Falling Softly: Compass Girls, Book 4 by Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon

lucky, Sterling. You’re going to be a mom.”
    Her dizziness amplified as she snatched the test back and looked at it. Then did a double take. And next thing she knew, she was crashing to the floor.
    Funny, she’d never known what it felt like to faint before.
    A day of firsts.
    Sterling came to with Hope crouched next to her, shaking her awake while on the phone. She’d called the other two Compass Girls. Probably to get medical advice from Sienna before ordering them to meet up at the main house as soon as possible.
    “What are you doing?” Sterling felt queasy.
    “We’re going to talk to Vivi.” Hope swallowed hard. “She’ll know what to do, the right things to say, and she won’t remember we told her so she can’t slip up and tell our parents before you’re ready.”
    “I can’t believe this just happened.” Sterling climbed to her feet in a daze. She clung to Hope as they piled into the car and made the quick trip over to the main house.
    By the time they arrived, Jade and Sienna waited on the front porch. Sterling hustled inside quickly, afraid of seeing Viho, if he worked outside. How would she tell him? Should she? He’d made it clear that he planned to leave.
    Oh God.
    She whimpered.
    “Shh.” Hope held her hand as they snuck inside. “It’s going to be okay.”
    “You can’t know that.” Sterling barely made it inside before she collapsed into a dining room chair and began sobbing.
    “Oh, my!” Vivi raced, as quickly as she could, around the table and hugged Sterling. “What’s wrong, dear?”
    Sterling wasn’t sure her grandmother knew which of the Compass Girls she was, or maybe she might even have thought she was one of the Mothers instead, but her comfort was universal. And greatly appreciated.
    For long minutes, she tried to spit out the problem, but each time she opened her mouth more blubbering spilled out. Surrounded by her cousins and grandmother, she knew she was safe to express her shock and grief. This wasn’t what she had planned for herself.
    Kids had never been on her radar.
    But that didn’t mean she hadn’t wanted any. Just that she hadn’t thought about it. Didn’t figure she was ready.
    When she’d managed to suppress the flood, limiting the proof of her breakdown to intermittent hiccups, Sterling said, “I’m pregnant.”
    “What?” Jade stood up so fast, her chair tipped over and crashed to the floor.
    “I know.” Her shoulders slumped. “I can’t believe I let this happen.”
    Her cousin tried to backpedal. “No, no. It’s just a shock, that’s all.”
    “Congratulations.” Vivi beamed as she clasped her hands in front of her. “This is such a great day, Sterling. For you and…”
    She grew quiet.
    “I don’t remember who your husband is.” For the first time, Vivi seemed defeated. “I’m sorry.”
    Sterling couldn’t take any more heartache. She dropped her head on her crossed arms on the table and mumbled, “I’m not married.”
    “Oh, well, then I don’t feel so bad.” Vivi giggled. “Is that why you’re upset over such fantastic news?”
    “It’s not how I imagined my life.” Sterling winged her watery gaze to Sienna and Jade, who seemed to be recovering.
    “Do you think this is how I pictured mine?” Vivi shrugged. “Sometimes we have to cope with what we’re dealt. Gracefully. And trust me, you’ve been given a gift.”
    Sterling couldn’t imagine it in those terms just yet. Because surely, this would mean the end of her budding relationship with Viho. Either he was going to be furious, since he planned to head out, or he’d cling, because of his own upbringing. Not because of her.
    “Maybe we have.” She looked to Hope. “Why can’t I be a surrogate for you, Wy and Clay? You want a baby. Right?”
    Hope’s mouth opened then closed so many times she looked like a fish out of water.
    “I—” More cut off sentences and random sounds followed as her cousin sputtered.
    “This baby of yours will be loved by our