Chapter 2

During my hospital stay, Connor took care of everything. A week later, I was discharged.

When I got home, the house was spotless. My mom was in the kitchen, wearing an apron.

She dried her hands on a towel and came over to help me.

I pulled away, frowning. "Mom, how did you get in?"

She averted her eyes and walked back into the kitchen. "I called a locksmith. If I didn't come, you'd be stuck with this big oaf taking care of you? You're weak. I made you some soup to help you recover."

Connor helped me to the couch. "Mom, I can take care of Jenna. You have work to do."

My mom came over with a full bowl of soup.

"Jenna only likes the soup I make." She then shot Connor a dark look. "You said you didn't cheat. Then what about the pregnancy test in the bathroom? It had two lines."

The color drained from my face. My stomach tightened painfully. I looked at Connor in disbelief.

His throat went dry, and he stammered, "I don't know."

His words set my mom off. She whirled around and raked her nails across his face, leaving a long, shocking scratch.

"You cheated and brought her home? You got her pregnant, and you still dare to deny it?"

Connor was completely speechless. He knelt in front of me, panicked. "Babe, I swear, I didn't do it."

I wanted to speak, but no sound came out. All I could hear was a terrible buzzing in my ears.

My mom was frantic, hitting and kicking Connor. "Get out! Look at what you've done to Jenna. You need to leave. She can't stand the sight of you right now."

Connor looked at me, worried. "Babe, are you okay? Let me take you to the hospital."

"Get out." My voice was so hoarse it startled everyone.

Connor was afraid I'd get so upset it would hurt the baby, so he stumbled out the door in a daze.

I stared at the door, unblinking. My mom wrapped her arms around me, heartbroken. "Jenna, don't be scared. Mom's here."

She carefully picked up the bowl of chicken soup, scooped up a spoonful, and blew on it.

"Jenna, you can always find another man. You need to take care of yourself."

I glanced at the greasy soup, and the nausea hit me hard. I couldn't hold it back and ran to the bathroom to throw up.

My mom rushed to rub my back and get me a glass of water, her eyes filled with tears. "I told you not to marry him, but you wouldn't listen. You're carrying a cursed child, and it's wrecking your health."

I stopped retching, but the sour taste lingered. "Mom, I smell that abortion pill again."

I turned and glared at her. "Are you going to stop at nothing until you've killed me?"

My mom's body stiffened. She forced a smile. "Jenna, what are you talking about? I spent hours making that soup. How can you accuse me like that? If you don't believe me, I'll drink it myself, right now."

She turned to go.

I asked quietly, "Mom, then let's take the soup to the hospital and get it tested."

My mom stared at me in disbelief. "You suspect me? I'm your own mother, and you don't trust me?"

"I was worried about you and made you soup, and now you're accusing me because of a man? Is this how you repay me?"

She stormed into the kitchen and poured the rest of the soup down the drain. "I should've given it to the dog."

I rubbed my forehead. Could I really have been wrong about her?

Seeing my mom grab her purse and head for the door, I quickly called her back.

She softened when she saw I was relenting. She pulled a small herb packet from her bag and tossed it to me. "I even went to pray for you, to bless you with good health."

"If you love that man so much, call him to come take care of you. You shouldn't be alone. But the fact is, he cheated. Don't be naive."

I weighed the packet in my hand. As I watched my mom's stooped back as she closed the door, I realized I'd been too harsh this time.

I was about to call my mom to apologize.

While the call was dialing, I glanced at the herb packet on the nightstand. On a whim, I hung up the phone, opened the packet, and scanned the contents with my phone.

In an instant, my blood ran cold. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.