Page 24 of Wasted

Should she?—

“Victoria, good to see you.” Kathleen Burns’ friendly voice bumped Victoria from her thoughts.

Victoria had apparently walked inside without consciously thinking about doing so. She directed a smile at the founder of the local Christian pregnancy center who was restacking children’s blocks in the lobby. “Hi, Kathleen. I’m so sorry I’m late today.”

Kathleen straightened and pushed her long brown hair, streaked with lovely silver strands, behind her shoulders. “You are by far the most punctual volunteer I have ever had. And you told me first thing this morning that you had to see a patient, so you aren’t even late at all.” Kathleen pointed toward the hallway past the welcome desk. “Sydney, however, has been waiting for you quite impatiently.”

“Oh. I didn’t see Warren’s pickup outside.” Though Victoria could have easily missed it with how deeply engrossed she was in her thoughts.

“He said he had to get to work at the plant, so he couldn’t wait to take her home after the prenatal class this time.”

“That’s understandable.” Victoria was just grateful Sydney had someone to drive her to the pregnancy center and her doctor’s appointments. As Sydney’s mentor through Life Center, Victoria chauffeured the pregnant teen whenever she could, but her work schedule made her unavailable most weekdays. Thank the Lord, Sydney’s brother cared enough about his sister to help her.

“Do you think you could take her home?”

“Of course.” Victoria met Kathleen’s gaze, which stayed on her with a peculiar expression dipping the woman’s eyebrows.

“Are you all right?”

Victoria hesitated before answering. She wouldn’t lie and say she was fine. “What makes you ask?”

“You seem…” Kathleen’s head angled slightly to one side, “sad.”

A small smile touched Victoria’s lips. “I can see why Jada says your people-reading skills are legendary.”

“So I’m right.” Kathleen’s mouth pressed into a line as concern shaped her features.

“I lost a friend today.”

“Oh, Victoria.” Kathleen stepped closer and touched Victoria’s arm. “I am so sorry.” She watched Victoria for a silent moment, sincere grief in her eyes. “Was your friend ill?”

“No.” Victoria shook her head slowly. Thomas’s face when she’d found him—cold, dead—blocked her vision. “He was killed.” The words escaped before she’d meant to say them. So very unlike her.

She blinked and straightened, meeting Kathleen’s gaze as her own cleared. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to share that.”

“Honey, we all need to share our burdens. And you are carrying a very heavy one. You have nothing to apologize for.”

Victoria mustered a small smile. “Thank you.”

Kathleen nodded. “The passing of a loved one is hard no matter how it happens. But to have life taken through crime—murder—is the hardest. I’m so sorry.” Kathleen spoke as one who knew from experience.

Oh, yes. Kathleen had shared in her testimony at a fundraising event that her son had been murdered.

Dismay pushed up Victoria’s throat. “Oh, I didn’t think. I’m sorry, Kathleen. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories for you.”

“Stop right there.” Kathleen shook her head, the set of her jaw firm. “We share our burdens and hurts here. I know you haven’t needed that from us so far, but I am always here to listen and encourage you.”

A guilty flush rushed to Victoria’s cheeks. Kathleen had all she could do to provide that service to the unwed expectant and new mothers who came through Life Center’s doors. She didn’t need to waste her time on Victoria.

“I appreciate your kindness.” Victoria mentally pulled herself together. Her troubles were unimportant compared to the burdens Kathleen already carried—her own and others’. “But I had better find out what Sydney wants to discuss with me and drive her home, if she’s ready.”

Kathleen gave her a smile that was a little too knowing, then looked over her shoulder. “She was just back?—”

“Victoria!” Sydney Morris burst into view from the hallway. The normally skinny sixteen-year-old looked ready to pop at thirty-five weeks into her pregnancy. She rushed toward Victoria and stopped in front of her, dramatically thrusting her slim arms into the air at her sides. “What am I gonna do?”

Victoria waited a moment before answering, trying to be the calm in the emotional storm Sydney often seemed to stir up to a frenzy, whether warranted or not. “Why don’t we go to my car, and you can tell me what happened while I drive you home?”

“No. I can’t.” Sydney clamped her hands on her belly, shaking her head side to side.