Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [37]
“But you were, and he knew that, too.”
This minister had become a threat to everything Merrily held dear. “You should have lied!” she shouted.
“Aren’t we living a big enough lie already?” Bob shouted back. “I told him the truth because it’s the only way we’re ever going to be able to live a normal life. Look at us! Axel isn’t even three and we’re already afraid of what’ll happen if anyone recognizes him. Afraid he might be taken away from us. Afraid someone might turn us in. Constantly looking over our shoulders. That’s no kind of life, Merrily. Not for Axel and not for you and me.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do mean it.” All at once he was on his feet and pacing. His boots made hard, heavy sounds against the floor.
“We’re his parents!” she cried.
“Yes, but burying our heads in the sand is wrong. Wrong for us and wrong for Axel. I love him as much as you do,” Bob said. “I’d never purposely do anything to hurt him, but our fear is going to smother him. I can see it happening.”
Merrily wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. “How can you say you love Axel after what you did?” came her high-pitched cry. She looked at Bob, seeing him with fresh eyes. She’d trusted him with everything, her heart, her son, her very life. He’d betrayed that trust. The immensity of it burned like hot coals inside her.
“I did it because I love Axel and I love you.”
Using both hands, she brushed the hair out of her face. Then, taking in a deep breath, she forced the panic from her heart. “Okay, Pastor Dawson knows. Exactly what’s he going to do about it?”
Bob continued pacing, but his steps grew slower.
“Bob?” she asked, when it was clear he hadn’t heard her. “He’s not going to keep our secret, is he?” That would be too much to hope for.
“He didn’t say he was going to do anything. He offered to help.”
“By turning us in to the authorities, no doubt.” It was what she expected, what she knew to expect.
“He said if we wanted, he’d be willing to contact the authorities on our behalf.”
“Dear God.” It felt as though the world had been jerked upside down.
“He wants us to take a week and think it over.”
“A week?” That meant they had a full seven days to run. In that length of time, they could disappear somewhere in Canada. Bob was good at saving money, better than she was. They could take the cash from their bank account and run.
“Pastor Dawson assured me he wouldn’t say anything to anyone,” Bob explained.
“Thank God,” Merrily whispered. “That gives us time.” Already her mind was racing with where they could go and the story they could make up. They’d need a lie that was convincing; they’d have to create a believable background. It would mean a name change, too, for all three of them.
Bob’s eyes met hers. She saw his pain, right along with the unasked questions. “What do you mean?”
“We have seven days, don’t you see? That’s long enough to find a place to hide out, to—”
“Merrily, we can’t do that. What kind of life would that be? For any of us? Our lives are here in Buffalo Valley.”
“The hell we can’t run. Are you nuts? That’s exactly what we’re going to do! It’s our only option.” Thanks to him. Thanks to what he’d done.
“Merrily—”
“Do you seriously believe I’m going to wait around for the cops? The social workers? You know me better than that. There’s no way in hell I’m going to hand over our son to some stranger. Axel needs me. He needs us both.”
Bob paled even more. “We’re going to fight for him, Merrily, with everything we have. He’s our son, and we’re going to make a stand right here, surrounded by our friends.”
For the first time, the pain gripping her heart lessened, but she still resisted. “It’s our only chance. We can make a new life in Canada—or anywhere you want. Running’s our only chance.”
“Don’t you understand that it’s only a matter of time before we’re found? It’s inevitable.”
“We can hide—”
“Until the next time. Until someone else figures out that Axel isn’t ours.”
She slapped at his hand as he reached out to console her. “You broke a trust! You betrayed Axel and me.”
“Are you saying I don’t love