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Leaving it on the shelf in her bathroom, she threw herself on the couch. What was she going to do if she was carrying Rafferty’s baby? First, she would beat him within an inch of his life; she didn’t want a baby now, and sheneverwanted his baby.
After changing into yoga pants and a sweatshirt, she spent the rest of the day and evening watching movies on TV. Most were from her high school years, so she loved them all. And they were able to take her mind off the test waiting in her bathroom for her to pass or fail in the morning just like high school. She hated tests.
As midnight neared, she knew she had to go to bed. It was never going to be morning if she didn’t sleep. And worse, her day at the café would be awful with no sleep. Turning off the TV and the light in the living room, she looked out the window and saw Ruth’s light on in her apartment, and she even saw movement. She grabbed her phone to text Anderson like she promised, but then decided no. If Ruth wanted alone time, she was going to let Ruth have her space. Anderson would find her soon enough.
Climbing into bed, she snuggled into her covers and hoped morning would bring joy instead of terror. Her sleep was fitful and full of dreams of crying babies and disappointed parents. She woke up almost every hour from a nightmare, until at four, she finally just got up to take the test.
The small prayer to the lord above for a negative result was answered. She wasn’t pregnant. And as penance, she decided that she would never drink again; unless Rafferty wasn’t around, then she could drink like a fish. Cold-turkey seemed harsh after all.
CHAPTER8
Spring
Now that Ruthknew everything he did, Rafferty was able to let the ever present exhaustion overtake him. He had been up all night. It was just before 8:00 a.m., and all he wanted to do was drive the three short blocks to his house and sack out. And ignore all the calls that were sure to start coming in.
Early this morning, he had said goodbye to his father. Today, he could stop trying to prove himself to the man who never felt his son was worth anything. Rafferty had worked alongside him for years, and he still didn’t trust him—he was always double-checking his work. Pointing out the finest errors or flaws. It had been that way his entire life.
When he was young, his dad had no time for his only child. By the time Rafferty had gotten to high school, no matter what the accomplishment, it was just short of enough for his dad. If he hadn’t really wanted to be back in his hometown, he would never put up with the old man.
But now he was gone. Heart attack. Which was crazy since the man didn’t even have one. Proof of that was Ruth, who had been ignored by the father they had shared her entire life. Worst of which was that she was sick when they were kids, and his father hadn’t bothered to try and help. It was like he had wanted her to die. That he probably did made Rafferty hate him even more.
Through the slushy, melting snow, he was almost to his pickup when he ran right into someone coming out of the post office. Grabbing the person around the waist so that they would not fall to the ground, he heard the grumbling of Mia Lawson. Of course, Mia.
“What the heck, Rafferty?” Her “heck” almost made him smile. She could swear a blue streak when she wanted. But today, it was “heck.”
“Sorry,” was all he could muster as he let her go, continuing on his way.
She must have followed him because he heard her from close behind him say. “What’s wrong?”
Leave it to Mia to know something was wrong with him. At this early hour word couldn’t have gotten out about his dad, though he was sure Mia would’ve been one of the first to know.
“Just leave me alone, Mia.”
“I won’t until you tell me what is wrong.” She was following him. For weeks since the bomb fire, she had been avoiding him, and now she was following him?
Stopping suddenly, he was surprised when she ran right into him; she had been that close. He turned to her as she mumbled apologies about running into him. “My dad died this morning.”
To his surprise, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “I’m sorry. Was it sudden? Of course, it was sudden, I just saw him yesterday. Are you okay? Of course not, look at you.”
“Do you have any questions you don’t know the answer to? I just want to go home now.” Rafferty just held her, not able to let her warm, comforting body go. At that moment, he knew he didn’t need to get home. He just needed to keep holding Mia.
“You can’t be alone. Your mom is still in Fargo, right? Does she know?” Mia asked, a tear in her eye. Was she sad because his dad was dead or because he was in pain? He couldn’t say.
“Yes, Fargo. Yes, I called her. She didn’t care too much.” He answered her next question before she could even answer it. The couple had been separated for years now, why they hadn’t divorced he didn’t know. Right now, he didn’t care.
“You can’t be alone. Do you want to watch movies with me?” She took his hand and started pulling him down the street.
“Movies?” His feet stayed planted on the sidewalk, not moving.
“They take my mind off things.” She gave him a weak smile.
Pulling her tight against him into a hug, he whispered, “Yes. Take my mind off this.”
Expecting her to stop hugging him, he was surprised when she just stood there, holding him. This was exactly what he needed. Mia Lawson.
The morning traffic was starting to get busier. He was starting to feel that people were watching, so he reluctantly pulled out of her arms, knowing she didn’t want to be talked about . But still, he kept a hold of her hand, unable to let go. “Your place or mine?”
“Mine. I don’t need to see you’re sex den.” She winked playfully at him, though her eyes were still watery.
