I read the letter again, wondering if I’m missing something. I look at the cursive letters of her name. She dotted her “I” with a heart and that one lone heart gives me hope. I’m going to give her a few days to cool off, and then I’m coming for her. She thinks we’re not a good fit. Fuck that, she’s the only one for me.
Gracie
Nine Months Later
“Aunt Bethany, I can’t go back to Whiskey Run. You know my father. He’ll make good on his promise to hurt Aiden.”
“Sit down,” she says in a stern voice. I dreaded coming to Bethany’s house in Kentucky. I had assumed that I would be kept a prisoner here, just like I was in Whiskey Run, but that hasn’t been the case at all. The first few months I was here, Bethany was pretty strict, especially when my father would come and visit. But after that, she let me do the things I wanted to do. And well, when I found out I was pregnant she’s done everything possible to help me and protect me from the wrath of my father. She enrolled me in the local college here and she even let me take a few art classes from a gallery downtown. I think my father was relieved that I was out of his hair. He’s been on edge lately when I’ve talked to him.
I do as she asks and sit down on the couch. She sits across from me and holds my hand. “You still love this Aiden, don’t you?”
I nod instantly. I knew him for a little over twenty-four hours, but I know I’ll never love anyone the way I love him. I put my hand on my belly, wishing I could tell him about the life we made together that one night together but knowing I can’t.
“Okay, you need to go back to Whiskey Run, and you need to talk to him.”
I pull my hand back from Bethany. “I can’t. My father...”
Bethany is shaking her head. “Listen to me. Your father knows you’re pregnant. We hid it for as long as we could, but someone from here talked to him and asked him if he was excited to be a grandfather.”
Panic rises in my chest. I know it was foolish to think I could hide this from him. But I’d at least hoped to keep it a secret until after the baby was born. “Oh my God. Oh my God.”
Bethany jerks on my hand and cups my jaw, forcing me to look at her. She’s holding on to me tightly, telling me that she’s scared of my father as well. “Listen to me. Your father is on his way here. He plans to take you from here and is going to put the baby up for adoption. You have to leave.”
I put my arms over my rounded stomach and gasp. “No!”
“Gracie, we don’t have much time. If he’s flying, he’ll be here soon. Throw some water on your face. Pack some food to take, and I’m going to pack your clothes. Try and be calm. The stress is not good for the baby.”
I start to get up, but with all the added weight it’s difficult, so Bethany helps me. “But what about you? I can’t leave you here to deal with him.”
“I’ll be fine. You only need to worry about you and that baby. Now get to packing and be ready to go in ten minutes.”
I nod and walk off toward the kitchen as she goes up the stairs to my room. A part of me is going to be sad to be leaving here. Bethany has turned out to be the best friend I ever had. She’s protected me and loved me so much these past nine months. She’s butted heads with my father over and over but has stood her ground to keep me safe from him.
I pack the food and drinks and use the bathroom. I am no sooner done than Bethany comes down with two suitcases packed full. I follow her outside and see that she is putting everything in her car. “Bethany, I can’t take your car. Put it in mine.”
She doesn’t stop though. “No. I have new tires, and mine is a lot safer. I don’t want to worry about you on the road. Just take it.”
“But...”
She’s shaking her head. “Think about the baby, Gracie. Everything else we’ll figure out later. For now, just do what’s right for the baby.”
When I finally agree, she finishes loading the bags, and as soon as she closes the trunk, I grab on to her. The tears have already started. “I’m going to miss you so much, Aunt Bethany.”
She hugs me back tightly. “I’m going to miss you too, child.” She pulls back and searches my face. “Gracie, there’s things you don’t know about your father... bad things. Don’t let him get a hold of your baby. Whatever he tells you, don’t trust him. Protect your daughter from him.”