Chapter 10 - Preston Kept Saying He Didn’t Know She Was Pregnant
At first Preston’s entire defense—emotionally, if not legally—was built around one sentence.
“I didn’t know.”
He said it to Amelia’s attorney.
To his cousin.
To a therapist.
To anyone willing to listen.
He didn’t know she was pregnant.
Eventually Amelia agreed to one mediated conversation.
Not reconciliation.
Closure.
Preston sat across from her.
He looked thinner.
Tired.
The bruise from her slap long gone.
“I would never have kicked you if I knew.”
Amelia stared at him.
“That is not the defense you think it is.”
His mouth tightened.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
She leaned forward.
“You mean my pregnancy would have made me worth more protection than I was worth as your wife.”
He looked down.
“No.”
“That is exactly what you mean.”
He started to speak.
She stopped him.
“You deliberately kicked me because I refused to help your mother take my property.”
Silence.
“You don’t get to make the baby the reason that was wrong.”
For the first time, Preston seemed to understand.
Not fully.
May you like
But enough to stop repeating the sentence.
---
