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I follow, knowing exactly how she feels. “We might want to make a double batch then. I’ll get the meat. And definitely some extra garlic bread.”
Chapter Seventeen
Allie
I’m running out of time. And I’m running out of luck. But it’s becoming apparent my ‘luck well’ ran dry a decade ago. I’ve been faking flu symptoms for over a week. I think Mom is almost to the point of dragging me to the hospital if I don’t get back on my feet soon.
Natasha and I have all but swapped rolls. I’m doing her admin duties from home while she’s running the tastings and handling events. I swear if my last name wasn’t on the sign, I’d have been fired long ago.
I’m also getting bigger. If I was eleven weeks when I went to the clinic, I’m close to thirteen now. Maddie was right. I’m showing earlier this time. I’m not sure others could see it. But I can. I used to have a concave stomach. Now I have a little pooch. I don’t look pregnant yet, but those who know me well could notice if I wore form fitting clothes.
I’ve been doing yoga every night before bed. I’ve been meditating. Maybe I’ve even been praying. At this point, I need all the help I can get.
But the time has come. I can’t put it off any longer. I call Mia. “Do you have any idea where I could find your cousin at this hour?”
Her relieved sigh comes all the way through the phone. “I’m glad you’re going to see him. I can call him if you want, and I’m sure he can work you in tomorrow. Cousin favor.”
“Are you crazy? I’m not going to his office. If there’s something wrong with this baby, I don’t want the town gossiping and looking at me with pity. I’ll do what I did last time.”
“Go to Washington?”
“It wasn’t Washington,” I remind her.
“Right. Sorry.”
“I was hoping to talk to Hudson in person before I lose my nerve.”
“He’s probably at Donovan’s with his brothers. Wait, does this mean you’re ready to tell people? Have you told your mom? Asher?”
“I’m not ready to tell anyone yet. Especially not Asher. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him if I can spare him what I went through last time.”
“You really believe he wouldn’t want to be there for you?”
I sigh, knowing he probably would.
“He might hate you for hiding it from him.”
“Yeah? Well, I’d rather have him hate me than have to live with what I’ve had to live with.”
“Allie, the chances are—”
“I know what the chances are, Mia,” I say a little too sharply. “They’re the same as they were last time. No more. No less. But as long as there’s a chance, I’m not telling him.”
“And if you find out the baby is healthy, what then?”
“Then I’ll tell him, and we’ll decide what to do.”
“What doyouwant him to do?”
“Honestly, Mia, I haven’t thought that far ahead. Do you know how much planning Jason and I did, and it was all for nothing. I’m not doing that again. Day by day is all I can manage right now. Can you please just be a friend and support me?”
“Okay. Meet me at Donovan’s in twenty minutes. I’ll pull him aside and then you can tell him what you need.”
“Thank you.”
I pull on an oversized sweatshirt even though it’s probably too warm out to be comfortable. It’s stupid to think anyone would notice yet, but I’m starting to be self-conscious aboutit, knowing if anyone even suspects, I’ll be gossip fodder for months.
Eighteen minutes later, I’m waiting in the parking lot behind the pub for Mia. She spots me, parks, and comes over.