I couldn’t dwell on that now though. Phoenix was not the one to unload on. She wasn’t very good at support. I held my sorrow inside. For now, I would focus on hers and allow it to distract me.
When we were inside the apartment, Phoenix left her suitcase by the door and walked over to the sofa and sank down onto it. I laid the keys on the entry table and waited for her to say something. I could tell she wanted to unload.
“I’m pregnant,” she said the words as she stared straight ahead at nothing.
“Oh no.” I could only manage a whisper. She’d said the only thing I hadn’t been expecting to hear. Unable to move, I stood there staring at her wondering if I’d heard her incorrectly.
“I told him at the airport. I’d been going to tell him tonight. I was planning a surprise dinner and,” she paused, closed her eyes and shook her head. “I was so stupid. I thought he would be excited. I thought we were in love.” Finally, she turned to look at me. “But we weren’t. he has a family already. A beautiful family.”
I moved to her then. She was so close to breaking down and I had no words of comfort, but I wanted to hold her. I didn’t want her to feel alone. Sitting down beside her, I reached for her hand and held it in both of mine. The first tear slid free and rolled down her cheek.
“She didn’t even acknowledge me. She looked at me once then back at him and said ‘This again? Really Edward? I thought we had moved past your need for a toy. Make it disappear please.’ Then she had taken her boys’ hands and told them to go find a bedroom they liked. As if I weren’t standing there. As if I was a pet he’d picked up. In that moment, all I could think was ‘His name is Edward?’” She laughed, but it wasn’t real. It was more hysterical. “I thought it was Dannon. Like the yogurt.”
My father may kill the man. I hoped he was wealthy enough to hide properly.
The first sob broke free and Phoenix turned and laid her head on my shoulder as she cried. I held her and said nothing. There was nothing I could say to make this better. I had no wisdom for her. No guidance. My little sister’s bad decisions had always been an issue. This time, however, she’d have to grow up. There would be no more time for selfish impulsiveness. Those days had ended.
My tears returned and I cried silently as she clung to me. This time I wasn’t just crying for myself, but for the life my sister had to face now. She was terrified and no one could fix that for her. I would sit here and hold her until she had no tears left. Then put her to bed. Tomorrow we would decide how to tell my parents.
JULY 5TH / 8:17 AM
Eli Hardy
I HAD JUST finished drying my hair with a towel when the doorbell rang. I knew someone would come by today. I was expecting one or both of my parents. The family Fourth of July gathering had been yesterday at Gran’s and I’d not gone. I had seen Gran early that morning and explained to her that I had to work. She understood and although I knew she had questions, she hadn’t asked them.
Dropping the towel on the sink, I went to open the door and deal with this now rather than later. If my dad needed to yell at me, or my mother fuss then ask me a million questions it was time I let them do that. I’d been avoiding everyone for a week. They probably knew something now but not enough about my past.
Larissa walked past me before I even got the door fully opened. “You’ve had enough time. I respected you had to deal with things. I kept my mouth shut as did Micah. But you’re going to look at these damn papers that woman left right fucking now. Then we are going to accept what it says and if you need to get drunk, we will do that. This hiding away shit stops though. You have family and friends who love you. Stop avoiding them. Let us help you heal, goddamnit!”
Larissa opened the leather bag she had on her arm and pulled out papers that had been folded. I watched her silently as she opened them up and looked at them. “I’ve already seen this, and I know what it says. From the shit I heard out behind Live Bay a week ago, I was able to piece this all together. YOU need to look at this.” She shoved the papers at me.
I didn’t argue with her. She was right, I needed to see what it was Annie had brought for me. It had taken some time to let it sink in, but I knew she’d been telling the truth. With or without whatever this was she had left for me. The papers were from a women’s clinic in Atlanta. The papers confirmed Alice’s pregnancy. It stated she was four weeks pregnant. There was a helpline for addiction and a list of several abortion clinics. The papers were important because of the one thing on them that Annie had circled with a red marker—the date.