Page 60 of Somebody To Love

About five minutes later, she came out the bathroom and sank down on my couch and said, “Now we wait.”

I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Hey,” she said suddenly, “Is this the same couch Carter and I defiled?”

“God no, I got rid of it.”

She shrugged. “That was probably for the best.”

I sat down across from her in the recliner I had bought from a thrift store. It was super comfortable. I tossed my feet up and looked at my best friend. “Can you tell me why you charged into my house and what exactly are we waiting for?”

“I think I’m late.”

I looked at my cellphone. “No, you’re not. Actually, you’re—”

She sent me a pointed look. And I instantly felt so stupid. “Ohh, you mean late late. As in laaaaatttteeee.”

She nodded.

“Oh my god, what are you going to do with four kids?”

“Shut up, Piper.”

“You can barely keep up with the three you have now. You tell me that on a constant basis. And what if you’re having twins or even triplets this time around?”

A throw pillow collided with my face and Dana growled. “Shut up, Piper.”

“How can I shut up? This is great news”

“Really? I haven’t slept in like a decade.”

“Sleep is overrated.”

“You sleep in every day.”

“Yeah, I love being childless.”

She shot me a glare and I held back a giggle. And then she abruptly turned away from me and my grin fell. Her shoulders began to shake. Dana was crying.

Instantly, I got up and sat down on the couch next to her. I embraced her and she just rested her head against my shoulder and cried.

I didn’t say a word. I just let her cry it all out. I didn’t bother with platitudes or try to tell her everything would be alright. I knew my friend better than that and she wouldn’t appreciate or tolerate being placated.

When she was done, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and wiped her nose on her sleeve. I pretended not to notice.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“You don’t have to apologize.”

She sniffled again. “I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed. I know if I am pregnant that I’ll love this one as much as Meredith and the twins, but oh God, the thought of breastfeeding again. Or weaning or potty training, just makes me so tired.”

“Just hire a nanny this time.”

She instantly perked up. “That’s a great idea. Why didn’t I think of that when the twins were born?”

I shrugged. “Glad I could be of help, now do you want me to come with you?”

She shook her head and stood up. She pushed her shoulders back and puffed out her chest as if she were going into battle. “I can do this. I am a strong, fearless woman completely capable of handling any task given to me. Including having and raising another baby.”