Parallel Visions by Cheryl Rainfield

Author:Cheryl Rainfield [Rainfield, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Rain and Sun Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

NINE

Mason and Jenna arrive at our house together, as if Mason hadn ’t been waiting for me only an hour earlier. Jenna ’s smile is too bright and brittle, and she ’s moving a little too carefully. Mason hovers next to her, like it hurts not to breathe in her air. His hair is combed back, he ’s switched his T-shirt for a dress shirt, and he stinks of mouthwash—to cover up his smoking. I can feel Mom and Dad watching them, trying not to look like they are.

“It smells good in here, ” Jenna says cheerfully. “I know it ’s vegetarian, ” she glances at me, “But what is it?”

Another thing to resent me for—Mom going vegetarian for my health.

“Quiche, ” Mom says. “Hope you like quiche, Mason.”

“Oh, I ’ll eat anything, ma ’am, ” Mason says, smiling an aw-shucks smile.

“Good man, ” Dad says, clapping Mason on the shoulder. “That ’s the right answer.”

“Jenna, how are you doing?” I ask.

“Jenna ’s just fine, ” Mason says, pulling Jenna closer. Jenna smiles brightly. “In fact, she ’s more than fine. She ’s pregnant!”

“Jenna!” Mom cries and rushes to hug her.

Dad’s face gets all red and he pumps Mason ’s hand up and down, then hugs Jenna like she ’s a delicate flower he might crush.

“Congratulations, ” I say, hugging her hard. I try to smile, but I can ’t keep the worry from crowding out everything else. If Mason is beating her now, what ’s he going to do when the baby ’s born? A wailing, attention-demanding baby?

“I was going to tell you myself, ” Jenna says, squeezing my arm. “Are you happy for me?”

“You know I am, ” I say. But how can she stay with him now?

“I would have made something special if I had known...., ” Mom says.

“It ’s fine, Mom. Whatever you made is great, ” Jenna says.

“How far along are you?” Mom asks, resting her hand on Jenna ’s belly.

“Just twelve weeks. We wanted to wait until we passed that point to tell you.”

Three months. And if my visions are real, Mason kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant—never mind that he tried to kill her. It ’s amazing she didn ’t have a miscarriage. I grit my teeth, wishing I could get her away from him and somewhere safe.

“Have you told Asha and Rina yet?” I ask. Maybe her friends can talk some sense into her.

“You ’re the first we ’ve told, aside from my mom, ” Mason says, resting his hand on the back of Jenna ’s neck.

“I ’ve kind of drifted apart from my friends, ” Jenna says. “We don ’t have that much in common anymore.”

“Oh, you ’ll have to call them and tell them your news!” Mom says. “They ’ll be so happy for you!”

“I ’m happy for her—enough to light up the world, ” Mason says.

“I know you are.” Mom pats his hand. “Now come along, everyone! Let ’s eat.”

Mom leads the way into the dining room.

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