My Devotion

2. Steam

"Why hadn't you ever told me sooner Adina? I would have took off work before now and came to help you." Jackson spares me a glance while getting on the interstate.

"Because it was something I was just trying to do myself and would have told you once I left."

Jackson sighs and spares me a quick glance again. "If I had known I could've helped you sooner."

"There was also me trying to save money up for this. It was hard to save and I would work or do some extra things to get more money to where I could hide it to make this small amount." I tap my incredibly small pouch of cash. "I know you would've helped and you are helping me now."

"We are away from there now." Jackson picks the speed up with the flow of traffic at the limit set. "Home is roughly over a days drive since we will need to stop over night at least once."

I turn to look at him. "I can't go to our hometown with you Jackson. He is going to look there for me there first because he knows I just left with you. If he is dumb enough to even looking at the security cameras then he will see for a fact I had."

"So what am I supposed to do Adina? I can't let my baby sister just be off on her own."

I sigh. "That is what is going to have to happen though Jackson. You love your job to much to just leave it."

"If it meant you or my job then, you know I will choose the only family left first every single time." Jackson spares me another glance.

I go silent as I am not sure what to do now. Jackson loves his job and has held it ever since he was in college and just got promoted once he got the degree he needed. He may be quick to quit but I don't want him to loose it because of me.

Where to go though is the major part of figuring out what to do. The one thing I had never figured out other than the fact I was leaving.

Then there is now the baby.

"Uh Jackson?"

"Yeah?"

"There is something else."

"Okay?" He snorts a little air out of his nose as he always has.

"I'm pregnant."

No sooner than the two words come from my mouth the truck starts to slow and he takes the exit. We come to a stop in the parking lot of a gas station as he puts it in park then turns to me. His eyes wide as he looks at my face then my stomach.

"Are you serious?"

I nod and pull the envelope out of my purse. Handing it to him, he looks at the picture inside then lets out a long breath.

"This was no longer about taking care of myself."

"How far along?"

"Eight weeks."

Jackson exhales a deep breath then rubs a hand down his face. "How in the world did you get pregnant when he has been abusive?"

"It is not his, we hadn't had intercourse in six months. I had a one night stand with a tourist when I took a shift at the bar." I sigh.

"What is his job? I need to know that way we can make sure you will be safe and if he can find you easily."

"Bradus works with a bails bonds place. That is how I could sneak money from my checks easier because he would be gone back and forth. He seen it as easy, fast money with high dollar since he was always good at mysteries."

Jackson huffs and shakes his head. "So he would do well finding you and would have access to some things through the police by chance. He could easily make up any story in the book to get a police friend to help track you down."

My eyes burn as more things are thrown at me I didn't really think of. I take a deep breath and look out the window, not liking how easy it is to tear up. I hadn't let anyone see me cry since our parents passed and one random supposedly family member said it was weak to cry in front of others, so that is when I just suck it up until I am alone.

"Do I need to change my name or something?" I finally look back to Jackson who is in thought.

"No because he would think of that first and be best to just keep your name because he wouldn't think you would."

I slowly nod.

Jackons looks back over to me and then shuts the truck off. "You need to eat. We skipped dinner at the house and I don't know the last time you ate."

I scratch the side of my head. "Yesterday, I think."

"Yesterday!" Jackson all but shouts.

"Yeah to save money I have been limited on food and he kept saying I needed to loose weight anyway."

Jackson's face turns red as I wonder if steam will come from his nose. I know not the time to really joke.

"Loose weight?" Jackson questions and I nod. "Adina you do not have an ounce of fat to loose. If anything you need to be eating more now. What do you want?" He looks around us. "There are a couple options down there or I can look at a map to see the closest place to get whatever you want."

"A burger?"

"Are you sure that is what you want?" Jackson looks at me.

"Yes, please." I nod and he gives me a nod back.

"One burger coming up." He starts the truck then looks over to me. "Or maybe even two."

I laugh and shake my head. "There is no way I could eat two burgers."

He smiles. "Could try." He shrugs.

"Or I could end up barfing in your truck." I laugh as his scrunched up face.

"On second thought don't do that." He laughs lightly with me before frowning. "I will help you figure all this out and you will not be alone."

My eyes burn once more and I swallow the lump in my throat. Part of me doesn't know what to do, so much is shadowed in the future on 'what ifs' or what to do.