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“Zach, ugh! That was kind of mushy with tears,” Lisa said, grimacing.
“It’s the best kind,” he replied.
Zach walked back to his car. She didn’t wait for him to pass her before taking off for the drugstore. Feeling slightly suffocated, she knew she wasn’t going to start a serious relationship with Zach, no matter how much he pressured her.
Pulling up in front of the drugstore, she prayed Alison didn’t see her car. Counting the number of times she’d done this same thing didn’t give her any confidence. If there was someone she knew at the checkout counter, she’d walk out. People were sonosy in that town and loved to gossip. The key in all of this was keeping Ryan in the dark.
They had stopped using condoms when the level of HIV in his blood had been undetectable. Big mistake. So that had left contraception up to Lisa, and she’d thought she was safe in her cycle.
It must have happened after a beautiful summer day when they’d had a big barbecue for all their friends and family, playing games on the beach, enjoying the warm ocean water. Lisa and Ryan had had too much to drink at the party, and one thing had led to another.
Choosing a test she was familiar with took some of the strain out of the process. Get it and go. There was an unfamiliar young girl at the cash register. Lisa grabbed the bag and left the store before she could run into anyone she knew. But of course, Alison left her coffee shop at the same time.
“Oh! What are you doing here? Why didn’t you stop in?” Alison asked.
“I had to pick up a prescription for Daniela,” Lisa answered.
“How’s she doing?” Alison inquired.
“She’s fine. She’s back to work.”
“Do you still have both nannies sleeping there?” Alison asked.
“I do,” Lisa answered. “They don’t want to leave me.”
“I’ll get Max over there to finish that attic conversion,” Alison replied. “You need your privacy.”
“Don’t do that, Alison. I can hire someone.”
“No. He’d love to do it. Ryan and Dan practically installed the entire bathroom in our attic. By the way, Ryan came into the shop this morning. On his way towork.” Alison made air quotes around work.
“Yeah, nothing like a separation to get someone back on their feet,” Lisa snickered.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I know it sucks. I called him an asshole, and he stormed out.”
“I know you love him as your brother, Alison. You don’t have to take sides. That was unfair of me. I’m sorry I gave you a hard time.”
“I don’t need to see him. He didn’t see Morgan again, so I’m over it,” Alison complained. “When the time is right, we’re going to ask him if he’ll relinquish his parental rights so that Max can adopt her when we get married. If he won’t, I’m taking him to court for child support.”
“I already pay that,” Lisa reminded her.
“No. I want it from him. Stop enabling him, Lisa.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Lisa said. “I’d better get going. Talk later. Oh! Andy is going to pick the kids up again. He said since I do it every morning, he’ll do it in the afternoon. At least until this goddamned snow melts, then we can walk together.”
“Okay, thank you for that,” Alison said. “I don’t trust Fredericka behind the wheel.”
Snorting, the women laughed. The nanny’s driving skills were notorious.
They hugged, and Lisa hurried to the car, eager to do the test. Once the pregnancy was confirmed, she’d be able to make proper plans. She shook her head.What plans?Nothing was going to change. Everyone would be angry with her for keeping it a secret, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want Ryan lurking around while she was pregnant. Then her phone beeped. It was Peter Romney, her father’s business partner.
“Ugh. Hello?”
“Lisa, it’s Peter.”
“I see that on my phone. Peter, what a surprise.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t keep in touch like I should. When I sign your check each month, I think to call you, but then someone interrupts me.”
