Page 100 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"We wanted to," Anna said as she gave me a hug too.

I was suddenly surrounded by everyone who had come out. And it made my heart feel so full. But at the same time, it broke it too. If my dad had told people he was sick, maybe they would have raised the money for his treatments. Maybe he'd be standing here too. That was the thing about us Shaws. We were too proud for our own good.

***

Eventually, I was able to sneak away to the bathroom. I stared down at the pregnancy test as I paced around the bathroom stall. Slowly two lines appeared. Two. I glanced at the instructions on the box one more time. Two lines. I'm pregnant.

I'm pregnant?

I glanced at the instructions on the box again. I can't be pregnant. I couldn't even tell if I was happy or sad. I was just in shock. I pulled out my phone. Nothing. Tyler, where are you?

I needed to talk to him. I needed to see him. I needed to tell him. I opened up the stall door, walked over to the sink, and stared at the reflection staring back at me. My cheeks looked hollow. I barely recognized myself. I hadn't been eating because I was too upset. And then I thought I had a virus or something and wouldn't be able to keep it down anyway. Now I had a reason to keep going though. A reason beyond myself, which I think I needed. I heard people laughing outside in the bar. The reflection staring back at me smiled. I'm going to keep living, Dad.

And I was done waiting. I quickly washed my hands and made my way out the back door of the bar. There was a slight breeze. It reminded me of the pier in Santa Monica. The only thing missing was Tyler.

I pulled out my phone and brought up the website for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. I scrolled through the phone directory. Recruiters School? That might work.

I clicked on the number and put my phone to my ear. After a few rings a very serious sounding man answered the phone.

"Hi, yes, I was trying to contact one of your recent recruits. He just started training last week."

"Please hold and I'll transfer you."

"Okay..." but there was already light music playing.

A minute later someone with an even deeper voice answered the phone. "How can I help you?"

"I'm trying to get a hold of one of your recent recruits. He just reported for training last week. It's important."

"Name?"

"Hailey Shaw."

There was silence on the other end. "The name of the recruit, ma'am."

"Oh, right, of course. Tyler Stevens."

"One second, ma'am."

I closed my eyes as I waited. I wouldn't tell him over the phone. I'd come see him. He needed to hear it in person. But I needed to hear his voice. If I knew he was okay, it would give me the strength to be okay too.

The man on the other end cleared his throat. "Sorry, there are no records of a Tyler Stevens in our recent trainees."

What? "He just reported last Friday."

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"Yes, I'm looking at that list, ma'am. Would you like me to pull up older records?"

"No, he just got there."

"Then maybe he reported to the Parris Island recruit depot in South Carolina then. Would you like me to transfer you?"

I shook my head even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Could you look again? I know he went to the San Diego recruit depot."

He was silent for moment. "There is no one by that name. I'm sorry. I hope you have a good night, ma'am."

The line went dead.

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