Page 111 of The Mistakes I've Made
“Thanks.”
Fortunately, the inn was all but empty, the only midweek visitor being me, so we had the whole place to ourselves. Leaving the door to my suite open, she wandered out, making herself busy in other rooms to allow me some privacy.
I didn’t need it, but I appreciated the gesture.
This all felt a little overwhelming, and right now, I just needed to hear one voice before I did this.
Pulling up her number, I sat down on the bed, draping the yellow quilt over my legs, and waited for Piper to answer.
“Please tell me you’re going to give me several details about your juicy new love life,” she said, not bothering with a greeting. “’Cause it is a Sahara over here, if you know what I’m saying!”
I smiled, although it was a halfhearted one as I pushed back tears.
“Piper,” I managed to say.
Her voice sobered instantly. “What’s wrong? Who died? Oh my God, what’s wrong?”
“No one died,” I said, hoping to calm her. “But I do have something to tell you.”
“Okay,” she said cautiously. “Why do I get the feeling it’s not something good?”
I shook my head, feeling my heart beat in response. “I think I might be pregnant.”
“You think, or you are? Have you taken a test yet?” she asked. “And how did this happen? Did he talk you out of a condom? That rat bastard! I will come to that island myself and—”
“Piper!” I nearly yelled.
“Sorry!” she said softly. “You know how I handle stress.”
“You panic?”
“Exactly! So, why are you calling me?” she joked. “You know I can’t handle this crap.”
“Because you’re my family, and I’m scared.”
“Let’s talk you through this, okay?”
I breathed out for maybe the first time in a minute. “Okay.”
“You used condoms?”
I nodded my head at first, and then I realized she couldn’t see me. “Yes, but—”
“Yes, but what? There should be noyes, butswhen it comes to sex.”
“I have an IUD. So, we stopped.”
“What IUD?”
“Um, the IUD I got in college. You should remember; you went with me.”
The moment of silence made me seriously question my remembering skills.
“That IUD?” she exclaimed. “Have you gotten it replaced?”
My heart started to beat wildly. “No. Why would I have? It’s good for, like, twelve years.”
“Five! It’s good for five!” she screamed.
