Chapter 23 - THE PREGNANCY TESTGrace stared at two pink lines.
Then stared again.
Then a third time.
The lines remained.
“Mom?”
Grace nearly dropped the test.
Chloe stood outside the bathroom.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes!”
Too loud.
“Why are you yelling?”
“I'm... brushing my teeth.”
“With the door locked?”
Grace looked at the pregnancy test.
“Oh God.”
She waited until dinner.
James was discussing quarterly numbers.
Grace interrupted.
“I'm pregnant.”
James stopped.
Chloe dropped her fork.
Silence.
James blinked.
“What?”
Grace suddenly became nervous.
“I'm pregnant.”
James stood.
Sat.
Stood again.
Grace frowned.
“Are you okay?”
He walked around the table.
Kneeled beside her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“The baby?”
“According to the doctor, approximately six weeks and perfectly normal.”
James touched her stomach carefully.
His eyes filled.
Grace touched his face.
“You're crying.”
“No.”
“You absolutely are.”
Chloe jumped from her chair.
“BABY?”
Grace laughed.
“Yes.”
“Can I name it?”
“No.”
“Why does nobody let me do anything?”
James laughed through his tears.
Then Chloe hugged both of them.
That night James stayed awake with his hand over Grace's stomach.
She whispered,
“You know the baby is microscopic.”
“I know.”
“You cannot protect it by staring.”
“I know.”
“James.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
May you like
His eyes closed.
“I love you too.”
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