Page 412 of The Sinner: James

“Why couldn’t you say something?”

In her usual way, she shrugs.

Carelessly, I would say.

“I’m telling you now.”

“What about Mom?”

“I’m sure you’ll tell her,” she says, picking up a piece of candy from the glass bowl on the table.

She unwraps it and pops it into her mouth.

“She’s gonna be mad at you.”

“She’ll get over it.”

Slowly, I lean back in my seat.

“Who’s, um... Who’s the father?”

She scoops out another piece of candy, her lips pressed into a secret smile.

“Raoul.”

“Is he?”

She sags back in her seat, an amused expression splashed over her face.

Her chin ticks down, giving me an affirmative answer.

I open my mouth a few times, not knowing what to say. I thought people would react differently in this kind of situation, and they'd be joyful and eager to share the news with their families, yet she doesn't seem too happy.

“You just said it,” she continues. “Raoul is a nice guy, and that was more than enough to leave Weston for him.”

Her coldness sends a shiver down my spine.

She wanted a good father for her child––that doesn’t make her present circumstances less puzzling.

Did she plan to be a mother?

She sure doesn’t seem to glow.

I slump in my seat, more baffled than ever, with lots of questions on my lips.

I doubt she’ll give me any answers, but I'm doing my best to continue our conversation.

“Is it a boy or a girl?”

“It’s a girl. Nadia,” she says curtly as if wanting to get it over with.

Her eyes don’t leave my face.

I lift my coffee from the table and take another sip before having a hard time swallowing.

“Why are you here, Rain?” she throws at me abrasively.

“It’s not what you think,” I say defensively, suspecting where her frustration stems from.

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