She might have had her suspicions but she
wasn’t about to stick her neck out for me.
Still, she tried to reassure me.
“It’s okay, Claire. You can’t trust any man. Now that the baby’s here, you’ll manage. I’ll help you.”
Going head–to–head with them right now wouldn’t work. They were brainwashed, and wouldn’t believe a thing I said.
I had to play it cool, then figure out a plan.
I just mumbled “Okay,” and went home.
Shelly stood in the corner, practically glowing with relief.
She’d finally dumped that hot potato in my lap.
I smirked, wondering how long they could keep
<
that up.
Back in the house, the kid wouldn’t stop crying.
Newborns need milk, but I didn’t have any, and
no way was I buying formula.
Even if I had the cash, I wouldn’t waste it on him.
Last time, after I took him in, Shane wanted to call him “Lucky.”
He said that finding him was my lucky break.
But I knew he would start a nightmare that I would never wake from.
Not long after, rumors started flying, saying I
was screwing around on the side.
I even thought about drowning myself.
<
That’s when Shane proposed.
68
“Claire, your dad saved my life. I won’t let you
die. Don’t be scared. No matter how tough it
gets, I’ll be there. No one will mess with you again.”
Later, he talked me into giving up my chance to move back to the city for Shelly.
“Now that we’re married, we’ll just have to
make a life here. Shelly’s still young, she should
go to the city, have a better life.”
I figured since I was part of the family now, Shelly was like my sister, so I went along with it.
A year later, my baby with Shane died the night he was born.
The nurse said the blankets had smothered him
<
And then Shane disappeared.
I dragged that foundling around, trying to earn.
a living, trying to find him, but no one knew where he’d gone.
I gave up and raised the kid alone.
At first, Lucky was pretty good to me.
He felt bad that I was working so hard, and helped with chores.
But when he was twelve, he changed. He
started showing up with candy and toys that I definitely couldn’t afford.
Now I know he was already in contact with
Shane and Shelly, the two–faced bastards.
And they kept me in the dark, using me, while they were out living it up.
<
Until I was sick and useless.
Then Shane showed up, ready to drop the bomb
and force a divorce.
I hated them, and I ignored the crying kid and started cooking dinner.
I might have agreed to take him, but times were tough.
I wasn’t sure anyone could make it.
Adults were struggling; who could worry about a baby?
Besides, someone would be here soon.
