Chapter 31 Hiding Baby
Elena
“You think he’ll give up on you?”
“No,” I say firmly. “I know he won’t. He’ll take responsibility for the baby. And that’ll change his whole life. He just got his job, Ki. You and I both know the trouble he’s had to go through to keep it. Adding a baby to the mix would be disastrous.”
Kiara sighs. I can tell she’s starting to see my point.
Besides, before I left home, they tried to set me up with a wife. Our parents try to micromanage every aspect of our lives. We’re goddamn Catholics. Sure, I haven’t been to church in months, but good Catholic girls don’t get pregnant out of wedlock. It just doesn’t happen.
That’s all I’ve been thinking about since yesterday. I’ve thought of every possible scenario, and we’ve failed at every one of them. There are no other options.
“So, what’s your plan?” Kiara asks tiredly. “What do you want to do?”
“I’m having a baby,” I announce. There was never any doubt about that. “But no one can know. I can’t tell my dad, or Tony, and especially not Roman.”
“How will that work, sweetie? It will show in a couple of months. Any of them could come to you. How do you plan on hiding the baby until then?”
“I’ve thought about it too, and I was wondering if you’d like to come back to England for a couple of months. With me,” I say nervously. “You don’t have to, but I need my best friend. I’ll make up a story about why I’ll have to move. Maybe I’ll tell them my company transferred me there temporarily or something. But I'm actually planning on quitting my job and staying there for a while. Maybe a year.”
"Wow," Kiara breathes. "You really thought this through, huh?"
"Yeah. You know me. I always have a plan. So, are you coming with me?"
Kiara doesn't think about it for long. "Of course I'll come with you. You're my best friend."
I sigh with relief.
"What about work? You just got back, and I hate that you have to leave again so soon. Your parents."
"My job is mostly remote. I don’t have to be in New York for that. As for my parents, they’ll just have to deal with it. Honestly, I’m a little sick of this town. And my dad’s really mad at the De Lucases right now. He says they screwed him, gave his congressman’s seat to someone else. And then there’s Michael. He doesn’t talk to me much.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. He’s just been keeping his distance since this gang war started. It pisses me off, but I’m not going to confront him or anything. Nothing is keeping me here,” she assures me.
Someday, I’ll understand the complicated relationship between her and Michael De Luca. But that day isn’t today.
I move closer and hug her. “You’re the best. Thank you so much. I was afraid I’d have to do all this on my own.”
“Never,” Kiara promises. When I pull away, she looks at me with a serious expression. “I have to ask, though. Are you sure you’re ready for this, sweetie? Having a baby is… a lot.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready,” I admit. “But I have about nine months to prepare. I have to be ready by the time my baby comes.”
My eyes fill with tears, but I blink them away. I’ve cried more in twenty-four hours than I have in years. And it’s annoying, because I’m made of much sterner stuff.
“Elena, your heart is in the right place, and I understand your motives, but I just need to make sure you’re thinking clearly. You’re going to hide this man’s child for a year. Roman might never forgive you for that.”
I clench my jaw. “He already hates me anyway.”
“Don’t say that. He doesn’t. I know he doesn’t. He can’t.” Because you two are going to be parents, and even if he doesn’t know it, you’re going to be a part of his life forever.
My heart aches when I hear that statement, but I can’t think about it right now. I can’t think about anything other than what’s in my way right now. My relationship with Roman and our parenting issues will have to wait.
“We’ll figure it out,” I say.
“Okay,” Kiara breathes. “I think we’re moving to London. I just need to ask you one important question.”
“What was it?”
She grins. “How was the sex?”
“Are you seriously asking me that?” I ask, though I’m trying not to smile. I knew what she was thinking, now.
For the first time since I found out I was pregnant, I can breathe easier. I have a best friend. I have a plan. I’m going to be okay.