“Nothing much. Colbs is working. You want some company?”
“Sure. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Of course. I’m fine. Why?” She’s quick to ask.
“You just sound funny.”
“Nope. I’m perfect. I’m going to head over now if that’s okay. I need to run an errand, but I should be there in say, half an hour?”
“That works for me.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Nope. We’re all good. I’ll see you soon.”
Placing my phone back on the counter, I eat my bagel while unloading and reloading the dishwasher. We were both too tired to bother with doing it last night. By the time I’m finished, I’ve eaten the rest of my bagel and wiped down the counters. Next, I sweep the floor and move on to the living room. I’ve just finished dusting and sweeping the living room when Laramie knocks.
“Come in!” I call out, placing the cordless sweeper back on the charging stand in the closet.
“Hey, hey.” She smiles.
“It’s weird that I just invited you to enter your brother’s house.”
“Why? You might as well say you live here too.”
“No.” I shake my head. “No. I don’t live here. I do stay here frequently at his request, but I don’t live here.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too soon.”
“You know that’s bullshit, right?”
“Can we not talk about this?” I ask. “Come sit down, tell me what’s up with you.”
She follows me to the couch and takes a seat, turning to face me. “What’s in the bag?” I ask, looking at the reusable shopping bag with our local pharmacy’s logo on the side.
“That’s part of why I’m here.”
“Okay.”
“I’m late.”
“Did we set a definite time?” I ask, confused.
“No, Mac, I’m late. As in my period is late.”
“Oh. Oh! How long?”
“A few days.”
“That’s not so bad.”
“I stopped taking my birth control the day before the wedding. We decided we’ve wasted so much time that we’re ready to move forward. That included marriage and babies.”
“Really?” I ask, feeling hot tears well in my eyes. “I’m so happy for you, Lara.” I lean into her, and she meets me in the middle for a tight hug.
“Anyway,” she says, wiping at her eyes. “I wanted to take a test, but I didn’t want to do it by myself. And Colby is so excited I didn’t want him to be disappointed if it’s negative.”
“Isn’t it too early to tell? I mean, don’t you need some time before the home test can pick it up?”
“Yes, but there are some home kits that detect early. I bought one of every kind.” She points to the bag.
“I can see that.” I laugh, looking at the bag.
“How long will Rip be working?”
“He said he’d be home around noon.”
“That gives us about an hour and a half, give or take, before he comes home.”
“You sure you don’t want Colby with you when you take them?”
She nods. “I’m sure. Mac, I wish you could have seen his face when we talked about starting a family. He lit up like a Christmas tree. I don’t want to disappoint him. If I’m not, we’ll continue to try, and he won’t be disappointed. Besides, I really doubt that I am. I mean, it’s been a month and a handful of days since I stopped my birth control pills. From what I’ve read, it could take some time.”
“Okay, well, let’s head up. We can use the spare bedroom, just in case Rip happens to come home early.”
“Good idea.” Laramie stands and grasps the bag. “Can you grab a couple of bottles of water? I drank two on the way here, but I might need more.” She holds up the bag as proof.
“Sure, I’ll be right up.”
In the kitchen, I grab four bottles of water just in case. She’s got several tests in the bag. Stepping into the bedroom, I see the tests spilled out on the bed, with one of the boxes open. “Laramie, I’ve got water.”
“I’m good for now. I’m starting with one, and we’ll go from there,” she tells me through the bathroom door.
Placing the water bottles on the nightstand, I take a seat on the bed and pick up one of the tests, reading the box. My mind wanders to my last period, and I freeze. I can’t remember. Wait, I do. It was the week before I took the bar exam. I remember being relieved that I wouldn’t have to deal with Aunt Flo while testing. That was— “Oh, no.”
“What?” Laramie asks, appearing beside me. I stare up at her, but I can’t seem to form words. “McKenna, talk to me,” she says, reaching for my hands.
All I can do is shake my head, over and over again. This can’t be right. This can’t be happening. I’m just starting my career, and then this thing with Rip is new. He’s going to think I trapped him. Just like my father. It’s too soon. I refuse to let him feel like he has no choice but to be with me because he got me pregnant. Oh. My. God. I might be pregnant.