One Week Later
Everly
“Hey, got a minute?” I asked Diana as I stood in the doorway of her bathroom while she tried to get ready for work.
“I guess. But I can’t make any guarantees I won’t throw up during our conversation. I have no idea why I can’t shake this flu. I guess I’m going to have to call the doctor today.”
“Yeah. You better or I will,” Daniel spoke as he walked into the room.
I felt bad for her. She’d been sick as a dog all week. She only called in sick the one day because they were on a deadline for a project and she had to be at work. Every night when she’d come home, she’d take a bath and go right to bed. Daniel was getting worried and I couldn’t keep what I knew to myself anymore.
“You two ladies have a good day,” Daniel spoke as he kissed my cheek and then kissed his girlfriend goodbye. “You better call the doctor.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. I’ll see you later.”
As soon as he left, I took hold of Diana’s hand and led her over to the bed.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay. What is it?” she asked with concern.
I couldn’t help but smile at her.
“You don’t have the flu, Diana. You’re pregnant.”
“What?” She cocked her head at me. “No I’m not. I just had my—oh my God.” She jumped up, grabbed her phone and pulled up her period app. “According to this, I’m a month late.”
“That’s because you’re going to have a baby.” I grinned.
She slowly made her way to the bed and sat down, gripping the edge as tightly as she could.
“You’re sure?” she asked.
I gave her a look as I got up from the bed, went into my bedroom and grabbed the pregnancy test I picked up at the store.
“If you don’t believe me, take this.” I handed her the test. “I’ll be sitting at the table on my laptop.” I smiled as I patted her hand.
Ten minutes later, she emerged from her bedroom holding the stick in her hand.
“It says I’m pregnant.”
I could see the tears forming in her eyes. But they weren’t tears of sadness, they were tears of joy.
I got up from the table, walked over to her and gave her a big hug.
“Congratulations. Now you can go to work knowing you don’t have the flu.”
“I’m in such shock, Everly. I can’t believe I didn’t even think that I could be pregnant. I can’t wait to tell Daniel.”
“He’s going to be very happy.” I smiled as I gripped her shoulders. “Now go finish getting ready. You don’t want to be late. Your new boss is starting today.”
“Thank you.” She hugged me. “But how did you know? I thought you can’t see things with the people you’re close to.”
“I usually can’t, and I can’t explain it. But when I handed you your tea, I just saw it.”
After my client call and having not left the apartment all day, I decided to go out and take a walk down fifth avenue and do some window shopping. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and I wanted to spend some time outside. After browsing for a while and buying a new casual sundress from Anthropologie, I stopped in Starbucks to grab an iced coffee and a Chicken Caprese Panini. When my order was ready, I took it over to a small table by the window. Suddenly, the song “At Last” by Etta James started playing. While I was eating my panini and sipping my iced coffee, my phone rang, and my grandmother was calling.
“Hi, Grandma,” I answered.
“Hello, darling. How is New York treating you?”
“It’s great. How have you been?”
“I’ve been good, darling. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
“How’s Daniel doing?”
“He’s good.”
“And Diana? How is she feeling these days?”
“You know?” I smiled as I stared out the window.
“Of course I do, and I’m very excited for them. Now all Daniel needs to do is put a ring on her finger.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
I could sense someone standing at my table and when I turned my head, I saw Asher standing there holding a cup of coffee.
“Grandma, I need to call you back.”
“Alright, darling. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Hi.” I smiled as he stood there staring down at me.
“Hi yourself. May I?”
“Of course.”
He took the seat across from me.
“Is this your office setting today?” He smirked.
“No.” I laughed. “I was just doing some shopping.”
“Ah. I see.”
“What brings you by? Shouldn’t you be at the office, Mr. CEO?”
“I just came from a meeting and was passing by here and thought I’d grab a coffee before heading back to work. I certainly didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I guess this is one of those ‘I’ll see you around sometime’ moments.”
“Yeah. I guess it is. The corners of his mouth curved upward into a full-blown sexy smile. “I’m happy I ran into you, though. Would you like to go to dinner again, sometime?”
“I would.” I bit down on my lip.
“Are you free tonight?”
“I am.”
“My suite at seven o’clock?”
“Seven o’clock it is.” I smiled.
I looked up and all around the coffee shop when that song came on again.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. It’s just the second time I’ve heard this song since I’ve been sitting here.”
“Well, I better get to the office. I look forward to dinner tonight,” he spoke as he stood up from his seat.
“Me too. I’ll see you later.”
16
Everly
I slipped on my new black floral spaghetti strap sundress and looked at myself in the mirror. It was perfect for tonight’s dinner with Asher. While I was in the bathroom redoing my hair and makeup, I heard Diana walk in.
“There you are. Is that a new dress?”
“Yes.” I smiled at her through the mirror. I just bought it today.”
“I love it. Are you going out or something?”
“Asher asked me to dinner.”
“Say what?” She took a seat on the toilet. “Seriously?”
“Yes. We’re having dinner in his suite again.”
“Oh. I see. So it’s a sex date.”
“Yeah.” I grinned as I turned and looked at her. “I believe it is.”
She sat there and laughed as she shook her head. “You know I don’t approve, right? He’s my boss.”
“I know and I’m sorry. But his body makes my body really happy.”
“You’re bad.” She reached over and slapped me on the ass.
“How is your new boss?” I asked as I leaned over the sink and put on some mascara.
“He seems really nice. His name is Richard and that’s what he wants to be called. He isn’t into formalities. He has a wife and two daughters. Emily just turned twenty and Laurel is eighteen.”