Before I Saw You by Amy Sorrells

Author:Amy Sorrells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / General, FICTION / Contemporary Women
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2018-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

21

* * *

I fill Jack’s water bowl outside the cemetery work shed, and he laps at it, splattering it everywhere, and Sudie waves from atop the big riding mower halfway across the cemetery. We managed to plant four dozen plants without any pains returning to my belly, except the one gnawing at my stomach because it’s craving a huge scoop of chocolate ice cream.

I’m due to meet Gabe at the Dairy Barn in twenty minutes, and the low-gas warning light gleams from the dashboard when I turn on the car. I forgot I needed gas. Good thing there’s a station right near the Dairy Barn, the only one in town as a matter of fact, and a fact that riles up the guys at the diner like few other subjects. Even Hersch joins in on the complaining since the station owner, Bill Spradley, seems to enjoy gouging folks with his monopoly on the business. Closest gas station to town is ten miles to the interstate, or fifteen miles the other direction to the next town. But I suppose that’s just the way it is in a small town.

Main Street is busy as it usually is on Friday evenings, folks a little happier with paychecks in their pockets and a week of work behind them. The gas station is quiet, though, as I pull up next to one of the pumps. The nozzle rattles as I put it into the gas tank, and I lean back against the car, warm from sitting in the sunshine all day. An older-model car rumbles by, the ground shaking under me from the souped-up woofers blaring. A passenger throws a cigarette butt out the window, the gleam of ashes tumbling in a trail behind it.

I’m inside paying when I hear the voice come up behind me to the second register.

“A box of Red Man and ten dollars in gas.”

Fear burns down my spine and I try not to look back.

Bryan.

Maybe he hasn’t seen me.

I haven’t seen him since I’ve taken to not hiding my belly anymore. Should’ve known better than to let my guard down about running into him in this town.

“How you doin’, Jaycee?”

I can feel his breath against the back of my neck and I shiver. Takes all the courage I have to stand up straight and face him. “Bryan.”

“Saw you leaving church the other day with some guy. Who is he?” He steps closer and I can smell the fresh tobacco stuffed inside his bottom lip.

My stomach turns. “None of your business.”

“I remember when everything about you was my business, baby.”

Icy fear shoots down my spine and weakens my knees. Why can’t he leave me be?

The attendant, one of the crusty Spradley cousins who’ve been working here for generations, clears his throat. “That’ll be $17.53, ma’am.”

I fumble for my wallet and set two ten-dollar bills on the counter. When I turn, Bryan is staring at my belly.

“That what I think it is?” he sneers.

I cross my arms so quick I drop my wallet, change clanging and rolling everywhere.

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