“Then prove it by taking a test. I’ll call to have one delivered right now.”
“Seriously? No. I don’t need to. You’re being crazy.” I grab my empty glass and march to the kitchen with Lily tight on my heels.
I lift the bottle of wine and freeze, staring down at the empty glass. If I was pregnant, I shouldn’t be drinking, right?
“Cici?” Lily stands on the other side of the island, watching me.
I look up. “Order the test.”
Thirty minutes later, I’m pacing in her massive bathroom while Lily stares down, waiting for lines to appear.
“They said it takes three minutes, and it’s been less than one,” I say as she stares down.
“Then if they’re already showing results, that means they must be accurate, right?”
“What?” I run over to look and immediately grab the counter for support—three blatantly positive tests lie before me. My hand instinctively goes to my stomach.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “Oh my God. No. This can’t be real. I’m on the pill. I can’t be pregnant… they have to be wrong.” I turn to the side and lift my shirt, looking in the mirror. My hand rubs the recently acquired pooch on my stomach that I assumed was from overeating and late-night ice cream binges. Now that I’m touching it, I notice that it’s not squishy like fat would be but firm. Am I pregnant? Do I have a baby growing inside of me?
My face crumples, and I crash to my knees. Lily instantly sinks down and gathers me in her arms, rocking me back and forth while I cry.
“Shhh. It’ll be okay.” She continues murmuring soothing wordswhile I let it sink in when something she says gives me pause. “Eli will take care of you.”
I jerk away, frantic. “No! We can’t tell him.”
“What? Why? You have to. It’s his baby too.”
“Lily, please. I’m not ready. He’s moved on finally, and I already fucked him over once. I can’t do it again.”
“He won’t think of it like that. It’s his responsibility just as much as yours. He needs to know, Cici.”
“Not yet. I’m not even sure how this happened. I’m seriously on the pill. I don’t understand. I need to see a doctor.” I look up with pleading eyes. “Will you go with me tomorrow? I don’t fly out until late. Maybe my regular doctor will schedule me on short notice since it’s sort of an emergency, right?”
“I’m definitely going with you. And if yours isn’t available, I’ll call mine. Sebastian helped me find a new one, and with our last name, she’ll take you right away.” I nod, too numb to speak. “Stay here tonight, and we’ll call first thing in the morning? I’ll take the day off.”
Stay here. Day off. Sebastian. Doctor.
“Lily, you can’t tell Sebastian! He’ll tell Eli.”
“I can’t lie to my husband.”
“I’m not asking you to lie. I’m simply asking you not to tell him. This is my pregnancy, so it’s up to me who knows, and I don’t want Eli to find out yet. Please, Lily, you have to keep this a secret.”
“You’re going to have to tell him eventually. And what about my driver and security? They tell Sebastian everywhere I go.”
“Then I’ll have to go alone. It’s fine. I’d rather that than either of them finding out. Please, Lily?”
“Ugh, fine—for now.”
“For now.”
The next day, Lily’s doctor sweeps into the room while looking at the file in her hands. My doctor couldn’t fit me in, so Lily called in a favor to hers. Being a Dubree certainly has its perks.
Holy shit, my child will be a Dubree.
“Blood work confirms you’re pregnant, and based on your hormone levels and the information you provided, you’re due September 23. Everything looks great. Labs were normal and right in line for thirteen weeks.”
I nod silently. Thirteen weeks. Over three months pregnant. The safe zone. I’m having a baby.
