Secrets Dark and Deep by Sherri Stewart

Author:Sherri Stewart [Stewart, Sherri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 3651647234
Published: 2024-01-13T16:00:00+00:00

There was no doubt what the verses were saying to her. This would be so easy if she was married and this child was planned, but how was she going to keep her growing belly a secret from the viewers? She’d worked with other female newscasters who hid behind a plant or carried a book to cover their baby bumps, but they weren’t fooling anyone. How was she going to go through this alone with no one to help her? And the child—how could she ever tell her daughter—somehow, she felt it was a girl—that she was the product of a violent rape by an unknown criminal?

Take the next step. The next day she donned a wig, drove to a nearby urgent care and, using her grandmother’s name, she obtained confirmation she was indeed pregnant. After work, where she’d made a beeline to the restroom twice to empty what remained of her lunch from the previous day, she drove home, put on her pajamas, and scrubbed the foyer floor clean with ammonia. The strong smell ensured it was really clean. If only she could be. Then she wiped down the refrigerator and the cupboards. By keeping busy, she held onto a modicum of control over the life Absalom had ripped away from her.

Christmas music played from YouTube on television. It did little to buoy up the heaviness that weighed on her shoulders like a big gray anvil. She finally flopped onto the armchair, her phone on her lap. Whenever unwelcome tasks lay ahead, Maddie made a list and checked them off, feeling some amount of satisfaction with each checkmark. Next on the list of people to call was Brody Messner, followed by her parents and Gregory. She was quite sure she knew how Brody would react, as well as what her parents would say.

Do the next thing. She dialed Brody’s number, hoping she could just leave a voicemail if he didn’t answer. Was her news something to put in a voicemail? Four rings, five…good, she’d hang up on the sixth. Lo and behold, he answered.

“Hi, stranger. How are you?”

His voice sounded as warm and smooth as cocoa. Even in her depleted state, it brought a smile to think that once again she compared him to food. “Hello, I hope I’m not interrupting hockey practice. Is hockey still going on?”

“No, you aren’t, and yes, it is, but with Christmas coming in a week, we’re taking a break. What are you doing for Christmas?”

Christmas. “Nothing much, just attending a party at work next Friday and going to church on Christmas Eve. How about you?” It wasn’t exactly the right season to break the news to him.

“Work. Since I don’t have a family, I always volunteer to let the other guys have the day off. Crooks usually take off Christmas, which makes it easy.” He paused. “If you don’t have anything going on, maybe the two of us can celebrate together—”

“Brody, I’m pregnant.” Her head hit the back of the chair, her eyes squeezing shut as she waited for his response, which didn’t come right away.

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