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Sarah swallowed the pastry and took a deep breath. “Sort of.”
“Sarah! I was kinda in the middle of something.”
Whitney looked unimpressed as she folded her arms and huffed. “And I need to get back to the office.”
Sarah inhaled and released a slow deep breath as she glanced back and forth between her friends. “This sweet-tooth craving is just one of the million cravings I’ve been having lately.”
Jessica frowned. “You okay?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Jessica’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped. “Oh my God!” She rushed toward Sarah.
“Shhhh…” Sarah said, pulling her into the den. She motioned for a stunned silent Whitney to follow. “Wes doesn’t know yet,” she whispered.
“When did you find out?”
“About thirty seconds before I texted you both.” She suddenly looked exhausted as she collapsed into the oversize plush chair near the fireplace. “I’m kinda freaking out,” she said, shoving the rest of the pastry into her mouth.
“Are you happy about it? Was it planned?” Whitney asked the practical questions. Though her own feelings about it were completely undecipherable. Probably she wanted to make sure it was what Sarah wanted first.
“Yes and no. To both.”
“You two were trying?” Jessica asked in a high-pitched whisper. So exciting. She’d been so caught up in Mitch, she hadn’t paid any attention to her friend’s slight weight gain in recent weeks. She thought it was just that relationship weight most couples put on. Technically, she guessed it was.
Sarah nodded. “Only half-heartedly. I just went off the pill last month and we thought it might take a while.” She shook her head. “Grandma always said we were a fertile bunch.”
Whitney looked ghostly pale and she’d yet to smile or show any sign of excitement over the news. But their practical friend was probably just wondering how Sarah was going to juggle the new businesses and a new baby. Whitney worried first, celebrated later.
Well, she could be the excited one for all of them. “Wow,” Jessica said, forcing Sarah to shove over to make room for her in the chair. She took her friend’s hand in hers. “This is incredible.”
Sarah nodded, but she appeared to still be in shock.
“I’m honored that we are the first ones to know,” Jessica said. “When are you planning on telling Wes and Marissa?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why not on Christmas? I can’t imagine a better gift.”
Sarah nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
“Hey, Sarah, I have to go. I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes,” Whitney said. “But this is great news. Congrats.”
Her smile seemed forced as she quickly leaned down to hug Sarah. But only Jessica seemed to notice.
“I’ll talk to you both later,” Whitney said with a quick wave before making a hasty exit. Definitely not the response of a friend that was happy for a friend. Jessica really needed to talk to Whitney soon. Her friend’s workaholic ways were obviously damaging to her health and it wasn’t helping her in the friendship situation.
Sarah squeezed Jessica’s hand tight. “I’m terrified, Jess. I’ve only known for an hour and already my life is completely turned upside down. I’m afraid to move in case I hurt the baby. I needed this sugar like it was a life preserver, but now I’m guilty about extra weight gain or prenatal diabetes.”
Jessica laughed softly. “That’s totally natural. This is definitely going to take some adjusting and your body is going to change obviously, but you’ll do just fine. Wes and Marissa are going to be thrilled and they will be here throughout the whole thing to help you.”
Sarah turned to face her. “That’s fantastic. And no offense to Wes, but at a time like this, a woman needs her best friends. Whitney may not be available very much, but you’ll help me through all of this, right?”
Jessica’s heart stuck in her throat. Normally, Sarah wouldn’t even need to ask. Of course she’d be there—emotionally, physically, whatever her best friend needed. But her conversation with her aunt made her hesitate. Nine months of pregnancy and then helping with the baby…all stuff she wanted to do, but it meant staying in Blue Moon Bay for at least a year. The offer from Not Just Desserts would have long expired by then.
And would Mitch’s offer have expired by then, too?
But this was her best friend. She couldn’t just abandon her.
