Imperfect Love (32 page)

“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, and 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’t believe 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 didn’t agree 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, but 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 she would, she knew it, which meant she would hate herself for the rest of her life and would end 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 she 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 he 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 pain of that action told her she was definitely awake, and 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 as well. 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 was going to keep it. For all she knew, 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.

Still, whatever he would’ve tried to do, she wasn’t going to give him that chance. She placed 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 under the rock and said goodbye to what had become 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, and 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, and then drove to the nearest bus station where she bought a ticket to Atlanta figuring that once she arrived there, she would decide where it was she would end up.

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

Holly cried the entire bus drive to Atlanta, and continuously tried to figure out how the hell she could have misread the signs.

Why hadn’t she just asked him? Then again, how could she have known?

He’d mentioned that they should get a place, and he’d talked about how much he wanted the baby. That he would never leave them, still… there she was.

Abruptly, her thoughts did an about-turn and began to calculate how much powder she still had left; half a tin as well as a full, unopened one. For the next month she would be fine. What she would do thereafter was in God’s hands.

Early next morning, Holly arrived in Atlanta. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of being discovered and covered her head with the hoodie she’d bought when she purchased a ticket to Seattle—where her father lived.

She knew what he would inevitably say when she showed up, but she had no other choice. He would help her, of that she had no doubt as he’d been trying desperately to connect with her again. And there she was, presenting him with that very chance.

A woman sat next to her on the bus, and when the tears began to flow again she asked Holly if she was all right.

Holly ended up telling the stranger her story. The woman, who turned out to be very kind, listened with compassion, even giving her a hug, which was exactly what she’d needed. It had felt really good.

Finally reaching Seattle, she stepped off the bus, gathered her bags, hailed a cab and directed the driver to her father’s offices. When he pulled up in front of its glass doors, Holly waited a beat before paying and hauling her suitcases into the reception area.

Duly announcing herself, she was told by the beautiful girl behind the counter that Mr. Scallanger would be out until late that afternoon, so she made herself comfortable in preparation for the long wait.

Her father was filthy rich. It was a life Holly knew nothing about, because Charles Scallanger had left them just before her sister died. Sure, he’d helped with the bills and paid maintenance; he wasn’t that heartless, but the last time she’d seen him was at her sister’s funeral.

At one point during her wait, Holly went to a corner store and bought milk in order to drink her shake when she began to feel dizzy. With time on her hands—and as one does when time needs to be killed—she began to think about what Bernie might be going through due to her disappearance. But that life couldn’t be hers anymore.

She’d even considered phoning Bernie, butknew what it would lead to so decided against it. How sad that out of fear for her baby’s life, she couldn’t bring herself to phone her best friend to let her know that she was safe, and that there was no need to worry.

Close to four that the afternoon, in walked the man she hadn’t seen in over ten years. His hair was gray now. She got to her feet when he stopped to speak to the girl at reception.

He turned around, and when he realized it was Holly, walked toward her hastily. She began to cry and was surprised when he folded her in his arms and hugged her.

“Don’t worry, Holly, whatever it is, whatever you need, I’m here,” he said, hugging her tighter.

Deep down, she hated being there. He was the last person she wanted to see, but Mara had been right about one thing. Blood
was
thicker than water.

“Have you eaten anything?”

Holly shook her head.

“Let’s go to the cafeteria then, shall we? We can talk there.”

Holly nodded and followed her father into the most beautiful cafeteria she’d ever seen. He was one of the most successful architects in America, and thank heaven his company name didn’t include his surname. It was called CDS Developments.

She hadn’t told Jake what her father did for a living because before now, she’d wanted nothing whatsoever to do with Charles Scallanger.

“Emery, may I please have a glass of orange juice?” he said to the waitress. “What would you like, Holly?”

“Milk, please.”

Charles frowned, but added, “I’ll have the chicken as well.”

“Just a toasted chicken for me, please.”

For a while, neither said a thing to the other. When the drinks were placed in front of them, Holly tried not to gulp hers down.

Charles looked at her with concern. “Holly, what is going on?”

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

“Who’s the father?”

“Does it matter? He doesn’t want me anymore, and wants me to get rid of it.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What do you want to do?”

“Abortion is out of the question, Charles.”

“Okay, I understand that. Your mother and I didn’t raise you that way, but Holly you have to think this through clearly. Having this child will tie you to this man forever.”

“There are way too many women out there who haven’t a chance in hell of having children. I can’t, and I won’t kill it.”

“So… you’re thinking about giving it up for adoption, then?”

“No, I’m most certainly not. I don’t care how he feels about the baby, or me. I’m going to keep it.”

Charles took a deep breath.

“Charles… Dad, please. I’ve never asked you for anything. I just need your help until the baby is born.” She wiped at her tears. “Nobody will hire a pregnant woman who’s likely to faint at any given moment.”

“What do you mean? Why would you faint at any given moment?”

“It’s not going to be an easy pregnancy. I’m taking medication; a trial formula, but it will finish in a couple of weeks. And then crap’s going to hit the fan.”

“So, I’m to be your piggy bank, is that it?”

“I came to you for help. You can look at it any way you want. If you are serious about making amends, Dad, this would be the perfect time. I promise you, you won’t get another chance like this one.” Tears rolled down her face again.

Charles got up and crouched in front of her. “Shh,” he whispered, putting his arms around her. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

Holly couldn’t contain her tears. “No abortion, please.”

“No abortion,” he promised.

“Thank you, Dad.”

He took her face in both hands and looked at her. “I know I fucked up, okay? But I do love you, always have, and I loved Jamie, too. Your mother made it difficult for me to see you both.”

Holly didn’t believe him for one minute, but she had no choice.

Charles kissed the top of her head just as the waitress arrived with their meals. “Eat,” he said, “and I’ll take you home afterward.”

She did as she was told and ate as if she hadn’t eaten for a week.

During the meal, Charles discussed his course of action.

“I’ll phone my doctor first thing in the morning. I’ll need recommendations as to who’s the best in the country. We’ll get you through this.”

Holly swallowed past the lump in her throat, because she knew that the best was Jake’s dad. She didn’t say anything, though. Her father could never know who the baby’s father was.

If Charles Scallanger found out, she was scared he would not only sue the living crap out of Jake, but the whole Peters’ clan while he was at it. If there was one thing Charles was superb at, it was winning.

Should that happen, Jake would then find out that she’d kept the baby and he might just change his mind. She wasn’t going to let that transpire, either. If it hadn’t worked out the first time, it would never work out the second. That was something else her grandmother had said.
Holly huffed inwardly thinking about what her cousins—once removed—would have to say. She'd always thought they'd been her aunts growing up, but now she knew better. Thank heavens she didn’t need them.