And she had found it.
"How could you do this? Do you have any idea what your father will do when he gets home?"
I glanced at the clock over the mantel. I did have an idea but I didn't know how bad it would be. I'd find out soon enough. Practice had ended half an hour ago.
"Dinner is burning."
"What?"
I exhaled. I could smell everything now. I had super powered senses. It was because of the baby. I'd read that in one of my books. 'A heightened sense of smell helped a mother protect her unborn child against spoiled food and other pathogens.'
Like smoke.
"Dinner. It's burning."
She turned and ran into the kitchen.
I concentrated on my breathing. Counted to four as I inhaled. Hold for three. Exhale on four. Count to two. Start again. It was working. I felt even keeled, even though there was a heavy sense of dread hanging over the room. Getting upset wasn't good for the baby. And things were about to get crazy in here.
I should leave now. Go, pack quickly and then leave. No good was going to come of this.
If I knew anything, I knew that.
I stood up to leave just as the front door opened.
My mother walked past me, and took his jacket. He looked from her to me, confused.
"Mary? What's going on?"
"Come and sit down. Belinda has something to tell you."
I glared at her.
"No, I don't."
"Fine. I'll tell you."
I stood by the entrance to the living room, ready to run. My father looked calm but confused.
That was about to change.
"Your daughter has gotten herself pregnant."
"WHAT?"
He shot up from the couch, staring at me with fury.
"Is this true Belinda?"
I didn't flinch as he loomed over me. I couldn't back down. This was my life. Mine!
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
He covered his face with his hands. In that moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
I watched as he struggled to get control of his anger. He'd never yelled at me once growing up. But I had a feeling that was about to change.
"You'll get an abortion. And you'll never see this boy again!"
"Actually, the second part of that statement is probably true."
He stared at me in shock. I knew it wasn't my words. It was how calm I sounded that was confusing him. How unconcerned about his anger. But I had nothing left to lose. So I wasn't afraid.
Actually, I was angry.
"The worst part isn't that you've been dating behind my back. It's that you are so irresponsible that you allowed yourself to get pregnant!"
"No actually, I went on one date."
I crossed my arms.
"Maybe if I had known what to expect, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe if you hadn't been so controlling, I wouldn't have tried to play catch up and get all my experience in one night."
His jaw dropped.
"But, it did happen. And I'm keeping the baby, so you can both just stop asking about that."
He glared at me.
"Like hell you are!"
"I'm an adult and I'm keeping my baby. You can't stop me."
He was seething, staring at me with a look of revulsion.
"Who is the father Belinda?"
"I'll never tell you."
"Does he know? Does he want to marry you?"
I raised my chin.
"We haven't talked about marriage. And no, he doesn't know."
"I'll kill him! I swear to God I will kill the worthless son of a bitch!"
"No, you won't. Nobody is killing anyone."
For the first time in my life, I turned my back on father and walked away.
I sat down on my bed and calmly decided what to do.
I would leave. But not right away. I'd finish the semester. I'd find an apartment off campus for now, then at another school if I decided to transfer.
I'd get a sitter for classes and go part time.
I could do it. I could.
I was mostly confident as I changed for bed. I wasn't hungry and dinner was burned anyway. I was just tired.
It was the middle of the night when I heard the drill outside in the hallway. I leapt up and tried to open my door. It wouldn't budge.
I ran to the window but I couldn't open that either. I stepped backwards in shock. I should have left last night. And now I couldn't. I was trapped.
My father had locked me in.
Chapter Fifteen Kyle
The coach frowned on drinking during the season, but that didn't stop the guys from cutting loose now and then. I had a liver of steel anyway. But I didn't care about getting drunk most days.
Today was not most days.
I hadn't heard from Bellie in 72 hours. More than three days since I'd told her I loved her. Three days since I'd started looking for an engagement ring.
Radio fucking silence.
I guess I had my answer, I thought as I slung back another bourbon. Ben and Louis were holding up the bar with me.
"So I guess you didn't ask her."
I shook my head.
"Can't ask her if I can't find her."
That's when I felt the tap on my shoulder. I turned to see that groupie girl staring at me. The blond girl seemed to live in the damn place.
"Hi honey. Great game last week."
"Yeah, thanks."
I rolled my eyes and turned back to my drink. Louis grinned at her, waving flirtatiously.