Read Online The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers - Free Book Online Page A

by emotions. She felt like a rabbit being chased by a pack of hounds. She needed a hole in which to hide. A place of safety.
    A tap on her window made her jump.
    Joe stood looking in at her, his brow furrowed. “You okay?”
    Fumbling for her shoulder bag, she opened the car door. She forced a smile and shrugged, hoping she didn’t look the way she felt.
    “Don’t forget your keys,” he said.
    Blushing, she sat and leaned in to get them. She got out again and closed the car door behind her.
    “You should lock it,” he said, opening the door and hitting the switch before closing it again. He turned and looked at her. “You’re shaking,” he said softly. “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m pregnant,” she said before she knew she was going to say it aloud. “I’m pregnant, Joe.” The emotions welled up inside her like a volcano until she was sure she was going to explode. “Oh, God. What am I going to do, Joe? What am I going to do?”
    Joe put his hand beneath her arm. His hand was warm and strong, offering her support. “Let’s go sit down by the lake and talk about it,” he said quietly, his tone filled with tenderness.
    She pulled away. “I can’t. I can’t talk to you about it. I have to talk to Ethan first. I shouldn’t’ve said anything.” She had to calm down. People were going to notice. People were going to talk.
    “He’s not due back on campus until this evening.”
    “But I have to go back to the hospital this afternoon. I have to be there by two thirty.” As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn’t. Joe knew. She didn’t have to spell out what she was talking about. He understood perfectly. Ashamed, she looked away. “The doctor said—” She looked at him again beseechingly, wanting his understanding if not his approval. “I have to do it.”
    Joe touched her cheek tenderly. “Don’t let anyone do your thinking for you, Dynah.”
    His words calmed her somehow, easing the turmoil within her. “What else can I do, Joe? I don’t know what to do.”
    “Don’t rush into anything.”
    “But the doctor said . . .”
    “The doctor doesn’t know everything. He doesn’t know you.”
    She looked away. “I can’t talk about it right now,” she said, unable to bear his gentleness. It made everything worse, and she knew why.
    “Dynah, please. Let’s sit and talk.”
    “Why? So you can tell me what to do?”
    “I won’t. I promise.”
    “Yes, you will. You think you know better than anyone what’s right and wrong, don’t you? Just like Ethan. I got myself into this, didn’t I? I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I should never have walked up Henderson that night. I should have called Janet for a ride. I should’ve pressed the mechanic harder and gotten my car back sooner. I should have called a taxi. I should’ve done anything but what I did. Isn’t that it? No one cares what I feel.”
    “Dynah . . .”
    Turning away, she hurried toward the dorm. She glanced back as she went inside and saw Joe standing where she had left him.
    She didn’t go back to the hospital. She stayed in her room, sitting on her bed, her back against the wall, her knees pulled up against her chest. The telephone rang at four o’clock. She pressed her forehead against her knees, sure it was the doctor wanting to know why she hadn’t shown up to have the procedure.
    The answering machine clicked on, and she heard her mother’s voice. “Dynah, honey? It’s Mom. Call me. Please. I know you’re busy studying, but it’s been weeks since we talked. I miss you, sweetie.”
    Dynah leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes.

    Ethan stared at her, his face white. “Are you joking? There must be some mistake.”
    “No,” she said dully, looking down at her clenched hands. “There’s no mistake. I wish there were.”
    “I don’t believe it,” he said, raking a hand back through his hair. “I don’t believe this is happening! I didn’t think things could get any