To my horror, tears fall, and I quickly wipe at them and take a deep breath. It’s fine.
You’re fine.
Everything is fine.
This is a minor bump in the road, nothing you can’t get through with some help from your parents.
* * *
“Mom, where are you?”I say into the phone as Winnie and I stand outside, freezing our buns off.
“What? Honey, it’s windy. I can barely hear you.”
“Where are you? I’m outside the door.”
“What door?”
“Your door,” I shout into the phone.
“You’re in Scottsdale?”
“What? No . . . wait, are you in Scottsdale?”
“Yes. Where are you?”
Groaning, I say, “At your house.”
“Why on earth are you there? We’re in Scottsdale.”
“I gathered that.” I shake my head at Winnie. “When are you returning?”
“Not for a week. We just got here. Honey, you should really tell people when you’re stopping by.”
“Starting to understand that. Okay, well . . . I guess we’ll figure something out.”
“Talk to Marybeth at the corner store. She’ll be able to house you.”
“I’m not going to talk to Marybeth, but thanks.”
“She’ll probably give you homemade cookies.”
“Thanks, Mom, love you.” I hang up and lean against the house. “They’re in freaking Scottsdale. God, Winnie, I’m so sorry.”
“That’s okay.” She looks off to the side. “You know, we can find a hotel for tonight and then fly back together tomorrow. At least we’ll have one night together.”
“That works. God, I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. It was fun flying on a whim and getting out of the house as far away from Katherine as I could get. And we can order in tonight, chow down, talk. Might be good for both of us.”
“Yeah,” I say sadly as I move my way down the stairs with my luggage. “I’m craving some tacos. What about—” My bag wheel gets stuck on my way down, and I trip over it and careen down to the ground. Thankfully, I’m able to roll to my side, so when I land, it isn’t directly on my belly.
“Oh, my God,” Winnie shrieks as she comes to my side and places her hand on my shoulder. “Penny, are you okay?”
“I . . . I think so,” I say, groaning as I place my hand on my pretty prominent stomach. I take a few deep breaths. “Just . . . wow, I feel dizzy all of a sudden.”
“Don’t move, okay?” Winnie says, pulling her phone out.
“What are you doing?”
