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I sit on the edge of the bathtub, holding the pregnancy tests, completely overwhelmed. I’m not sure how to process this news. I’ve never really envisioned myself as a mother. It’s not that I hate children or have anything against them. It’s just that I’ve never really seen myself as anything but a writer. And now this? Kids weren’t in my plans, at least for the near future.
I take a deep breath and decide to keep the news to myself for now. It’s not that I don’t want to tell the brothers, but I need to figure things out for myself first.
I take the tests out to the bedroom and stuff them carefully into the back of the bed frame. I don’t want the brothers to find them accidentally. As I wash my hands, I try to push thoughts of pregnancy out of my mind and focus on the present moment. The cabin is quiet and peaceful, and for now, that’s enough.
22
ARTIE
“Hey,” Susan greets us at the door as we walk in. I half suspect that she’s been standing there, waiting for us to walk in.
“Miss us?” I ask.
She just smiles at me politely, hugging her arms to her chest. “Yeah, I did. I always do when you guys aren’t around.”
I stop to look at her for a few moments. This woman cares about me, about my brothers. There’s no doubt about that.
But this time, her words carry a weight I don’t yet understand. I’m about to ask her the reason when the door opens and my brothers spill inside.
Ed and Ollie bring in the groceries we brought back from our supply run. Ollie is the first to break the silence, his voice laced with playful humor. “So, did anything interesting happen while we were away?” he asks, winking at Susan.
I lean against the kitchen counter, a mischievous grin playing on my lips. “Yeah, Susan,” I add, my tone teasing, “did you order anything interesting while we were gone?”
I don’t expect her to react to this. My question was kind of lame, but I’m nervous about today’s date. I want to know where her head is at.
Susan kind of freezes. Her jaw moves up and down, and she looks like a deer caught in the headlights. “No, why do you ask?”
I frown. What’s that about? It seems like a normal question, but it’s the way she reacted that makes me feel weird.
Ed chuckles and adds, “Yeah, did you throw any wild parties or make any secret plans without us?” His eyes meet mine, and I can tell he’s trying to lighten the mood, aware of the underlying tension.
I join in the banter, trying to keep things light. “Well, if Susan’s throwing wild parties, I hope she saved some cake for us. We could all use a little celebration!”
“Why would she have cake?” Ollie says, beating my back as he walks past me. “That’s so lame.”
I try to chuckle, but my focus is on Susan, who’s standing silently next to the window now, looking out. What’s gotten into her?
I point at the grocery bag lying on the counter. “I was just talking about that.”
“Uh, yes, I did order a few things,” she says.
I walk up from behind her. “You ready for the date tonight?”
She kind of jumps, as if unaware I was approaching her. She finally turns around to face me, an apologetic smile ready on her face. “I don’t think I’m up for it tonight.”
I blanch. A part of me suspected that was the reason she was being so elusive from the moment we walked in, but I don’t understand why.
Ollie walks over. “What do you mean?”
Susan tries to summon a smile but fails. “I’m sorry, guys. I know you were excited about the date.”
“It’s not about us,” Ed says. “We just want to make sure everything is okay with you.”
She chuckles. The sound rings odd to my ears. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Hey, Susan, are you feeling alright?” I ask, my voice filled with genuine concern. “You don’t look too good. Is everything okay?”
She meets my gaze, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. “I’m not feeling great, Artie,” she admits, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. “I think I caught a bug or something. I just need some rest.”
