Page 2 of Mine to Keep

The kitchen had all new appliances and opened into a small, fenced-in yard. To her surprise, she found a swing set, and it looked new.

It would be a while before she’d be using that, but it was a nice touch. She’d have to thank Chip with her famous home-baked bread and a bottle of inexpensive wine.

Now, all she needed was some groceries and cleaning supplies.

Because what she found in the utility closet wouldn’t work. She only used organic products because of the baby, and she doubted if that vacuum cleaner had any suction action whatsoever.

Mentally, she did a quick calculation of her funds. She needed to be careful. She only had six weeks before the baby was due. She’d done extensive research on creating an online store for her one-of-a-kind jewelry that she’d started making. However, it wouldn’t generate the income she needed to support herself and her child. Not right away. She needed to get a job. Unfortunately, that would be tricky because she couldn’t afford daycare.

Her belly bounced as her baby kicked and stretched. She took that as a sign that it was time to head into town.

She stepped out onto the sidewalk and glanced at the sky. The sun beat down on her face, warming her skin. She’d moved from one dingy hotel to the next, each time using a different identity. The idea was to make sure she had no ties to her old life. To erase any kind of paper trail that could lead her in-laws to her or her baby. No one from her past could know where she was. The world she’d come from needed to believe that she’d died.

Tears burned her eyes.

Her late husband and his family had taken almost everything from her, but she’d protect her child. She wouldn’t let them destroy an innocent baby like they’d shattered her universe.

Pulling her cell from her bag, she found an all-purpose discount store about ten miles out of town. She’d be able to get everything she needed there, or at least enough to get her through for a few days until she got settled.

As she slipped into the driver’s seat, her stomach tightened. She ran her hands over her hard-as-a-rock belly and breathed. This had happened once or twice before. The first time, she’d panicked.

False labor, her previous doctor had called it and then warned her that it could continue happening right up to the last month. He’d assured her that she shouldn’t worry, though.

That was another thing. She didn’t have a doctor here, and she would have to find one. Fast.

As well as a pediatrician.

The pain in her belly eased, and she let out a long sigh. It was nothing. She had plenty of time to prepare for the birth of her precious little gift.

She pulled out and made a right as her GPS indicated. No sooner had she sped up than her stomach tightened again. This time, it took her breath away. She blinked, doing her best to focus on the road as she held the steering wheel in a death grip. It lasted all of maybe a minute.

But, damn, it hurt.

The baby kicked and punched as if he or she felt the intensity of it, too.

She laughed. “Did that bother you, little one?” She reached for the knob on the radio just as another—dare she even think it?—contraction hit. This time, she latched onto the wheel as she leaned forward and panted.

The light ahead at the intersection turned red. It took all her energy to lift her leg and hit the brakes. The fierce pain centered in her midsection was all she could focus on.

And it was like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

The light changed to green, but the agony didn’t ease. Warmth settled between her legs and grew. She glanced down and gasped.

“No. No. This can’t be happening. It’s too soon.”

A horn honked in the background. Someone shouted for her to move her vehicle. Tires screeched as a car sped past her, but she couldn’t find it in her to do anything but rub her belly as the pain slowly eased.

Inhaling sharply through her nose, she dropped her head back and exhaled.

Tap. Tap.

She jumped.

The car lurched forward a tad. Quickly, she put the vehicle in park and rolled down the window.

“Ma’am. Are you okay?” a gentleman with kind, light-blue eyes that reminded her of the ocean asked.

She opened her mouth, but instead of answering him, she groaned and rubbed her stomach. Staring into his pools of comfort, she took a deep breath and blew it out in short pants. The sudden urge to push tore through her body. She felt her face heating.

---