Chapter 20

Haisley was upstairs with Rory and she wasn’t exactly sure why they were up there, but she figured it had something to do with Harry trying to comfort Peach about the death of his parents.

Rory smiled as she met her gaze. “Are you excited about the baby?”

Haisley shrugged. "For a moment downstairs, I thought maybe you knew. But I guess you don't."

Rory moved to stand in front of her and put her hands on Haisley's shoulders, staring directly into her eyes. Her expression was serious, and Haisley felt the weight of her stare and the moment.

“When I first met Harry, I was in a weird spot. I learned some stuff that would have destroyed some very powerful men. They abducted me and then sold me overseas. I lived in a compound long enough I thought I was going to die over there. I was punished because I wouldn’t obey. The man who owned the place did awful things to me. If I judged myself and my life on what that man did, I would be in the gutter every day. ”

Haisley held her breath, unsure what to think. She hadn't even contemplated that Rory had lived through anything bad. She seemed so strong, holding her head high like she'd never been abused by a man.

"Now then, I want you to hear this from me, someone who was used by men as a sex toy. We aren't what other people do to us. I'm a strong, independent woman who won't bow to anyone. And you aren't what happened to you. No, I don't know the details, but I can guess because I know what I went through. Don't let them win. Hold your chin high. You didn't do anything wrong."

Tears streamed down her cheeks and the only thing that held her up was Rory’s arms. Ellen had said something similar to her, but it was hard to keep the message in her head.

“I don’t know how to feel like I have worth.”

Rory cupped her face. "We'll help. Also, maybe getting some counseling."

“I don’t think I can afford counseling.”

“Even a few sessions can help. And I’m sure you can find someone who will work with you.”

She sucked in a ragged breath. “I feel grateful for Peach helping.”

Rory’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that all you feel for him?”

She slapped her hands over her face. “Oh God, I’m so bad. I’m about to be a mother and I’m having these thoughts about Peach.”

Rory chuckled. “There’s no reason for you to feel shame or embarrassment. He’s very cute. You know, you could just give it time. You two have only known each other for a very short time.”

“Yeah, I just don’t want to mess up any chance I have with him. ”

“You won’t. He’s not going anywhere, so you have time. I’m not saying you two will get together but take things slow and just be yourself. You may find that in an environment where you’re not living under threat, you can find happiness.”

“Happiness would be nice, but I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“I’m sure you aren’t. And that’s good. There’s nothing wrong with being by yourself. Before I met Harry, I really thought I would be alone. But he was exactly who I needed when I needed him.”

Haisley blew out a harsh breath. “I don’t know how to get past everything.”

"You don't have to do it all at once. Give yourself a break. Honestly, it will take months and months, and you're pregnant."

Haisley put her hand on her belly. "I want this baby. Before all this happened, before I left Will, I had five miscarriages."

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Rory said.

“Each one ripped a piece of me away. I don’t know why this one is working. I don’t know what was wrong with the other babies.”

“Sometimes fragmented DNA in sperm can cause issues,” Rory said.

Haisley blinked and shook her head. “What? I don’t know what you just said.”

"The guy has bad sperm sometimes. It's nothing the woman does. It's what was supplied, and it isn't good."

“That never entered my mind before. He always blamed me.”

“Well, it could have been him. I’m not saying it was, but there are so many things that go into why it works for some women and doesn’t work for others, and it has nothing to do with anything the woman does or doesn’t do.”

“Well, I’m gobsmacked. I had no clue that was even a possibility. But it makes sense why I couldn’t stay pregnant before.”

"At least you know, or well, can hope that the baby isn't your ex's baby."

“Yeah, that would have been devastating. I don’t want to be connected to him anymore.”

“Do you know what you’re going to do?”

Haisley shrugged. "I don't have an education or anything special. I cleaned houses or worked at a shop."

“Do you want to get a degree or something else?”

“I’ve never really had the luxury of believing I could.”

Rory nodded. “You are young. You have time to think about it. A part of me wishes I’d never gone into the military.”

“So you didn’t love it?”

“I didn’t love what happened. I mean, I could have had a corporate job and not ended up being sex trafficked.”

“Oh yeah, there is that.”

“But I’m happy now. I’m glad I have the life I have. If I hadn’t joined, I never would have met Harry. And Harry is amazing. I love him. He’s a good man.”

The baby moved, and she glanced down as she grabbed her belly.

“Is the baby moving?” Rory asked.

"Yeah. I don't know if it's a boy or girl, and I don't really want to know. Not yet."

“Mel found out, but she did by accident.”

“Accident?” Haisley asked.

"Yeah, the doctor left the chart open on the counter, and she read the information."

There was a knock on the door, and Rory opened it. Haisley felt odd that Peach knocked. It was his house, but she guessed it was nice that he knocked instead of just opening the door.

“Hey, we were going to order a pizza. Anyone up for that?” Harry asked.

“I could eat,” Rory said.

“Pizza sounds good,” Haisley said.

“Awesome. I have the application up. Anything you don’t like on pizza, Haisley?” Harry asked.

“Just anchovies.” She shuddered and made a face.

“Yeah, that would be a no for me.”

They all headed downstairs and Haisley caught Peach’s gaze as she stepped into the room. She could tell he’d been crying. She wanted to go to him, but didn’t know if it would be too intimate of a gesture.

She picked up the stack of documents she’d been going through and found an old photo of a boy with blond curls with Ellen and John.

“Is this you?” Haisley held up the photo for Peach.

Peach’s cheeks flamed red. “Oh God. That photo. I didn’t know they still had it.”

“You’re so cute,” Harry said.

Peach shook his head. “I’m guessing that’s going to be spread across the base.”

“Heck yeah,” Harry said as he snapped a photo of the photograph.

Peach blew out a slow breath. “It’s fine.”

“I’m sorry if?—“

Peach moved over and squeezed her shoulder. "Don't feel bad. They would have found it without you here, and I wouldn't have known that he found it. Trust me, they do this type of shit all the time."

“You like it,” Rory said.

Peach rolled his eyes. “Maybe. ”

The doorbell rang, and Harry moved to answer. "I'm so hungry."

They took a break, sitting on the couch as they ate pizza. Haisley couldn't believe this was her life now. These people were older than her, but they were nice. Rory was the type of friend she always wanted but had never found. In high school, most of the girls seemed more interested in stabbing her in the back, and Will made sure to isolate her so she had no friends. She'd had some form of friendship with Ellen, but that had been more like a mother-and-child situation. This was nice, good, and she hoped she didn't destroy it.