Page 111 of Everlasting Promises

The house looks and feels festive, and a deep level of peace settles over me. It’s ironic how I was happily single until Hope and Evan came into my life. It wasn’t until then I realized how lonely and empty my life truly was. I watch them enjoying the movie and count my blessings they’re here with me.

52

HOPE

Savannah breezesin as I’m dropping my purse into my locker. “Morning!” she sings, then spins toward me, her eyebrows dancing up and down. “How’s lover boy? Have I missed anything this week? Any plans tonight?” When her eyes land on me, all humor vanishes. “You okay, hon?”

Geez, I must look as bad as I feel. I press my hands to my cheeks. “I feel awful. I’ve been sick every day this week, and I’m exhausted from it.” I rub my hand across my stomach, which feels sunken in because I couldn’t face the idea of food this morning.

Her eyebrows draw together in worry. “Have you been to see the doctor? I don’t think the stomach flu usually lasts that long. Should you even be here?”

I raise my hands and drop them again. “Lucy’s away for the weekend, so it’s just you, me, and Sophie today. We’re too busy, we can’t afford for me to take the day off. Hopefully, I’ll feel better in an hour or two, then I’ll eat something.” I hold up thegranola bars I brought with me, along with an apple and a bottle of juice. “This’ll help when I can stomach the idea of food.”

She juts her hip out and rests her hand there. “So you wake up feeling sick, then you’re okay by mid-morning?”

I nod. “Yeah, it seems that way.”

“And you’re feeling exhausted?”

“Yeah.” I grab the fresh towels and take my first step toward the front of the salon to set up.

“Any other symptoms?” Savannah asks as she follows me out, turning on the lights.

I rub my hand across my stomach. “I … uh … feel bloated all the time. My zippers on my jeans are harder to pull up.” Even though I’ve barely eaten. It’s so weird.

She nods. “Uh huh.”

I stop in my tracks and spin to face her at the tone of her voice. “What? You sound like you don’t believe me.”

“Oh, I believe you, but I’m wondering why you haven’t thought of the obvious reason you’re feeling this way, because it’s as obvious as a neon sign to me,” she says as she turns on the computer.

I chuckle in confusion as my forehead dampens in response to my stomach rolling again. Before I can ask her what the hell she’s talking about, I make a beeline for the bathroom and get there just in time to be sick.

Savannah’s voice echoes down the hallway as I brush my teeth. “Yeah, can you stop at the drugstore and grab a pregnancy test kit for me?”A pregnancy test?Silence. “Nah, not for me. For Hope. I think she’s pregnant.”

My eyes almost bulge out of my head.Whaaaat?

Savannah giggles. “Yeah, she just told me she’s been sick and exhausted all week. I take a week off work, and this is what I come back to. Why didn’t you guys pick up on the signs? You’ve been pregnant. How did you not put two and two together?”

Another pause as my breathing escalates and my heart trips into my ribs.

“Anyway, can you grab a test? I’ll cover the reception until you get here.”

Music begins to play softly through the speakers, and I wipe my mouth, ensuring there’s no toothpaste left behind, then touch up my makeup with shaky hands. We’ve been using condoms since the first time when we forgot. I couldn’t have possibly gotten pregnant the first time we had sex. Surely not. Oh, shit! I palm my forehead. There was also that night after his parents stopped by. Maybe we haven’t been as careful as we should have.

“Thanks. See you soon.”

I step out of the bathroom on shaky legs to the sound of the bell over the door and Savannah greeting our clients. There’s no time to question her about the phone call—or to organize my thoughts. My mind spins in different directions, but I paste on a smile for my first client of the day.

When Sophie arrives twenty minutes later, she gives me a sheepish smile before disappearing through to the back. The phone rings the second she steps back into the salon, and she answers it efficiently as always, however, I can’t help but wonder if she bought the test and how soon I can pee on the damn stick to find out if what Savannah thinks is true.

She hangs up and comes over to me. “Morning!” she says brightly.

“Morning.” I want to ask her if she bought the test, but I’m doing my best to remain professional when all I want to do is run to the bathroom.

“I put that thing you needed with your stuff,” she whispers with a knowing grin and wide eyes.

I swallow past the sand in my mouth. “Thanks, Soph.”

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