Page 45 of Redeeming Violet

“’Preciate it.” I didn’t think she wanted me to say more than that. I got the impression she didn’t have very many female friends and wouldn’t appreciate me telling her how much her kindness meant to me. She would probably gag and tell me to fuck off.

I looked through the stack of DVDs she brought and laughed to myself when each one of them were action shoot ‘em up movies. Of course, that’s what Jasmin would watch. No Princess Bride for her. She pulled a CoCo’s donut out of the box and ate it while reading over the papers in front of her. No sooner was the last bite in her mouth before she jumped out of her seat and ran to the bathroom and slammed the door.

I inwardly cringed, hoping she didn’t pass me the bug she’d caught. The last thing I wanted was to be throwing up and sick down here. I picked up the kindle she’d brought and perused the titles on the carousel, surprised at the selection. There were mysteries, thriller suspense, romance, and I nearly fell over when I got to a book with a sexy shirtless man on the cover. The subtitle of the book read, An Erotic Thriller. Seems I’d found a new book to read.

Jasmin came out of the bathroom and sat back down across from me and I got up to get her a water. I popped the top and set it in front of her. She muttered a thanks and downed half the bottle before I returned to my seat.

“Did the doctor give you anything?” I asked.

“Sure did.”

Okay. Guess she doesn’t want to discuss the appointment. Over the next few hours I sat at the table and read. Jasmin had gotten up one more time to throw up and about fifty times to pee. Now, I’m no expert on hydration, but I’d only seen her drink two bottles of water. The same amount as me, and I wasn’t peeing every five minutes. I’d also had the flu before and I never had to pee that many times as a result. She also hadn’t checked her temperature, taken a fever reducer, and since the last trip to the bathroom to vomit she looked great. And she’d eaten a sandwich and kept it down.

None of that screamed flu to me. What it did scream was pregnant.

Before I thought better of it I blurted it out.

“Are you pregnant?”

Her head shot up from the report she was reading, and her eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Interesting. Defensive posture, no eye contact, answering a question with a question. Yep, she was pregnant.

One thing I’ve learned about Jasmin is she doesn’t respond well to what normal people would consider social niceties. She was blunt and to the point and only respected those who were the same.

“Pregnant. You know, growing a human.”

“Shit and damn,” she muttered.

“Alright. Good to know I can’t catch what you have. I was a little worried I’d be puking right alongside you soon.”

She shot me a look that told me she hadn’t found me amusing and I smiled. For the first time since I met her, I felt like we were making progress toward a friendship.

“So…” I drew out the word. “How far along are you?”

“Nine weeks,” she answered, shocking the shit out of me when she did.

“The fall in Africa. Is the baby okay? Did I hurt it?” Fear I’d accidently harmed Jasmin’s baby coursed through my body. I’d never forgive myself if I hurt her.

“Babies,” she said.

“What?”

“Babies. Two of them.”

“Oh shit.”

“Oh shit is right. Linc’s gonna love this. He’ll never stop talking about his super sperm.”

“But they’re okay?” I asked again.

“Yes. I told my doctor what happened. That’s why she did an ultrasound and she saw two heartbeats.”

She’d yet to smile or show any signs of happiness and I was worried that maybe this was not a welcomed surprise. I didn’t know Linc, but I didn’t think he’d mind his wife having his children. But what did I know?

“So, what’s wrong?”

She took a minute and leveled me with a stare that I was sure was meant to scare the hell out of me because that’s exactly what it was doing. Thoughtful Jasmin was gone, and the bitch I’d seen in Africa was back in full swing.