Page 83 of The Summer We Danced

“When was your last period?”

Crista froze and blinked. “What?”

“Are you on birth control?”

“No, but I’m forty-three and Nolie took years to conceive and…”

“Exhaustion. Dizzy. Throwing up?” Tessa lifted a brow. “Didn’t you mention heartburn the other night? And let’s not forget those mood swings.”

“No. It’s not…” Well, therewasthat date night a month or so ago. Itwaspossible.

Tessa raised a questioning brow, silent.

“Please,” Crista said, pressing a washcloth to her lips. “Keep this between us. I’ll have to…be sure.”

“Are you happy about it?” Tessa asked softly.

Crista just looked at her. “I’m…just stunned. It would be…wow. Yeah, impossible but…oh, my goodness.” Reeling, she reached out and hugged Tessa, aching to hold someone close at this most confusing, shocking, unbelievable moment.

She squeezed Tessa, who gave her a light hug back, and when they separated, she could have sworn the other woman had tears in her eyes, too.

How sweet she was to care.

“I was so wrong about you, Tessa,” Crista admitted gruffly.

Tessa mustered a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Your secret’s safe with me,” she said. “Better call your husband and tell him the big news.”

“About Nolie or…” She touched her stomach.

“Both.”

No, not both, Crista thought as Tessa gave a wink and a wave and left her alone in the bathroom.

She’d just tell him about Nolie. And the other thing? She needed to take a test. She still simply couldn’t believe it.

* * *

“Passed? Like passed for real?”Anthony’s voice rose as he asked the question for the fourth time. “And you’re sure that it’s the same test?”

“Not exactly the same, but conceptually, yes. It was a third grade entrance exam for the state of Georgia and she passed!”

She heard Anthony sigh and then laugh and her whole being suddenly ached for him. This was the longest they’d ever been apart, and she could feel the absence down to her toes.

“I miss you, Anth,” she whispered into the phone, the temptation to tell him what just happened so strong. But she had to be sure—this could absolutely be some weird fluke and then he’d be disappointed.

Wouldn’t he? Or would this upset him? Another expense, another form of stress…

“Oh, Cris, honey,” he said, his voice soft and loving. “There are no words for how I miss you. Both of you. This house is so empty! I even miss that darn dog.”

She laughed, feeling lighthearted and lightheaded. “Pittypat’s a beach regular now. You wouldn’t believe how she wakes up and demands to go down that boardwalk.”

“The one where you’re having a fashion show?”

She stayed quiet for a beat, letting the question sink in. “I thought you said Nolie and I had to come home and she’d miss that.”

He let out a moan. “A moment of pure selfishness and stupidity. Of course she’s staying.”

“Oh, Anthony!” She bit her lip and, oh, yeah, here came the tears again. “Please come for the fashion show. Although…I have to warn you, Kate Wylie, her teenage kids, and her mother will be here, too.”

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