Chapter 2

Vivian's frown deepened. "You and your father deserve an award for this performance. Nathan confirmed your dad ran off overseas with my money."

"Then come to the hospital with me," I begged. "Ten minutes. That's all I'm asking."

But we had reached the house. "Sign the divorce papers first. Don't upset my mother. I'll take you later."

I signed without hesitation. Beside the document sat a shriveled orchid. Vivian and I had raised it from a cutting in our first apartment. Back when she pretended to be an ordinary office worker, she'd saved an entire paycheck to surprise me with that plant.

She hadn't watered it once during my detention.

Her mother walked in and saw the divorce papers. "Daniel? What's happened? Tell me if Vivian's mistreated you."

Once I had believed her affection was real. She had personally approved the wedding-day money for Dad's treatment. When Vivian became pregnant two months ago, she insisted we keep it secret from everyone. I'd told only her mother.

"I'm fine," I managed.

Nathan laughed. "He stole seventy thousand dollars, Mrs. Lawson. Vivian's lawyers say he could be looking at fifteen years."

Her mother's face changed. "Our family cannot have a child whose father is a convicted thief."

Nathan blushed. "You promised not to tell anyone about the baby yet!"

So that was it. I was being replaced in more ways than one.

Nathan pulled away my chair to seat Vivian. I stumbled against the corner of the table, pain shooting across my stomach. Still I asked, "It's four-thirty. Please, Vivian. Let me get to the hospital."

Her mother waved at the driver. "Take Daniel. Nathan, you take Vivian to her prenatal appointment."

The hospital was ten minutes away. The driver, after receiving a look from Nathan, drove in circles until the clock read five-fourteen.

I ran inside, barely breathing.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mercer," the nurse said. "We followed the authorization we received. Your father's ashes have already been scattered at sea."

For a moment, the entire building seemed to tilt.

The driver held out his phone. Nathan's voice came through on speaker.

"Come on, Daniel. You can't show us any ashes because your father's alive, right?"

"And I actually believed you for a minute," Vivian said. "What a waste of time."

I opened my messages to her mother.

*You were right. Your family shouldn't have a child with a criminal father.*

*Don't worry about my baby anymore. Vivian's wanted to end this pregnancy for a long time. Tell her she can make her own decision.*