Page 134 of The Vanishing Place
“Love, I guess.”
“But babies come from God.”
“That’s just one of Dad’s lies. It’s not true, Adam.” Dinah frowned. “I thought you knew that.”
“Dad wouldn’t lie.”
Dinah looked at him, her eyes sad. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t do more for you.”
“You do lots.”
She shook her head. “Dad has too much control over you, Adam. He hides you away from the world, only letting you think what he wants you to think.”
“That’s not true.”
“You should be in a normal school, not taught by Dad and his followers. You should be learning about science and geography. Not being told that God puts babies in people. There’s a whole world beyond the walls of this house, Adam.”
“But it’s dangerous out there. We’re safe in this house.”
“We’re not safe, Adam. We’re trapped.”
“I don’t like what the baby is doing to you. Put it back,” he demanded. “I don’t want it.”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
Dinah’s lips curved into an odd smile, and part of Adam wanted to hit her.
“When did Cameron put it there?”
“I’m not entirely sure.” She rubbed a hand over the disgusting bump. “I started feeling sick about five months ago.”
“Does Dad know?”
“No.” She snapped her head up and looked at him, her eyes big and scared. “Dad can’t ever know.”
“But you’re fat.”
Dinah snorted. “Dad wouldn’t even notice if I shaved my head,” she said. “Not if the chores got done and he got his three meals a day. Dad barely looks at me these days.”
“But girls aren’t allowed short hair.” Adam looked at her. Dinah would look scary with a bald head. He’d forbid her from cutting her hair.
“Plus,” said Dinah, ignoring him, “Cameron says my belly is tiny compared to what his aunty was like. Apparently, she had to buy new clothes.”
“What are you going to do with it?” asked Adam. “The baby.”
“Keep it and love it and—”
“Dad won’t let you. He’ll make you—”
“I turned sixteen last month,” said Dinah. “Dad can’t make me do anything anymore.”
Adam frowned. There hadn’t been any presents or cake. Maybe once you were sixteen, you didn’t get cake.
“Cameron and I are going to leave before the baby comes. Cameron’s sorting everything. We’re going to live—”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“You can come.” She took his hand and pulled him up onto the bed next to her. “Come with us.”
