Chapter 6: Chapter 6 : The Child's Fate

“Yes, Adele,” Dad said, pattering his fingers on his desk. “I figured as much, which is why you came into my study, and are disturbing my work.”

There he went again, making me feel inferior and stupid for approaching him. Still, he was the patriarch of the family, and I needed him to know what had happened. My mouth closed tightly out of fear, and I rubbed my tongue along my front teeth, searching for the right words.

Dad removed his spectacles with one quick motion and tossed them beside his jar of ink. He blinked three times, growing angrier with each blink.

“Adele,” he said firmly. “State your business here, now.”

I nodded and said, “Dad, there’s something I want you to understand.”

Dad pounded his fist onto his desk. The jar bounced and splattered a glob of ink onto the corner of his paper. My entire body shook as well.

“Dad,” I spurted out, “I’m pregnant!”

He closed his cobalt eyes and shook his head.