Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT DANTE LEARNED HE WAS GOING TO BE A FATHER
Dante called Lena from an unfamiliar number.
She answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
His heart stopped.
Her voice.
After weeks of silence.
“Lena.”
She went still.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she whispered:
“Dante.”
His eyes filled.
“Are you safe?”
She swallowed.
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“Thank God.”
Lena sat on the edge of her bed.
“How did you get this number?”
Dante hesitated.
“I used an old emergency contact record. I shouldn't have.”
She closed her eyes.
“Dante—”
“I know.”
He took a breath.
“I won't call again if you don't want me to.”
Silence.
Then Lena whispered:
“What do you want?”
Dante looked at the photograph on his desk.
His voice broke.
“Are you pregnant?”
Lena froze.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then whispered:
“How do you know?”
Dante closed his eyes.
“Someone sent me a photograph.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What photograph?”
“Outside a clinic.”
Lena went cold.
She stood.
“Dante.”
His voice sharpened.
“What?”
“Someone sent me a threatening message.”
He went still.
“What did it say?”
Lena swallowed.
“If I cared about my baby, I should stay away from Chicago.”
Dante closed his eyes.
Then said quietly:
“Lena, listen to me.”
She gripped the phone.
“I'm listening.”
“Please contact local police and show them the message.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
“And don't confront anyone who approaches you.”
Lena sat down.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Dante whispered:
“Is the baby mine?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes.”
Dante covered his mouth.
A broken sound escaped him.
Lena began crying.
“Lena.”
His voice trembled.
“I'm going to be a father?”
She nodded, though he couldn't see.
“Yes.”
Dante closed his eyes.
For five years, he'd dreamed of having a child with her.
Now the dream existed.
And he had nearly lost the right to share it.
He whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Lena cried harder.
“I know.”
For the first time since the anniversary, they spoke without shouting.
Without excuses.
May you like
Without pretending.
And though neither knew what would happen next, the silence between them had finally broken.
