Page 6 of Dare To Marry You
“Like that’s even a question,” I say, grabbing the apple nut muffin. Just as I take a bite, my cat Gigi struts into the kitchen. Yes, struts, like the little diva she is. With a plaintive meow, she leaps into Lily’s lap.
“Hi, sweet girl,” my best friend coos, scratching behind her ears the way Gigi loves.
With my mouth full of muffin, I quickly dish up Gigi’s breakfast, and as soon as I set it down, she abandons Lily in favour of food. What can I say? Like cat, like owner.
I give one last sorrowful glance to my coffee maker. “Maybe we can stop for some coffee on the way to the winery?”
“Sure can. But let’s get a move on. I’m guessing you don’t want to go to your bachelorette luncheon in your jammies.”
Less than an hour later, dressed and ready to get my desperately needed hit of caffeine, Lily and I push open the doors to The Nutty Muffin.
“Hey, ladies!” Mila, the owner, greets us. “Back for more goodies?”
“Nope. Just coffee, please, mine was off,” I reply, earning a quizzical look from Mila.
“Your coffee was off?”
I shrug. “Yeah, it smelled awful.” Just then, someone walks past me with their own steaming cup of liquid gold in hand, and as soon as I get a whiff of it, my body revolts again, this time my nearly empty stomach threatening to empty. “Oh my God.”
Whirling around, I bolt out the door of the café. What the hell is going on? My heart is racing as my brain tries to make sense of things. Since when does the smell of coffee make me sick? Since never, that’s when. This is weird.
I hear the jingle of the bell on the door to the bakery and then my best friend is standing beside me.
“Okay, lady, fess up. Something’s going on.”
I look over at her, shaking my head. “I don’t understand what’s wrong.”
“Really, Kat? Even I can see what’s happened. When was your last period?” Lily folds her arms across her chest. I mimic her stance, then drop them, because when the hell did my boobs get so tender?
“I had one a couple weeks ago. It was pretty light, but…”
In that moment, I feel like the biggest idiot on the planet. “Oh, shit.” Reality sinks in, and by that, I mean an overwhelming wave of panic and nausea choose that exact second to hit me. Thank God for the bench behind me as I sink down and drop my head into my hands.
Lily’s there in a second, her hand rubbing soothing circles across my back. “It’s okay, babe. It’s going to be okay.”
“How the hell did this happen?” I moan, feeling the nausea subside but the panic remains. “I’m a freaking nurse practitioner. I know all about safe sex. I take my pill religiously. I haven’t been on antibiotics. I…I… This shouldn’t be possible!”
“Kat,” Lily starts gently. “You’re also smart enough to realize no birth control is completely effective. Looks like you’re in the 1 percent that had an oops.”
“Don’t call it an oops,” I mumble, my hand automatically going to my stomach. “Besides, maybe I’m not pregnant. Maybe it’s a stomach bug.”
“Sure, a stomach bug.” Lily’s sarcasm is not lost on me. “If you really think that, then let’s go get a test for your peace of mind.”
I look at her in horror. “I can’t just wander into the Grab N Go and pick up a pregnancy test. It’ll go around town like wildfire and Hunter isn’t even home. And oh God, my brothers will find out.”
Lily places her hands on my shoulders and shakes me gently. “Slow down. You’re panicking, Donnelly. We don’t have to go to the store. Didn’t you tell me Leo and Serena were trying to get pregnant? Maybe she has a spare test.”
That has me breathing a small sigh of relief. She’s right, my cousin’s wife did announce at family dinner last week that they were trying to have a baby. I remember being so thrilled for the two of them. If there’s anyone I can trust to keep things quiet, it’s Serena.
Getting back in Lily’s car, we make the short drive to my cousin’s house. Thankfully, Leo’s truck is not in the driveway, but Serena’s car is. Wrapping my coat tighter around me to combat the wintery chill, I hurry up to her front door and knock firmly. Moments later, she opens the door wearing a fluffy robe.
“Hey girls, everything okay?”
I shake my head mutely, but Lily comes to my rescue. “We’ve got a situation, Serena. Do you have any pregnancy tests left?”
Serena’s eyes widen as she steps back and ushers us inside. “I do. But wait. What?” She takes the coat I hand her, and I lift my terrified eyes to meet hers. “Oh, honey.”
I guess the glimmer of tears is visible because the next thing I know, I’m sandwiched between the two of them. Letting go for just a second, I allow all the emotions pummeling me to flow. Excitement mixes with fear, worry with joy, nervousness with anticipation.
