Page 42 of Capitally Unexpected

“I called her and offered to cover whatever cancellation fees they encounter and add two vacation days onto what she gets back if she comes in. Weather is going to be shit in the Caribbean with this going on anyway.”

“Yeah, what meteorologist books a Caribbean vacation in August?”

“Guess her fiancé did it as a surprise and she didn’t want to squash their vibe.” We nod in understanding. Lay people.

“Well, I mean, I have this thing later this week?—”

“This is a big deal, Lewis. I need a big deal reason for you not to go.” Guess scramble time is over.

“I’m pregnant.”

He sits back in his chair. “Well, that’s probably the biggest deal of them all.”

I nod. “I’m due end of December. I planned to talk to HR soon, to get things lined up, but?—”

“But you’re a woman in a cutthroat field, so there’s no right time to tell.” My face must display my surprise because he laughs. “I have a sister, a wife, and two daughters. I know about cis, white man privilege. It’s why I lobbied for you to get the job and found a way for you to do forecasts your way when the brass made me tell you to tone it down.”

And here I spent all this time thinking of Ray as the bad guy. Instead, he’s a really good guy who didn’t want to pass the buck.Hmm. As I reach up to wipe my eyes, I think at least he knows I’m pregnant and not fully in control of my hormones.

“Well, you can’t go to Houston. Damn, I really wanted this spot ...”

“Send Elizabeth.” It’s out of my mouth before I consider the potential downfall of sending the thin, beautiful Zendaya lookalike out on a major assignment in my place. I shake myself internally. Break the ceiling and reach back to pull women with you, and all that.

“You think she can do it?” Ray asks. This time I hide my surprise better. He’s asking my opinion?

“Yeah, I think she’s got what it takes. And I’d love for her to keep doing the online stuff while I’m out on maternity leave to keep people interested. If there’s the budget, we could work together on it when I get back.”

Ray nods. “A perk of you telling me you’re pregnant now is I can fight to get the budget to make it happen. Now, let’s brainstorm what Elizabeth needs to know to get her up to speed. I wonder if she can fly straight to Houston from St. Croix ...”

Iget home hours later, my feet each weighing one-hundred pounds. The humidity today is at an all-time high, and I’m still coming to terms with the loss of the Houston assignment. I know there’s no way I could possibly take it—I huff out a laugh on the stairs imagining telling Hunter I plan to fly into a hurricane. He’d blow a gasket. But it’s still disappointing to give up an opportunity like this. To gain some things, you really do have to give up others.

“Welcome home,” he says, putting plates on the table as I close the front door behind me.

“You’re freakishly good at that.”

“I could lie, but it got done too early, so it’s beenwarming in the oven. I pulled them out when I heard your key in the door. Careful, plate is hot.”

I collapse onto the chair with more melt than normal.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I mean, there’s a major hurricane heading toward Texas, and I don’t get to go cover it. So, I guess things aren’t so great for the people in the path, but I’m okay.”

“Wait, they were going to send you to cover a hurricane? Like in person? Not from a studio?” His eyes widen with each question.

“You heard where I said I’m not going, right?” I stab the fork into my food without looking at what it is. I recognize the flavors of a Tex-Mex pasta dish I’ve come to love and immediately regret my tone. “Sorry, I snapped. I’m the one who told my boss I couldn’t go. I also had to tell him I’m pregnant, but it’s going to be a cool opportunity for my coworker. I’m genuinely happy for her, while also being genuinely disappointed for myself.”

With double confirmation I’m not flying into danger, Hunter starts eating. “You know, humans have the capacity to feel more than one thing at a time.” He softens the sarcasm with a wink.

“Hmm. Sounds familiar, but I don’t like it.” I wink back.

We move on. Hunter tells me about his day. Some more testing with the app. He’s getting up to take the dishes to the sink when my phone pings.

“Ha. My boss is trying to guilt me into taking the Labor Day weekend shifts. ‘Be a team player while you can, Lewis.’ And I thought we made a breakthrough today.” I roll my eyes and put my phone face down. Hunter’s stopped in the middle of drying a pan, looking at me with pure panic.

“You’re going to work over Labor Day weekend? Isn’t there anyone else? I mean, I know you’re incredible and your job should want you on air all the time, but Labor Day?”

“What’s up, Hunt?” I ask, slightly concerned he’s broken.

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