Page 22 of The B-Team

“No, I’ll get it. I should have thought of that anyway. While I’m there, I’ll rescue some snacks from the boys too.”

“I’ll help.” Isobel got to her feet. “I need coffee.”

“Me too.” Claire glanced at Sarah. “You brought chocolate cake, right?”

“Was I born with a double X chromosome?”

Claire grinned before following the others out of the room.

Sarah considered Julia. “How are you doing, really?”

For a second, Julia looked a little lost. She worried at her bottom lip before replying. “The baby’s due any day now, and my husband’s in jail.” Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice was small. “I need Joe.”

“Aw, honey.”

Sarah moved to the head of the bed and sat beside her. She put her arm around Julia’s shoulders. “It’s okay to be worried and afraid. We’re all feeling it. But your Joe is smart and capable, and he’ll get himself out of there as fast as he can.” She reached for a tissue box on the nightstand and handed it to Julia. “Have you heard from the lawyers? Did they say anything about Joe?”

“I didn’t want to bother them. They’ve got a lot to deal with.” Julia blew her nose into a tissue.

“To hell with that,” Sarah said. “Gimme your phone.”

Before Julia could protest, Sarah picked it up and tapped the screen. She held it in front of Julia’s tear-stained face to open it, then found the lawyer’s contact details and put the call on speaker.

Thankfully, it didn’t go to voicemail. “Julia, do you have any more information that will help me?” Ms. Patel got straight down business.

“This is Sarah Granger.” She used her best work voice. “As you’re aware, Julia is pregnant, close to her due date, and on bed rest. She’s also very worried about her husband, Joe. Do you have an update on what’s happening with him?”

“Wait,” Ms. Patel said. “Julia’s pregnant too? I thought it was just Rachel.”

Sarah looked at Julia’s belly, then glanced down at her own. “We’re having a bit of a population explosion at the moment. I’m pregnant too. But it’s Julia I’m worried about right now.”

“Let me check in with the lawyer I’ve assigned to him, and I’ll get back to you.” The line went dead.

“She’s not one for idle chitchat, is she?” Sarah said. “I wonder what conversations between her and Rachel are like.”

“Terrifying.” Julia sniffed and dabbed at her eyes.

“Who broke Julia?” Isobel demanded as the rest of the rag-tag team filed back into the bedroom. “We were only gone five minutes. Didn’t anybody tell you she’s not meant to get upset?”

“She’s worried about Joe,” Sarah said. “So, we called the lawyer for an update. We’re just waiting for her to call us back.”

“Well, okay,” Isobel said, returning to the oversized chair under the window.

“Oh no, you’re crying!” Belinda rushed into the room and straight to her sister’s side, making Sarah jump up to get out of the way. “Crying’s not allowed. I think it’s on the list of things that will make your blood pressure go up. Beast, check the list. Julia, think happy thoughts.” She climbed into bed beside her sister and wrapped her in a hug.

“Crying won’t affect her.” Claire entered the room, carrying a huge chocolate cake and one fork. “I cried through all my pregnancies. It’s cathartic. Plus, you’re filled with hormones, all the time, and feel like you’re carrying a whale in a part of your body that’s not meant to carry heavy loads. Like, why build up your biceps when you have to heave around a baby with your uterus? It makes no sense.” She waved the fork. “She’ll be fine. Julia, let it all out. You’ll feel much better.”

Isobel cocked an eyebrow at Claire. “Are you going to share that cake?”

The taller Scottish woman faced off against the shorter one. “Are you going to make me?”

Before a fight could break out, Julia wailed, “I want chocolate cake too.”

Panicked, Claire thrust the plate at Isobel. “You deal with it.”

Isobel frowned, put the cake on the dresser, and stomped out of the room. “Guess I’ll go get a knife then.”

The phone rang, and Sarah answered immediately. It was the lawyer. “You’re on speaker,” she warned her.