Lost Love in the 80s
My high school graduation sucked. My fiancé,
Jason, dumped me.
Then he married Sarah, my best friend who
did get into college, and announced they’d
already eloped.
Double whammy. I ran away to clear my head
and got kidnapped.
Sarah’s stepbrother, David, spent everything
he had to rescue me. Then he proposed to
me, even though my hand was mangled.
David spoiled me rotten after we got married.
Like, seriously spoiled.
Then, seven years later, I overheard his mom
く
giving him a serious talking-to.
“You kidnapped Amy and broke her hand so
Sarah could steal her college acceptance.”
“Then you married Amy to keep her quiet.
You’ve done enough for Sarah.”
David’s voice was sad. “It’s not enough. Sarah
deserves the best.”
I froze, eavesdropping from the other side of
the door.
My rescue, my perfect marriage… all David’s
twisted way of paying off his guilt.
:
I had the pregnancy test in my purse.
I was bringing dinner to David’s mom at the
hospital and planned to tell him the good.
news.
Instead, he dropped a bomb on me.
Their voices drifted through the door, cold as
ice.
The joy of knowing I was pregnant
evaporated.
a
Before I could process it all, his mom kept
talking.
“Sarah’s your sister, married or not!”
く
“When she gets back from Chicago, knock it
off. If your stepdad finds out, he’ll kill you!”
“You need to focus on having a baby with ́
Amy. That’s what matters.”
David didn’t answer. His mom coughed,
clearly agitated.
Finally, he spoke, sounding resigned.
“I’ll do what I promised. Sarah’s just my
sister.”
“But a baby… I’m not ready. We’ll talk later.”
Then his sister, Ashley, chimed in.
“Mom, leave him alone! Who wants a kid with
a disabled mom?”
“I told him not to marry Amy! They’re a
terrible match!”
David snapped, “Ashley! Don’t talk about your
sister-in-law like that!”
Ashley shut up, scared of her brother.
Everyone in his family knew the truth. Except
Shaking with anger, I could barely hold the
food container.
I heard footsteps and turned to leave.
I bumped into a nurse with a medicine cart.
Suddenly, strong arms caught me. David.
He checked me over anxiously.
“Amy, are you okay? It’s freezing. Why are
you here?”
“I made Mom some soup. Just dropping it
off.”
“Have the housekeeper do it next time. I don’t
want you getting sick.”
He took the container and kissed my
forehead.
Usually, his touch was loving. Now it felt fake.
David’s mom seeing me. started her usual
>
baby-pushing.
“Amy, when are you two going to have kids? I
was your age when David was in elementary
school.”
I ladled some soup, unsure if I should mention
the pregnancy.
David cut me off. “Mom, stop bugging Amy.
“We have our own plans. Cuddle with Sarah’s
daughter if you want a baby fix.”
Sarah’s daughter, Chloe, was coming for
Christmas.
David’s mom’s smile froze. She sipped the
soup and didn’t reply.
Г
I decided to keep the pregnancy to myself. I
excused myself to the bathroom.
As I washed my hands, Ashley appeared,
smirking.
“I saw someone lurking. Knew it was you,
eavesdropping!”
“Now you know my brother doesn’t love you.
Feel stupid?”
“Amy, if I were you, I’d get out of here!”
The cold water stung, but not as much as the
truth.
