Page 13 of Mercy Lake

Harriot’s eyes softened when we were interrupted by her phone ringing. She checked the number, then seemed hesitant before her expression hardened. “Now, I’m not doing this to be cruel. I’m doing this so you can finally move on, Owen.”

Before I could make out her meaning, she answered her phone and put it on speaker. “Mum? I missed your call earlier. Everything okay?”

Alexis.I hadn’t heard her voice in months. Silent tears poured down my face as Harriot gave me a sad expression before she replied. “Baby girl, I know you’ve forbidden us from talking about it, about Owen.” I heard Alexis gasp on the other end. She wasn’t expecting that. “Alexis, I just wanted to ask once, and I promise I’ll never ask again.”

One second, two. “Ask.”

“Do you want this divorce? I’m not questioning you to defend anyone. I’m only asking as your mother. You’re my only concern, and there is no rush to come to a decision. Is this divorce what youtrulywant?”

I held my breath.

“Truly want?” she asked, her voice marked with all the bitter pain I felt inside. “How the hell should I know?This wasneverthe future I envisioned, Mum. We were going to try for a baby next year. Instead, he fucked my friend, and now he’s having a baby withher,notme. You’re asking me if this is what I want? Of course this isn’t what I fucking want! Yet, they gave me no choice!Hegave me no choice.”

Alexis was weeping at that point, and the broken sound tore me apart.What the fuck is wrong with me?By fighting the divorce, I was delaying the inevitable. My need to keep her only hurt her more. When would I stop hurting her?Now. This has to end now.

I closed my eyes and let my head drop backwards against the headrest. Defeated. I was completely defeated.

Alexis sniffled. “Look, Mum. I know you just want the best for me, but I’ll call you back later, okay?”

“Alright, my girl. I love you,” Harriot replied. Then, the call ended.

I took a minute to compose myself, then mustered up enough courage to face Harriot. “Thank you, Mrs Thorne.”

Tears gathered in her eyes as she reached out to grip my shoulder. “Don’t thank me for that, son.” The endearment took me so off guard that I nearly passed out from her touch. When a set of lights came up behind me, the car parked, and my parents got out.

“You called them?”

“I had to,” Harriot said sympathetically. “You made a bad decision, Owen. That doesn’t make you evil, it makes you human. I will always be angry for what you did to my baby girl, but you have to learn to live with your actions. Just like she has to. You have bigger priorities to worry about now. Find peace in that.” And with that parting statement, Harriot left me with my parents.

Chapter 8

OWEN

My dad guided me back to his truck and into the passenger seat, then drove us away from the crime scene—where my heart was left stomped on and bleeding out all over the dirty asphalt.

Mum took my car, probably driving it back to their house.

I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings until familiarity bleated like a siren in my head. “No, I can’t go there.”

Dad didn’t reply and continued until we were parked at Mercy Lake.Geez, why did he have to bring me here? As if I’m not tortured enough.

“We”re worried about you, son. You may be living under our roof, but you’re practically a ghost. You’re not talking to us… or anyone, from what it seems.” The exchange was surreal. SethIvans was a stoic man, not known for his emotional sensibility. Yet, there we were having the “talk”.Things must be dire indeed.

Dad ran a hand through his black-grey hair, sweeping his brown eyes to me. “That may be mine and your mum’s fault. We’ve never been great with expressing our… feelings. But we can all see you hurting, Owen, and we don’t want you to feel alone in this. We’re here.”

“I don’t deserve your concern, Dad. This is my sin to bear.”

“And how is that working out for you, huh? I’m here to share in your burden, so let me.”

I sighed, staring out at the waveless water, wishing it held all the answers. Instead, I confessed in the silent carriage of my father’s truck, letting the weight of my decisions unravel for the first time.

I cleared my throat. “It was only the one time. I was drunk out of my mind, and it could barely be considered sex. I didn’t even come.”

“Then how do you know this baby is yours?”

It was hard to miss the hopeful lilt in his voice. I had been there, too, once. The twisted feeling of immense loss took me so unawares that I relayed my memories and pain.

Since that stupid drunken night at Everly’s, I had managed to avoid her for three weeks, despite her desperate attempts to get in touch with me. I had blocked her number and turned into a hermit, not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary.

---