There was a click, and the line went silent. Jenny sat frozen, the phone still at her ear while the computerized voice listed the voice mail options.
End of new messages, the computer voice said.
Jenny couldnt believe it. Mitch had gone to a job interview? Hed rushed out of town yesterday to find himself a new job?
She gave a slightly hysterical laugh. So much for going steady. He was obviously leaving Royal. And he was definitely leaving her.
Any small, lingering hope that she might have had for their future evaporated in the blink of an eye.
Press star to disconnect, instructed the computerized voice.
Jennys stomach rolled. Her gaze flew back to the clock on the wall. Mitch was probably on his way home right now. If he didnt make it to the office this afternoon, hed definitely be here tomorrow morning.
What was she going to do? How was she going to face him? How could she possibly even hope to pretend everything was normal?
What if she had morning sickness tomorrow? Worse, what if she was sick every morning for the rest of the week, or the rest of the month? Shed never keep the pregnancy a secret.
She came shakily to her feet just as Emily burst through the door.
Why arent you answering? Emily demanded, swinging the door shut and barreling forward. Then she halted midstride.
Oh, no. Her hands reached out, and she came forward again, rounding the desk and pulling Jenny firmly into her arms. You are, arent you?
Jenny nodded, twin tears leaking out. The test this morning was positive.
Oh, honey. Emily smoothed her hands down Jennys back. Why did you leave without me? Never mind. It doesnt matter. Its going to be okay. I promise you, its going to be okay.
But it wasnt going to be okay. It was going to be very, very far from okay for a very long time.
I have to get out of here, said Jenny, her voice shaking.
Of course you do. Emily drew back to look at her. Well go to Coles house. Or are you hungry? Should we go to the diner?
Jennys stomach lurched at the thought of greasy fries and heavy milkshakes.
Uh-oh, Emily repeated. Is it bad?
Pretty bad. But, oh. Jenny closed her eyes and waited for the nausea to pass. I really have to get out of here. Not just out of the office. Out of Royal altogether. I have to leave before Mitch gets back.
Emily nodded. Youre worried about how to tell him. I understand.
Im not telling him at all.
Well, no, Emily said gently. It doesnt even have to be today.
Jenny grasped her friends upper arms. Emily. Listen to me. Mitch told me a thousand different ways that he wasnt in this for the long haul. Hes nowhere near ready to commit. He went to D.C. for a job interview. And he accepted a position. Hes leaving Royal. Hes leaving me.
But-
But-
But, nothing. He doesnt want me. He sure doesnt want a baby. And I am not-I am not going to have my child raised by an unwilling father.
Emilys eyes narrowed in confusion. You cant keep it a secret. He has friends in Royal. Cole will-
Not forever, Jenny conceded, knowing shed have to eventually tell Mitch he was a father. But I can keep it a secret for now. At least, she could if she wasnt around him. If she could figure out how to get away, a plausible excuse to get out of Royal until Mitch left permanently for D.C.
She braced her hand on the edge of the desk. I need a plan. A good excuse to leave. Then hell come back, resign from TCC, leave for his new job in D.C., and then Ill decide what to do and when to do it.
Emily bit her bottom lip. I dont know, Jenny.
Its the only way. Her throat closed over again, and her voice broke. I cant trap him. I wont trap him, Em.
Emily wrapped a firm arm around Jennys shoulders. Then Ill help you. Of course Ill help you. You can go up to the cottage at Lake Angel, for a week, or two, or three. As long as you need. Tell Mitch it was an emergency. Leave him a message.
Jenny was nodding. I could do that. I could tell him someone is sick. Her hand went to her stomach. Im definitely sick. And I can say Im at a friends house. Ill be at yours. Its not even a lie.
Emily gave a sad smile. Its not even a lie.
Jenny sniffed, sitting down. Are you sure your folks wont mind?
Not a bit. They wont be at the lake for months. The cottage is the perfect place for you to regroup.
Jenny turned her chair and started to type. She could barely make her fingers form the words that would take her away from Mitch forever. She was suddenly bone tired. She wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for a month. She didnt want to face Mitch or anyone else.
As Mitch powered his Corvette away from the small airport on the outskirts of Royal, his hand strayed from the gearshift to pat the small square package tucked away in his suit jacket pocket, while his mind settled comfortably into thoughts of Jenny. If someone had told him forty-eight hours ago that hed be buying an engagement ring, hed have told them they were out of their mind.
But things changed, people learned. They learned things about themselves, and they figured out things about others that had been staring them in the face for months. What Mitch had learned was that he wanted Jenny, now and forever. He loved her. And he wasnt about to let one more day go by without telling her so.
He swung off the interstate and took the three corners to River Road. Hed driven this route a thousand times, knew every curve, every bump, every blind spot. But hed never driven it faster, never wished it were shorter. And by the time he pulled into the TCC parking lot, he was having a very stern talk with himself to calm down and curb his enthusiasm.
He couldnt tell Jenny he loved her next to the coffeemaker. And he sure couldnt propose to her at the office. He pushed the shifter into First, set the park brake and turned off the key.
He had to take her out on a date tonight, somewhere exotic and wildly romantic. Maybe theyd go to the beach again. There had to be dozens of fine restaurants overlooking Galveston Bay. He wanted something with candlelight and white linen, a private little alcove where he could say all the things he needed to say.
He took the TCC stairs two at a time, striding through the front foyer, heading directly to the second floor, down the short hallway and into the outer office.
Jenny? he breathed, before he realized she wasnt there.
He quickly moved to his own office, entering through the open door, expecting to see her inside, straightening his papers, watering his plants, putting his mail into those neat little piles, like she did every day.
He drew another blank and frowned.
Maybe she was in the conference room, or the ladies room. He told himself to wait it out, but his feet took him back across the outer office, down the hallway and into the conference room.
It was empty, and he couldnt very well check the ladies room. So he headed back to the office, cooling his heels, gazing unseeingly at the familiar surroundings.
It was quiet, somehow too quiet. It felt like a weekend, and it took him a moment to realize it was because her computer was shut off. Her chair was neatly pushed into the desk. There wasnt a single paper on her desktop, and the mornings mail was piled haphazardly in her in-basket.
Was Jenny away?
Could she have missed a days work?
He ventured closer to her desk, spying a crisp white envelope in the center of the desk. His name was scrawled across it in Jennys handwriting.
Mitch picked it up, staring, getting an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. Shed left him a note? Why didnt she email, or text, or give him a call if she had to miss work?
He tore off the end of the envelope and slid out a single piece of paper.
Dear Mitch, it opened.
He read further through the letter, becoming more confused by the second. Jenny was gone?
He flipped over the sheet of paper, but there was no additional information on the back, no destination, no return date, no explanation of who was sick. Nothing.
He didnt know whether to be mad or worried.
He retrieved his cell phone and dialed her number.
It rang through to voice mail.
Jenny, he said to the machine, struggling to keep his tone neutral. Its me. Im confused. Call me as soon as you can, okay?
He hung up, waiting a long moment, took a deep breath, then pressed the speed dial for Cole.
Cole answered right away. Maddison here.
Its Mitch.
Oh, hey, Mitch. There was definitely something off in Coles tone. He knew something.
Im looking for Jenny, said Mitch, giving his friend one chance to be straight with him.
Really? Cole asked. Shes not at work?
Mitch ran out of patience. What the hell is going on? he barked.
There was a long pause that only served to reinforce Mitchs suspicions.
What do you mean? asked Cole, his tone still carefully neutral.
Mitchs voice went to steel. Wheres Jenny?
I dont know.
Bull. Emily has to know.
She might, Cole replied. But she didnt tell me.
Okay, this just got weirder by the second. Wheres Emily?
Shes at work.
So shes not the one whos sick? And she didnt go to some friends place with Jenny?
No. Cole didnt elaborate.
What did I miss? Mitch demanded
As far as I know, nothing.
As far as you know? What kind of an answer is that?
Coles tone went back to normal. They didnt tell me so I wouldnt have to lie to you. Somethings obviously up, but I havent a clue what it might be. Did you and Jenny fight? Did you do anything?
Like what?
I dont know, see a girl in D.C.? Maybe somebody saw you and-
I did not see a girl in D.C. Unless you counted the mental images of Jenny that followed him 24-7.
Well, she took off for some reason, said Cole.
Mitch paced across the office. Find out what it is. Talk to Emily.
Cole barked out a cold laugh. You want me to compromise my relationship with my fiancée to help you?
Absolutely.
You really dont know how these things work, do you?
Mitch paused for a long second. Im learning, he admitted.
Cole went silent. Elaborate.
Spill his guts? Own up to his feelings to Cole before he even told Jenny? I dont think so.
You want my help?
Mitch punched the heel of his hand against the office wall. Fine. Theres a lecture from Jeffrey on squandering chances echoing inside my head, an engagement ring sitting in my jacket pocket and Im ready to tear this state apart looking for Jenny.
You bought an engagement ring?
Yes, Mitch hissed.