The Color of Heaven - 09 - The Color of Time by Julianne MacLean Read Free Book Online Page A

suggesting. It made no sense, but when I first realized I might be carrying his child, I’d felt a burst of excitement at the idea of it. I’d fantasized about holding that baby in my arms, changing its diaper, singing to it and rocking it to sleep.
    “Are you there?” he asked when I offered no response.
    “Yes, I’m here,” I softly said.
    I heard noises in the background—other male students in the dorm, talking and laughing.
    “Have you told anyone yet?” Ethan asked.
    “No. You’re the first person I called.”
    “Well, don’t tell anyone. Not even your parents. Not until we figure out what to do.”
    “But I don’t know how I can keep it a secret,” I replied. “They’ll know something’s wrong. They’ll be able to tell.”
    “Just try to act normal. Let me see what I can do from here.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked.
    “I might be able to come up with the money. In cash.”
    My stomach turned over with dread. “For an abortion?” I whispered, not sure I was keen on the idea.
    “Yes. It’s the best option, Sylvie. You know it is. God , if my parents find out…” Ethan paused. “They’d never help us. My dad would probably disown me and cut me off, and then where would we be?”
    “At least we’d have each other,” I suggested. “Not everyone has rich parents to support them. Most of us get by just fine on our own. You could come and live here and we could be together. And my parents would help us. I know they would. You could go to college here.”
    “In Montana?”
    “Yes,” I replied, hesitantly.
    “How would I pay for it?” he asked with disbelief. “No. That can’t happen. Our lives would be totally screwed. Forever .”
    My heart broke at the sound of that word on his lips—the word he’d spoken so many times in such a loving way.
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Honestly.”
    He was quiet for a long time. Then at last he spoke.
    “I know,” he replied in a gentle voice that comforted me. “It’s not your fault. I’m just in shock. We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
    I let out a breath of relief. He was still my Ethan. He still loved me.
    “I wish you were here,” I said. “I hate that we’re so far apart.”
    “Me, too. If I could get on a plane right now, I would, but I can’t. Just give me some time, okay? I need to figure out what to do.”
    “All right.” I took a deep breath and gazed out the window. “Can you call me tonight?”
    “I will. And don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay.”
    “I hope so.”
    “It will.” He paused. “You know I love you, right?”
    “Yes. I love you, too. More than anything.”
    With that, we said good-bye, and somehow I managed to get through the rest of the day without revealing to my family that my world had just been turned upside down.
    After supper, I waited by the phone for Ethan to call.

Chapter Fourteen

    August 5, 2015

    I woke with start on Gram’s living room sofa, sat up and rubbed my eyes. The fire was still blazing on the flat screen TV, and the dawn sky was growing bright outside the windows.
    I picked up my phone to check the time. I had laid it on the coffee table the night before, and the battery was now dead. Swinging my legs to the floor, I rose from the sofa but stopped in my tracks when I noticed the front door was wide open.
    With my heart suddenly burning with panic, I hurried to push it shut and turned the lock. “Gordon?” I called out, whirling around to look for him. “Are you here?”
    I heard the familiar musical ping of the cat jumping onto the piano keys from the top of it. It was his favorite spot at the front parlor window. His paws hit the floor and he trotted toward me to rub up against my legs.
    “Why was the door open?” I asked, bending to scoop him up into my arms. “Did someone come in the house?”
    Or had I walked in my sleep? I used to sleepwalk often when I was a child, but I hadn’t done it in many years—at