Chapter Four
Haddie
The following Friday afternoon, almost a week later, Kristina's cell phone rang.
"Hello, Camille."
"Hi, Kristina. I was wondering, have you – heard from Haddie, today?"
Suddenly there was knot in the pit of her stomach.
"No, I haven't. Is there a reason why I should? Is she ready to come home?"
"She – she's not here. She left for school early because she said she wanted to go by the soup kitchen early for some reason. She didn't way why. But then I got a call from her school because she never showed up. They wanted to know if she was sick. I didn't know what to say, so I told them she was."
"So, where is she?"
"I don't know. I asked Amber, and Drew, but neither one knew. Or didn't want to say."
"So do we need to call the police?" By now Kristina was verging on hysteria.
"No, I don't think so, not right now. But I guess you need to tell Adam, as much as I hate to say it. You know how he's going to react."
"Yes, I do know how he's going to react. Just like I am. We trusted you! We thought you would keep Haddie safe. And as much as I hate to say it. I think Adam was right. You never should have let her stay there. You should have sent her home."
"Look, Kristina, I didn't want this - this split between us. But she needed a refuge; someplace she could feel..."
"Safe? Is that what you were going to say? Because it's obvious she isn't, otherwise you wouldn't be calling me asking where she is!"
Before Camille could answer, Haddie came into her kitchen.
"Wait," Camille said, much relieved. "She's here. She just came in."
"So ask her," Kristina demanded. "Where has she been all day, and now coming home three hours late!"
"I will. Just a minute."
Kristina could hear Camille's muffled voice asking Haddie, and very faintly she could hear some kind of reply. Then another question from Camille Kristina couldn't quite hear, and then another faint answer.
Then she heard more clearly, "Why don't you talk to your mother. I know she's worried."
"Hey, Mom," Haddie said. "There's nothing to worry about. I'm fine. Really."
"So why weren't you in school in today? Where were you?"
"I was..."
Kristina heard Haddie take a breath, then two, as if stalling, trying to think of a legitimate reason.
"Well?" Kristina was losing patience.
"I went – I went to a free clinic for a test; some tests."
"Tests? What kind of tests? Is there something wrong with you? Why didn't you come to me? I could have taken you to our doctor. Or you could have had Camille take you. Say something!"
"I would, if you'd let me get a word in edgewise."
"Okay. I'm sorry. So..."
"I went to the clinic because I was burning – down there, whenever I peed. And I just didn't want any of you guys to make a big deal out of it. It was nothing. It's just a urinary tract infection. And got a prescription for it, and a couple bottles of cranberry juice."
For a few seconds Kristina was silent, then a thought came to her.
"You said 'tests'. You said 'some tests'. What kind of tests?"
"Do we really have to talk about this right now? How about if I come over this weekend and we can..."
"No, we can't this weekend. I want to know what other kinds of tests you had done. And I want to know right now!"
There was an even longer pause; so long that Kristina thought she had hung up. Then she heard Haddie mumble something she couldn't hear.
"You'll have to speak up. What kind of tests?"
"For – for STDs."
"What?" Both Kristina and Camille spoke at the same time.
But before Haddie could say anything else, Kristina said, "You pack your things, young lady. You pack up and you be ready to leave. Because, you are coming home with us – tonight!"
The ride from Zeek and Camille's was made in silence, but just as soon as Haddie, Kristina and Adam were home, the interrogation began.
"So what other tests did you have done?" Kristina demanded to know. Adam decided to let Kristina handle this, for now.
"Tests!" Haddie retorted. "Just tests, that's all!"
"But what...?" Then once again Kristina felt the knot in her stomach.
"Are you pregnant? Is that what this is all about? You're pregnant?"