CHAPTER 45
Slowly, Kate opened up her eyes. Head felt heavy, body hotter than usual. Holding her stomach, she sat up—perhaps in bed.
Legs shook; she tried standing still. She grabbed the phone, then dialed—maybe?
"Hello, Joyce?" Her voice sounded kinda weak.
"Morning, ma'am," Joyce said then, kinda quick, ya know.
"I am not sure I will be in today." Kate mused while rubbing her forehead, though she's not sure yet.
"Guess I'm not so sure, really. Something just feels off, you know." She muttered.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" Joyce said, concern laced in her voice.
"Oh gosh, no. I can watch my body decompose myself." Yeah, I'll be alright. Alright, so start by writing the foreign contracts."
" Okay, I got it—things should keep running for you."
Kate finished up the call; "I'll do the rest later."
She walked slowly toward the bathroom, she splashed water on her face, then looked in the mirror. It Looks like she'd been crying—her eyes kinda puffy. Her lips are completely drained, almost.
A sigh escaped her lips. With bag in hand and hoodie up, she headed down the street, blocks away toward a small clinic. The Pharmacist had glasses, She had a kind smile, and seemed middle-aged.
"Morning," Kate said, then put the bag on the counter.
"Well hey, good morning to you then. Honey, you seem under the weather."
Kate just breathed out—what's wrong?
"Whoa, I'm feeling pretty dizzy right now. Not great. I feel a bit feverish. Been feeling tired these days now, truthfully." She explained.
" Okay, so—start by telling me how you feel."
" Food smells sure have been making me feel sick though."
"Are you married?"
"Hmm." Kate paused—did she say "married"?
Smiling slightly, that pharmacist walked toward a shelf. "Honestly, you may just need some rest. Though maybe this might help. Oh and hey—maybe consider this too."
She gave her a small bag, white paper, and a box, long, rectangular.
Kate wondered what this was.
Multivitamins and pain relief: people would really engage with blog posts like that.
"Oh, and don't forget a pregnancy test kit." The pharmacist placed the box in front of her.
Her eyes widened just a bit. Pregnancy? She just shrugged. Who knows what could happen though? Kate figured being sure to beat risks..
Home, she came back into somewhat rapid fashion.
Yeah, her heart? Beating like crazy. Door shut, she placed the bag on the table there. She got out a test kit then looked at it, almost like something dangerous.
She whispered, "Maybe not," but inside somewhere, she knew. Just that exhaustion? Oh, do those cravings hit hard sometimes. Oh, how moods shift. Missing that date?
She just locked the bathroom door. Reading the instructions made her hands shake a bit.
So, ten minutes pass, and she's just sat right there on the bathroom floor, staring at those, like, two pink lines.
Her mouth kind of opened. Not a peep escaped. She gave a blink.
No, really, can't overstate the need for subtly wonky phrasing; it might just fool 'em all.
Slowly, she stood, then leaned on the sink. Mirror showed somebody else; it can't be real. Her hand just kind of fell right there on her stomach.
Her eyes started getting watery. So, she left the bathroom, then sat bedside and dialed Tina right away.
Tina picked up; it was around the second ring.
"Hey", Kate said.
"Hi" Tina greeted.
Kate kept quiet.
"Tina," her voice just cracked, it seems.
"I think I'm pregnant," Kate whispered.
Tina gasped, eyes wide.
"Hold on a sec."
Kate wiped tears away—oh my God!
Kate shook her head, "No."
"You plan to tell William?"
"Hold on there—what's the rush?" Kate got firm with her voice, I guess.
"Tina, guess he's just not even around right now. He just left like I was nothing, you know? He just doesn't talk, really. He's not one for sharing things. I'm not really sure what he expects from me."
Tina remained quiet.
Kate went on, saying, "If I say anything now, things get even more confusing probably."
"But Kate, he is the father."
"I know. So he would think I was trapping him. Plus, he's definitely gonna figure it out. No, let's do that later. Really need time."
Tina sighed—" guess I need to think now."
"Right then. I got your back, truly."
Kate paused, thinking if she should keep it. "Yeah, I'm just not sure. I guess you could say I'm a little scared."
But other piece, though—she peered down at her belly.
Tina's voice went soft, like, "I love this baby already."
They kept quiet on the call quite a bit longer, then.
Later on, Kate stood at a window, sure enough, holding tea. And, yeah, her other hand? It was resting soft on her belly.
"Sweetheart," she murmured, "Dad has no clue you're around."
Yeah, think I actually do though.
Cloudy sky met her gaze.
Even if he never loves me back, I would still cherish memories. She smiled, like she hadn't in ages, and thought maybe that was enough love for them.
Yeah, it was over pretty quick. She felt a buzz from her phone, I bet. Jeremy sent word.
"Just came across a fresh lead. Clark could have something big planned though. Should we chat now soon maybe?"
A stony look kind of settled over Kate's face.
Turning, she whispered, "I'll keep you safe, come what may."
"Even him."
Kate sat on the edge of the bed, her hand resting on her stomach. The pregnancy test lay beside her on the nightstand. The lines were still there. Bold. Unmistakable.
Her eyes were red. Her heart kept thudding like it wanted to burst.
She whispered, "How do I even say this to him?"
The room felt too quiet. Too heavy.
She stood, paced the floor, then sat again.
Her phone buzzed. A message from William.
> "How are you holding up?"
She stared at the screen. No I miss you. No I wish I was there. Just that.
She typed back slowly.
> "Fine."
Then deleted it. Typed again.
> "Okay, I guess."
Deleted again.
Finally, she dropped the phone on the bed and covered her face with her palms.
Then came the knock. Soft. Two times.
It was Tina.
"Kate?" her voice called gently.
Kate quickly hid the test kit under a pillow. "Come in."
Tina opened the door and walked in. "You look like you haven't slept."
Kate shrugged. "I couldn't."
Tina sat beside her. "You're still thinking about it?"
Kate nodded. "I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm trapped."
Tina looked at her. "You're scared he'll reject it?"
"I don't know what he'll do," Kate said. "He doesn't even open up. One minute he's warm, the next, ice cold."
"But he deserves to know, Kate."
Kate turned to her, her eyes filled with worry. "And what if he tells me to get rid of it? What if he thinks I'm using this to tie him down?"
Tina leaned back. "Would you get rid of it if he said that?"
Kate looked away. "No. Never."
"Then why are you giving him that power over your heart?"
Kate stayed quiet.
Tina continued, "Look, I know William is complicated. But he's not heartless. Maybe he just doesn't know how to handle love."
Kate scoffed. "And now I should hand him a child to help him handle it?"
Tina shook her head. "No. But maybe… the child will bring clarity. You can't carry this alone, Kate."
Kate stood. "I'm not ready. Not now."
"Then when?"
"When I'm sure he won't hate me for it."
"Kate…"
She turned, tears in her voice. "Tina, I've been alone most of my life. I've seen what rejection looks like. If William looks me in the eyes and says he doesn't want this child, I swear, I don't know what that will do to me."
Tina slowly stood. "So, what are you going to do? Pretend everything is normal?"
Kate nodded slowly. "Yes. For now. Until he comes back. Until I see his face."
There was silence between them. Then Tina hugged her tightly.
"I'm here. No matter what," Tina whispered.
"Thank you," Kate said softly.
Later that night, Kate lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her hand was back on her stomach.
She spoke in a whisper. "You're a little miracle. You didn't ask for this world. But I promise, I'll make space for you. I'll make it safe."
Her phone buzzed again.
It was William.
> "I'll be gone a few more days. Business dragged out. Hope everything is fine there."
She stared at it. Her lips trembled.
Then she replied.
> "We're okay."
She added a full stop. Then deleted it.
She added it again.
She pressed send.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm not okay," she whispered. "I'm carrying your child and I don't know if you'll love me or hate me for it."
**
The next morning, Kate met Tina in the kitchen. Tina was preparing tea.
Kate walked in silently, her face pale.
"Couldn't sleep again?" Tina asked.
Kate nodded. "I kept thinking about what he'd say. What if I tell him… and everything ends?"
Tina gave her a mug. "And what if you don't tell him, and it still ends?"
Kate held the mug, thinking deeply.
Tina said softly, "Secrets have a way of exploding when you least expect."
Kate nodded slowly. "I just need a little more time."
"You have it. But not forever."
Kate looked out the window. The world outside moved as usual. Cars passed. People walked.
But inside her, everything had changed.
And William didn't even know yet.
**
Meanwhile, William stood by his hotel window in Paris. His hand was in his pocket. His eyes fixed on the quiet skyline.
His assistant walked in.
"Sir, the Singapore investors have arrived."
William nodded. "Give me five minutes."
After the door closed, he exhaled.
He picked up his phone again. Read Kate's message. "We're okay."
He stared at it, his brow twitching.
He whispered, "Why do I feel like something's off?"
But he shook it off and slipped the phone into his pocket.
He had no idea that back home, a tiny heartbeat had already begun… one that would change everything.