126
The Uber dropped her off just before sunset. The neighborhood was quiet, unusually so. The scent of roasted beans lingered faintly in the air like a memory. A warm breeze stirred the blooming vines crawling up the side of her apartment building, whispering like ghosts of the past.
Katherine stood outside her door for a long moment, her bag on her shoulder, keys clutched loosely in her hand. She stared at the familiar chipped blue paint, the little welcome mat Carolina once bought her that still said “home is where your coffee is.”
Home.
She exhaled gently, then unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The place smelled like her. Cinnamon, lavender, and the faintest trace of vanilla-scented cleaning spray she always used. It was still neat, everything as she had left it before she ran to Manhattan.
Her chest tightened.
She’d miss this little apartment. The way the light streamed through the sheer curtains in the morning. The way she and Carolina used to gossip on her couch, legs tangled in blankets, mugs in hand. The safety and solitude it once gave her when the world felt too loud.
She dropped her bag by the door and walked toward the bed, slowly sinking into it with a soft sigh. The mattress creaked familiarly beneath her.
She hadn’t realized how tired she was until she sat.
Her head spun just a little, the edges of her vision shimmering. She placed a hand over her temple and closed her eyes. Just five minutes, she thought. Just a moment to rest.
But then, her stomach lurched.
Violently.
She shot up, hand clamped over her mouth, and rushed to the bathroom.
She barely made it to the toilet in time.
Katherine doubled over, retching hard, until there was nothing left but dry heaves and a trembling body folded over cold porcelain. She flushed the toilet, sat back on the tile floor, and pressed her back against the wall, breathing heavily.
What the hell is going on?
She leaned her head back, eyes fluttering closed.
This wasn’t the first time this week.
She’d been feeling dizzy for days now. Her body had been heavy with fatigue, her appetite erratic, her emotions scattered like wildflowers.
And then, her eyes snapped open.
Her period.
She hadn’t seen it.
She hadn’t even realized until this very moment, caught in the flurry of Beth’s downfall, Kingsley’s recovery, court dates, and moving plans.
Her hand shot to her stomach.
Could it..?
She scrambled to her feet, rinsed her mouth quickly, and put on a hoodie. No time for second-guessing. No time for fear.
The nearest pharmacy was just around the corner. She knew exactly where.
She entered the pharmacy, avoiding eye contact with the cashier as she made her way to that aisle.
She stared at the wall of pink and blue boxes, her heart hammering.
So many brands. So many promises of “99% accuracy.”
Her hands shook as she picked one.
Then, just to be safe, she picked two more.
She paid in silence, head down, then rushed back out into the night, barely hearing the soft “Have a good evening” the cashier offered.
The walk back from the pharmacy was quiet, too quiet.
Katherine clutched the small paper bag tightly to her chest, her heart thudding as hard as it had inside the store.
Streetlights flickered on above her as dusk settled in like a velvet curtain, wrapping the neighborhood in a golden-pink glow.
She was halfway up the street, just outside her building, when she heard someone call out:
“Oh my God! When did you come back?”
Katherine turned, blinking against the sun, and broke into a grin.
“Caro?”
Carolina rushed toward her, her curls bouncing, dressed in a soft knit top and jeans, her tote bag swinging from her shoulder. They embraced tightly on the sidewalk, both surprised and grateful to run into each other again.
“I didn’t know you were back already,” Carolina said breathlessly.
“Yeah, just got in earlier today. I needed to pack up and move everything officially,” Katherine replied, still hugging her.
“Girl, perfect timing!” Carolina squealed. “Now we can head to Manhattan together! I finally got the official email from Rowe Enterprises, starting work next week!”
Her face beamed with pride.
“They sent me my apartment address, unit number… all that. I have to pack the rest of this week, then I’ll pick up the car when I show up at the company on Monday!”
Katherine’s smile widened in genuine joy.
“Caro! Oh my God, I’m so proud of you!” she said, clasping Carolina’s shoulders. “You see? All the chaos we went through, the risks we took, look where it led. Go in there and show them who’s boss!”
They both giggled like teenagers, the tension in Katherine’s chest softening just a little.
“Thank God you’re here,” Katherine said, growing suddenly serious. “Come with me inside.”
Without another word, she took Carolina’s hand and led her into the building. They climbed the stairs in silence, their steps echoing softly. Once inside the apartment, the scent of Katherine’s cinnamon candles still lingered faintly in the air.
Katherine dropped the pharmacy bag on the table and pulled out the test box.
Carolina raised a brow. “Wait… are you pregnant?”
“I… I don’t know,” Katherine confessed. “I’ve been throwing up all day. I’m dizzy and exhausted, and I just realized I missed my period.”
Carolina blinked. “Girl. Those are the signs. But hey, let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.”
Katherine nodded. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened the box, unwrapped the test, and disappeared into the bathroom.
Carolina waited just outside the door, pacing slightly, mumbling, “Come on, come on…”
Minutes passed. Then the door creaked open.
Katherine emerged with the stick in her hand and her eyes wide.
She sat beside Carolina on the bed and set the pregnancy test on the nightstand. They stared at it in silence.
Carolina grabbed her hand. “Let’s wait together.”
The timer on Katherine’s phone ticked down.
5… 4… 3… 2…
Beep.
They both turned their heads.
Two lines. Clear. Undeniable. Positive.
Carolina shrieked. “Oh my GOD! You’re pregnant?! Girl, CONGRATULATIONS!”
Katherine stared at the test, hand over her mouth.
“I can’t believe it… I mean, this is real. This is real.”
Carolina hugged her tight, rocking her slightly. “You’re gonna be a mom, K. And I’m gonna be the hottest, coolest, most dramatic aunt ever.”
But then Katherine’s eyes began to water, not from joy alone.
“What if Kingsley’s not ready?” she whispered. “What if I’m moving too fast, forcing too much? We’re just rebuilding. What if this is too soon?”
Carolina pulled back and looked Katherine dead in the eye.
“Girl. Let me tell you something.” She crossed her arms. “If Kingsley wasn’t ready for this, he would’ve wrapped it up. Period. He made a choice just like you did, and now y’all are having a baby. It’s not a burden, it’s a blessing.”
Katherine tried to laugh, but emotion swelled in her throat.
“But what if he panics?”
“Then he'd better un-panic, and quick,” Carolina said with a shrug. “He’s about to be a dad. You’re about to be a mom. You saved that man’s life, stood by him, and believed in him when no one else did. Trust me, girl, Kingsley isn’t going anywhere.”
She leaned forward, kissing Katherine on the forehead.
“Now you breathe. You’ve got this. And whatever happens next, I’ve got you. Kingsley’s got you. And soon, a tiny little squishy baby’s gonna have you too.”
Katherine laughed through her tears, her hand resting instinctively over her abdomen.
“A baby,” she whispered again. “I can’t believe I’m gonna be a mom.”
“Believe it,” Carolina said with a proud smile. “And you’re gonna be an amazing one.”