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Cherry’s eyes pop open as she looks from Jessie to me and then to Nora.
“Condition?” It’s my turn to look at everyone. “What condition?”
“You think I can’t tell?” Jessie laughs, but Cherry looks mortified.
My question is ignored.
“I’m feeling fine now,” Cherry says. “You don’t have to keep fussing over me. Actually, I think Nate and I could use a little time to talk.”
“Of course, hunny.” Jessie stands up and grabs my arm as she heads to the door. She pulls me into the hallway and points a finger in my face. “Mr. Orso, I know you’re the big name in town and all, but you better promise me you are going to do right by that girl. She’s a sweet thing, and I don’t want anything to happen to her. You hear me?”
“I hear you.” I give her a nod. “I will never let anything happen to her.”
“Good. Make sure she drinks that whole bottle. I’m going to go make up some chocolate chip cookies. Those will help bring up her blood sugar so we don’t have any more incidents.”
I join Cherry on the couch, and Nora excuses herself to the kitchen where she calls Twos and has a quiet conversation. I can’t hear everything she says, but it’s something about canceling an appointment and that she’d explain the rest later.
“Cherry, do you want me to stick around?” Nora asks when she’s done with her call.
“No, thank you. I think it’s pretty clear Nate and I have to talk alone.”
“Go ask Kate,” I say to Nora. “She can explain it all to you. Might as well get the rest of your gang together so everyone knows.”
“My gang?”
I ignore her, and Nora grumbles under her breath before she lets herself out, and Cherry and I are finally left alone for about twelve seconds. I answer a knock at the door and have a plate of warm cookies shoved into my hands.
How did she make them so fast?
“Hydration and eating,” Jessie says in that same teacher voice. “I’ve been through this, you know, and you are going to listen to me. You can’t let your blood sugar drop, but you also can’t just eat a lot of junk food, either. Believe me, it’s going to be tempting, hunny. I made my husband run out at two in the morning for peach cobbler! These are just to make sure you get something in your belly, but you need a good meal and soon.”
Jessie looks at me pointedly, and I nod.
Cherry’s condition. Taking care of herself. Something Jessie has been through before.
Oh, my God…
I stand next to the couch, cookies still in hand, mouth wide open, and stare at Cherry.
Jessie goes on for a while about nutrition and vitamins. Cherry refuses to meet my gaze, but I know what’s going on here.
How long has she known?
Jessie excuses herself and heads out the door, leaving Cherry and me alone. Cherry seems to be eating one cookie after another just to keep from saying anything to me. I seem to be having a difficult time coming up with words.
“I think you have some, uh, news for me?”
“Um…well…” She licks crumbs from her lips and sighs. “Yes, I guess I do. I’ve been wanting to tell you, but...well, everything happened so fast.” She glances at me and quickly looks away. “I think Jessie probably said too much.”
“Yeah, probably.” I maneuver next to her on the couch. “I need to hear the words. I need to hear it from you.”
“I’m pregnant,” she whispers.
I reach out and pull her into my arms. As soon as I do, she wraps her arms around my neck and starts to cry on my shoulder. I close my eyes, not even able to imagine how she’s feeling. All this time, I thought we were at least in the same boat, but she had a much bigger, deeper issue that was clearly weighing on her far more than any of the rest of it, and I hadn’t even known. It would be frightening enough for Cherry to find out she’s pregnant, but she also thought it was her brother’s child. What could have been going on in her head?
A sinking feeling comes over me.
“Cherry,” I whisper, “what were you going to do? Where were you and Nora going? And where’s Twos?”
