Chapter 5 She's Pregnant, But So Am I

"Dave?" Sarah's voice called from the hallway. "I need help with something important!"

The intimate moment between David and me shattered instantly. Passion drained from our bodies, replaced by frustration.

"Ignore her," I whispered, trying to pull him back.

David hesitated. "She might really need help."

Sarah knocked again, more insistently. "Dave! Please, it's urgent!"

"I'll be right there," he called out, already pulling away.

Disappointment washed over me like a cold shower. I turned away, reaching for my clothes while David hurriedly dressed. The perfect moment we'd been building toward—ruined. Just like our anniversary dinner.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

I brushed him off. "Just go. Your pregnant ex-girlfriend needs you more than your wife does."

David sighed. "Olivia, please. Let's not do this now."

I said nothing, merely pulling my dress over my head with sharp, angry movements.

"What is it, Sarah?" His voice carried through the partially opened door.

"The faucet in my bathroom is leaking," she explained, her voice carrying that dramatic helplessness. "Water is getting everywhere. I'm afraid I'll slip. You know what the doctor said about falls during pregnancy..."

My eyes rolled so hard they nearly stayed in the back of my head. A leaky faucet was her urgent emergency?

"I'll come check it out," David said, his voice taking on that patient tone he seemed to reserve just for her.

As he left, I collapsed back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. This was becoming a pattern—Sarah interrupting, David rushing to her rescue, me left behind. Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed my phone vibrating.

Jessica had texted: How are things? Any updates on the Sarah situation?

My fingers hovered over the screen. How could I explain that my husband's pregnant ex-girlfriend had not only moved into our house but was systematically destroying my marriage?

Not good. She's staying with us now.

Jessica's response was immediate: WHAT? She's LIVING with you?

Yes. Let's talk tomorrow. Noon?

Jessica replied: Okay, I'll be at the café.

I set my phone down just as David returned, looking tired and slightly damp.

"Everything okay?" I asked, my tone deliberately neutral.

"The faucet handle was loose. Simple fix." He sat beside me on the bed. "I'm sorry about the interruption."

"Are you?" The words escaped before I could stop them.

David's eyes met mine, full of conflicted emotions. "Olivia, I'm trying my best here."

"Your best involves inviting your ex to live with us and running to her every time she calls?"

He took my hand. "This is temporary. I promise. Once she's settled and her pregnancy is more stable, we'll find her another place."

Exhaustion suddenly washed over me. The emotional rollercoaster of the past twenty-four hours had drained me completely.

"I'm tired, David," I said softly. "Can we just go to sleep?"

Relief crossed his features at the temporary truce. He nodded, pulling back the covers and sliding in beside me. His arm wrapped around my waist, drawing me against his chest. Despite everything, there was still comfort in his familiar warmth.

"I love you, Olivia," he whispered against my hair. "Nothing changes that."

I didn't respond, merely closed my eyes and pretended I still believed him.

Morning came too quickly. I woke to David placing a gentle kiss on my forehead, already dressed in one of his expensive suits.

"I made coffee," he said. "And I'm driving you to work today."

"You don't have to do that," I mumbled, reluctantly sitting up.

"I want to," he insisted. "We barely had time together yesterday."

Part of me wanted to ask whose fault that was, but I swallowed the bitter comment. Maybe this was David's way of trying to make things right.

The drive was surprisingly pleasant. We talked about lighter topics—a new restaurant opening downtown, the upcoming charity gala his company was sponsoring. For a brief moment, it felt like before Sarah had entered our lives.

It was soon lunchtime. Jessica was already waiting when I arrived at the café. Her eyes widened as I approached.

"You look terrible," she announced bluntly, pushing a glass of water toward me.

"Thanks," I replied dryly. "Just what every woman wants to hear."

Jessica leaned forward. "Start talking. What's going on with Sarah living in your house?"

I took a deep breath and told her everything—the ruined anniversary, Sarah's appearance at my store, the ruby necklace, her moving in, and last night's interruption.

"That manipulative witch," Jessica muttered, her nails tapping against the table in irritation. "And David is just letting this happen?"

"He says it's temporary," I explained, picking at my salad without much appetite. "Apparently, Sarah's mother and his have been friends for decades. There's some debt of gratitude involved."

"That doesn't give her the right to move in and take over your life," Jessica countered. "And the way she keeps calling him 'Dave'? She's marking her territory."

I sighed, pushing my plate away. "I know. But David doesn't see it."

"What are you going to do?"

"What can I do? She's pregnant and supposedly has nowhere else to go. If I push too hard against her staying, I look like the villain."

Jessica squeezed my hand. "Listen to me, Olivia. You're not the villain for wanting boundaries in your marriage. This Sarah person is playing some game, and you need to be careful."

"I'm trying," I said softly.

"And remember, no matter what happens, I'm here for you. Always."

Her fierce loyalty brought tears to my eyes. "Thanks, Jess."

"Don't thank me. Just stand up for yourself. Don't let this woman push you out of your own marriage."

After lunch, I returned to work feeling marginally better. Jessica's support had bolstered my spirits.

I was organizing a display when a wave of nausea hit me suddenly. My stomach lurched, and I barely made it to the employee bathroom before emptying my lunch.

Kneeling on the cold tile floor, I tried to catch my breath. This was the third time this week I'd gotten sick. Combined with my exhaustion and the slight tenderness in my breasts I'd been ignoring...

"No," I whispered to my reflection. "It can't be."

But it could. My period was late—something I'd attributed to stress until now.

The rest of my shift passed in a blur of anxiety. As soon as I clocked out, I headed straight to the pharmacy instead of waiting for David. I needed to know for sure, and I needed to know alone.

Twenty minutes later, I stood in the bathroom of my store, staring at a small plastic stick that would determine my future. The test promised results in three minutes, but they were the longest three minutes of my life.

What would this mean for me and David? For my career? And what about Sarah, already pregnant and living in our home?

The timer on my phone beeped, signaling it was time to check the results. My hands trembled as I picked up the test, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat.

Two lines. Clear and unmistakable.

I was pregnant.