Even Now by Karen Kingsbury Page A

felt it would be best if we gave the two of you some time apart. If you could’ve heard the things Mrs. Galanter said about you, honey . . . ”
    “I don’t care about her. I care about Shane.” Her voice was getting louder, and she brought it back down again. “All you’ve done is tear us apart.”
    “We were trying to help you.”
    “The phone connection thing, the made-up forwarding information, and now this — Shane calls the bank and gets a lie.” She laughed, but it came out low and sad. “Thanks for the help, Mom.” She looked at her father. “You too, Dad.” She turned to walk out, but her mother was on her feet, crossing the room and coming toward her.
    “Where are you going?”
    Lauren was done sharing information with her parents. “My room.” She looked at her mother over her shoulder. “I have nothing left to say.”
    Her parents must’ve felt the same way, because they didn’t speak another word as she walked away. Not until she was in the hallway did she hear her mother’s voice. “I’m sorry, Lauren. We . . . we never meant to hurt you.”
    She stopped and closed her eyes for a few seconds, holding back the sudden rush of tears that stung at her eyes. “I know.” She blinked and looked back at them one last time. “I know.”
    As she made her way through the house and up the stairs to her room, she was certain her mother was telling the truth. In some strange, twisted way the things she and her father had done to keep her and Shane apart really were acted out with the thought that it would be best for her.
    But some part of their consciences must’ve known it was wrong. She sat on the edge of her bed and looked across the room at Emily’s crib. The baby stirred and gave a small sneeze.
    Lauren stood and went to her. “Hey, little one, you okay? Mommy’s here.” She leaned out and touched her forehead. It was warm, but that might’ve been from the blankets or the sticky summer night. Lauren frowned and adjusted the layers so the baby had less over her body.
    The most amazing thing about being a new mother was the intensity of the love she felt for her daughter. She would’ve done anything for little Emily, and come tomorrow she would prove it. She soothed her hand over Emily’s forehead again. She wasn’t that warm, after all. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
    She should’ve been furious with her parents, devastated by their betrayal, fighting mad about everything that had happened to Shane and her. Instead, as she stared at her daughter, she felt a surging sense of freedom. She and Emily would be fine on their own.
    She leaned over the crib and kissed her daughter on the cheek. Then she went to the top drawer in her nightstand and pulled out the envelope just inside. It held five thousand dollars, money she’d taken from her personal account that afternoon. Since her money was still at the bank in the city, she’d found a local branch first. Her mother thought she was running to the grocery store with Emily, but she stopped at the bank on her way home. It was her money, gifts she’d gotten over the years, money she’d earned babysitting. Some of it was from her parents, but only when it was given as a birthday or Christmas present or for getting A’s on her report card.
    Now it felt like a million dollars in her hands. With that kind of cash she could take Emily to Los Angeles, find someplace to live, and start searching for Shane. She would try the local banks, places where his father might work. Then once school started again, she would try every high school in Los Angeles if she had to. Her parents would get over her decision. She’d done the unforgivable. By getting pregnant she and Shane had cast a shadow of shame on their families too long and dark and wide to ever step out of. The only way she’d live in the light of happiness and freedom again was by finding Shane.
    As she fell asleep, she heard Emily sneeze twice more. Nothing to worry about. Just a