“I have to go into the office,” he said, reading the message. “Jackie Rhodes needs stitches.”
“Do you need help?” I asked. I didn't really want to go in to the office. I wanted to just hide in Jacob's house or possibly my bathtub and just never come out. I wouldn't have to deal with the consequences of us being found out that way.
“No. He's just busted his hand open on a piece of equipment again. It's the third time this year. He's got to get a guard or some gloves or something.” Jacob stretched his arms up over his head and made the early morning stretch noise. “Want me to pick up some breakfast on my way back?”
I shook my head. The idea of breakfast didn't appeal to me.
“I actually need to get some groceries and things,” I told him. “And there's some stuff I need to do around my house. Want to come by later?”
He smiled and kissed my forehead as he stood up. “Always.”
I watched as he walked up the stairs and listened as he clomped around. I was trying to muster up the energy and the courage to leave the couch.
He came back down wearing scrubs. “I'll see you later, okay?”
He kissed me once more before heading out the door to go stitch up Jackie.
I sat listening to the clock in the hall tick away the minutes. Finally, I got up, grabbed my things and headed to the garage.
My car started and I drove into town. It was a Sunday morning, and much of the town was either at church or getting ready for church. My mother was probably there, learning of my sins from the other church ladies.
I swung my car by the grocery store and saw Abigail St. James in the parking lot. She saw me and her eyes narrowed. I saw the word, “slut” cross her lips before she dug in her bag for something to throw at me.
News travels fast in a small town and gossi
p travels even faster. I didn't stop at the grocery store. I didn't want Abigail to key my car while I picked up eggs.
Instead, I drove the thirty minutes to the next town where hopefully no one knew I was sleeping with the town doctor. Still, to be safe, I parked in the back where no one would notice my car. Unfortunately, that meant I would have to run farther if they came after me with pitchforks. I wasn't sure which was worse, but decided that pitchforks were slightly less likely.
No one said anything as I walked into the store and grabbed a cart. I was safe for now.
I wandered the aisles, ignoring the messages piling up from my mother, and buying anything I thought I would need for the next three weeks. There was a good chance I wouldn't be able to buy anything in town for the next few days and I didn't want to be unprepared.
I bought eggs and milk. I bought bread and tortillas. I bought toothpaste and shampoo. And while I was in the bathroom section, I realized that I probably needed tampons.
Except, I should have needed them last week.
I stopped dead in the middle of the aisle and did the mental math sixteen times. I was late. I was usually a perfect twenty-eight day cycle with no irregularities. But, this month I was five days late.
Slowly, my brain put the pieces together.
I had sex with Jacob without a condom and now I was five days late.
It wasn't just stress. I wasn't just late.
I was pregnant.
I wasn't sure if I should to laugh or cry. This was the worst timing in the entire world. I had dreamed of being pregnant, especially by Jacob, but in my mind there was always a ring involved.
Instead, I was pregnant to a man that the whole town wanted to marry someone else. I was already the harlot that stole him away, and this would only make things worse. I was trapping him now. I could only imagine the conniption fit Mrs. Matthews would have if she found out.
“Maybe you're just late,” I whispered to myself. “Maybe it's just stress.”
Except I knew it wasn't. I had morning sickness. My breasts were tender. I was peeing like crazy. And I was tired.
I went down an aisle and picked up a pregnancy test. I was just glad I wasn't in Riversville. The last thing my poor reputation needed was to be seen buying a pregnancy test.
I didn't buy anything else and just hurried to check out. I did the self-checkout so that the cashier wouldn't see the test. It was probably paranoia, but I didn't want anyone in town to know that I even had an inkling that I was pregnant.