Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl (Pearl and Richard) novel Chapter 1424

Finnegan drove Esther safely home, and when he parked at their gate, Esther was still curled up in the passenger seat. Her face was red, and she was mumbling under her breath, clearly having had too much to drink.

Gently, Finnegan unbuckled her seatbelt. Esther wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "I have a secret to tell you, but you must promise not to tell anyone else."

At first, Finnegan thought she mistook him for James and felt a bit annoyed. However, he patiently responded, "What's the secret?"

"You have to first promise me you won't tell anyone. Especially James. Never, ever tell him," Esther insisted, her words slurred.

Realizing she knew it was him, Finnegan nodded. "Don't worry, I promise."

Encouraged, Esther began, "Nobody knows why I didn't accept his proposal or marry him. The truth is…" Her voice trailed off as sadness took over. "I once had a child."

As she spoke of the child, tears streamed down her face. "But I lost the child because James refused to take his medication. We fought, and I stormed out…"

Esther didn't finish her sentence, but her sobs filled the silence with her deep sorrow.

Finnegan pulled her close and stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. "Calm down, Esther. It's not your fault."

Esther pressed her lips tightly together. "I told him I wouldn't forgive him, and I won't be with him, not when I think of our child."

Her lost child was a constant ache in her heart. Unsure of when her pain would subside, Esther knew she wanted nothing to do with James at the moment.

Sensing she had calmed down slightly, Finnegan quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car door, and helped her out.

Standing by the gate, Esther swayed slightly but managed a small smile. "Thanks for the ride home, Finnegan. I'm going inside now."