Page 90 of Destined for Dreams
Cori looked down at her flat stomach, pressing a hand there. “I didn’t think I would ever have any more children.”
“Take the test to be sure,” her mother pleaded.
This was almost scarier than convincing Bartol to go off to battle with a powerful demon.
“Alright,” she said, and with shaking hands, she grabbed the test to bring with her to the downstairs bathroom.
Cori shut the door behind her and stared at herself for a long minute, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. How could she have missed this? True, they could have only conceived less than a month ago, but it wasn’t her first time being pregnant. She’d gotten sick with her daughter as well, so she should have known. Then again, she had been distracted.
She pulled the test from the box, quickly read over the instructions, and made the final leap to find out for certain. The next few minutes were the longest in Cori’s life, but there was no mistaking the answer on the digital readout.
Pregnant.
Her stomach rumbled, and she had to twist around fast to bury her head in the toilet. There wasn’t much in her stomach, but the water she drank and crackers she’d eaten came up. For a few minutes, she kneeled there sweating and fighting the urge to cry.
How was she going to tell Bartol about this? And did she do it before or after he fought the demon? Telling him before could be a distraction, but not telling him meant there was a chance he’d never know he was going to be a father. She’d have to consider her options carefully. First, though, Cori needed time to process the news herself.
She left the bathroom and handed the test to her mother. “You were right.”
“You don’t look happy,” Joy said, studying Cori closely.
“I’m scared to death.”
Her mother gave her a sage look. “I know I was both times.”
“What did you have to be scared about?” she asked, confused. “You and Dad were happily married.”
“Bringing a new life into this world is never an easy or simple thing, sweetheart—even if we planned for it.”
Cori touched her stomach, this time wishing she could feel the life inside, but it was still too small for her to detect. “I don’t even know what this baby might become. Will it be like the nerou? Will the angels make him or her become an enforcer when it grows up? I don’t…I don’t even know what to think.”
“There will be time to figure out all of that.” Her mother set the test on the nearest table and pulled her into a hug. “For me, I’m just excited to have another grandchild on the way.”
Cori hugged her mother back. “You’re going to start planning the nursery right away, aren’t you?”
The yellow blanket her mother had been knitting now made more sense.
“I’ve already been searching for just the right crib,” Joy said, pulling back with a broad smile on her face. “You’ll have to tell me what you think.”
Cori was no longer sure who the baby would need protection from the most—a conquering demon, the archangels, or her mother. “How about we hold off on that until Bartol is back?”
Joy sighed. “You’re no fun.”
