Page 27 of Nantucket Gala

Greta was good at handling this. She held her tightly and massaged her back.

I wonder if I’ll be half as good of a mom as she is, Sophia thought.

“Let’s get you a cup of tea,” Greta urged. “Come on.”

Sophia followed Greta inside. Alana and Julia were hot on their heels, curious about the strange Hollywood woman and her tears. But soon, Greta sent them to play upstairs, asking them to check on Quentin.

“His fever has me worried sick,” Greta muttered to the kettle.

Sophia sat at the kitchen table and wrung her hands.

Greta turned and looked at Sophia. A moment of silence passed.

“I’m sorry to come over here like this,” Sophia said.

“You don’t have to apologize for a thing.”

“It’s just that I didn’t expect it,” Sophia said. “I didn’t plan for it.”

The kettle began to whistle. Greta hurried to pour two mugs and then sat at the table.

Sophia placed both hands on the table and admitted the truth. “I’m pregnant. I just found out yesterday. The doctor told me I’m only about four weeks along. But Greta, I never dreamed this would happen to me.”

Greta was suddenly on her feet. Her arms traced Sophia’s shoulders, and she hugged her close.

“This is fantastic news, Sophia!” Greta cried. “A baby is always a good thing.”

Sophia’s heart pumped. She tried to echo Greta’s excitement. She tried to feel how she’d felt just that morning.

But instead, everything else tumbled from her mouth.

“I really don’t know what to think. We’re about to start filmingThe Brutal Horizon. Everything is clicking into place. If I tell Francis I’m pregnant, what will happen?”

Greta waved her hand. “Francis can run off and make his movies, and you can return to Los Angeles and take care of yourself and the baby.”

Sophia’s stomach spasmed. She couldn’t tell Greta the truth—that she’d been the one to writeThe Brutal Horizon. Maybe she was frightened that Greta wouldn’t believe her.

“I like being there when he makes the films,” Sophia said instead. “I get really involved.”

“Then go with him! You still have months and months before anyone will even know,” Greta said.

Sophia’s heart swelled. Could she have everything at once?

“I just worry,” Sophia said hesitantly. “I worry that Francis doesn’t want a baby. I worry that everything will change.”

“Men are always a little iffy on babies until they’re born,” Greta said. “Bernard didn’t know what to make of my first pregnancy. But now he dotes on Quentin more than any of our other children. His first baby! His first and only son!” She shook her head and smiled.

Sophia bit her lip. All she wanted was to tell Greta what was really on her mind. Now that she was pregnant, he could take her script and run off and make movies without her.

Now that she was pregnant, he was free to have any affair he pleased.

Now that he’d hired that beautiful actress Natalie, he was free to love her however he pleased.

Oh, but wasn’t it Sophia’s fault he hired her?

Why did she push it!?

Why did she try to help?

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