r work was filled with intrigue and passion and her style flawless. Any editor would see the gift she possessed.
“Her writing is a hobby, so I guess it’ll stay that way. I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.”
Dean nodded his head even though he knew by letting her go he’d be resigning her to a lifetime of shutting away her creativity. Would being with this boy send her muse away?
“I’ll see her tonight,” he said
“You know this is for the best.”
He didn’t know. He’d see Laura and make his decisions.
Dean waited for her outside his front door. He’d gone to the library after the visit with Peter and waited until she agreed to meet with him. She looked awful. Her eyes were black from lack of sleep and she looked weak.
The sunset came and he watched her walk along the path. Her bag looked way too big as it hung on her shoulder. He thought about what Peter wanted him to do and watching her walk towards him, he knew the man was right. Laura staying with him would be a big mistake. People in town would gossip about their relationship and she’d be the main source. Could he force her to a lifetime of ridicule because he didn’t want to let her go? What would happen when she was still so young and he’d be old? He couldn’t expect her to spend her years with him as he grew old. He was twenty years older than her, a very large age gap.
“You wanted to see me,” she said.
Dean nodded and gestured for her to go on ahead of him. She went to the kitchen and he made coffee. He really wanted booze, the strongest stuff he owned.
“I’ve been thinking, Laura. I’ve decided to move on,” He told her. He heard her gasp and he closed his eyes. He had to do this. “I’m selling this place and moving back to my old town.”
“You said you were moving on. Cape Falls was where you wanted to be,” she said.
“I know what I said. I’ve changed my mind.” He handed her the cup and she put it on the table.
“This is why you’ve brought me here? To tell me you’ve had your fun and now you’re leaving,” she shouted.
“I know you’re upset...”
“Down fucking right I’m upset. I gave you everything you asked of me. My friendship, my love, my fucking virginity and my body and now you’re telling me you’re leaving. You fucking bastard.”
The cup and the steaming coffee suddenly slammed into the wall. He watched the droplets of liquid slide down the wall.
“I hope you live a life of fucking misery,” she told him.
She walked out of his house and he followed after her. He didn’t stop her and watched her march away.
When he walked back into the kitchen he stared at the smashed cup and dialed the number. Peter answered on the first ring.
“It’s done,” was all he said and he hung up.
“I’m already in misery, baby,” he said.
Chapter Seventeen
Three months later.
Time carried on as normal. College started back up and Laura dropped out. She got the fulltime position at the library and her night times she spent at the diner. Her belongings were removed from home and she shared the apartment with Peter.
The talk of the town was Dean Riley. He’d come and gone all in a matter of months, taking with him her heart. Laura did her best to put a smile on her face and to show to the world she was fine. No one but Peter knew the truth. Some people suspected about her condition. She’d lost weight and looked ill.
On an appointment to the doctor's she’d been told she was pregnant. When she thought back, Dean had rarely used a condom. She didn’t tell Peter, but one of the women who worked at the clinic had seen her and knew about her condition. Now the whole town knew. She was the brunt of all the gossip. Peter helped her when he could, even though many had already made up there ideas about her. Her parents refused to speak to her. The doctor had said she was about three months along and she guessed the last time they were together had been the cause.
“I want to make this all right for you,” Peter said one afternoon.
Even though she was pregnant, because of all the hours she worked, she’d lost all of her excess fat. She could see the small curve of her bump.
Peter got down on one knee and Laura closed her eyes, hoping he’d vanish when she opened her eyes.