The Pregnancy Clause

A high-pitched laugh filled the phone. “We’re in Mexico City. Right on schedule. We won’t be home for another two weeks. Although, if Carol and I had our way, we’d put Helen on the next flight to Albany.”

“Oh? Something wrong?” Last time Emily had spoken to Rose, her two traveling companions were fine.

“Nothing that being in the good ol’ US of A wouldn’t cure. Helen drank some of the water down here and she’s been feeling a little peaked for the last couple of days, if you know what I mean.”

Emily knew. She’d heard horror stories about what happened when you drank the water in foreign countries.

“Carol and I have been trying to get her to go home. She’s got her back up and flatly refuses.”

Standing straighter with concern for her housekeeper’s elderly friend, Emily frowned. “Is she going to be okay? Maybe you should just stick her on the next flight home.”

Again Rose laughed. “She’d kick and scream all the way to the airport. She’s determined to stick it out. Says she saved for ten years for this vacation, and she’s gonna make the most of it, even if it’s from the inside of a bathroom.” A door closed in the background. “Gotta go. Carol just came back with lunch. You take care and I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”

“I miss you,” she said impulsively, then quickly added, “I love you.”

“Love you more,” came Rose’s familiar reply, then silence. “You sure you’re doing okay?”

Emily must have given away something of her mood in her tone of voice. Deliberately, she brightened it. “Of course, I’m fine. Honey comes over every other day and checks to make sure I don’t starve to death. Don’t worry about me. I’ll survive. You enjoy your vacation.”

“All right. If you say so. Bye, sweetheart.”

“Bye.”

She returned the receiver to the wall phone and leaned her head against the cool plastic. How she missed Rose, and not just for her cooking. She needed someone to help her through this mess, if only emotionally. Rose always managed to get Emily’s feet planted firmly on solid ground. Right now, she felt as if she were being sucked up in the middle of a tornado.

Resolutely, knowing that self-pity would get her nowhere, Emily pushed herself upright and turned toward the sink. In the doorway, outlined by the sun, stood Kat. She couldn’t see his face. But she knew. The half-gainer her insides did confirmed it.

Unsure of what to say, she said nothing.

He held out the blanket and picnic hamper. “You forgot these.”

“Thanks.” She took them and placed them on one of the kitchen chairs. Another silence stretched out.

“Em—”

“Kat—”

He smiled. “You first.”

“No, you first.”

“I’ve been thinking about what you asked me to do, and I’ve changed my mind.”

Emily’s insides did a flip. She wasn’t sure if relief caused it or that there was a very good chance she would soon become a mother. “You’ll father my baby?”

He nodded. “But we do it my way, on my terms, or not at all.” Kat came the rest of the way into the kitchen, then sat on the edge of the table. He looked directly at Emily.

She sobered. “I’m listening.”

“First of all, we’ll get married.”