two at a time and disappeared into the event center.
Glancing down the street, I waited for the valet to bring Nolan’s truck up. I opened his wallet and looked for a small bill to give the valet. I pulled out a ten and then smiled as I saw Nolan’s military ID. I ran my finger over his face and felt my heart grow bigger. I was so proud of Nolan and all that he had accomplished.
“Oh, how I do love you, Nolan Byers.”
Something was sticking out from behind the ID that caught my eye. Slipping my finger against the paper, I pulled it out.
My heart instantly felt as if it would beat out of my chest, and I had no idea why. I pushed Nolan’s ID back into its spot, and then tucked his wallet under my arm.
Slowly, I unfolded the paper and felt my entire body go cold. So cold I shook like I was standing outside in freezing temperatures, when it was actually unseasonably warm for March.
I stared down at the paper and felt my entire world flip upside down. “Oh my God.”
My hands trembled as I stared at a sonogram picture of a baby. A red heart was drawn around the baby and the words, “La bébé,” were typed on it with an arrow pointing to the little blob in the photo.
“Amanda,” I whispered as I watched a tear hit the paper. It felt like a rush of a million memories flooded my mind all at once. So overwhelming, all of it, and I swayed with the weight.
“Ma’am? Excuse me, ma’am? Are you okay?”
I jerked my head up and stared at the valet. He frowned and held out Nolan’s keys. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head and glanced back up at the doors. My lungs burned with the effort to breathe. Tears streamed down my face, and all I could think was that I needed to be alone. I needed to be alone to process all of this.
“I…I…I have to go.” My voice sounded strained.
“Excuse me?” the valet asked in a confused voice.
I quickly opened the passenger door and tossed Nolan’s wallet onto the seat.
“Tell him his wallet is in the truck.” Then I quickly ran around the truck and out into the street. I waved at an Uber driver who was most likely waiting to pick up another person. I didn’t care, I had to get out of there.
The valet called out to me as the car drove up, and I opened the back door. “Ma’am, wait! He’s right there!”
“Linnzi?”
I turned to see Nolan walking down the steps. He looked confused.
Slipping into the car, I cried, “Go. And please don’t let him follow us.”
“I don’t think you’re my ride, lady.”
He turned to look at me, and I gave him a silent plea. He nodded as he asked, “Are you okay, lady?”
“Yes,” I sobbed. “Just don’t let him follow us.”
“Um…”
“Please!” I begged as he nodded and stepped on the gas.
“Should I call the police or something?”
I frantically shook my head. “No, no. I just need to get home.”
Then I looked down in my hands and gasped. I was holding the keys to Nolan’s truck. I had thrown his wallet and the sonogram picture in the passenger seat, but somehow had kept the keys. I didn’t even realize I had taken them from the valet.
“Where to?” the young man asked.
I wiped at my tears and gave him my parents’ address. I knew they wouldn’t be home since my mother had mentioned going to a friend’s house for some card night or something.
After paying him with cash and a hefty tip, I got out, kicked off my shoes, and took the steps two at a time. I put in the code and ran up the steps to the second floor, and then up to the attic. For some reason, it was the only place I could think to go. The trunk. It had been calling to me a few weeks back, and the draw was even stronger now.
Throwing open the attic door, I flipped the lights on and dashed up the steps. I looked at the locked trunk and then around at the rest of attic. I found a metal candlestick holder and started hitting the lock as hard as I could until it broke free. I pushed the lid open and then fell to my knees and started to cry even harder when I saw the contents.
“Why? Why?” I screamed out as I buried my face in my