Amanda could almost hear the seconds ticking past with the same urgency. Time was spinning crazily forward, rushing her toward the inescapable consequences of her decision. Glancing sideways at Dane, she wondered if he dreaded the next few hours as much as she did. His face was unrevealing, his attention focused on the highway and his hands sure and confident on the steering wheel. If he had shared any of her apprehensions, it didn’t show. She turned her head and stared out the window, unable to deny her own disquiet. Her mother and father had accepted the news with concern, insisting that Amanda come home to them to think things through. But she had refused, knowing that their home was no longer hers and that she couldn’t bear their solicitous advice. Dane’s parents had offered their standard, pessimistic, “We’ve been expecting something like this to happen” answer. But Martha. Amanda felt a sigh catch in her throat. Telling Martha would be one of the harder consequences to face.
