Over the next two weeks, Holly became overly emotional and cried over the dumbest things. Sometimes, it would be over a movie, and then it would turn into her missing Jake terribly. Mara being a class A bitch, came next.

　　Dealing with Jake having to work the night shift didn’t help in the slightest. She had to make do with speaking to him over the phone during the day, which couldn’t have been good for his cell phone charges. And on top of all that, missing his late-night calls made her feel sad and somewhat depressed. Because she was so tired of late, she’d pass out quite early. Jake had even mentioned that they should get a place together.

　　The times she did manage to see Jake always turned into him trying to elevate her fears by telling her he would speak to his mother. That Mara was ignoring him seemed to be affecting Jake. At least that’s what she hoped it was and not him being worried about the baby.

　　He was also extremely tired and their time always got cut short as he had to work super early in the mornings. One good thing Holly had going for her was that the shake was working.

　　On Wednesday, Holly received a message from Jake.

　　Meet me at my mom’s place at 9:00. Sorry for the late notice, but it’s important.

　　Apparently, Mara did want to see them both. Holly phoned Marabella to ask if she could go in at around twelve, and then lied when asked why saying she wasn’t feeling at all well that morning. To her surprise, Marabella gave her the entire day off.

　　At precisely nine, Holly pulled her Beetle into Mara’s driveway. The feeling inside her gut made her want to throw up. She knew it wasn’t the baby because she’d had her shake before leaving home. Glancing out the window, she searched for Jake’s BMW. It wasnowhere to be seen. Reaching for her cell phone, she dialed his number; no answer.

　　She suddenly jumped as Mara tapped on her window. Deep breaths, Holly, you can do this,she told herself, switching her car off and getting out.

　　“Hi, Mara. Is Jake here?”

　　“No. He had to leave on an emergency, but I promise you, you are safe.” She smiled.

　　Holly giggled nervously and gave Mara a hug. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

　　Mara nodded. “Let’s go inside. I thought it best to have some iced tea on the patio. And then we can talk.”

　　Holly decided to keep her mouth shut and instead followed Mara. Her Yorkies barked like mad, jumping up against Holly’s leg until she picked one up and carried it along. The rest followed, and when Mara yelled for them to go to their beds, all three dogs scrambled. Holly quickly placed the fourth one on the floor. It was quite comical how it, too, made a mad dash to its bed.

　　“Please, sit,” Mara said, gesturing to one of the chairs.

　　Once Holly was sitting, Mara took the seat opposite to hers. She then filled two glasseswith iced tea and handed one over.

　　Holly couldn’t help but think that somehow it was poisoned, so she waited for Mara to take a sip before she put the glass to her lips.

　　“How do you feel?” Mara asked.

　　“Good, Gus’ shake is working.”

　　“Good. I’m glad. Look, I must be honest about something.”

　　Holly frowned. “What, exactly?”

　　“Jake didn’t have an emergency. He left a couple of minutes ago because he wasn’t quite sure how to tell you.”

　　Her heart began to beat slightly faster, and a heavy feeling pressed down on her chest. She took a deep breath. “Tell me what, Mara?”

　　“He doesn’t want the baby anymore, Holly.”

　　Holly gasped and shook her head. To say she was stunned was putting it mildly. “I’m sorry, Mara, but I don’t believe that.”

　　“I don’t care what you believe!” Mara’s demeanor changed in a flash. “I’m just telling you how it is, Holly. He made a mistake and came to me for guidance. He wanted to know what his choices were.”

　　His choices?

　　As far as Holly was concerned, that didn’t sound remotely like the Jake she knew. He would’ve spoken to her about any insecurities he was having. However, when Holly began to contemplate things, the last couple of times they’d been together, Jake’d seemed distant. The fact that Mara hadn’t really spoken to him ever since he’d told her had worked.

　　Oh, shit! What if I’ve misread the signs? What if it had nothing to do with his mother, but everything to do with not wanting our baby?

　　She shook her head again.

　　“Holly, you know this is true. He seemed distant lately, am I right?”

　　Holly nodded. “I thought it was because you were not happy about it.”

　　“I promise you, it’s not. We’ve been discussing this situation for the past couple ofdays now. We had a family meeting late last night, where he voiced his concerns.”

　　“Amelia—”

　　Mara cut her off. “She’s his sister. She didn’t like what he had to say, but blood is thicker than water, Holly.”

　　“No.” Holly continued to shake her head as images of tears filling Jake’s eyes every time he saw the sonar jumped into her mind. He was happy. He’d told her he wanted this, wanted their baby. “I don’t believe a thing you’re saying, and to be frank, I don’t give a damn what you say.”

　　“He doesn’t want you or the baby anymore, Holly. I told you to go on the pill. I know myson, and he changes his mind monthly.”

　　“He wants the baby!” Holly yelled.

　　“Maybe he did, but I assure you, he doesn’t want it anymore.”

　　“No!” Holly refused to believe this. “Bernie was right, you are a psycho when it comes to Jake.”

　　“I’m not a psycho! If you don’t believe me, give him a call.” She held her phone out to Holly.

　　All Holly was capable of doing was stare at the phone in Mara’s hand, like it was a foreign object she’d never before seen. She hadn’t bargained on Mara’s challenge, and doubt filled her gut again. But the minute tears began to fill her eyes, her mind filled with visions of Jake whenever he’d looked at their unborn child, and her doubt disappeared.

　　“Oh, believe me, I will.” She got up, glaring angrily at Mara. She was disgusted with whatever it was Mara tried to pull. Looking at her phone, she touched the 1 for speed dial, which had been programmed to Jake’s number. It rang and rang and rang.

　　No, this isn’t happening. Jake wants our baby and me. I know it!

　　She redialed his number, with the same result. Panic was beginning to set in. Tears welled in her eyes as she redialed him. This time, though, he picked up. She heard a sigh.

　　“Talk to me, Jake, what’s going on?” Holly asked.

　　“It is what it is, Holly. I’ve got to go.”

　　She was left with a dead tone. The air left her lungs as if she’d been sucker-punched. The tears dislodged and rolled down her cheeks. She felt Mara’s hands gently take hold of her arms, guiding her back to the chair. Holly dropped onto it with a thud. There was nothing she could say.

　　“I know it’s not easy,” Mara began, “but you need to make a choice, Holly, and the best one is to get rid of the baby.”

　　Holly’s head snapped up. “What did you just say?”

　　“I know it is a horrible thing to say”—Mara put her hands up—“but Jake has a choice in this pregnancy, too, and he wants you to terminate it. Without Gus’ shake and our support, you could lose your life. Hypertension is not a good thing. Even if you get to thirty weeks, it could worsen the minute you contract eclampsia.”

　　Mara shook her head. “It’s not something you want for yourself. Without Gus’ shake, it’s not going to be an easy pregnancy, Holly, not by any means. Google it if you don’tbelieve me.”

　　Holly shook her own head as more tears welled up in her eyes. “You people are unbelievable. Let me guess… this is the part Amelia disagreed with, but she stands by her brother, right?”

　　“Blood is thicker than water.”

　　Holly stood up. “Yes, you’ve made that perfectly clear.” She picked up her handbag, wiped at her tears, and left.

　　How could Jake do something like that? But worst of all, allow his mother to tell her that he didn’t want the baby anymore.

　　“Get rid of it!” Mara yelled at her retreating back.

　　The hell I will, Holly thought as she ran to her Beetle.

　　She had never, not in a million years, expected that her wish of wanting to run away would ever become a reality. Still, for the sake of her unborn child and how events had turned for the worst, she had no choice.

　　WHEN HOLLY ARRIVED AT BERNIE’S, SHE WAS GLAD her friend wasn’t home. She had no idea what she would do now, but she couldn’t stay there anymore. If she did, it was inevitable that Jake would visit that evening and beg her to abort the baby. And Holly would, she knew it, which meant she would hate herself for the rest of her life and wouldend up hating him more than she already did.

　　To hate Jake like that… no, she would never be able to live in a world if that was what she would feel like for the rest of her life. She knew she shouldn’t feel any love for him at all, but Holly did love him; she would die for him, that much she knew. The best thing she could do was leave, never to see or speak to him again.

　　She slid down her closet door and cried. How could Jake have been so heartless, telling her that it was what it was and that he’d had to go? It hadn’t even been a conversation. After everything they’d shared, Holly was devastated that he hadn’t had the guts to tell her to her face.

　　She pinched herself for the umpteenth time; none of it felt real, but the resulting painof that action told her she was definitely awake. The gut-wrenching feeling inside of her confirmed that it had happened.

　　She packed her bags—two of them—all the while crying, knowing that it wasn’t just Jake she would leave behind, but her best friend. She had no choice. Leo was Jake’s best friend, and that just wouldn’t work.

　　She left the phone he’d bought for her as there was no way she would keep it. For all sheknew, there was some sort of tracking device on it. Not that he would search for her, although he might, just to make sure she had gotten rid of her baby. She took out the sim card and put it in her handbag.

　　Still, whatever he would’ve tried to do, she wasn’t going to give him that chance. Sheplaced the phone on the table.

　　When her suitcases were full to the brim, she hauled them out to her Beetle. Looking at her watch, she realized it was almost twelve. After locking up, she placed her key underthe rock and said goodbye to her home.

　　Once she’d settled herself in the car, she thought about the phone again. Bernie would definitely want to know if she was safe. Holly would have to let her know some way or another that she was okay.

　　Bernie would eventually understand why she’d run away because Holly wasn’t planning on getting rid of her baby, not in her lifetime. Her only course of action was to do what was best for them both.

　　As she turned the engine on, she wiped away another tear. Holly then drove to the nearest bus station, where she bought a ticket to Atlanta, figuring that she would decide where she would end up once she arrived there.

　　The only solution she could come up with was regarding the one person she’d never thought she’d ever again see. Still, he was the only person who could get her through this, the only person who had the means and money to help her; Charles Scallanger.