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I’ll get used to him traveling, eventually. I have to. I can’t spend the next who knows how many years feeling sick like this.

Not wanting to spend another lonely night in our apartment, I’m on my way to Kate’s house. We’re having a much-needed girls’ night. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. Sophie is coming, too, and I hope she brings little Sam so I can snuggle her.

Just thinking about snuggling that cute little baby is making me tear up. What has gotten into me?

I walk up the steps to Kate’s house, walking carefully since they’re slippery with snow. January in Kansas is dreary, cold, and honestly kind of miserable. I let myself into Kate’s house, as usual, the smell of pizza hitting me instantly. I feel my stomach churn and bile rises in my throat. I put my hand to my mouth as a cold sweat breaks out on my skin.

Kate and Sophie look up from where they’re sitting on the living room couch and rush toward me. They must’ve seen how green I look.

“Odette, are you alright? You look awfully pale.” Sophie asks in concern.

I take a deep breath to make sure I won’t puke. “Yeah, I think I’m fine now. I thought I was going to throw up.”

Kate quirks an eyebrow and puts her hand on her hip. “Have you been feeling like this often lately?”

“Yes, actually. For the last week. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I think it’s because I miss Madden.” I shrug, and before I know it, tears are streaming down my face.

Sophie hands me a tissue, giggling. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you might be feeling sick?”

I sniffle. “What do you mean?”

Kate puts her hand on my shoulder. “I think all the lingerie I packed for your honeymoon worked a little too well.”

My jaw drops and I blink slowly, realizing what they’re hinting at. “I hadn’t even thought of that... but we’ve been so careful! We didn’t want a baby right away.”

“Accidents happen.” Sophie smiles and jerks her head toward Samantha, gurgling contentedly in her car seat by the couch.

“I think I have a pregnancy test in the bathroom!” Kate exclaims and dashes down the hallway.

After digging around her diaper bag, Sophie hands me a peppermint. “This should help with the nausea.”

Kate comes back down the hallway with a pink box in her hand. With a little running start, she slides in her fuzzy socks on the wood floors and skids to a stop in front of me. “I have one! It doesn’t expire until next month!”

I take the box from her cautiously, eyeing their expectant expressions. “Surely you don’t expect me to take it right this moment?”

“Odette Windell, if you don’t get your little butt in the bathroom and take that test, I’m not letting you drink a single drop of wine tonight… And, obviously, if it’s positive, I won’t let you have any then either.”

“Sounds like a lose-lose situation,” I mutter, laying the sarcasm on thick. With a heavy sigh, I walk toward the bathroom to take the test, if only to prove to Kate and Sophie that I’m not pregnant.

The suggested three minutes pass by in excruciating slowness. After washing my hands, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and brace myself as I look at the test results.

With the test in my hand, I shamble back out into the living room. When the girls see my shocked, pale face, they jump up and down with glee.

“I knew it! This is so exciting! Samantha will have a cousin!” Sophie practically bounces as little Sam coos happily in her carseat.

Kate wraps me in a hug. “I know this was a bit unexpected, but you’re going to be such a great mom.”

“I’m excited, really. I'm just… still processing.” My vision blurs as my eyes become misty.

“Are you going to call Madden?” Sophie asks, then takes a bite of pizza.

I ponder a moment and shrug. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. He comes home in a few days, so I think I’d rather tell him in person. You guys can keep this a secret, right?” I give Kate a pointed look.

“We won’t tell anyone!” Kate rolls her eyes. “I can’t wait to hear about his reaction.”

“Me either!” Sophie grins. “He’s going to be an awesome dad. He was the best big brother growing up.”

A rush of nerves prompts another wave of nausea. “He really is. I’m just not sure how he’ll feel about a baby so soon.”