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17
Kate saton one of the lounge chairs on the terrace, wrapped in a blanket and staring out over the emptiness beyond the cliff. The cloud cover was thick, completely blocking out the moon. Below the waves crashed against the rocks and rushed onto thebeach.
Somewhere out on the lawn, two men patrolled the property, but she couldn’t see a thing beyond the lights ringing thepatio.
The door opened behind her and she turned to see Beth, stepping onto the patio in sweats, a hoodie, and Uggboots.
She rubbed her arms and tucked her chin into her sweatshirt. “What are you doing out here? That storm is coming infast.”
“Just needed some fresh air,” Kate said. Beth took a seat next to her. “You don’t have to stay. It’sfreezing.”
“I’ve got a long sleeve shirt and a sweater on under this,” Beth said. “I forgot how cold it gets uphere.”
Kate returned her eyes to the void beyond the cliff. “And it’s onlyOctober.”
“Don’t remind me,” Bethsaid.
For once, the silence that settled between them wasn’t awkward. It had only been a week since they’d both moved back into the big house on Marblehead, but the tension that had been baked into their relationship for as long as Kate could remember had suddenlydissipated.
Maybe it was shining a light on the secrets that had been lurking under the surface of their seemingly perfect lives. Maybe it was their conversation in Iceland, seeing things from each other’s perspectives for a change, or the conversation Kate had had with her mom on thelawn.
Kate didn’t know, but with everything else that was going on, she was relieved her relationship with Beth was one thing that seemed to beimproving.
“Hey, you okay?” Beth asked. “I mean, I know okay might be a lot to ask right now, but you’ve been superquiet.”
Kate hesitated, then drew in a breath. “I’mpregnant.”
She felt Beth’s eyes on her face. “What? Are you serious?” She continued without waiting for an answer. “That’s… that’s amazing!Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Wait… is this a congratulations kind of thing? Like… are you happy about it?” Bethasked.
Kate looked at her. “I am. I’m just… still in shock. Actually, I’m not even sure. But… I’m sure. Youknow?”
“You haven’t taken a test?” Bethasked.
“I’ve been under house arrest,remember?”
“Right,” Beth said. “But you’ve been through this before, so you must know what it feelslike.”
Kate nodded. “I didn’t pick up on it at first. The different food in Iceland, jet lag, stress… I didn’t really put it together until we got home and I started having these crazy foodaversions.”
“Does Declan know?” Bethasked.
Kate shook her head. “He has enough on his plate right now. It can wait.Besides…”
“What?” Bethasked.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m nervous. I’ve never had to tell Declan I was pregnant before. The last time I was just a kid. I was so scared. And then I broke up with him and left town and… well, it wasn’t exactly a happy occasion. Not right away anyway. Obviously I wouldn’t change it. Griff is myeverything.”
“You don’t even have to say that,” Beth said. “I know it’s true, but you’re allowed to love Griff and be excited about a new baby and also be freaked by the history, not to mention thetiming.”
Kate tried to smile. “Not exactly stellar, isit?”
“Well, I give you points for drama, let’s put it thatway.”
Kate laughed. “Thanks.”
