He Made Her His Old Lady. I Took His Baby and Vanished novel · Chapter 12 of 32

Chapter 12: The Landline

Femke's POV

At nine that night the landline in Greet's kitchen rang, and Truus put her hand over the receiver before I could reach it.

"It's him," she said. "He called me at six, from a pay phone. I gave him this number and told him nine."

"You what?"

"He said he wasn't asking where you were. He said he only wanted to say one thing to you, and you could hang up after." Truus held the phone out. "I believe him, honey. I don't believe anyone else in that club, but I believe him."

Greet leaned against the counter with her arms folded.

"You don't have to," she said.

"I know."

I took the phone.

For a moment there was only the sound of him breathing.

"Femke," Joost said.

I stood very still.

"Say it," I said. "You have a minute."

"The baby isn't mine."

I closed my eyes.

I had known it since Truus counted the cardigans, and it still went through me.

"I took Sanne to a hospital today," he said. "She's twenty weeks. I was with her once, in August, drunk, and I've hated myself since. The baby is from July. It's from before me."

"And whose is it?"

"She wouldn't say. But my father told her I'd take the blame."

"So you've figured out your father lied to you."

"Yes."

"Congratulations," I said. "It only took you a nameplate."

He took the hit without a sound.

"I deserve that," he said.

"You deserve a lot more."

"Femke, I'm so sorry."

"No." I gripped the edge of the counter. "Listen to me. You knew it was only the once."

"I didn't want you to know I'd..."

"You let me think it was months." My voice shook. "One true sentence would have been enough, and you gave me the lie."

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