She shakes her head quickly. “Baby’s fine.”
I wait, but she doesn’t go on. Instead, she pulls her knees up a little, sitting back against the headboard like she needs the support. When she finally speaks, her voice is so small it almost disappears into the space between us.
“I, uh…” She swallows. “I got fired.”
For a second, I don’t understand the words. Then they sink in, and my mouth falls open. “Youwhat?”
“I got fired,” she repeats quietly.
Rage floods through me, fast and hot. “What the hell do they mean firing you? Theycan’tfire you for being pregnant, that’s illegal.”
She shakes her head again. “I didn’t even get to that part. I haven’tofficiallytold them I’m pregnant yet.”
That stops me cold. “Then… why?”
She exhales and starts explaining. “Yesterday, during landing, this passenger got up before the seatbelt sign went off. His bag was about to fall on this older woman, so I got up to stop it. Technically that’s against protocol, but it’s also standard practice, we’reallowedto get up if there’s a safety concern. And that was one. Itwasan emergency.” She throws her hands up, frustrated tears burning behind her words. “But they didn’t care.They didn’t let me explain. They just said I’d violated procedure and I was terminated effective immediately.”
I clench my jaw so hard it aches. “Who do you think told them?”
Brooke looks away, her fingers worrying the edge of the blanket. “Stephanie’s the only one on the crew who saw it happen. Shedoeshave to file a report after something like that.”
“But why would she?” I ask, trying to make sense of it. “If she saw it was an emergency, if she knew why you did it, why wouldn’t she defend you?”
Brooke doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she stares down at her lap, her face twisting like she’s just realized something awful. “Oh God…”
“What?” I press.
Her voice trembles. “I told Stephanie I was pregnant.”
The world stills for a beat. “Okay…” I say slowly. “And?”
“And I told her Ihadn’ttold the company yet.” Brooke’s words tumble out in a rush now. “She was worried about me after the fall, and I told her I’d get checked out.”
I frown, not following. “What does that have to do with her report?”
“Everything,” Brooke whispers, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. “Stephanie’s technically our manager when we’re in the air. She’s responsible for the crew. So, if she knew I was pregnant anddidn’treport it, if something had happened to me or the baby, she’d be the one on the hook. She could lose her job.”
My stomach drops, a cold, angry weight settling in my gut. “But why would they fire you if you’re okay?”
She bites her lip, staring down at the comforter like it holds an answer. “Maybe… maybe they were afraid I’d sue or something. I don’t even know at this point.”
I blink, trying to process that. “Should we?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Sue them?”
Brooke lets out a hollow laugh, not because it’s funny, but because the idea sounds so far away, so impossible right now. “They fired me over something stupid, Matthew. Something thatisn’t even normally a write-up, and theyterminatedme. What’s to stop them from doing the same to you?”
I shrug, though the thought chills me more than I want to admit. “Then we’d sue themtogether.”
She shakes her head, her expression heavy and tired. “These things taketime,” she whispers. “Months. Sometimes years. And meanwhile, both of us would be out of jobs, with a baby on the way.”
The silence that follows is suffocating. She’s right. The reality of it hits hard and fast: lawyers, court dates, bills piling up, and two unemployed parents trying to raise a child. It’s a nightmare neither of us can afford.
Brooke exhales shakily and wipes at her cheeks, but the tears keep coming. “I can’t put us through that. Not now.”
“Hey,” I murmur, reaching for her hands again, holding them tight this time so she doesn’t pull away. “Then we won’t. We’ll focus on us. On the baby. On figuring this out together.”
I squeeze her fingers a little tighter, trying to anchor her to something steadier than all the what-ifs spinning in her head. “You’re supposed tonotbe stressing, so don’t,” I add gently, brushing my thumbs over her knuckles. “One thing at a time,okay? And hey, Ma said she knows a few affordable apartments in Brooklyn.”
Her brows lift, just a fraction, like she’s not sure if I’m serious or just trying to distract her.
