Page 64 of 40 and (So Over) Fixing It
Erin spluttered. Of course there wasn’t. “I’m on birth control pills.”
Ruth laughed gently. “Honey, I’ve known so many kids who were conceived while their mamas were on birth control.”
“But…” Erin shook her head. “But…”
“Maybe think about that.” Ruth reached across the table and patted her hand. “You wait here and I’ll get you some crackers.”
Erin did nothing more than stare into space until Ruth returned. The ginger ale and saltines helped settle her stomach but not her mind. “Oh my God, Ruth. What if…”
Ruth raised an eyebrow. “What if, what? You’re pregnant? Then we’re all going to be ecstatic.”
“But Carter—”
“Hmm. Yes, Carter.” Ruth cleared her throat. “Maybe you should find out for sure first. Worry about Carter then.”
Oh, she definitely needed to make sure first. She stood so fast she almost knocked her chair over. “I’m going to run to the store. I’ll be back.” As she was running out the door, an idea occurred to her, and after checking in with her stomach, she called back over her shoulder, “I think I’ll stop and get some fries.” That actually sounded good. “I’ll see you tomorrow, after the collards have disappeared.”
“You better call me before then!” Ruth yelled after her.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Where should she go to get a test? No way in hell was she going to the local pharmacy where everyone who came in would know her. She drove to the next town over, Redwater, and stopped at a chain drugstore there. Her hand shook when she finally chose a pregnancy test from the ten different options available, but she managed not to drop it until she got to the counter. The older woman who checked her out gave her a benevolent smile and a wink as she took the bag and headed out the door.
Redwater also had a McDonald’s, which was where she headed to next. A large fry and a chocolate shake were soon in her hands. It tasted like ambrosia, especially after feeling sick so often lately.
Well, duh. You should have figured this one out a long time ago.
We don’t know anything for sure.
I think we do, but sure, let’s take the test. Then you won’t be able to argue with me. Yourself. Whatever.
Holy shit, what was Carter going to say?
She drove straight to Lily’s house, thanking all that was holy that JD wasn’t there when she arrived. She couldn’t stop the nervous tapping of her foot on the front porch, the way the bag crinkled in her hand as she waited for her friend to answer the door. She was so anxious that when Lily finally appeared, she barged right through, nearly bowling her friend over. “I need some help.”
Lily chuckled. “Of course. What do you need?”
Tearing open the bag from the drugstore, she pulled out the pregnancy test, whirled around, and held it in the air for Lily to see. “This.”
Lily gaped. After a few long seconds—during which it was obvious that Lily’s brain was speeding along so fast it was practically smoking—she gave Erin a tentative smile. “Um, well…I don’t think I can help you with that.”
Erin looked at the test, then at Lily, then back at the test. She burst out laughing, then stopped when she realized she was on the verge of hysteria. “Not that kind of help.”
“I figured.” Leading the way from the living room into the kitchen, Lily went to the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of tea. “Want some?”
She was thirsty. “God, yes.” Hopefully her stomach would tolerate it.
“Good.” Lily shooed her away. “I’ll pour; you go pee.”
Five minutes later Erin walked back into Lily’s kitchen, dazed. Lily took one look at her and hurried around the island to guide her onto a barstool. “You okay?”
How many times was someone going to ask her that? She was pretty sure she wouldn’t be okay for a long, long time. “How could this happen?”
A little giggle escaped Lily’s mouth. “Well, see…”
That did get a small smile. “Not what I meant.” Erin rubbed a hand over her face. “I’m on birth control. I’m in my forties. This shouldn’t have happened.”
Lily shrugged. “Birth control is never a hundred percent. Lots of women are having babies in their forties now. Whether or not this should have happened is irrelevant—it did happen. You’re gonna have a baby.” Her voice went up an entire octave, and she shook Erin by her biceps.
