Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Being pregnant wasn’t a lot of fun.
“Getting a bit old?” Eloise frowned and made her way up to the counter. Her jeans no longer fit her, and she had no choice but to go to sweatpants, elastic waist skirts, and dresses. She missed her jeans. “Since when is dressing up too old for you?”
“I must be more responsible. You heard Mom.”
“That was months ago and you and I both know that you do as you’re told for a little bit, and then go out and have your fun.”
“I’m not going to do that anymore,” Dorothy said, not quite meeting her gaze.
“Okay, you always sucked at lying before. What’s going on?”
Dorothy turned away, to straighten the board behind her. Eloise had already done all of that, so it didn’t work as a distraction.
“Stop lying and just talk to me. What is going on?” Eloise asked.
Dorothy sighed and turned back toward her once again, fidgeting with stuff.
“Enough,” Eloise said.
“I, uh, I think I’m to blame for what happened,” Dorothy said.
Eloise frowned and stared at her sister. “Am I even hearing this right?”
Dorothy shrugged. “Look, I know I haven’t been the best sister. I’ve gone out and had my fun, and I’ve had a lot of fun, but I’ve never…”
“Come back pregnant.”
“I’m not trying to be mean.”
“I know,” Eloise said.
“None of us know what is going to happen. Even your fucked-up asshole doesn’t know what is going to happen. I know Mom is trying to keep it together, but you’re not having a normal baby. We can pretend all we want, but there’s nothing in the pregnancy books that talk about a human that turns furry at the sight of the full moon. I’ve even gone and asked a couple of the guys I’ve fucked. They don’t know anything of a human delivering a wolf baby.”
Eloise put her hand up. “I get it. This is all new, and it is scary.”
“Are you afraid?”
“Yeah, but I can’t allow myself to think about it. It already sucks with how this is happening.” Tears filled her eyes, and then she gritted her teeth. “I hate crying and it feels like every couple of minutes I’m bursting into tears. There’s a lot I’m trying not to think about. I don’t want to think about what Beau said to me that day when I told him I was pregnant. I don’t want to think about how it feels and the fact that I had fallen in love with him. I loved him, but he clearly didn’t love me.” She stopped and sniffled, wiping beneath her eyes, attempting to take the tears away. “I’m terrified of raising a baby. I always thought when I was pregnant, I’d be married or at least dating someone for a long time. I thought I’d be in a loving relationship. Not one where the guy thinks I cheated on him.”
Dorothy rounded the counter and pulled her into her arms.
“I hate crying,” she said again.
“I know, but it’s the hormones.”
“I hate hormones. I hate coffee. I hate spicy food.”
Dorothy held her even tighter.
“And with everything going on,” Eloise said. “I’m trying not to think about the fact that if this goes wrong, I’ll be leaving a baby to you and Mom.”
“Don’t think like that.”
“It is a possibility, though, right? It is what has you and Mom scared.”
“I don’t want to lose you.”
“I hope I don’t die either. I’d love to have a child, even if it’s like this.”
“So, we’re not going to think of the bad shit. What do you think, boy or girl?”
“I don’t care, but I’d love for them to be running in our yard, or around this shop.” Eloise laughed and Dorothy joined in.
“You know, I might even remember some of those sewing classes Mom taught us, and make a little romper. He or she would be so cute.”
They both laughed.
“You know, if anything, Beau being an asshole has reminded us to be close,” Eloise said.
“No, he’s not reminded us, Eloise. We’ve always been close.” Dorothy kissed her cheek.
“Still, I think you should go as the sexy nurse. I’m thinking of making an elephant costume.”
Dorothy tutted. “Not happening. However, I will go to the party as a sexy dead nurse, if you come with me.”
“You want your pregnant, highly emotional sister to come to a party with you?”
“Yeah, and we’ll put lots of mascara on you. Even if it runs and you look a little crazy, you will fit right in,” Dorothy said.
Eloise shook her head and took a deep breath. “I hate that it sounds like fun.”
“You know, one day, we’re going to turn all of your hates into loves.” Dorothy kissed her cheek.
****
Beau waited outside Eloise’s home. He’d not gotten out of his truck, even though he turned the engine off. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he stared straight ahead and hoped for some clarity, for anything.