Page 32 of Look for Me

Before Martin could reply, Corinne put down her lunch bag. Looked up at him.

He was wearing a faded tee-shirt with some sort of design on it, tucked into a pair of shorts. He didn’t wear any sunglasses.

His eyes were pained.

“I thought we had a good time on Sunday,” he said softly.

Corinne stood up, and walked toward him. She pointed far away down the street, waving her arms as though she was giving directions. “Walk two blocks over there, and then turn the corner.”

“You’re not wearing a wedding ring,” Martin whispered. “I noticed that yesterday.”

“I’m pregnant.” Corinne didn’t know why she said it. It wasn’t in response to Martin’s statement about marriage.

No, she hadn’t married in the last four years. In fact, she had done many things she would rather not talk about in the times prior to her salvation in Jesus Christ.

Even though God had saved her from all her sins—past, present, and future—she was still saddled with the consequences of her past sins.

All color drained from Martin’s face. “W-what?”

“Two months along. It was against my will, but I’m keeping the baby.” Corinne touched her tummy. “It’s not the baby’s fault.”

Martin had to think for a moment. “You’re married?”

“No. I’m not married.”

“Ever?”

“Ever.” Corinne drew a deep breath. “I’m not proud of my life before I became a Christian.”

“Who is?” Martin replied.

Corinne made more gestures with her arms. In the sunlight, the plastic beads shone. She quickly retracted her arm.

When she looked at Martin, his eyes were on her wrist.

“Did your daughter make you that bracelet?” He asked quietly.

Corinne didn’t reply.

She made a face as though Martin didn’t understand her—and prayed that Flavian’s men saw her—and repeated her directions. “You could turn left first and then make a right and walk down two blocks that way.”

“You have two kids.” Martin gasped.

“If you don’t leave now, I will have none,” Corinne whispered.

“What do you mean?”

A vehicle drove by slowly. Slam and Slime again.

Clearly they had been suspicious enough to leave their post and slow-drive past Corinne and Martin. Surely they knew who Martin was from that sidewalk encounter four nights before.

“Maybe you should stop at the visitor’s center and get a map,” Corinne said loudly.

As the SUV drove away, Corinne realized that Martin had taken a photo of it. “What are you doing?”

Martin didn’t say.

“You better go,” Corinne. “For both of our sakes.”

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