Page 1 of Twisted Fate

1

Keily

“It’s been three months since he walked out, Rosa, I don’t think there’s any hope,” Keily spoke out loud, knowing the hands-free feature in the car would pick up what she said. She was on her way to work and not looking forward to it.

“Don’t you think you should at least tell him about the babies?” Rosa asked from the car’s speakers, which made Keily frown.

She hadn’t known she was pregnant that night when he left her with a cruel goodbye, but she did now. Oh, she definitely knew she was now. A trip to the pharmacist for a pregnancy test proved it. Her family doctor confirmed it with a test of her own and had sent her to an OB/GYN. That doctor had another surprise in store for her, she was carrying more than one baby!

“Yeah, I probably should tell him about the babies, but, well, there’s things you don’t know, Rosa.” Keily’s voice trailed off as she pulled into the parking lot of the diner where she’d managed to wrangle a job. It wasn’t her first choice, but she needed to keep busy, save money, and try not to think about Logan too much.

Eugene. Whatever his name was.

“You keep saying that, but you haven’t told me what those things are so it’s not like I’d know now, would I?” Rosa was getting exasperated with her, but it was the end of the day for Rosa. Her patience was worn thin after a day of directing human resources at Logan’s South Carolina branch of his manufacturing business.

It was only the beginning of the day for Keily.

She was part-time at the diner and the owner liked to give her odd hours for not letting him know she was pregnant when he’d hired her two months ago. Her shift today would be 5-10. The day before it was 2-7. The erratic schedule really messed with her sleep cycle, especially when she was four months pregnant with triplets.

She’d learned that whopper of a surprise at her first ultrasound appointment. An appointment that was scheduled early because she was showing signs of a multiple pregnancy. The doctor suspected she’d heard three heartbeats and Keily was showing already. Add that to the extreme exhaustion that revealed itself by the dark circles under her eyes, and the overwhelming nausea that plagued her through the night, and there was enough reason to suspect she was carrying more than one baby.

She’d been delighted at the thought of twins, but triplets were a little scary. Especially when the father wasn’t involved. And didn’t know about the babies at all. She’d made Rosa swear not to tell him and avoided all of the places she knew he frequented. Even if Rosa said he was out in California, working on getting his business over there back up and running since the earthquake took his building down.

Avoiding him wasn’t hard to do when he was out of the state and she’d moved out of the apartment he’d provided her with when he hired her as his personal assistant.

Sunlight glanced off the glass that made up most of the diner’s walls and blinded Keily as she turned the engine off but left the key in the position to leave the electronics working. She still had five minutes before she had to go in and the ever-present weariness that she couldn’t shake made her legs feel heavy and her head hurt. Her stomach even flipped in annoyance as a waft of oily, fried food drifted in through the vents in the car.

“Keily? Did I lose you?” Rosa’s voice brought Keily out of her stupor.

“I’m still here. I’ve just pulled in at work. As far as Logan goes, there are personal things that I can’t share with you. They aren’t my secrets to tell.” She paused when a pang of guilt reminded her that his secrets were also hers. Although, this secret was something she’d made herself forget, not think about, and try to ignore since that day so long ago. It was a shameful secret, one that made her feel incredibly…bad.

“I understand, then. Still, I wish I could help you fix all of this. Maybe even find you a better job.” Rosa trailed off, probably thinking the same thing Keily was.

Nobody wanted to hire a pregnant lady.

“It’ll be alright, Rosa. I have you and that’s all I need for now.” Keily was too tired to even think, but if she quit this job, she’d blow through the money she’d made from selling some of Logan’s gifts to her in no time. She’d also be stuck at home with nothing but homework, and her thoughts, to keep her company.

“I hope so, honey. I’ll let you go. Have a good shift.” Rosa’s voice picked up a little and Keily knew it was forced cheerfulness.

“Thanks, I hope you have a good night, Rosa. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

“You bet, sweetie. ‘Bye.” Rosa broke the connection before Keily could, which left Keily sitting in her car, staring out at the diner as the day continued its track into night.

Hungry diners would soon show up, filling the booths inside, rushing Keily off her feet as she forced a smile she’d stopped feeling a hundred smiles earlier. This working business was hard to do, working while she was pregnant was even worse. She’d do it though, as long as she could.

She had no other choice, not when she was on her own now. With a tired groan, she pushed out of the car and walked to the back door. A smiling face greeted her when the door opened to her knock. “Hi, Keily, glad you made it.”

“I’m glad too, Lisa, how are you?”

“Good, just tired. It’s been a long day. How are those kiddos?” Lisa shut the door as Keily walked in, her black slacks and white blouse the accepted uniform for everyone that worked at the diner. At least they didn’t make her wear a stupid outfit with skirts.

“They’re making their mom cranky, but they’re good.” Keily smiled, put her handbag in a locker, slid her phone into the black polyester blend apron tied loosely around her waist, and made sure her hair was still tied up in a neat bun.

“And how’s the schoolwork?” Lisa rattled off the same questions every time she saw Keily, but Keily didn’t mind. At least someone besides Rosa asked.

“It’s good too, I’m struggling to get it all done, but I am,” Keily answered, sugarcoating just how far behind she was. She didn’t want pity, but a kind word here and there was nice.

“Good, I’ve got a table to get back to, but I’ll see you on the floor.”