keep you updated about how the realtors are doing.”
He kisses me one last time. “I just want to hear how you are doing.”
I nod. “Same.”
He smiles and helps me into the car before shutting my door. Joe starts driving me toward work and away from Sean. Sean waits a second to watch me leave and then jumps in his car behind me before speeding off toward the airport.
That’s the last I saw of him in over a week.
He calls to talk to me every day, usually multiple times a day, but it’s still hard to have a real relationship with him when he’s gone. It’s why I have been looking forward to him coming back at the end of the week.
But, when Friday comes around, he calls to tell me it would be at least another week.
The thoughts of him running away from me immediately creep back into my head. Until he tells me he loves me and sends me a large bouquet of flowers to my desk at work. He didn’t sign it with his name, just Your love.
But it is enough to get me through another week.
But, when the second week passes, I almost expect him to call again, saying that he isn’t coming home for another week. But, to my relief, he says he is coming home tonight. I just have to make it through one more day at work, and then I’ll get to see him.
Work has actually been great the last couple of weeks. I have loved being in my new role as manager. I passed my realtor’s license test. I have made dozens of cookies for clients this week. My week has been great. The only downside has been not seeing Sean.
But, when I get into work on Friday morning, I’m afraid my luck has changed. Because sitting in the office when I first get in is Jamie. She’s crying, sitting at what used to be her desk.
“Oh, thank God you are the first one here, like always, Olive,” Jamie cries out.
I walk into Jamie’s office and close the door behind me in case anyone else comes in.
“What’s going on, Jamie? I thought you were supposed to be on bed rest?” I ask as I walk over to her and tightly hug her.
Jamie continues to cry as I hold her in my arms.
“Nicolas broke up with me,” Jamie finally gets out through sobs.
“Oh, sweetie! I’m so sorry,” I say, holding her tighter.
I don’t know what to say to make it any better for her. She only dated Nicolas two months before she found out she was pregnant. I’m not sure what she expected. But I know telling her that now isn’t helpful.
“Are you okay to be out of bed?” I ask.
Jamie nods. “The doctor said I was fine as long as I take things easy. I was just too stressed at work. But, right now, I need some sort of distraction.”
I hold on to her. “Why don’t I take you to brunch? Food always makes you feel better, and then you can tell me everything that happened.”
Jamie nods. “That sounds good. Sean is supposed to be back soon, and he can handle things here for us.”
I smile. I’m not sure what Sean has told her about me and him. But it hurts me that Sean still talks to her so often, knowing their history. Knowing that they used to work together. Sleep together.
I stand up. “Let me just check in with everyone here first, and then we can go.”
Jamie nods.
But, when I stand up, I feel off. I feel dizzy, sick, like I’m about to puke.
I close my eyes and sit back down on the ground to try to make the nausea and dizziness go away, assuming that I just stood up too fast. But it doesn’t immediately go away.
“Olive, are you okay?” Jamie asks.
I nod and stand up again, but the feeling intensifies.
“Sorry, no, I’m not okay. I feel sick. Maybe I’m coming down with the flu. I’m sorry, Jamie, but I’m not sure if I can go to brunch with you after all.”
Jamie studies me a moment and then says, “You’re pregnant.” She doesn’t ask it. She says it.
I laugh. “You’re crazy. I’m not pregnant. I’m just sick. The flu has been going around here lately.”
Jamie shakes her head. “I could be wrong. It could be just because I’m pregnant that I expect everyone else to be, too. But humor me, and let’s go get you a pregnancy test.”