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"Why wouldn't he believe that?" Hayley looked at me in surprise.
"He accused me of being a fraud at the wedding. In that case, wouldn't it be logical for him to think I'm trying to pin the child on him?"
"Why would you do something like that?" For Hayley, the whole situation was simple. Of course, she wasn't directly involved. For the person giving advice, everything was always straightforward.
"To get money through the child. Carter is rich." I considered. Maybe I wasn't even the first woman to make such demands of Carter. He probably had a lawyer who dealt with these things.
"If Carter doubts it, there's always a paternity test." Hayley viewed the situation quite pragmatically. "He won't be able to shirk his responsibility."
I nodded.
That was certainly true. Carter would have to provide for his child. But... that wasn't really what I wanted.
I didn't want financial support. At least not just that.
I wanted Carter back.
I wanted a father for my child and someone who would believe me, even without a paternity test.
It was literally all or nothing.
That's why I was so nervous.
There was a red light ahead. I took my foot off the gas and downshifted. A slight jolt went through the Toyota, and it began to sputter.
"That was fourth gear. Not second." Hayley glanced at me sideways. "Are you sure you're okay to drive? I can take us home if you'd like."
"It's just... I thought for a moment I was going to feel sick again," I lied as we stopped at the light. I didn't want to admit to Hayley what was going through my mind. I felt a bit ridiculous because I couldn't get my thoughts off Carter.
The light turned green.
I put the car in gear and started to move.
My car jerked briefly and then stalled.
Killed it.
The drivers behind us started honking.
"Come on, Isabella, let's switch. I can drive. You're not feeling well. It's no wonder after everything you've been through lately and what happened today." Hayley placed her hand caringly on my arm.
"No. I'm driving." I started the engine again. This was ridiculous. Of course I could manage to get us home. I didn't need any help with that. Not even from my friend. Damn it, I was going to raise a child soon. A child! I'd have to overcome much bigger challenges. I couldn't just give up on a simple car ride.
I started driving.
At that moment, my phone rang.
Carter?
That was the first thought that crossed my mind.
My heart began to beat faster and my breathing became shallow. I hastily tried to fish my phone out of my bag. But the bag wasn't on the passenger seat as usual. Hayley was sitting there. I felt around in the footwell behind the car seats. That's where I had put the bag earlier.
"Isabella, what are you doing?"
"The phone... I..." I groaned, still trying to reach the bag. Where had I put the phone? Hopefully, I could feel it without much difficulty. But first, I had to get my hands on the bag.
"Stop that!" Hayley's voice sounded sharp. "Are you trying to kill us all? Both of us and your child too?"