Page 64 of Maybe in Another Life

“Anyway,” he says, “enjoy the cinnamon roll.”

Henry laughs. “This is a girl who loves her cinnamon rolls,” he says.

Ethan looks at him. “I know,” he says. “That’s why I brought her one.”

Itook three pregnancy tests in the bathroom of the CVS just down the street from Gabby’s place. I could have left Charlemagne in the car, but I felt terrible doing that, even with the windows cracked, so I put her in the backpack and brought her with me. She yipped in the bathroom once or twice, but no one seemed to care.

All three sticks were positive. And there wasn’t a single part of me that was surprised.

Now it’s almost nine p.m., and I’m pulling up in front of Gabby’s. She must hear my car, because she looks out the window. I see her and laugh. She looks like a crotchety old lady. I’m half expecting her to call out, “What’s all that racket?”

By the time I open her front door, Charlemagne trailing behind me on the leash, Gabby is standing on the other side of the door. I feel bad about what I’m doing, by the way. I feel bad about bringing a dog into Mark’s house. I know he’s allergic, and I’m doing it anyway. But I couldn’t stay with Ethan. And I couldn’t abandon Charlemagne. So here we are.

“You bought a car?” Gabby says. She’s in her pajamas.

“Where’s Mark?” I ask her. Charlemagne is behind me. I don’t think Gabby can see her.

“He’s working late again,” Gabby says.

“I have some news,” I tell her.

“I know, you bought a car.”

“Well, I have more news.”

Charlemagne yips. Gabby looks at me askance.

I pull Charlemagne around to the front.

“You have a dog?”

“I am adopting her,” I tell her. “I’m really sorry.”

“You are adopting a dog?”

“Is it OK if she stays here just for tonight? I bought Mark a whole bunch of allergy pills.” I take the five packages of medication that I got in the over-the-counter antihistamine aisle.

Gabby looks at me. “Uh... I guess?”

“Great. Thank you. I have news.”

“You have more news?”

I nod, but Gabby continues to stare at me. I stare back, unsure if she’s really prepared for this. Unsure if I’m really prepared for this.

“We should maybe sit down,” I tell her.

“I need to sit down for this?”

“Ineed to,” I tell her.

We move over to her couch. I pick up Charlemagne and put her in my lap. Quickly, Charlemagne moves off me and sits on the sofa. I see Gabby waver about whether she wants a dog on her sofa, so I pick up Charlemagne and put her on the floor.

“I’m pregnant.”

Hearing it out loud, hearing the words come out of my mouth, brings forth a flood of emotions. I start to cry. I bury my head in my hands.

Gabby doesn’t say much at first, but soon I feel her hands on my wrists. I feel her pull my hands away from my face. I feel her take her fingers and put them on my chin, forcing me to face her.

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