Page 39 of The Awakening
But he cut me off before I could ask what on earth he was going on about. “You got knocked up by some guy you had second thoughts about and needed to run away. And somehow you knew about me and that cabin. Did your friend Matt tell you about my family? Was he in on it? Anyone else, and you would have been stuck going back to Ray. But I’m the fool who fell for your sob story.” He paced the kitchen, flinging his arms wildly.
I had never seen him like this. Even after a fight with his father or disagreement with his brothers.
“I didn’t plan any of this. I wouldn’t have gone back to Ray, no matter what. If you hadn’t found me, I would have been on my way to figuring out life on my own.” I looked at the floor in front of Gavin’s feet. How could he think so little of me? And where was all of this coming from?
Our morning had been wonderful, and the months that we had been in this house had been amazing. We’d fallen into our routines. Working with Kate and the horses we were rescuing and watching Gavin figure out his own dreams was more fulfilling than anything I’d ever done in my life.
“I’m staying at the main house tonight.”
As fast as he had walked into the house, he was gone again. Should I go after him? Or should I give him some space? What on earth led him to have these thoughts?
Turning back to the laundry, I sat down and cried. What was he going to do? Would he throw me out?
Honestly, I wasn’t all that surprised that he didn’t want to see this through. I knew this ruse would have a time limit, and here we were. Gavin and I had been having fun playing house, but I was far too young for him and pregnant with another man’s child. Of course he’d finally come to his senses and realized he didn’t want me.
Glancing up at the clock, I knew I needed to get to town to grab a few groceries and the mail that I had forgotten to ask Gavin to pick up. The post office closed in an hour, and I had a package waiting, so I dried my tears and went to the kitchen sink to splash some cold water on my face. I was glad it was a thirty-minute drive to town, because I was sure my eyes were puffy and my face was splotchy.
“Oh Ellie, just the person I wanted to see today.” The woman behind the counter smiled as she turned to the mailboxes. “This just arrived for you.” She handed me a letter.
“Thank you, Mary. I will remember the key one of these days. My brain seems to be a million other places.” I laughed and smiled at the older lady who had run the post office since the Morton family moved here. She took great pride in telling me how long she had been the postmistress.
“You look about ready to pop, so it’s no wonder you’re forgetting things. I remember a few days before I had my last. I couldn’t keep a thing in my head.” Her soft voice made me feel a little more at ease.
“Thank you so much for this, Mary. I hope this little one arrives soon.” Turning to leave, I flipped the letter over and opened it, then I headed for the truck.
Pulling the mysterious letter out of the envelope, I unfolded it, and my blood ran cold the instant I recognized the handwriting.
Elyse,
You think it was that easy to get rid of me?
I know where you are. You look so beautiful pregnant with my child. There is no way that man will be raising any offspring of mine.
Don’t worry. I’ll be there to bring you home soon. Gavin Morton better watch his back because I don’t take kindly to him running off with you and my baby.
I will involve your father and brothers to bring you home if I have to. They’ve been watching, too.
Ray
The letter shook in my hand.
I remembered vaguely what happened last time someone from the community ran off and was found. She lived a horribly lonely life. Nobody would look at her, much less befriend her because she had brought shame to her family. I didn’t know how I got to the truck, but I was sitting in it when my phone rang.
It made me jump, and I fumbled around as I dug through my purse to find it. Gavin’s name flashed on the screen. But what if it wasn’t Gavin? What if Ray had gotten to him already?
I had done this. I had involved Gavin, and now he and this baby were in grave danger. My only option was to run, but where? I doubted Gavin would care much, but I didn’t want his blood on my hands.
I would be running for life if I took off. No, I had to go to the police. There was no other option. To run would be a black mark on Gavin and the Morton family, and I couldn’t just abandon the family that had taken me in when I didn’t have one of my own.
Gavin would worry if I didn’t answer, so I hit the green button to answer.
“Hello?” Trying my best to keep my voice chipper and carefree.
“What are you up to?” He sounded remorseful, and I wondered if he would actually apologize for the way he acted earlier.
“Just in town. I had a few things to grab, and I will be home soon.” A knife felt like it had been driven through my heart. I was lying to the man I was in love with. But it was a lie to keep him safe, so I had to be forgiven for that, right?
“Okay, well, I was concerned when I saw you drive out of the yard, so I thought I would check in.”
