Page 31 of Broken Vows

“A couple of months.” Her hand stays on her stomach, protective. When she notices me watching, she quickly drops it to her lap.

“We can be pregnant together,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “Our babies will be so close in age.”

Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah.”

Through the window, I can see Jeremy’s empty parking spot–he won’t be back from work for hours. Lilly follows my gaze, then quickly looks away.

“Tell me about your baby,” she says, changing the subject. “How are you feeling?”

So I do. I tell her about the morning sickness that lasts all day, about the ultrasound appointment, about my strange cravings for pickles dipped in chocolate (which makes her nose wrinkle just like it should).

“I’m so happy for you,” she says softly, though something in her expression seems strained. “You’re going to be an amazing mom.”

We spend the afternoon catching up. She tells me about the breakup–how she and Zeke had been growing apart, how they wanted different things, how it was mutual but still devastating. I notice she doesn’t give many details, but I don’t push. Everyone processes grief differently.

“I should go,” she says eventually, glancing at the clock. “I start back at work tomorrow.”

At the door, she hesitates. “Is… is Jeremy around much? With the baby and everything?”

“Sometimes,” I say carefully, noting how she tenses slightly at his name. “He’s been helping.”

She nods, not quite meeting my eyes. “That’s good. He should be involved.”

I watch her drive away, feeling unsettled but not sure why. Maybe it’s hormones, or maybe it’s the way her story seemed rehearsed somehow. Or maybe I’m just being paranoid.

My phone buzzes with a text from Jeremy.

Jeremy

Coming by after work with soup.

Me

Soup sounds perfect.

I’m probably going to throw it up after eating it.

Later, after Jeremy brings the soup and settles into his spot on the couch with his laptop, I tell him about Lilly’s visit. About her breakup with Zeke. I hesitate, then add, “She’s pregnant, too.”

His laptop slips slightly in his hands, but he catches it. “Oh?”

“Seven weeks along,” I say, watching his face. But all I see is the blue glow of his screen reflecting off his features.

“That’s… that must be hard for her,” he says finally. “With the breakup and everything.”

“It’s sad. I know me and you aren’t together anymore, despite everything I know you wouldn’t ever leave me to raise a baby alone.”

“Of course.”

That night,I lie awake listening to the familiar sounds of Jeremy shifting on the couch downstairs. My hand rests on my stomach, where our raspberry-sized baby is growing bigger every day.

Everything feels almost perfect. Almost right.

So why does something still feel wrong?

Chapter Twenty

“You’re showing a little,”He says.

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