Chapter 17
I stand stock-still, unable to blink at the two faint pink lines staring back at me.
It’s impossible! I can't be… No! Nope! I conclude, tearing open two more sticks from their packs.
I dip them as I did the first one, and this time, I wait ten minutes before checking.
No! Two pink lines appear on each. I slump on the bathroom wall behind me, sliding to the ground as dread settles in my chest. Pregnant.
I'm pregnant. I can't be pregnant! I wail, flinging the sticks away.
I cradle my head in my hands and allow the tears to fall.
For three weeks I've been surviving on autopilot ever since that shattering scene in Cole’s office.
For three weeks I've worked myself to the bone, all to avoid anything that would make me think of Cole.
For three weeks I've struggled to look at myself in the mirror without those hateful words playing in my head.
And now that I've decided to get my life together by rebuilding my self-esteem, this tragedy happens.
How do I explain this to Dean? How do I tell my parents without them requesting Cole do right by their baby? A sharp cry spills from my throat and I begin to scream, kicking and flinging anything around me. Merry and Gina pound on the bathroom door, their worry evident in their voices.
“Dora! What the hell is happening there?” Gina’s panicky voice questions, followed by Merry’s, “Dora, are you alright? Are you hurt? Did something happen? Say something!”
Sobbing heavily, I use my last bit of strength to unlock the door.
They rush in and spy the mess in the bathroom.
Merry lowers to the floor beside me. Gina begins to clean up.
Now that the dam is open I can't stop crying.
Merry cradles me in her arms as I weep. Since I caught Cole with Renee, I've only cried twice.
But right now, the memories of everything I shared with Cole and how it ended flashes before my eyes.
Soon, another set of hands join in consoling me and I'm sandwiched between my best friends in an embrace.
A couple of minutes later, we're in my bedroom and I'm wearing a fresh set of PJs, after Gina bullied me into taking a hot bath and Merry called in sick for me at work. The way they both took charge of the situation after seeing the pregnancy test sticks is something I’ll forever be grateful for.
After swearing them to secrecy, we begin to talk about the pregnancy.
“If I stay here, soon, everyone will find out. And then the search for the father would begin,” I whine, reminding them of the problem.
Gina rubs my feet from her perch at the foot of the bed, “We know, you've said that a million times already.”
“Which means you want to keep the baby?” Merry cuts in, stroking my hair.
I nod at her question, blowing out a breath before responding, “Yes. I want to. I have to. I don't think I have it in me to kill an innocent child for the sins of the father.”
I watch both girls nod in understanding before shutting my eyes to wish once more this was a dream.
“Well, then our options are settled.” My eyes fling open at Gina's words, “We're all moving,” she announces, and I freeze.
“Agreed. We have at least a month plus to get everything sorted out. My contract ends this month, and I have a client pleading for my help in Chicago.” Merry steamrolls on.
“Oh, nice! Chicago it is! I'll tell the office I'm transitioning full-time into remote work so I have more time to work on the book Madam Seline has been hounding me for. That way, I have the freedom to move. I can always commute if they need me in the office for something.” Gina and Merry keep making plans like I'm not there. I have to scream for them to shut up.
“You're not putting your lives on hold for me, or moving to another city just because I was foolish enough to get pregnant.”
Merry eyes me. “You're acting pretty foolish right now. We've already decided.”
Gina sits up and reaches for my stomach, “Plus, we're not doing this for you. We're doing this for our godchild.”
One long, tearful hug and a solid plan later, I dial Dean's number. He got me into this in the first place, and now he better get me out of it.
“But why do you want to be transferred?” Dean asks, unable to mask the confusion in his voice.
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose to stave off the incoming headache. “I already told you. The shops there are struggling, and their sales margin is abysmal. I want to replicate the success I've had over here with them. ”
“Can't you do that without moving cities? This is a huge step…”
“Which I am very much prepared for,” I say, cutting in. “My degrees are not a waste, I want to make an impact that will have bigger and better companies chasing after Dora McLean,”
Dean shoots back, “And you've discussed this with Cole? And he said no?”
I swallow a groan of frustration, “No, I haven't,” I confess, “I'm shooting him an email right now as we speak to plead my case, but I want you to convince him. You know he listens to you,” I sigh, reading through the body of my email on the laptop screen before me.
“I need to advance in my career and this will take me a step closer to achieving that.”
Dean sighs in understanding, and I hear the fear in his voice as he continues. “But you'll be far from home, what if…” knowing where he is headed, I quickly cut in, “I'll have a piece of home with me. Merry is moving to Chicago for a new contract, and Gina just got a long overdue sabbatical.”
Dean chuckles. “Well, well, well. Now I see! You're all in this together,” he says, howling with laughter. “Alrighty! You've got yourself a deal. Once you send the email, leave the rest to me.” I thank him for a few more minutes, reminding him of what a wonderful brother he is.
Once I jump off the call, I spill the good news to the girls.
We squeal in excitement before I get back to writing my email.
I list the data projections for the three different marketing strategies that create awareness and highlight the solutions Prime Supermarket brings.
I add a pie chart of the current sales, showing levels and future sales predictions.
My final addition to the email is the before and after case studies of Prime HQ's sales margin.
I highlight a worry that something is wrong in Chicago for them not to track any sales during the campaign and the need for me to check it out as the VP of Marketing.
I read through the email one more time before turning my laptop towards Gina, the editor.
She skims through, makes a few corrections, and presses send.
I put the laptop away and slouch on the couch, my earlier fears returning.
But I'd been on the pill, how could I have gotten pregnant?
My whole life is now a huge mess simply because I couldn't resist Cole and his playboy antics. Now, I’m pregnant for the SOB, while he's parading around town with Renee.
Pregnant… How do I tell my dad? He'll be so heartbroken, more than my mom, the matchmaker. I know Daddy has big dreams for me, and getting pregnant right now isn't one of them. And Dean, he will never forgive me for keeping this child or my affair with Cole a secret.
I gingerly accept the paper towel Gina extends towards me and dry my eyes.
Their gazes are locked on the TV screen, glued to the show we're watching in the living room, but I know they notice every change in me.
I sigh in defeat. The next couple of months are going to be tumultuous for me.
Thankfully, I have my best friends by my side.