He loved her, she got that, but a baby was a commitment.
Was he just having fun right now? Trying to say all the right things as he thought that was what she wanted to hear?
She rubbed at her temple, feeling the start of a headache.
There was only one way to know for sure. Her last period hadn’t arrived, and there was a very high chance she could be pregnant. Wilson hadn’t used condoms once.
This was something she had wanted to do with him, but she couldn’t wait. She had to know the answers now. Sitting down on the toilet, Macie read the instructions and followed them, feeling the nerves slowly eat away at her. Her hands shook a little. With the test done, she flushed the toilet and moved toward the counter.
There was a knock on the door.
“I’ll just be a minute,” she said.
She washed her hands and stared at the test. Grabbing some paper towels, she dried her hands, and the test had finished.
Positive.
She lifted the test, as well as the box, and checked the results.
Positive.
She was pregnant.
There was a second test inside the box, but again, she didn’t see the reason for wasting the test. It was positive.
She was going to have a baby, with Wilson.
Sliding the test into the box, she left the bathroom, being careful to hide the kit from strangers. She moved toward the back, in the small staff holding room.
Macie pulled the stick back out of the box just before she slid it into her handbag. The lines didn’t lie.
“Congratulations.”
Startled, she dropped the test and turned to see Carl standing in the staffroom.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.”
“Does Wilson know?” he asked.
“No.” She shook her head, lifting her gaze up to his. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Are you happy?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Yes, I’m happy, but what if…”
Carl stepped forward but then seemed to pause. “What if what?”
“What if he doesn’t want to have a baby with me? What if it is all just fancy words to get me into bed?” she asked.
Tears filled her eyes then slowly dripped down her cheeks. She swiped at them, not wanting them to fall. “I’m sorry. You must think awfully of me.”
Within seconds, Carl pulled her into his arms. “Don’t think that. I don’t think anything of you, Macie. Your life is your own, but what I will say is when it comes to Wilson, your feelings are unfounded.”
“But—?”
“No buts. That man is completely besotted with you. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you. All you would have to do is click your fingers, and he would come to you.” Carl cupped her face. “Now, congratulations. Wipe those tears and come and get to work before the other girls think I’ve got a favorite.”
Macie chuckled.
“And while you’re at it, call Wilson or text him. Tell him you need to talk, or better yet, tell him you’re pregnant and see if he responds.”
She felt a little sick. “What if he doesn’t come back?”
“He will, Macie. Trust me. That man will go wherever you go.”
Carl left, and Macie put the test back into the box. She would have to show Wilson the test if he came back.
Grabbing her cell phone from her bag, she pulled it out and found his number. She hovered over calling him and then settled for a text.
Macie typed the message, knowing she’d spelled several words right, and even the dictionary she had in place didn’t have any ideas. Gritting her teeth, she pressed the send button, and there was no way for her to take it back or to stop it.
The decision was taken right out of her hands.
She put the cell phone back, pressed a hand to her stomach, and stopped. There was a life growing inside of her. She was going to be a mother. Could she handle this?
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out,” she said, rubbing at her stomach.
Stepping out into the waiting diner, she got to work, aware of Carl keeping an eye on her. She served customers, keeping a constant smile on her face while also trying to keep an eye on the parking lot for a sign of Wilson.
Nothing.
The hours ticked by.
The text message seemed to ring in the back of her mind.
“Are you okay?” Carl asked after three hours and still a no-show from Wilson.
“Yes, of course. I’m fine. Completely fine.”
On the inside, she was dying a little. Wilson had said he loved her and she believed him. Taking a deep breath, she tried to gain her composure, but that wasn’t happening. Each minute that he failed to show up, she died a little more.
Every now and again, she’d put a hand on her stomach, and inside, she’d sob.
It’ll be fine.
It’ll be fine.
By the end of her shift, Macie felt sick to her stomach.
No text from Wilson, and no sign of him either. Carl made her a cup of tea and told her to wait, but even as she took a seat, she had this horrible feeling.