Page 9 of Guarded Secrets
The three sisters stared at each other wide-eyed, then at Keeley.
“Oh my god,” Keeley said. “I’m right?”
“I peed on a stick yesterday morning.” Delaney spoke in a hushed voice, her hands crossing over her chest like she was trying to contain her heart. “It came back positive. Walker and I are dazed. We’re elated, a little scared, and still processing. We weren’t going to say anything for a couple weeks in case, you know, something goes wrong.”
Keeley ignored the brief sting of sorrow as Delaney’s words brought up a memory that made her heart ache. She jumped from her seat and rounded the island to grab her friend in a fierce hug. “You’re going to be a mom. Oh my gosh, this is so exciting.”
“I know this might be hard for you,” Delaney whispered.
Keeley took her friend’s face in her hands, shaking her head. “It’s wonderful and beautiful, and I’m so happy for you.”
“We totally didn’t expect for it to happen this quick.”
Keeley beamed at her. “You know how babies are made, right?”
“But we just started trying.” Delaney gave a flustered laugh. “And I know that’s silly because it only takes one time, but we really didn’t think it would happen this fast.”
“How was Walker with the news?” Cam asked.
“Oh my god, he’s so happy. You’d think he was the first man to be a baby daddy.”
Delaney turned to the other women. “Are you both pregnant too?”
“I’m three days late for my period so yesterday I bought a test kit.” Emery’s smile lit up her face. “I peed on a stick this morning too, and it came up with two little lines. But the second one is kind of faint.” She dug into her purse. “I brought it with me to get a second opinion. Is this gross? I don’t want it to be gross.”
“It’s not gross. Let’s see.”
Emery removed the test stick from the box. She showed the picture printed on the side. “See their lines? Now look at my test.”
“Friend, those are two red lines. The second one is fainter, but it’s still there.” Keeley gave Emery an arm-across-the-shoulder hug. “You’re pregnant.”
“That’s what Shane said.” She wore a secret smile. “He was over the roof.”
“I bet that’s what led to morning nookie,” Cam teased.
“You wouldn’t be wrong. Shane was especially, um, reverent.” Emery beamed again. “He’ll be such a good dad,” she said dreamily.
“What about you?” Delaney asked Cam.
“I don’t know if I’m pregnant. I mean, I could be since Sawyer and I decided we wanted to try to start a family. I’m late too, but I’ve never been super regular. I’m going to the drugstore to pick up a test as soon as we’re done with our emergency meeting.”
“Oh my god, we’re baking pie and you don’t know if you’re pregnant?”
Cam had Keeley’s recipe card and was turning it over and over in her hands. “I was going to go tomorrow to buy a test thinking I’d give it another day, but I don’t want to wait any longer. It’s all I can think about, so I decided to go buy one today. Or have Sawyer pick one up on his way home from work. But now I’m nervous because I don’t want to be disappointed.” She put the card down and began tapping the countertop.
“This kit came with two tests.” Emery pulled the extra foil-wrapped test from the box. “Use it. Go pee on the stick.”
“I don’t know.” Cam took the test and box, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth as she frowned over the directions. “Don’t you have to do this first thing in the morning?”
“The hormone it detects is stronger in the morning, but you’re more likely to get a false negative than a false positive.” Emery patted Cam’s shoulders. “We’re not pressuring you. You can keep the test if you like and use it later so you can have Sawyer with you.”
She picked up her phone. “Let me call Sawyer and see if he wants to be with me when I do the test.”
She walked into the living room, returning minutes later with a tentative smile on her face. “Sawyer says he’s on his way home anyway, and he’s fine if I don’t wait for him to do the test.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, okay. I’m fine too,” she said the words like she was trying to build up her nerve. “I’m going to do it.”
Cam disappeared down the hall, and Keeley had to force herself not to bounce on her toes. “I can hardly stand the suspense. How long does it take?”
“Three minutes.”
