“Join the club,” Ana told their friend.
“Sorry, I just grabbed a suitcase and hit the road,” Sara said contritely, hugging both of her friends again. “I love you, and I did eventually call you both.”
“And that was your redemption.” Carla wrinkled her nose and smiled.
Ana snorted and guided Sara over to the sitting area and down onto the sofa located there.
“I’ll get us drinks,” Carla said, tossing her coat on the bed before making her way to the mini bar.
“No alcohol for me,” Sara called out.
Ana removed her bulky wool coat and sank down on the cream-colored cushion next to her. When her friend shot her a questioning look, Sara glanced away.
“Why can’t you drink?”
As always, Ana didn’t pull her punches, and it was one of the things that made her friend so successful at her job.
“Because I’m…pregnant,” Sara said and covered her face with both hands.
She wanted to say that their expressions were almost laughable, but that wouldn’t have been accurate. Still, though, their reactions were entertaining.
“Are you keeping it?” Ana asked and then added, “Of course you are.”
“Oh! I get godmother dibs,” Carla sing-songed and carried over two glasses filled with ice and a dark amber colored liquor, as well as a juice bottle under her arm.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Ana said. “I’m the godmother.”
“Why you and not me?” Carla held the glass up and out of Ana’s reach.
“Hold on, Lily will be the godmother,” Sara said.
“I think we should all be godmothers and then we can have a pecking order according to wealth,” Carla said.
“Well, that leaves me out since all of you are a bunch of blue bloods,” Ana grumbled, but she was smiling.
“Oh, come on,” Carla argued. “You can’t use that, you’re just as wealthy as us.”
As her friends argued, Sara smiled. For the first time in hours, she found herself feeling lighter. As if being pregnant was something to celebrate and not curse.
“Do you know what you’re having?” Carla relented and handed Ana one of the glasses and the juice to Sara.
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen a doctor yet. I took a home test.” Sara cracked the lid of the juice and took a few sips. The orange juice tasted refreshing, and she took another sip.
“You can’t have a baby here,” Ana said, wrinkling her nose, gazing around the hotel suite.
“Why?”
“For one thing, San Francisco is expensive.”
“So is Seattle,” Sara pointed out.
“Try living in New York,” Carla added and they all shared a laugh.
“Anywhere you go is expensive unless you live way up north or down south,” Ana said.
“You mean like Montana or Texas?” Sara asked.
“Yes, and I can’t see you living anywhere other than Seattle,” Ana added firmly. “It’s your home. You have a business and the means to support the baby without your parents helping you…because God knows you won’t want that.”