Page 6 of Under the Island Moon
Pumpkin News
Chapter 1
Molly made it to work in the nick of time. Dashing straight to the restroom, her stomach rejected the half cup of coffee she’d sipped on the short drive into work.
In the mirror over the sink, she barely recognized herself. Couldn’t blame it all on the fluorescent lighting. She was looking paler than any of the little ghosts that would be running around the Fall Festival this weekend.
And felt even worse.
She rinsed her mouth and vigorously dried her face, trying to rub a little color into her cheeks. Bad move. Now she looked like a ghost who’d played in an old makeup kit. After another round of cool water, a gentler drying off, and some slow, deep breaths, she told herself she was ready to face the day.
The centerpieces and other pieces for the first annual Haunted Tea at the Inn weren’t going to make themselves.
She opened the door and jumped back, hand to her heart. “Don’t do that.” Her boss Nina Reynolds was waiting for her—arms folded and a stern expression on her face.
“That’s three days running,” she accused. “If you had the flu, you’d be staying home. And don’t even try to tell me it’s a sinus thing.”
Molly slumped against the door jamb. “You can’t say anything.”
“Of course not. And definitely not unless you tell mesomething.” She wagged a finger at Molly’s face. “Although it’s so obvious.”
“So far only to you and me,” Molly grumbled. “And I need it to stay that way.”
Nina beamed and did a fast happy dance. “I knew it! You’re pregnant. Congratulations! I’m hosting the baby shower.”
“Thanks.” Molly groaned. “A shower?”
“Do you have the baby stuff anymore?” Nina challenged.
“Well, no.”
“Then that’s what we’re doing.”
Molly’s protest was halted by her efforts to convince her stomach it was empty and had no reason to keep on churning. “How can I be so miserable and so happy at the same time?”
Nina shrugged. “One of the perks of being a woman?”
Molly swiveled around, kicking the door shut. Her stomach was sure it had one job this morning.
“You can’t tell me Miles hasn’t noticed this,” Nina said when Molly exited the bathroom again.
“Not yet.” She tried to smile. “Y’know, it only happens when I get here. Maybe I’m allergic to work.”
“Ha. Ha. I know better. Shame on him.” Nina got right back on topic. “Because you can’t possibly be waking up looking like freshness personified.”
Molly wasn’t insulted. Her boss and best friend only spoke the truth. “Not exactly. He’s been concerned that I’m working too hard.”
“Are you?”
“No.” She glared at Nina. “Don’t you even think of cutting my hours. I only dozed off in front of the TV the other night. I intend to work straight through to delivery just like you did.”
“You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are,” Nina countered. “And every woman, every pregnancy is different.”
“Don’t I know it,” Molly said. “I know it’s been a minute, but I don’t remember being this horribly sick with Bryce.” She accepted the bottle of water Nina handed her, sipping carefully. “Of course, I was a kid back then. What did I know?”
Nina laughed. “I get it. Do you need to take time to go to the clinic? Or into Charleston to your normal OBGYN?”
She nearly choked on the water. “Not the clinic,” she said. “Miles would find out before I got home.”
