L. Marie Adeline- S.E.C.R.E.T

“Ah … I think so, yeah.”
“He didn’t come home last night,” she said, pulling her coat tighter to her. I wanted to
scream, What do you mean, “home”? You guys broke up. He’s been sleeping upstairs for the
past two weeks! He told me.
“Did you happen to see him leave last night?”
“I didn’t see him leave. Nope,” I lied.
“Did you go to Maison with the rest of the girls after the show?”
“Nah, I just went right home.”
“I guess that’s why I didn’t see you there.”
My blood chilled. I was being cued that yes, indeed, Tracina knew something. Panic
crept in. Would she tear my eyes out, kick in my teeth? Good God, where was Will?
“Will said you weren’t feeling well yesterday. Are you better now?” I asked.
“I’ve recovered. Mornings are the worst. I mean look at my skin,” she said.
Reluctantly, I scanned her face and had to admit that her skin was a little sallow, her
eyes a little sunken. “But the doctor said the morning sickness will pass soon, when I
enter my second trimester.”
Second trimester? What the—? “Are you …?”
“Pregnant? Yes, Cassie, I am. But I wanted to be sure because I’d been down this road
before and then been disappointed. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for
certain. And now … I know for certain.”
She placed a hand on her stomach, which, now that I was staring right at it, did seem
to exhibit a bit of a swell.
“Does … Will know?”
Her eyes met mine. “He does now. I called him. About an hour ago. He came rushing
right over.”
It must have been just after I left to go home and change. “What did he say?”
“He was so happy he was … nearly in tears. Can you believe that?” she said, her own
eyes welling.
I could believe that this news would bring tears to Will’s eyes. I could. In fact, right
then and there, I also choked up.
“It’s all very sudden, I know. But after I told him this morning, he proposed to me.
He’s such a good man, Cassie. And you know how much he loves my brother. And wants
to set a good example for him.”
My mind was spinning. How can this be happening? I picked him and he picked me.
I opened my mouth, but all I could manage was “I don’t know what to say.”
She eyed me, her whole body relaxing now that she had this out of her system.
“Just say congratulations, Cassie. Leave it at that.”
“Congratulations,” I said, moving in for an awkward hug. I couldn’t breathe for a
second, so when the doors chimed, I used it as an excuse and quickly walked out front.
But it wasn’t a customer. It was Will, looking as haunted as I’d ever seen him.
“Cassie!”
“I gotta go,” I said. “Tracina’s in the kitchen.”
“Cassie, wait! I didn’t know! What can I do? What can I say?”