366 I Can''t Be Pregnant! (Winona)


    I stand in the cottage, staring at my phone. My mind is a whirlwind, and the words that woman said, the steadiness of her dark gaze, reys in my head.


    Pregnant. No way.


    I hit Lisa''s speed dial and the video call button. She picks up after a couple of rings, her face popping up on the screen. She''s in her kitchen, coffee mug in hand, looking at me with wide eyes.


    "Oh no, what happened? You look like you''ve seen a ghost," she says, skipping the small talk as usual.


    "I wish it was that simple," I reply, trying tough it off, but even I can hear the unease in my voice. "A ghost would be perfect right now."


    Lisa raises an eyebrow, taking a sip of her coffee. "Uh-oh. Spill. What''s going on? Did Jayden do something? Or is it the whole Belgian experience finally hitting you? But it''s not the chocte, right? That stuff is as amazing as they say it is?"


    I shake my head. "No, it''s not Jayden. He''s actually been great. And the chocte is amazing, yes. It''s something else... something weird."


    Lisa leans in closer, intrigued. "Weird? Define weird. Like ''found a secret tunnel under the mansion'' weird or ''Jayden''s mom is stalking you from the shadows'' weird?"


    I can''t help butugh at that. "Neither. Well, we can never guarantee Judy isn''t doing that, but... Long story, short, Bobby organized a staff bbq yesterday and I met someone. The conversation has me rattled."


    "Is it a man?"


    "Lisa! Not everything revolves around men."


    "Speak for yourself." She grins. "Okay, keep talking."


    "So, there''s this woman. One of the employee''s mother. Hell, there''s so many staff here doing God only knows what, I''m not even sure if she''s an employee."


    "Off-topic."


    "Sorry, right. She''s older, kind of like a local wise woman, or what Viktor called ''De Wijze Vrouw.'' She''s supposed to know things-like, see things. It''s super freaky. She touched my belly. My heart was racing and now I can''t shake how she made me feel." Lisa snorts. "You''ve been there what, a week? Already you''ve got the vige witchying hands on you? What did she say? Are you going to inherit a castle or something? Oh, toote. Been there, done that."


    "Lisa." I pause, trying to figure out how to exin it without sounding insane. "She touched my stomach... twice. And then she said I''m pregnant."


    Lisa''s coffee mug pauses halfway to her mouth, her eyes widening. "Wait. Pregnant? You?" Then sheughs. "Well, now you know she''s a fraud. That''s impossible."


    "That''s exactly what I thought!" I throw my hands up in frustration. "I told her it''s not possible. You know


    366 I Can''t Be Pregnant!


    everything I''ve been through, the first miscarriage, the severe endometriosis. Abby being my miracle baby. The doctors said it wouldn''t happen."


    "Right, so why are you letting this get to you?"


    "It''s just the way she looked at me. Like right into my soul. They said my secret is their secret. Her


    daughter tranted. Then they just walked away. I mean no one else heard. Now I can''t shake the heeble jeebies."


    "Did you tell Jayden?"


    "What! Shit no, why would I do that?"


    Lisa shrugs but then gives me that direct look. "Why wouldn''t you if you''re sure it''s not true."


    I look down. It can''t be true. Can it? I mean, I''m stupid for getting my hopes up. Tthink back on the nurse asking the question on the ne due to my symptoms.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Lisa sets her coffee down, all humor draining from her face. "Okay, okay. Before you get your hopes up too high. Let''s take a step back. Think logically. How are you feeling? Any symptoms at all?"


    I frown. "I mean... I had some blood pressure issues on the jet over here. I did feel nauseous, and very light-headed. But you know how crazy it''s been for me leading up to the flight."


    Lisa pushes on. "And what about your cycle? Have you been spotting? Bleeding?"


    I shrug, trying to remember. "It''s always been erratic. You know how my body is, Lisa. But it''s been around. four weeks since I had any solid flow or spotting. The endo is never like clockwork, I can go long stretches with barely any sign of a period." "Four weeks is long enough to start worrying. Winona. If you haven''t had a real period, that''s something you need to check out. If not for pregnancy, for other possible problems."


    "I know, I know," I say, rubbing my temples. "But honestly, I didn''t even think about it. My cycles are always so messed up, I just assumed it was normal."


    Lisa sighs, leaning in closer to the screen. "You need to take this seriously. I know this woman''s prediction sounds like voodoo stuff, but what if she''s right?"


    I shake my head, still in disbelief. "Lisa,e on. I can''t have kids. The doctors made that clear, Why would it happen now?"


    "But what if they were wrong? Winona, you''ve already had Abby when they said it was impossible. What if this is another miracle baby?"


    "I can''t think like that, Lisa. I can''t suffer a miscarriage. I''m not sure I could take it. I don''t see why I would suddenly be pregnant now, after all this time."


    "Well, for starters, you started having sex, that helps."


    "Jayden and I have been sexually active for a long time now. It''s not like we''ve tried to prevent pregnancy, what''s the point? We wouldn''t care if we got pregnant. "What if it''s not you with the problem?"


    "What are you saying?" I mean, I really don''t get what she''s saying.