Chapter Twenty-Four

Today was another busy day in the office for Sharlene after her crazy life-changing weekend.

Finishing up a few documents her boss had dropped an hour ago, she blew the hair falling onto her face.

With a sigh of relief, she was ready to kick back and relax.

Stretching her aching fingers, she suddenly grimaced when her stomach loudly growled. Groaning, for this, was the fifth time she felt hungry before the mid-afternoon, Sharlene passed a hand through her hair.

Being pregnant was something new she had to accommodate whether she liked it or not. It was an odd experience.

A soft knock on her office door captured her attention.

Lifting her head from the papers on the desk, she smiled when she saw it was Rita.

"Hey, there. Ready to leave for lunch?"

"I thought you would never ask."

Her smile broadened, and she stood from her seat.

Quickly, she began to tidy her desk.

Laughing, Rita walked into the room to help.

Two minutes later, they made their way to the last floor, where the company cafe, restaurant, and canteen were situated.

"Where should we eat today?"

Rita inquired, her hands touching her small baby bump.

"Is the baby extra hungry today?"

"You can say that."

Sheepishly, Rita blushed.

"Then we will try out the restaurant. I heard it has the most delicious burrito."

Stars erupted in Rita's eyes, for burrito was her and her baby's favorite.

"Then it shall be that."

Nodding, Sharlene gently pulled her friend towards the restaurant. Twenty minutes later, their plate was empty, and they were sipping on spring water.

"That was delicious."

Rita moaned while passing her hands down her abdomen.

"I agree with you on that."

Sharlene hastily agreed.

"So, how is life so far? By the way, I completely forgot to apologize for not texting or calling you this past week. It was hectic. You know, Yvonne being a worry-wot."

Rita spoke with flustered cheeks and an eye roll.

"Oh, it is okay, Riri. My days were pretty hectic as well."

With curiously raised eyebrows, Rita wanted to hear more.

"Why? What happened? Don't tell me I missed an important detail when I did not call. Was it a life-changing matter? Did the mayor die? Obliviously not. It would have been on every news station since the media around here is crazy."

Ignoring Rita's rambling, Sharlene sighed.

"It is a long story."

Placing the straw back into her mouth to take another sip of her water, Sharlene was unsure how to start.

Glancing down at her watch, Rita encouraged.

"We have twenty more minutes to spare, so I am willing to hear this story. I can't say I am not curious because I am. Spill all your secrets because I am all ears."

Nodding, Sharlene pushed the glass further to the middle of the table.

"Okay. I will give you the abbreviated version then."

"Anything is fine."

Closing, then opening her eyes, she muttered.

"Please do not freak out, okay?"

Slowly nodding, Rita was confused but eager to listen.

"First of all, I am pregnant."

Watching her eyes widen, then her mouth, Sharlene winced in preparation for the upcoming scream.

Filled with shock and surprise, Rita rambled.

"WHAT?! HOW?! HUH?!"

Heads turned their way. And whispering ensued.

"I told you to do not freak out, Riri."

Sharlene whispered as she tried blocking Rita's mouth.

"But...but how can I not?"

She asked, her voice cracking, the penalty of screaming. Pulling Sharlene's hand into hers, she asked while holding her breath.

"Do you hear your friend, who oathed to remain a virgin until her wedding night in high school, tell you she is pregnant out of the blue every time?"

Contemplating this reason, Sharlene slowly shook her head in denial.

"Exactly. That is why I am freaking out here. Pregnant? Oh, god."

Rita spoke, her Asian accent drowning her words.

That meant she was beyond shocked, and Sharlene grew worried.

"Okay. Okay. Drink some water before you die of suffocation."

Rapidly nodding, Rita swallowed the water in one gulp. Breathing in and out for three seconds, she slammed the glass on the table. Her eyes were piercing as she looked worse than the gossip mongers on soup dramas.

"Now, tell me everything, and don't you dare leave anything out, okay? I want every single detail. I will not stand for an abbreviated version."

"Okay. But I warn you. Do not say a word or interrupt, okay?"

Sharlene warned, and Rita hastily nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Sharlene delved into explaining, in great detail, what happened to her. At the end of her explanation, which took fifteen minutes, Rita ordered another glass of spring water.

"I cannot believe that girl."

She hissed, her comment directed to Sherlene, who Sharlene realized had gone down into her disliked people list.

"What a spoiled brat."

She further expressed this after downing the water.

"Yes, she is. Please don't drink more water. You do not want more bathroom breaks than you already had."

Glancing at the empty glass, Rita laughed.

"I was so stunned by this real-life story that I indulged in this to help me calm down. Talking about bathroom breaks. Will you excuse me?"

Smiling, Sharlene waved her hands in the air.

"I warned you, Riri."

Shrugging, Rita stood and walked as fast as she could towards the ladies' comfort room.

Content to have another person carry the burden with her, Sharlene patiently waited for Rita. Stretching to pull her glass back in front of her, the phone in her purse suddenly rang.

Quickly, she fished it out of her purse pocket.

She looked at the caller ID flashing on the screen with a frown. It was an unknown number. Sharlene cautiously answered on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Miss. Cunning-ham. This is Nicholas."

A smooth, husky, and masculine voice passed through the speaker.

Almost dropping the phone, a blush spread across Sharlene's face.

"Oh, ah, hi."

She shyly responded.

Hearing his soft chuckle, the blush on her cheeks intensified.

"Did I call you at the wrong time?"

"Ah, no, no, not at all."

She hurriedly spoke with a nervous laugh.

Uh, what was wrong with her?

She was like a babbling fool.

"That is great. I called you to speak about our date this Friday."

'A date? Friday?'

Sharlene wondered in her mind. Not realizing she had gone silent, Nicholas's soft chuckle brought her back to reality.

"Did you forget?"

"Ah, maybe?"

Her answer sounded more like a question.

Sharlene wanted to bury herself in a hole.

Half of her brain concentrated on being pregnant and getting married, while the other half was the fun she had experienced yesterday.

Quickly, she added before he could answer.

"I am sorry for forgetting. So much has been going on."

"It is alright. Can I know where you live so I can pick you up at 7:00 p.m. on Friday?"

"Yes. It is in Lamar."

"Thank you. I will be forward to seeing you, Miss. Cunning-ham."

"Yes. You as well."

Softly, she responded, her blush intensifying, for she could picture him smiling.

By the time the call had ended, Rita had returned, but she frowned because Sharlene was as red as a tomato.

Grabbing her purse from behind the chair, she raised an eyebrow.

"I have never seen you blush like this, even after the hottest guy in school confessed to you."

Sharlene's blush intensified.

"Really?"

"Who called?"

"The father of my baby."

With widened eyes, Rita was astonished.

"You mean your future husband?"

Slowly nodding, Sharlene also stood with her purse and phone in her hand.

"Oh, my. I still cannot get over the fact that you are pregnant and getting married."

Rita exasperatedly sighed.

"I know. He called about the date we have on Friday."

Raising her eyebrows until they reached her hairline, Rita was stunned.

"A date?"

"Yes."

"At what time?"

"7:00 p.m. Why?"

"Since this is your first date, I will, of course, be the one to help you, silly."

"Really?"

Smiling, Rita was giddy with excitement for her friend. Although, she did not appreciate the outcome of her pregnancy.

"Of course. What are friends for?"

"Thank you."

Wiggling her eyebrows as they walked out of the restaurant, she smirked.

"Whoever this future husband of yours is, he will fall in love with you at first sight after I doll you up like a princess."

"Oh, stop it, Riri. We barely know each other."

Smirking, Rita lightly bounced her shoulder.

"But it is true, Shar. Maybe he has fallen already."

Blushing redder, Sharlene suddenly inputted.

"I forgot to mention earlier. I am officially inviting you to a family gathering planned for the upcoming month. You can bring Yvonne. I haven't seen him in ages."

Beaming, Rita clapped her hands.

"Although I do not like the sudden change of conversation, thank you, Shar. Do invite me to your engagement, bachelorette, wedding, and reception. And about Yvonne, please do not be surprised if he is all over me like a hawk. He thinks the baby and I are glass."

Sharlene's eyes twinkled as she laughed.

"You silly you. You know I will always invite you to those. You are my best friend."

"And only friend."

Rita inputted with slight arrogance.

"Yes, yes you are."

Smiling, Sharlene linked their hands together.