The ground beneath Nancy’s feet seemed to shift when the woman, Amanda, revealed that the baby she held was Patrick’s child.
“Only you can take care of this child now,” Amanda stated matter-of-factly. “Her mother isn’t in a position to provide for her.”
A chill shot down Nancy’s spine. She stared at the baby in disbelief and instinctively took a step back.
“No, it can’t be! Patrick was a loving husband. He would never do this to me!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling.
Without another word, Nancy spun around and hurried away. She refused to entertain the thought that Patrick could have betrayed her.
“Watch out!”
In her distracted state, Nancy collided with one of Patrick’s old friends, Mike. She had been so lost in her own turmoil that she hadn’t even noticed where she was going.
Mike began chatting with her, offering his sincere condolences. Nancy, though desperate to be alone, knew she had to be polite. She cut the conversation short as quickly as she could and rushed towards her car.
The image of the baby kept flashing in her mind, but she pushed it aside. However, when she opened her car door, her heart nearly stopped. There, lying in the back seat, was the same baby, crying inconsolably.