Page 102 of The Surprise

She frowns. “What does that mean?”

“Of course I’m not pregnant.”

“Because. . .” Her frown deepens. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“You can’t get pregnant your first time.” Duh.

She freezes. “Have you—” This time she’s the one choking. “You’ve had your period since then, though, right?”

Icannotbelieve I’m having this conversation with her. “It’s erratic. It always has been.”

She closes her eyes.

“Listen, it’s fine. I’m sure I’m not pregnant.” I shake my head.

“How could you be sure?” She sighs. “You should take a pregnancy test.”

I roll my eyes. “There’s no way. . .” And then I think about what she’s saying. “Wait, you’re saying that youcanget pregnant the very first time you ever. . .”

She nods. “What are they teaching you at that school, girl?”

“I mean, I didn’t pay a lot of attention, to be honest. The boys kept laughing. The girls were making jokes, too.” I groan. “I’m sure that. . .” I look at my flat stomach. “I haven’t been throwing up, and I haven’t gained weight.”

“It hasn’t been long yet, and some women don’t get sick like that.”

“I’m not sickat allthough.”

She shrugs.

“I haven’t gained weight.”

“You said this happened in June?” She sighs. “I think they have tests at the—”

“Can I take it here?” I have no right to ask that of her. I barely know her.

“Of course.” She tilts her head like a concerned bird.

Two and a half hours later, I’ve finally bought a pregnancy test. I couldn’t bring myself to do it in town, so I drove all the way to Rock Springs where I knew no one would recognize me.

Dolores Jenkins places her hand over mine. “It’s going to be fine, dear. No matter what that test says. And think how much easier you’ll breathe when it’s negative.”

I nod.

“But while you were gone, I was thinking about what you told me.”

“What?”

“About how that boy calls you Juliet and how your families have been at odds.”

“Okay.”

“That’s all nonsense.”

“What?”

“Your families don’t matter. Only the two of you matter.”

“That’s over, though,” I say. “I told him this morning. Weren’t you listening?”

---