"Did you pack my thermal socks babe?"
"Yes honey, they're in my blue suitcase," I yelled from the kitchen.
I sipped on my coffee and skimmed through my email using our ipad. Matt was still getting ready; we had a flight in two hours. We were on Christmas vacation and were spending it with Summer and Adam in Colorado, up in the mountains in a log cabin.
About an hour later, we had checked in for our flight and were walking towards our gate. As we walked, I began to feel a bit nauseous and light headed.
"Babe, do you mind holding up a bit, I need to use the restroom."
Matt paused and I walked towards the ladies room. I set my purse down on the counter then washed my face. I began to feel clammy and even more nauseous. There was a stirring within me and I felt my palms go cold and sweaty. I rushed off to a stall and hunched over the bowl, I immediately began puking. It took a couple minutes for me to feel settled. I walked back to the sink and washed my mouth and face. I figured it must have been something I'd eaten the day before that had caused my stomach to be upset. After composing myself, I went back out and rejoined Matt. We walked to our gate and sat patiently, waiting to board.
We'd been married for a year and six months now and were thoroughly happy with one another. Sitting on the airplane I held Matt's hand,
"I can't wait to see Sum and Adam, it's been ages."
"I know, almost a year now," Matt stated, referring to last Christmas when Summer and Adam came down to Miami for a few days.
When we landed in Denver, Matt whipped out his cell phone and called Adam, their flight was supposed to have arrived an hour before.
After a brief conversation, Matt grabbed the heavier of our bags and turned to me,
"They're getting the rental car. He said to wait for them at the curb, baggage claim 15," he informed.
I clutched our pull-along and followed Matt out.
We only had to wait a couple minutes before a silver SUV pulled up in front of us. We peered in through the window and saw Adam and Summer. Adam hopped out and helped Matt pack the bags into the rear of the vehicle. I gave him a brief hug then crawled into the backseat.
"Ohhh my god Kimmy!! You look amazing hun," Summer squealed.
She leaned back from the passenger seat and we hugged,
"So do you Sum, it's so nice to see you guys."
Matt and Adam hopped in and we drove off.
The drive to the cabin was a lengthy one, almost an hour and a half, but it gave the four of us lots of time to catch up.
We stopped for lunch and just before getting back on the road, Summer wanted to take a quick restroom break. I joined her although I didn't really have to go. I was still feeling a bit squeamish from this morning and decided to wash my face with some cold water. I heard the toilet flush and watched as Summer emerged. She proceeded to wash her hands and looked over to me,
"Everything okay babe? You look kinda pale," she stated.
"Really? Ohh, I'm fine, just feeling a bit nauseous, maybe it's the altitude," I replied, "Although. . ." I stated before stopping.
"Although what?" Summer followed up.
"Well, I threw up this morning in Miami, so it can't be the altitude, maybe it was just something I ate," I tried to reason.
I felt Summer's hand on my shoulder, then she began to rub my back.
"You think aspirin will help? That's all I have on me."
"No thanks hun, I think I'll be okay," I replied.
I gave my face another rinse in some cold water while Summer caringly held my hair. Wiping my face, I noticed Summer seemed to have something on her mind.
"What is it Sum?"
"Well, do you mind if I ask when your period is?" she asked.
I immediately knew what Summer was thinking. It took a few seconds for me to get my dates right, but I finally looked up at her,
"Umm, it's supposed to be tomorrow," I replied, tossing the paper towel in the trash.
"Have you been taking your pill regularly?" Summer asked.
"Well. . .I missed a day a couple weeks ago," I admitted guiltily.
"Kimberly!" Summer scolded.
"What?! I told Matt, we even used condoms for a few days," I defended.
"I think we need to get you a pregnancy test."
I began to feel nervous, but deep down I knew Summer was right. The more I thought about it, I hadn't eaten anything out of the ordinary.
I looked up to Summer and knew she could see the distress in my eyes,
"Don't worry honey, I'll buy it, there's a pharmacy across the street. Just head back to the car and tell the guys I went to buy some snacks. We'll do it tonight, together."
Summer's words were so calming. She put her arm around me and gave me a brief hug before we made our way back outside.
XXXX
That night, after settling into our rooms, the boys cooked us dinner; grilled chicken and vegetables. After dinner, we found ourselves in the living room, relaxing in front of a roaring fire. Matt and I were laid out on the couch, cuddled up under a blanket. Summer and Adam were snuggled under a blanket of their own, on the floor in front us, on the plush shag rug. As the night drew on and the conversation dwindled, Summer announced that she was going to take a shower,
"Uhhh, Kim, want to come see those boots I was telling you about?"
It caught me off-guard, but I was quick to recognize Summer's trivial excuse to head off together.
"Sure Sum, let's have a look," I replied as I crawled out of Matt's arms.
Summer and I locked ourselves in hers and Adam's bathroom. I watched as my friend dug through her purse and retrieve the pregnancy test. Summer opened the box and handed me the plastic stick. She breezed through the instructions, and looked up at me,
"Okay babe, do your thing," she smiled.
I quite calmly lowered my cotton sweats along with my black cotton underwear and sat on the toilet bowl. I stuck the stick between my thighs and waited.
"Want me to run some water?" Summer joked as she took a seat on the edge of the tub.
"Just give me a second," I insisted.
A few seconds later, the silence in the bathroom was broken by the sound of liquid trickling. When I was done, I placed the stick on the edge of the tub and went about wiping myself and pulling up my pants. I flushed the toilet and washed my hands. Picking up the box, I noted the two minute waiting period. Summer had her phone out and was checking the time. I was so nervous; I paced up and down in the small space the bathroom offered. Summer picked up the stick and focused her gaze.
"Is the time up?" I anxiously asked.
"Yup, two minutes just passed," Summer replied.
"Well?!?"
Summer looked up at me with a smile, her eyes glassy,
"It's positive babe," she calmly stated.
The news hit me sharp, my mind began to race and my heart pounded so hard against my chest,
