1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [97]
She had no defense. That was exactly what she’d done.
“When I left, I told you I was finished and I meant it. You aren’t good for me.”
“No, I don’t suppose I am,” she agreed sadly.
“I’m starting over here in Tacoma and you know what? I like my life.”
“I see you have a…friend.”
“I do.” He didn’t embellish but simply confirmed the fact.
“I can’t argue with anything you said. I wish you well, Chad, I really do. I apologize for—”
“No need,” he said, cutting her off. “You taught me some valuable lessons.”
She merely nodded, unable to speak. With the pregnancy, her emotions had become volatile; she didn’t want to risk embarrassing herself or him, so she offered him a smile. What she wanted was to tell him about the baby, but she couldn’t do it. He’d begun a new life, a new relationship. Some might argue that it wasn’t ethical to keep the baby a secret, but that was what she intended to do. Wasn’t it fairer to him that way? She could see to it that one night of his previous life, one night in an ill-fated relationship, wouldn’t return to damage his future hopes and dreams. With the decision made, she turned away, got back in her car and sped out of the parking lot.
The tears came as she headed home to Cedar Cove. By the time she exited the freeway she was a mess. Her eyes were puffy and red and the seat next to her was piled with crumpled tissues.
Hardly aware of what she was doing, Gloria was mildly surprised to find herself in front of the McAfee home on Harbor Street.
She needed her mother. At one point in her own life, Corrie had been in the same situation as Gloria. She’d know what to do, how to guide her.
She wiped her face and walked up the steps to the door. If Roy answered, Gloria had no idea what she’d say.
He did. Taking one look at Gloria, he whirled around and called out, “Corrie!”
There was an urgency in his voice, and Corrie appeared almost immediately. Roy stepped aside and Corrie took Gloria by the hand and led her into the house, straight to the kitchen. Pulling a chair out from the table, she sat Gloria down and then sat beside her, still holding her hand.
Gloria discovered she couldn’t say a word. Not a solitary word. Every time she opened her mouth, nothing came out. After several futile attempts, she stopped trying. Instead, she held a clump of tissues to her eyes and wept loudly.
Corrie moved away from the table long enough to make two mugs of decaffeinated tea.
Roy briefly entered the kitchen and promptly left. “I’ll be in the other room if you need me,” he said on his way out the door. He seemed grateful that nothing was expected of him.
“Here,” Corrie said soothingly. “Drink this.”
Gloria did. The hot liquid eased the ache in her throat. The mug held in both hands spread warmth through her chilled body.
When her vision cleared, Gloria saw that Corrie’s eyes were brimming with tears.
“I’m pregnant,” Gloria whispered.
“I suspected it.” Corrie patted her hand gently. “I saw the pregnancy kit when I ran into you at the grocery store.”
“I wasn’t sure. You…you didn’t say anything.”
“No, I didn’t,” she said. “I wanted you to trust me enough to come to me. I’m so glad you did.” Leaning over, she wrapped Gloria in her loving embrace.
A number of times in the past Corrie had hugged her and Gloria had responded, although it had all seemed rather forced. Not this time. They clung to each other in mutual understanding.
“When I first learned I was pregnant with you, it felt as if the world had come to an end,” Corrie said in a low voice as they moved apart.
Gloria made a sound that was half tearful, half amused. “I felt like that, too.”
“Roy and I weren’t seeing each other anymore and he was dating some cheerleader.”
Gloria lowered her head. “Did you tell him when you found out?”
“No. What good would it’ve done for him to know? We were so young…I was still in my teens. He was out of my life, and I was too stubborn and too hurt to go to him. Right or wrong, I believed this was my problem and I’d deal with it myself.”
“You went home?”
“Yes, I dropped out of college for the rest of the