A goddamn rooster wakes me up. The small basement window is flooded with sunlight, hitting my face and stinging my eyes.
I look over next to me; Bonnie isn't here. Huh, guess she's already up.
I slide off the cot and climb the stairs to the door. I go to the kitchen, where she's sitting at the table with Caroline, a hot mug in her hands. "Peppermint is sure to soothe the aches in your head and belly," Caroline is saying to her as Bonnie takes a sip from the cup slowly.
"You alright, sugar?" I go over to her and rub my hand down her back. "Just morning sickness," she wavers. "I've usually been woken up a lot earlier by it, but I guess it's slowing down."
"She'll be fine, dear," Caroline says to me. "It'll take some time is all."
"I really can't thank you enough for letting us stay." I tell her. "We'll try and be out of your hair in two days tops." "Oh, don't you even worry about that," she shakes her head. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need."
"Oh, we couldn't let you risk it!" Bonnie starts to panic. "If the police knew we were being helped they'd come after you, too!" "Darlin' I've been able to handle myself for some time now," the elder woman said shaking her head at us. "I've seen my own family come and go and this land change year after year. It's time I pass on what good I have left to give."
Lord, I don't believe this. "You don't understand, ma'am," I say to her. "I've done some God awful things that are unforgivable. Helping us could put your life in danger, or you could lose your land."
"Now young man," Caroline looked up at me, "I couldn't care less about any of that. The good Lord is known to offer second chances to those who need it most, and now that time has come for you two. I won't just stand aside and have two young souls have their future taken away!"
I'm completely speechless. I glance over at Bonnie; she's nearly crying. I go over to her and wrap my arms around her, letting her head rest on my shoulder as she lets out a muffled sob.
This Caroline lady may very well be out of her mind for helping us, but she's not gonna give up on trying. We may have a chance to start over and raise our baby safely. I can't think of anything else to say, except, "Thank you."
"And if there's anything," Bonnie looks up at her, "anything we can do for you, just name it."
"Well," Caroline looks toward a window on the other end of the kitchen, "I've been running this farm myself for years; it'd be nice to actually get things done before the end of a month." She crosses over to the doorway to the hall. "When you two feel good and ready, I'll show you how you can help me out."
I guess it's as good a place to start over as any. Shouldn't be too hard.
