Chapter 7

In November, the weather turned bone-chillingly cold.

Winter had settled into Maplewood County, and the wind whipped in from the north. Every morning in the diner, my hands were rubbed raw and bright red from the cold.

I was over four months along now, and I was finally starting to show. Since I was bundled up in thick layers, one couldn't really tell, but I'd find myself winded every time I bent over to knead the dough.

Mike couldn't stand to watch. He hauled a high stool over from his house and said, "Sit your butt down while you work.…