How to Keep a Secret

Greg wasn’t smiling. “Maybe I’m sick of other people’s relationships. Maybe, for once, I’d rather focus on my own.”

His tone shocked her as much as his words.

She didn’t know him like this. It was like living with a stranger.

As her relationship with her family was improving, it seemed her relationship with Greg was deteriorating. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Forget it.”

“How am I supposed to forget a comment like that?” There was an uncomfortable feeling behind her ribs. Panic? “Is this still about the fact I didn’t tell you about my dad?” She was feeling guilty about that, but where was the rule that said a person had to disclose everything?

“I guess that’s part of it.” He rubbed his fingers over his forehead. “I’m tired, Jenna. I can’t do this now. I have to go.”

“But we’re talking, and—”

“I don’t want to talk.”

She was left floundering like a fish in shallow water. “But you’re the one who always says you can sort most things out by talking about them.”

“Yeah, well it turns out that’s not as easy as it sounds.” He scooped up his jacket and his car keys and strode out the door, slamming it behind him.

Jenna flinched.

She stood staring at the door, her stomach clenched.

He’d left the house without kissing her goodbye. He always kissed her before leaving the house. Always.

But not today.

When something was wrong in her life, she talked to Greg, but this time she and Greg were the problem. Who was she going to talk to?

This was too personal to discuss with just anyone. She hadn’t even mentioned it to Lauren, despite the fact they’d been running together almost daily for the past few weeks. It felt disloyal. Also her sister finally seemed a little better and Jenna didn’t want to burden her with anything else.

Maybe she’d give Greg a few hours to calm down and then call him.

Maybe when she told him the news she’d been holding inside her, he’d be so thrilled that everything would be forgotten and forgiven.

It was early May and the mornings were lighter and brighter. She drove with the windows open so she could smell the sea air.

Despite her unease about the situation with Greg, happiness bubbled inside her.

She was late.

Not late for school. The other type of late. The type of late that made her heart beat faster and made her glance in store windows at baby clothes. The type of late that insulated her from all external assaults on her happiness. Nothing could destroy her mood right now. Nothing.

She’d been trying not to get excited, but she wasn’t only a day late, or even two.

She was five days late. Five days.

She lifted her hand and pressed her boobs. Was she imagining it or were they a little more tender than usual?

The thought that she might be pregnant filled her head and made her float along like a helium balloon. If she was right, she’d soon be the same shape as a helium balloon. She didn’t care. She wasn’t going to complain if she had stretch marks. She was too grateful to be pregnant. If all she did for the next nine months was vomit and sleep, she wasn’t going to complain about that either.

A baby.

Whatever was wrong between her and Greg, she was sure that once she told him her news it would all be fixed. He’d be as thrilled as she was. She’d already done the calculations and their baby was due on January 21. The downside was that it would be born right in the middle of a harsh Vineyard winter. On the plus side she’d be able to snuggle up in their cottage and focus on being a mother.

There was a pregnancy test sitting in the bottom of her purse, but so far she’d resisted the temptation to use it. She’d bought in bulk from the internet to avoid giving fodder to the island gossips, but going through so many was costing her a small fortune. At this rate the tests were going to cost her more than putting a child through college, which was why, this time, she’d waited until she was sure.