70

Chapter 70
Andrianne sat on the couch in the living room, staring blankly at the TV screen that had been turned off for hours. She had been restless, unable to find solace in anything around her. All she could think about was Lucas, and the fact that he was sitting in a jail cell, accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The thought made her stomach churn, and she felt like she was on the brink of tears.
She stood up suddenly and started pacing back and forth in the room, her mind racing with thoughts and ideas of how she could help Lucas. She knew that the evidence against him was strong, but she couldn’t just sit around and wait for his fate to be decided. She had to do something.
Her pacing was interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. She picked it up and saw that it was Jackie calling.
“Hey, Jackie,” Andrianne answered, trying to hide the desperation in her voice.
“Hey, girl. How you holding up?” Jackie asked.
Andrianne sighed. “Not good. I can’t stop thinking about Lucas. He’s in jail, and I feel so helpless.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do,” Jackie replied sympathetically.
Andrianne paused for a moment, thinking. “Actually, there might be something you could do,” she said slowly.
“What is it?” Jackie asked, intrigued.
“I was thinking… maybe I should turn myself in. After all, I’m the one who pulled the trigger. I was just trying to protect Lucas,” Andrianne explained.
Jackie was silent for a moment. “Andrianne, no. That’s a terrible idea. You can’t turn yourself in. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But I did. I killed Steve,” Andrianne argued.
“You did it to protect your husband. And besides, it was self-defense. The evidence will show that,” Jackie said firmly.
Andrianne sighed. “I just feel so alone. I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re not alone. I’m here for you, and so is your family. We’ll get through this together,” Jackie reassured her.
Andrianne took a deep breath, feeling a little bit better. “Thank you, Jackie. I really appreciate it.”
“Of course, girl. I’ll come over and keep you company, okay?” Jackie offered.
Andrianne smiled. “That would be great. Thank you.”
As she hung up the phone, Andrianne realized that she wasn’t alone after all. She had people who loved her and were willing to help her through this difficult time. She felt a glimmer of hope, and for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe a little easier.
Jackie decided to dress up nicely to meet her friend Andrianne at her house, hoping to cheer her up and keep her company. She chose a cute floral sundress with a fitted bodice and a flowy skirt that hit just above the knee. The dress was white with pink and blue flowers scattered across it, giving it a soft and feminine look.
She paired the dress with a pair of strappy nude sandals and a white leather crossbody bag. Jackie decided to leave her hair down, letting her blonde curls cascade over her shoulders in loose waves. She applied a light touch of makeup, just enough to enhance her natural features and give her a fresh and glowing appearance.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, Jackie couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. She was looking forward to seeing her friend and being there for her in this difficult time. With a final glance in the mirror, she grabbed her keys and headed out the door, ready to offer comfort and support to her friend.
She carried a basket of fruits and flowers, as she knew that Andrianne could use some cheering up.
As she walked up to the door, she rang the bell, and Andrianne answered. Jackie could see the relief in Andrianne’s eyes as soon as she opened the door.
“Andrianne, darling!” Jackie exclaimed as she hugged her friend tightly. “I’ve missed you so much!”
Andrianne smiled weakly. “Thank you for coming, Jackie. I really needed someone to talk to.”
“Of course, sweetie,” Jackie said, patting her friend’s back. “Let’s go inside and talk over some fruits and flowers, shall we?”
Andrianne led Jackie to the living room, and they both sat down on the couch. Jackie unpacked the basket, and they both started snacking on the fruits.
“So, how have you been holding up?” Jackie asked, concerned.
Andrianne shook her head. “I don’t know, Jackie. It’s been tough. I can’t believe Lucas is in jail. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“I know, Andrianne,” Jackie said. “But you have to be strong for him. He needs you now more than ever.”
Andrianne nodded, wiping a tear from her eye. “I know. But sometimes, I feel like I’m not strong enough. I keep thinking that maybe I should have just let Steve kill me, and Lucas would be free.”
Jackie put a hand on Andrianne’s shoulder. “Don’t talk like that, Andrianne. You did what you had to do to protect your husband. And we’ll do everything we can to get him out of there.”
Andrianne smiled, feeling a little better. “Thank you, Jackie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Jackie smiled back. “That’s what friends are for, honey. Now, let’s think of a way to get Lucas out of there.”
Andrianne sat across from Jackie on the couch, wringing her hands nervously. She knew she had to tell Jackie about the baby, but she didn’t know how she would react.
“Jackie, there’s something I need to tell you,” Andrianne began.
Jackie looked at her with concern. “What is it, Andrianne? You look worried.”
“I’m pregnant,” Andrianne blurted out, holding her breath as she waited for Jackie’s reaction.
Jackie’s eyes widened in surprise, and then a smile broke out on her face. “Oh my God, Andrianne! That’s wonderful news! Congratulations!” she exclaimed, pulling Andrianne into a hug.
Andrianne let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension ease from her shoulders. “Thank you, Jackie. I was so worried about how you would react.”
“Why would I be anything but thrilled for you?” Jackie asked, beaming with happiness.
Andrianne chuckled. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling a little paranoid these days.”
Jackie pulled back from the hug and looked at Andrianne intently. “Is everything okay? You seem really stressed.”
Andrianne sighed and looked down at her hands. “Lucas is in trouble, Jackie. The FBI thinks he killed Steve, and they’re trying to gather evidence against him.”
Jackie’s expression turned serious. “Oh, Andrianne. I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Andrianne shook her head. “I don’t know, Jackie. I feel so helpless. I just keep thinking about how I could have prevented this from happening. If I hadn’t fired that shot, none of this would have happened.”
Jackie put a hand on Andrianne’s shoulder. “You can’t blame yourself, Andrianne. You were trying to protect Lucas. And besides, there’s nothing you can do about it now. All we can do is wait and see what happens.”
Andrianne nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know, you’re right. It’s just so hard to sit here and do nothing. I feel like I should be doing something to help Lucas.”
Jackie pulled Andrianne into another hug. “You are helping him, Andrianne. You’re here for him, and you’re carrying his child. That’s more than enough.”
Andrianne smiled through her tears, feeling grateful for her friend’s words of comfort. “Thank you, Jackie. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Jackie pulled back from the hug and smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that, Andrianne. I’m here for you, no matter what.”