“I love it.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t sure about a shade so vivid as pomegranate, but I was surprised how much I like it.”
“Girl, you’re going to turn heads tonight.” Rysa linked arms with her. “I’m so jelly of your legs. I run six miles a day, minimum and can’t get mine that toned.”
“Genetics.” Sybil smirked. “The one good quality Mom passed on to me.”
Liz glided down the steps, dressed in an outfit too revealing, even for Sybil’s taste. The skimpy red dress left nothing to the imagination. Liz winked and waved a hand over the length of her body. “You only turn thirty once, right?”
“New perfume?” The heady aroma hit Sybil the wrong way.
“A present from my mom, sent straight from Paris. She said it’s the scent of the season.”
Musky amber further invaded Sybil’s nostrils, creating a wave of nausea. Her stomach rolled, and she ran to the half bathroom in the hall. She’d barely closed the door and lifted the toilet lid before her stomach emptied in a violent expulsion.
What’s wrong with me? Never in her life had a perfume caused a reaction like that. She owned a similar scent and loved it.
A knock rattled the door, followed by Rysa’s voice. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” She stood upright on weak legs and used a tissue to wipe her mouth.
The door opened, and Rysa slid in. “What’s going on? Your face turned as gray as your shirt.”
Sybil shrugged. “I must be coming down with something. I’ve been tired all week, but thought it was from moving into a new office.”
Liz popped her head in the bathroom, a scowl on her face. “Are you ready to go? Everyone else is here now.”
Gee, thanks for the concern.
“We’ll be right out.” Rysa closed the door, shutting Liz out. “I’m sorry. Liz has many great qualities, but compassion isn’t one of them.”
“It’s all right.” She wouldn’t admit how deep Liz’s lack of care hurt, but why should she expect differently? Liz was a good friend, but had a selfish streak to the sun and back. Over the years, Sybil had learned to accept her flaws. After all, no one was perfect.
“No, it’s not.” Rysa darted a glance to the door then settled her gaze on Sybil. “We need to get out before she goes into meltdown mode, but real quick, is there any chance you could be pregnant?”
She shook her head with surprise and vehement denial. “What? No. Why would you think that?”
“Tiredness, random vomiting. And I haven’t seen you eat pizza lately, which is your go-to comfort food during certain days of the month. My sister had all the same symptoms.”
“Oh no.” Sybil’s legs gave out, and she sank to the toilet as she realized Rysa could be correct. “The night before the tornado.”
Rysa wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Why don’t you go home and rest. Take a test, so you’ll know one way or another.”
“Liz would never forgive me.”
“She’ll get over it. Besides, she’d be more annoyed if you got sick while we were out and we had to leave early.”
Sybil rolled her eyes. “Sad, but true.”
“I’ve got your back if she starts anything.” An understanding smile graced Rysa’s face.
“Thanks. I think I will go home.” Now that the possibility had been planted, she had to know.
She excused herself, ignoring the glare from Liz.Some friend. Rysa’s actions had proved her a better friend than Liz ever had been, causing Sybil to question her choices. Was her friendship with Liz another defense mechanism to keep distance from people?
The possibility of a pregnancy pushed aside any other thoughts and deliberations. Weighed down with anxiety, her body stiffened. Mechanical movements got her to her car and then to the pharmacy.
From the safety of her car, she stared at the poster-sized ads on the store windows. The enlarged photos of diapers and canisters of formula celebrating the lowest prices of the season on baby items taunted her.
