She took Annie’s hand in hers, sensing that the girl wanted to flee. In the few short blocks they’d walked, they’d drawn countless stares, and people weren’t even pretending not to talk about them as they passed. “It’s better to just get it over with,” Charlotte advised. “Once everyone sees that you’re all right, they’ll focus on someone else.” “I don’t think they’re gossiping about whether I’m all right. They want to know who my baby’s father is.” It was the first time Annie had mentioned the father, and Charlotte took the opening. “Do you want to tell me about him?” Annie shook her head. “I can’t tell anyone who he is.” “I know you said that he didn’t hurt you, that he didn’t force you, but if he’s holding something over you, he doesn’t have any right to do that.” “He’s a good person. He cared about me. At least I think he did,” Annie said slowly. “I don’t want to get him in trouble.” “He knows you’re pregnant, doesn’t he?”
