Page 46 of Sawyer’s Mistake

“No,” Prado said. “We didn’t see anyone. There was nobody around.”

Alix took the lead. “Help us get her upstairs to her room, Prado,” she ordered.

Prado nodded sheepishly. With bent knees, he reached over the couch and placed one arm under Eva’s knees and the other one around her upper back, straightening up.

Eva stirred lightly. “What’s going on?” she asked, when she saw she was in Prado’s arms. “I can walk, J. I was just …”

“Shhh. I’m just following orders here. Let me get you to your room.” He walked up the stairs easily with her in his arms. Saoirse ran ahead to open the door for him, and he squeezed by sideways, careful not to bump Eva’s head. Eva had closed her eyes again and seemed to be making an effort not to throw up all over Prado.

“You can leave us now,” Alix said imperiously.

Prado hesitated for a moment then nodded. He ran a hand nervously along his dark hair. “Call me if you need anything,” he said. “I’ll be downstairs.” He closed the door behind himself.

“Is everything okay, Alix?” Saoirse said worriedly. “What did you find? Javier didn’t seem … himself.”

Alix was still staring at the door. “He’ll be okay,” she said, shrugging. “Anyway, we have other things to worry about.”

Saoirse looked at her friend, whose eyes were clenched in pain.

“Are you okay, Eva? What can we get you?”

Eva opened her eyes weakly. “Can you please help me to the bathroom?” Her friend seemed embarrassed by her weakness.

“Of course,” Saoirse said. She and Alix took one arm each, and together the three women walked towards the en suite bathroom, limping like a hobbled camel.

“Sit on the toilet,” Alix said, when they reached the bathroom.

“I don’t need to —” Eva began.

“Please,” Alix said, handing Eva a cup. “Just pee here.”

Saoirse stared at the cup in Eva’s hands for a moment, as the implication of what Alix was saying became clear to all of them. She sat down on the edge of the tub.

“I’m not —” Eva swallowed compulsively. “I can’t be—”

“Just pee in the cup,” Alix said.

Eva dropped her pants and sat on the toilet, her expression panicked.

As soon as Eva handed the cup back to her, Alix unceremoniously placed the stick inside. The three women waited in silence while Eva zipped her black cargo pants again. There was nothing any of them could say.

“It should be ready,” Alix finally said. She made no move to touch the stick.

Eva looked up weakly. “What does it say, Saoirse?”

Saoirse reached over as if in slow motion. She felt the strangest sense of déjà vu as she picked up the stick. Two bright pink stripes. She didn’t need to look at the box to know what that meant.

“You’re pregnant,” she said, her hand shaking as she placed the stick in Eva’s hands.

“Oh God,” Eva whispered, sliding to the floor next to the toilet.

“I’m not sure He had much to do with it,” Alix said drily.

Saoirse shot daggers at her with her eyes.

“It’s going to be okay, Eva,” Saoirse said. “We’re going to figure it out.”

“I need some time to—” Eva interjected then rushed to her knees, just in time to get her face over the toilet. Saoirse held Eva’s hair away from her face.