Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 9
Edward considered the amount. It wasn't pocket change; he didn't have that much cash on his person. But he could take it out from an ATM. It wasn't an exuberant amount for him. His parents were affluent enough to make sure he didn't suffer undue stress while working through school. He could afford it.
However, would it not be irresponsible of him to just give her the money and wash his hands of the matter? After all, she could be in trouble with the mob. Or any number of shady characters she tried to engage as "informants" for her journalism projects. It went against his grain to be a willfully ignorant spectator and allow a friend come to harm.
He was torn. Carmen was looking at him expectantly for his response, and now he was decisively late for his rotation.
"Hop in, we'll swing by an ATM." He signalled Carmen toward the passenger side as he jumped into his car and drove to the nearest ATM.
The short drive was silent, but he tried to observe Carmen through his peripheral vision to spot any symptoms of drug use or withdrawal. She was uncharacteristically unkempt and kept chewing on her fingernails nervously, but that didn't conclusively prove or disprove his theory.
He parked the car in a mall parking lot and walked to an ATM to retrieve the money he had promised Carmen, leaving her alone in the car. For a second, he wondered about the chances of her absconding with his prized possession; his beloved silver Volvo, a gift from his father. But she was still there when he came back with the cash.
He climbed back in and sat on his side of the car quietly for a few seconds. Carmen was looking at him impatiently, eyeing the envelope he was holding in his hand.
"I will lend you the money, Carmen. But I've got to know, what do you need it for?" Edward asked cautiously. "Is everything okay with you? I know it's none of my business, but we are friends. At least, I still consider you my friend. If you are in some kind of trouble, I want you to know that you can trust me. I'll do my best to help in any way I can."
Carmen sat frozen for a few moments, as if his kindly spoken words had struck her to stone.
Edward carefully reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. His touch of concern seemed to have unleashed a floodgate within her. Carmen's face contorted into a mask of agony as she began to weep uncontrollably.
"Hey, hey. It's okay, Carmen," Edward said, trying to soothe her. He was getting more alarmed by the second. She was clearly in a lot of trouble, and he wasn't really sure if he was in any position to help her.
"What's wrong, baby?" he attempted again, Instead of calming her, his words seemed to distress her even more.
Finally, when she was able to form coherent words, she stammered out her confession, "I'm... I'm pregnant, Edward..."
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.