Chapter six: Pregnant
1575 Words
“Who is that guy? How? Where did this happen?” Pam asked, completely shaken.
Lia stood up, nervously running her hands through her hair.
“I… I don’t know, Pam! I don’t know who he is, and believe me, I don’t want to know… I’m so mad at myself. I just wanted to spend the evening alone, forget Sebas, and I ran into him. I blame myself so much, you have no idea!” Lia burst out, overwhelmed with shame.
“Lia! Lia! Calm down! We’re not talking about this anymore. It’s fine. It’s in the past! He’s a stranger, you were both under the influence it’s not your fault. So breathe! There’s no way you’ll ever see him again!”
“You’re right, Pam! It’s in the past. It was a mistake… alcohol doesn’t fix anything, but it’s over! The world is huge I’ll never see him again. He doesn’t exist anymore. It’s all behind me!”
“That’s my girl. Calm down and look at this positively. You have a beautiful life ahead of you, and that jerk Sebas can go to hell. You were way too good for him anyway,” Pam said.
“Yeah, Pam… I’ll get over it.”
Lia sighed. Then suddenly she shook her hair back, trying to pull herself together, and sat down at the table again. A faint smile even appeared on her lips.
“There you go. We’re going to enjoy this week together. We’ll make up for those two long years apart.”
“You’re right… we’ll forget men and just enjoy ourselves! I’m so happy you finally got time off,” Lia said.
“Me too, babe. I can’t wait for our dance nights. No pressure. Just us,” Pam replied.
“Thank you,” Lia whispered, squeezing her hand.
“No more alcohol. No more men. For a long time.”
Minutes later,
Esteban came downstairs, dressed impeccably. He walked through the dining room.
“Esteban,” Celia said as she saw him.
“Esteban, you finally decided to show up!” his mother added.
He stepped behind her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I have a busy day. I’ve got work to handle,” he said distantly.
“But stay for lunch first!” his mother insisted.
“No, I don’t have time. Work is waiting… and I need to clear my head.”
“Clear your head, Esteban? But why, if you never listen to me?” she said.
“Mom, please. Not now. I love you,” he replied sharply.
He left without another word.
“Esteban, we will talk about Valentina. She’s the one I want as my daughter-in-law!” his mother declared firmly.
Suddenly Celia put her fork down.
“Auntie, I’m going upstairs. I’m done.”
“What? You just sat down! You barely ate!”
“I did… I just need to rest a bit. I have a headache.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. You have medicine in your room. Go ahead. I’ll come check on you later.”
“Okay… see you later.”
Celia walked toward the stairs. Just before going up, she turned toward her aunt, who had her back to her. The innocent look on Celia’s face faded, replaced by something darker hurt, maybe jealousy.
She turned back and climbed the stairs, muttering under her breath:
“Valentina this, Valentina that! I’m sick of hearing about her… and Esteban will never be hers.”
(Ring… ring…)
Driving his car, Esteban’s phone rang. He tried to ignore it, but it rang again.
He activated his headset.
“Yes. What is it?”
His expression tightened.
“Valentina, stop calling me. My mother may like you, but I absolutely don’t. There’s nothing between us anymore,” he said coldly.
He hung up.
“Unbelievable. So clingy,” he muttered.
Four days later,
“Lia! Lia! Wake up, sweetie!” Pam tried to shake her gently.
“Lia!”
Lia finally stirred.
“Pam… what is it? I want to sleep,” she grumbled.
“It’s already 10 a.m.! Since when do you sleep like this? You’ve always been a light sleeper. What’s going on these past few days?”
“Pam, I’m just tired. That’s it. Am I not allowed?” Lia snapped.
“Breakfast is ready. Get up or do whatever you want, but come eat. And you better finish your plate this time. We went from Lia who loves food to Lia who barely eats. That’s not normal.”
“Ugh. I’m just tired, okay? And I’m allowed to eat less if I want.”
She got out of bed and walked to the mirror, studying her reflection. She touched her face.
“It’s true… I look pale. It must be the alcohol. It’s not my thing anyway.”
Minutes later, she came downstairs.
“Seriously, Lia… you’ve been sleeping way more than usual.”
“Maybe because your cooking is way too heavy,” she joked lightly.
“Yeah right. Coming from the girl who lives on salad. Sit down and eat!”
Lia sat. She took a sip of milk. Then a bite of omelet.
Suddenly her face tightened.
“Lia? What’s wrong?”
“Pam, I don’t know… it doesn’t sit right… I feel… I…”
She stopped mid-sentence and rushed to the kitchen sink.
Pam followed quickly, alarmed.
She found her vomiting into the sink.
“Lia, what’s happening to you?”
Lia kept throwing up. Finally, she wiped her mouth with a kitchen towel.
“Pam, I don’t know! What did you put in those omelets? Everything disgusts me… the milk, the eggs. I don’t know.”
She gripped the counter tightly, looking exhausted.
Pam stepped closer.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale,” she said, touching her forehead.
“I just need to lie down for a bit. Then I’ll be fine.”
Lia walked back upstairs, convinced rest would fix everything.
Pam stayed behind, confused.
“She just woke up and she’s already going back to bed… and those vomiting episodes… what’s going on?”
Later that evening,
Pam entered Lia’s room with a bowl of hot soup.
“Lia, sweetheart. Feeling better?” she asked, setting the tray on the nightstand.
Lia sat up slowly, still drained.
“Thanks, Pam… I don’t know… I feel off. It’s probably the alcohol. I overdid it that night.”
Pam looked at her carefully. Lia noticed.
“What?” Lia asked.
“Nothing… it’s just that this isn’t normal,” Pam replied suspiciously.
“I’m just tired. That’s it,” Lia insisted, not seeing it the same way.
Pam stayed silent for a moment, studying her friend.
Then she broke the silence.
“When was your last period?”
Lia frowned.
“Why would you ask that? Don’t tell me you think”
Pam nodded slowly.
“PAM!” Lia exclaimed.
“It’s possible you’re pregnant!” Pam said.
“NO, PAM!” Lia shouted, refusing to believe it.
Meanwhile, Esteban returned home. Celia was already waiting by the door when he walked in, smiling.
“If you weren’t my cousin, I’d think something was suspicious… but you’re always this sweet,” he said dryly.
“We are cousins, Esteban. I care about you. And for once you’re home early for dinner. I’m happy.”
“Yeah. Sure,” he replied.
“Where’s Mom?”
“At the table. Waiting for you like every night.”
He walked in and kissed his mother on the forehead, as usual.
“Esteban, I’m happy you came home earlier.”
“The meeting ended sooner.”
“That’s good. I’m glad business is going well, my son. I know I pressure you sometimes… but I only want the best for you.”
“I know, Mom. But I don’t need to hear it. I’m fine on my own without someone telling me what to do while doing the opposite. Let’s just eat and drop it,” he cut her off.
“Very well. Just know that Valentina and her mother will join us in three days.”
Esteban set his fork down.
“And why?”
“I like their family. It’s good to stay connected.”
“Okay. Do what you want.”
At that same moment, Lia was panicking.
“No, Pam! I have my period right now, so everything’s fine. Maybe that’s why I feel like this. It has nothing to do with pregnancy.”
“Lia. Just to clear the doubt, take a pregnancy test.”
“Pam! You’re overreacting!”
“Wait here. I’m going to buy one.”
Pam stood up, determined.
“Pam, come back! It’s pointless. I’m not pregnant.”
Minutes later,
“Get up and take the test,” Pam insisted, tossing it onto the bed.
“Are you serious? I’m not pregnant.”
“If you’re not, we’ll know for sure. Go,” Pam insisted.
“Fine. Just so you’ll leave me alone about it,” Lia said, grabbing the test and heading to the bathroom.
Minutes later,
She came out, brows furrowed. She sat next to Pam and handed her the test.
“I don’t know how to read this. Two lines what does that mean?”
Pam stared at it for a long moment. Then her eyes widened as she looked at Lia.
“Lia… you’re pregnant.”
- Writer
