pulled them both closer together.
“I love you guys,” I whimpered from fright. As we were walking out the door to get into the car, Jasper handed a chocolate bar to me then a chocolate bar to Em.
“If you are pregnant, this will help,” he said smiling. “I hear pregnant girls love chocolate. And I don’t want to leave you out Em.”
“Oh gee thanks, Prince Charming,” she said sarcastically.
After we finished at the store, we drove down about two more miles and ran into a charming cul-de-sac with large and fancy McMansions, as Jasper called them, with a sign that read Woodbridge. We didn’t see any zombies wandering around, so we figured we’d try the furthest house in the back – a three-story red brick house with white shutters. We pulled the jeep into the driveway in front of the garage. We needed to park the jeep inside so no one could loot it. Jasper tried the door handle, and the garage door glided open with ease. I kept a lookout toward the other houses while Jasper made sure that no one or nothing was in the house.
“It’s clear,” he called as he walked into the entryway and motioned us in. “It’ll be a nice, comfortable place to stay tonight and get some rest,” he added.
The house was a breathtaking three-bedroom and two-bath with a deck that wrapped around the back and sides of the house and looked out over a rolling hill. The living room had a brick fireplace, but it didn’t look like there was anything working in this house – gas, water, electricity, nothing.
“Let’s all sleep out here in the living room,” Jasper suggested. “That way we can be in the same spot if anything goes down. This area is sketchier than the last.” Em and I agreed.
“I’m going to go look for some blankets and pillows and change into some comfortable clothes,” I said to them, and got off the loveseat to grab my bag. I couldn’t stand uncomfortable clothes right now.
“Hold on a sec,” Em replied. She dug into her backpack and pulled out a pregnancy test and a flashlight. She tossed the test at me, then the flashlight. I caught both, forced a grin, and walked upstairs.
Once I found the master bathroom, I shut and locked the door and set the box on the granite top of the vanity. I sat down on the porcelain toilet lid with my elbows on my thighs and my chin in my hands. I stared at the box that held the direction of my future. If this was a normal world, I’d be rejoicing at having a baby with Jasper. But, of course, if this was a normal world, I wouldn’t have met Jasper.
After nearly five minutes of staring at the box, I took it off the countertop, ripped the box open, and slid the test out of the box and into my hand. I carefully read the directions, grabbed a paper cup, pulled down my pants to sit on the toilet, and stuck the cup in between my legs. Once I had a good enough amount of urine in the cup, I pulled it out, and set it on the counter. I picked up the stick and submerged it in the urine for five seconds. I didn’t want to look at it yet, so I kept my eyes on my reflection in the mirror while I counted, then picked it up carefully to lay it flat on the counter. I turned around and sat in the corner between the end of the bathtub and the wall and waited. Though the pregnancy test said that I’d get accurate results within five minutes, ten minutes passed when I heard a knock on the door.
“It’s Em,” the voice whispered. “Can I come in sweetie?” I reluctantly got up to unlock the door, but blocked the pregnancy test with my body.
“Any news yet?” she inquired.
“I haven’t brought myself to look at it yet,” I answered.
“May I look?” Em asked, and though I didn’t want to say yes, I nodded. Em maneuvered around me to bend her head down and view the test. I held my breath
C. J. Cherryh
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