Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO LEFT ME PREGNANT
Z
Brody Miller had been my first serious boyfriend.
At nineteen, I'd thought he was charming.
At twenty, I'd thought he was misunderstood.
At twenty-two, I'd convinced myself his gambling was temporary.
By twenty-three, I was pregnant, broke, and sleeping on a friend's couch.
Brody had promised to change.
He promised to stop gambling.
Promised to get a steady job.
Promised we'd find an apartment with enough room for a crib.
Then one morning, he disappeared.
He left behind overdue bills and collection notices.
Some debts were in my name because I'd trusted him enough to sign papers I barely understood.
Others were his alone.
But the people demanding payment didn't always care about the difference.
Now he was calling from an unknown number.
“Brody, leave me alone.”
He laughed.
“That's no way to greet the father of your child.”
My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.
“You abandoned us.”
“I needed space.”
“You stole my savings.”
“Borrowed.”
“You never paid me back.”
He sighed.
“Emma, don't be dramatic.”
I closed my eyes.
“What do you want?”
His voice changed.
“I need a favor.”
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“I don't need to.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“Victor Hale wants to meet you.”
My blood ran cold.
“Who?”
“Don't play stupid.”
I sat upright.
“How do you know that name?”
Brody chuckled.
“Let's just say I've made some useful friends.”
I ended the call.
My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped the phone.
Then I called Lorenzo.
He answered immediately.
“Emma?”
I swallowed.
“Brody called.”
Silence.
“Your ex-boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
I told him.
Every word.
When I mentioned Victor Hale, Lorenzo went quiet.
Too quiet.
“Emma,” he said carefully, “have you ever met Hale?”
“No.”
“Has Brody mentioned him before?”
“Never.”
He took a breath.
“Save the call information. Don't agree to meet anyone.”
I nodded, forgetting he couldn't see me.
“Okay.”
“And Emma?”
“Yes?”
“You don't have to handle this alone.”
That evening, Lorenzo arrived with my attorney, whom I'd retained through a legal aid referral.
They helped me document Brody's call and understand my options.
Lorenzo didn't demand access to my phone.
Didn't tell me what to say.
He simply sat beside me while I explained what had happened.
After the attorney left, I looked at him.
“Why are you doing this?”
He frowned.
“Doing what?”
“Helping me.”
He considered.
“Because you deserve help.”
I shook my head.
“People don't usually help without wanting something.”
His expression softened.
“I know.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he asked:
“What do you want for Lily?”
I looked down.
“A safe home.”
He nodded.
“What else?”
I smiled faintly.
“A room with yellow curtains.”
He smiled.
“Why yellow?”
“Because my mother always said yellow makes a room feel like morning.”
Lorenzo looked at me.
“Then I hope she gets yellow curtains.”
I laughed softly.
“Me too.”
When he left, I realized something strange.
For the first time in months, I wasn't afraid of the future.
I was still uncertain.
Still broke.
May you like
Still pregnant.
But I no longer felt invisible.
