Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 135378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
That seems to be the right compromise. Melanie perks back up and starts telling me all her ideas about a beautiful snow-dusted ballroom with Christmas trees placed around the room and glittery, glowing lanterns suspended above the round tables surrounding the dance floor. I nod and smile and tell her how much I love all her ideas, and when I glance at Richard, he offers me a faint smile of approval laced lightly with amusement.
This family is very temperamental and a little high maintenance, but I think I’m beginning to learn the ropes around here.
I didn’t ask Silvan ahead of time what they were having for dinner, so I hold my breath when the plates are brought out.
“Grilled chicken with pesto and penne,” Ilona says as she puts my plate down in front of me.
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Ilona.”
She nods and puts Silvan’s plate on the table in front of him, then heads back to the kitchen.
I grab my silverware to cut into my food so I can mix it all up when the strong scent of pesto wafts to my nose and instantly makes me feel ill.
Unable to keep from grimacing, I sit back, trying to put distance between the plate and my nostrils and press a hand against my stomach.
Richard’s dry tone brings my gaze up. “What’s wrong now? Silvan told us you like chicken. Are you afraid we were mean to the basil?”
I crack a smile and shake my head. “No, it’s not that. I just… I don’t know, I feel a little sick. Does the pesto smell really strong to anyone else?”
Richard’s gaze flickers to Silvan.
I’m moments from throwing up, but I refuse to do it, so I grab a water goblet and take a few sips to keep it down.
Then Silvan’s mom asks, “Could you be pregnant?” and I nearly choke.
No!
I open my mouth to deny the possibility, but I can’t. Silvan has come inside me so many times, I think I have more of his DNA in my body than mine.
My hesitation is all the confirmation they need, apparently.
“Oh my goodness. Should we get you a test? I can send someone out now, and you’ll have it by the time dinner’s over. Ilona,” she calls.
I shake my head. “I can’t be. I mean, it’s not impossible, but I wouldn’t know this soon…”
“You might,” she says, bright-eyed. “With Silvan, I didn’t know right away, but I was young and didn’t really know what to look out for. With my second pregnancy, I was ill from the very beginning. I knew within days.”
I blink in surprise. “Isn’t Silvan an only child?”
Melanie’s eyes widen, and she looks over at Richard. “Yes. Yes, what I meant was—”
He cuts in with a decisive, “She lost it.” He holds my gaze for a beat, then says, “It’s a painful memory she doesn’t like to revisit.”
No questions. Got it.
That makes sense to me. I’m sure if I miscarried, it would hurt to talk about, and I’m not nearly as sensitive as Melanie.
She clears her throat. “Have you had any soreness in your breasts? Felt extra tired? Perhaps a little more emotional than usual?”
I have no idea.
I mean, yes, but I attributed those things to falling in love with her son and the physical aftermath of our bedroom activities. We had a lot of sex this weekend, and he very much enjoys playing with my breasts. I figured that’s why they were a little sore when I was getting dressed for dinner.
Obviously, I cannot say that.
“Oh, this is so exciting,” she says. Too eager to wait for Ilona to come back, she gets up and goes to the kitchen to get her.
Once she’s gone, Silvan looks at his dad. “I didn’t know Mom had a miscarriage.”
Richard spears a piece of chicken. “You were young. And, as I said, she doesn’t like to talk about it.”
I look over at Silvan, shaking my head. “I can’t be pregnant. It’s too soon.”
He reaches over and takes my hand. He doesn’t say anything, but I can tell he’s not anxious about it like I am.
His mom comes back moments later, telling Ilona to get several pregnancy tests so we can be sure. “Make sure you get the early detection ones!”
The nausea passes, and I’m able to eat, but I’m on autopilot and can’t really focus on a thing until Ilona comes back with a white plastic bag full of pregnancy tests.
I want to scold Silvan that I warned him this could happen and why couldn’t he just put on a damn condom? But my scolding would fall on deaf ears because, inexplicably, I’m the only one at the table even remotely bothered by the idea of having a baby with a man I’ve known for less than a month.
I mean, yes, we’re getting married, but my god, this is fast.