Chapter61

#Chapter61

SHONDRA

Six years ago

I should have known he was up to something devious. By the way he was talking—he had it in for Axel. Maybe William wanted me to doubt Axel, so I’d leave him.

Hurt him.

Had I really wasted time we could have shared over a lie?

That night I’d called him misdialling three times because of shaky hands. I clutched my growing stomach when the correct number rang. The baby kicked in a series of fast flutters. A calm built from perseverance floated from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

All was fine. I’d made it through the first step. I could make it a little far—

/"Hello,/" said a female voice slurred with sleep.

I sat in near darkness at the kitchen table with the only light coming from my cell. The clock above the microwave had already struck midnight. Yeah, it was late. Too late for a friendly date to still be over for anything but hot and heavy sex.