The exhaustion from Valerie’s sleepless night got the better of her. She plunked herself onto a chair and pressed the heels of her hands to her forehead.
Angie set the broom aside, sat down beside her, and squeezed her shoulder. “What’s wrong? It can’t be that bad.”
“It is,” Valerie replied.
Angie sat patiently, waiting for Valerie to elaborate.
“I might as well tell you,” she finally said, looking up. “Because you’re going to find out anyway ... when I start to show.”
Angie sat back. “Oh. I see.”
“Are you shocked?”
“A little. But I guess ... not really. Now that I think about it.”
“Please don’t tell anyone,” Valerie pleaded. “It’s supposed to be a secret. That’s why Frank sent me here for the winter when the lodge will be closed. No one will see me.”
“Do the Wilsons know?” Angie asked.
“Yes, I told them the first day. They were kind about it.” Valerie narrowed her gaze. “I thought maybe Joe knew about it and he might have told you.”
“No. I don’t think he knows anything. And it doesn’t surprise me that Frank is keeping it secret. He used to be a spy in the war. Or so he claims.”
Valerie’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re joking. I had no idea.”
Angie relaxed in the chair, and they sat in silence, thinking about everything.
“What are you going to do when the baby comes?” Angie asked.
“Put it up for adoption. That’s why my father sent me here. He said he would make all the arrangements, and then he expects me to come home and go to university as planned, as if it never happened.”
“What about Drew?” Angie asked. “Does he know?”
“No, and that’s what’s keeping me awake at night.”
“But why didn’t you tell him?”
Valerie thought back to the day she’d learned she was pregnant. It had felt like her life was over. “He left the valley after we broke up,” she explained, “and I didn’t know where he went. I couldn’t reach him, and after a while I gave up trying, or maybe it was my pride. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was trying to trap him. Then I panicked. I told my father about the baby because I was terrified that he would find out anyway, that my doctor might tell him.”
“He can’t, you know. That’s confidential medical information.”
Valerie shrugged. “It’s a small town. And my father knows everyone.”
Angie propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin on her hand. “It’s your life, but if you ask me, I think you should try and find Drew. Even if he says he doesn’t want the responsibility of a child and he agrees about an adoption, at least you’ll know, and you won’t feel like you kept something from him. You won’t always be wondering ‘What if?’”
Valerie looked up at the ceiling and exhaled. “You’re right. And I think I’ll always feel guilty if I don’t tell him. Someday our child might want to know who his real parents are. It wouldn’t be fair not to put Drew’s name on the birth certificate.” Valerie bent forward and rested her head on the table. “I don’t know how I got myself into this. We were being so careful. At least I thought we were.”
“That’s how it happens,” Angie replied. “I wish there was something I could do to help you. When are you due?”
Valerie sat up again. “March twenty-eighth.”
“I’m due March tenth, so at least we’ll be going through this together.” She reached for Valerie’s hand. “That’s something, isn’t it? Maybe we can help each other. Have you been having morning sickness?”
“Not at all,” Valerie replied. “What about you?”
“A bit, but it usually passes by noon. That’s why I’m glad I work evenings in the restaurant.”
They talked about other symptoms of pregnancy and shared their knowledge of what was to come.
