”
“What does that mean?”
He shot me a dark look. “We’ve settled things between us.”
I wondered what happened to the Nate who praised and valued my honesty. He’d suddenly become leery of hearing what I had to say.
“He told Mia about us. Did you know that? She knows everything. He couldn’t wait to tell her about-”
“Tell Mia about what?” my mother asked.
I jumped and let out a little scream. How long had she been standing there? What had she heard?
My stepbrother stiffened, but he didn’t miss a beat. “Jackson told Mia that I’ve been seeing someone else. She freaked out and well, you know the rest.”
I was on the verge of panic. My mother didn’t suspect anything as far as I knew, but would she buy what Nate was saying? He left things vague so that she would fill in the blanks, but what would she assume was the truth?
“Jackson’s always been a troublemaker,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I’m not surprised he’s the cause of this. He’s caused plenty of trouble while you were away.”
Nate didn’t say anything.
“Sweetie, I know the two of you were best friends, but two guys, one girl… it’s the oldest story in the world.”
“I know,” Nate said quietly.
“It’s time to move on. As for Mia, well, I have faith in you to figure it out. I’ve never known to you make a bad choice. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. I know you’ll do the right thing. I’m proud of you Nathan.”
Nathan cringed as my mother praised him. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
Guilt washed over his face. Did he regret sleeping with me?
“I’ll leave you two to talk privately,” my mother said. “But don’t stay out here too long. Bad weather’s coming.”
“Okay,” I said wishing she’d leave.
I was grateful when my mother closed the front door. I looked into the window of the house and watched as she disappeared into the kitchen. I breathed a sigh of relief. When I turned back to Nate, the relief I felt vanished. He was staring off at the storm clouds on the horizon. A far off look gave his eyes a glassy appearance.
