“Oh, damn. I didn’t know. No wonder he’s stressed about Dakota’s health.”

“I’m sorry for his loss. I am. But Dakota needs someone who’s going to stick around and not run off. Now more than ever.”

Monica moaned. “She’s sick, isn’t she?”

“Not sick . . . just . . .” Oh, shit. “She’ll be fine . . . I think.” Only Mary wasn’t so sure. Maybe the best thing for Dakota was to make up with Walt. Even if they decided to go their separate ways, she could put him out of her mind.

“That answer will make him crazy.”

“That answer was for you, not him.”

“Fine, that answer is making me crazy.”

“I hate the position I’m in. I’d do anything for Dakota. I’m not sure Walt is the best thing for her right now,” Mary said.

“He’s a doctor. He can help with whatever she’s going through. He’s a damn good doctor, Mary.”

“Yeah, but he kinda sucked as her boyfriend. And she needs the man who put her in this position to man up.” Mary wanted to suck the words back in her mouth as soon as they spewed. “Forget I said that.”

Mary knew Monica was a bright woman the night they met.

“You’re kidding!”

“I’ve got to go.”

“Mary, wait!”

They were both silent.

“Please tell me she’s with someone who knows. This kind of secret, the kind that drives blood pressure high and makes women do irrational things, can have disastrous consequences. She needs to be watched.”

“She’s seeing a doctor.”

“I’m talking about more than a monthly visit, Mary. Her blood pressure was high enough to cause a stroke.”

“Don’t tell me that. She said she’s fine. Needed another month to make any decisions.”

“Her hormones are crazy. Add a heartbreak and high blood pressure and who knows what she’s dealing with. Was she acting herself when she left?”

Mary hated how sound Monica’s words were. “No.”

“Has she acted herself since she left?”

“No, damn it.”

Monica released a long breath. “Listen. I get that you want to protect her. I do, too. We can play this a couple different ways. Either you or I can show up at her door and refuse to leave until we know she’s OK . . .”

“Or?”

“We piss off our friend and tell Walt.”

“No!”

“He’s not that guy, Mary. He can’t man up if he doesn’t know what’s going on. And he doesn’t. If he did, he’d be camped out on your doorstep.”

Mary’s throat tightened. “She’s my best friend, Monica. I can’t betray her.”

“And Walt saved my life once. I can’t betray him.”

“You’re pissing me off, Monica.”

She grumbled. “I stick a needle into everyone I’m trying to help. Piss them off, too. You have a lot of company.”

“Damn.”

“Listen. If you don’t tell me, you’re just going to delay the inevitable. Because you see, I’m going to hang up this phone and call my friend Katie. She knows this crazy awesome private investigator who can find anyone. My guess is we would only have to tap into Dakota’s cell phone to find where she is.”

“That’s illegal.”

“Medical emergency.”

A string of unladylike words passed through Mary’s lips.

“He has the right to know about the baby.”

“She’s going to tell him.”

“It might be too late.”

“I hate that you know more about this than I do.”

Monica’s voice was stern and cold. “Great, hate me. Where is she?”

“She’s going to hate me.”

“For a day . . . maybe a week. She’ll get over it.”

Mary’s back teeth bit her tongue. “If I find out you’ve played me . . .”

“You can sue. I don’t care. Dakota needs friends making rational decisions since she’s not making them.”

Mary hit her briefcase. “South Carolina. She went home like any pregnant, unwed woman would.”

Chapter Sixteen

Walt noticed the number calling and pounced on the phone when it rang.

“Tell me you know something, Monica.” During his days at work he could drag Dakota from his mind for short stints of time. Sitting at home, debating his life . . . that didn’t happen.

Instead of saying anything, Monica sighed over the line. “I know where she is.”

His entire body tingled. Finally! “Where?”

“I know why she fled.”

The tingling cut short. “I told you I screwed up.”

“It’s not that, Walt. Though I think you must have messed up really bad. Her fleeing to get over you isn’t the half of it.”

He stared at the pen he’d broken, closed his eyes.

“I shouldn’t be the one telling you where she is or why she’s there. For the record, if I wasn’t worried about her health I would follow the girl code and make you guess.”

Her health? “You’re killing me here, Monica. Is she dying?” He surged to his feet and started to pace. Could he do this a second time? Not Dakota. Please, God, not Dakota.

“No—”

“Her high blood pressure?”