Vengeance Is Mine by Joanne Fluke Read Free Book Online

out to the parking lot Dale had warned her that he didn’t ask a woman out for a second date unless she put out on the first.
    Michele had thanked him graciously for dinner, turned on her heel, and gone back into the restaurant to call a taxi. It was the first time in her life that she’d needed the twenty-dollar bill her mother had insisted she tuck into her purse whenever she went out for the evening.
    â€œDo you want me to take this one, Michele?” Louise was still standing by the desk. “I know how you feel about Dale Kline.”
    â€œNo, that’s all right. Bring Cindy to my office, Louise. And make sure she doesn’t have to go through the waiting room. She’s probably afraid someone will recognize her and tell Dale.”
    In a moment there was a soft knock and the door opened. Michele was glad to see that Louise had her arm around Cindy. Louise’s mother-hen instinct was one of the main reasons Michele had chosen her for the job.
    â€œHi, Cindy.” Michele smiled warmly. “Let’s sit over here where we can be comfortable.”
    She led Cindy to the two overstuffed chairs that were part of a conversational grouping at the far end of the office. The area was designed to set young patients at ease. Michele knew that facing an adult behind a desk was always intimidating, especially for a young teenager.
    â€œYour test is positive, Cindy.” Michele found it was helpful to get right to the point in pregnancy cases. Sometimes hearing the worst is almost a relief.
    â€œAccording to the information you gave Louise, you’re approximately six weeks pregnant. In a way that’s good news. It means you have several options. I’ll tell you about them, and then you can think about which one is best for you.”
    Cindy’s lower lip trembled. “I—I was hoping my period was just late.”
    A tear rolled down Cindy’s cheek, and Michele handed her a box of tissues. “I’ll go get us a couple of Cokes. Then we can talk.”
    As Michele walked down the hall to the small refrigerator in the conference room, she mentally reviewed Cindy’s file. Cindy was fifteen, the only child of a broken marriage. Vera Kline was remarried and lived in Wisconsin with her new husband. She hadn’t contested Dale’s suit for custody, and Cindy had visited her mother only once in the four years since the divorce. Cindy had told Louise that her mother didn’t seem interested in her.
    Michele opened the refrigerator door and took out two Cokes, diet for her and regular for Cindy. Louise had made a personal note on Cindy’s file. The Klines were regular churchgoers. That meant Michele had to be cautious about discussing abortion. The Pro Choice Clinic was a real thorn in the side of the clergy.
    By the time Michele returned, Cindy looked much calmer. She had stopped crying, and she looked composed and determined.
    â€œI have to get an abortion, Miss Layton. And nobody can know about it. Especially my dad.”
    â€œThat’s one option.” Michele nodded. “Do you think your boyfriend will be able to help you financially?”
    Cindy shuddered. “I—I can’t tell him. He wouldn’t help anyway. There’s no way.”
    â€œThat’s up to you, Cindy.” Michele nodded again. “But before we start talking seriously about abortion, I want to tell you about some other alternatives. Will you just listen and try to keep an open mind?”
    Cindy nodded. Her lips were set in a stubborn line, and Michele knew she was wasting her time, but she had a duty to explore all the options with her patients.
    â€œThere’s an excellent boarding facility in southern Minnesota. It accepts pregnant girls from thirteen to eighteen and has a staff of accredited teachers. You could have your baby and give it up for adoption without missing any time in school.”
    â€œNo.” Cindy was adamant.
    â€œHow about