<h4>Chapter 221: Chapter 221 : A Positive Test</h4>


    Ba.


    I woke up to the smell of cooking sausage and eggs. No one was beside me in bed, I realized, which didn’t rm me in the slightest. In fact, I smiled. James was making me breakfast. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and yawning.


    My stomach rumbled, meaning this boon from James wasing right on time. Smiling, I reached over to check my phone, noting a text from Sophia. It read: ‘I’m stopping in to visit today with something important! Are you avable?’


    I texted back, ‘Yes, I am. Come for lunch?’ Then, I raised a brow, wondering what the important thing could be. Perhaps some new toys for the children? She wasn’t standing in as nanny anymore, but alwaysmented how she wanted to give gifts every now and then.


    While James finished up breakfast, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. My stomach didn’t lurch again this time, thankfully, so I’d be able to eat breakfast with no problems. With any luck, this weird stomach issue was clearing up.


    What a relief that would be. Last night had been fun with James, and I was thankful that hadn’t been interrupted either. I liked sex rougher than gentle, and while he did intensify thingsst night toward the end, he was definitely being more careful.


    He was a wonderful person, and I was thankful for that. Still, I wished it wasn’t necessary, because I really enjoyed our fun. I liked exploring and was eager to do so more once we settled down a bit.


    The haunting feeling of having killed someone settled in again, and I frowned, staring at myself in the mirror. I was looking into the eyes of a killer. My own. Though all of the support I’d been giventely told me one thing. I did it to protect my children and would have done it again.


    Letting out a sigh, I ran a brush through my hair, washed up, and returned to bed, letting myself rx. Soon, James entered with a te full of food, causing my stomach to rumble again and my face to flush somewhat. James chuckled at me.


    “Hungry?” he asked, knowing the answer already. Iughed back at him and nodded, epting a te and digging into my food, realizing I was far hungrier than I thought. James asked, “How are you feeling today, Ba?” He sounded concerned.


    “I’m doing alright. No weird stomach lurches. In fact, I’m super hungry. Thank you for making me this, it’s really good,” I said, the savory vor of the eggs and sausage settling on my tongue and causing my mood to improve even further. We had cooks, but James just loved to cook, especially forth is family.


    “That’s wonderful to hear,” James said, letting out a sigh of relief. He climbed into bed next to me with his own breakfast, allowing me to lean on my shoulder. Something I did very happily, of course, just basking in the warm feeling and spending time with him.


    “Sophia is going to stop byter today with something important,” I said, still not entirely sure what it could be. “Did she give you any hint as to what that would be?” I wondered why she was being so vague, it was driving me nuts!


    “Oh, she is? I haven’t heard,” James said, leaning over to kiss me gently on the forehead. “Tell her I said hi. I may be in my office working on business matters.” I nodded, knowing he was dedicated to such a thing and not wanting to interrupt him.


    “I will,” I said. “We’re going to have lunch.” I finished up breakfast and carried on talking with him about his ns for the day until he got up and brought our dishes to the sink. Those would be taken care ofter.


    Today, I would pass the time with more research into Guatem, still uncertain as to whether or not we’d actually make it there, but leaning more into the idea that I could work on something from afar with regard to the charity.


    I wasn’t sure about Italy still, but we seemed to be settling in fine. The Allison incident had been ongoing, after all, and not something new. I winced, thinking of that, but felt d that was all over. Hopefully, the Cartwrights would finally back down.


    Eventually, I made my way back into the living room, going to answer the door as security verified who it was. “It’s Sophia,” they confirmed, causing me to nod and inwardly sigh with relief. Lately, I’d been on edge even if I knew someone wasing to visit.


    After the terrifying incident with Allison, I had a feeling I’d be that way for a while. Still, right now was time for positive interaction with friends, so I let myself smile and met Sophia at the door. I said, “Hi Sophia, how are you?”


    “I’m well, but you’re about to be better,” Sophia said, beaming at me. I furrowed my brow, wondering what she could mean. Lunch was on the stove, and I tended to it, the scent of tomato sauce rising through the air as the pasta boiled in a pot. I was going with something simple today.


    “Oh? I’m curious to see what you mean by that,” I said, cing the kettle onto the stove and ensuring it was started for tea during lunch. Eventually, that was situated, and I found myself sitting in front of Sophia, sipping some tea and wearing a smile.


    She brought out her bag and withdrew something from it. It was a small rectangr box, which I took and examined. A pregnancy test? I eyed it curiously, thinking about how weird I’d been feelingtely and furrowing my brow.


    My eyes fell on Sophia, and I asked, “What is that?” I hadn’t taken it yet, but a seed of excitement settled in my gut which began to grow. There had to be a reason she brought this. Could I really be pregnant again?


    “I just thought, because you haven’t been feeling well, Ba. Go on, take it. I want to see if my feeling is right,” Sophia said, giving me an encouraging smile. I nodded, standing up and making my way to the bathroom with the test in hand. My heart pounded as I approached the toilet.


    A little whileter, I examined the positive pregnancy test with tears brewing in my eyes. An ted feeling washed over me as I let out a small cheer. This was something I had been wanting, and I was over the moon about it. It hadn’t even crossed my mind, I’d been so stressed out over everything. How had this snuck up on me twice?


    It didn’t matter now. “Dahlia and Alessandro are going to get a little sibling,” I whispered to myself, tears pouring from my eyes in excitement. I exhaled and exited the bathroom, putting the test into a little baggie and hiding it for now. I wanted to confirm with a doctor before anything else.


    James deserved a big reveal if this was true. I did a little dance and exited the bathroom, wearing a huge smile for Sophia. The other woman met my grin with one of her own, letting out a joyous chuckle.


    “So, what did you find out?” she asked, her voice dripping with excitement.


    “It’s positive,” I breathed, practically glowing. She let out a squeal and stood up, rushing over to give me a huge hug. I still had no idea how she knew, but some people just did. She must be someone who could feel that sort of thing. “Thanks so much, Sophia,” I said.


    “You are very wee! When are you going to tell James? He’ll be as excited as you are right now, I hope!” she said, practically bouncing. I narrowed my eyes in thought, not losing my smile for a second. Then, I nodded.


    “He will,” I said. “I want to confirm with the doctor first, so I hid the test, but I want to n a big reveal.”


    “That’s entirely fair,” Sophia said, reaching over to pat me on the back. We chatted for a little while longer, indulging in lunch and nning a future shower. My voice dripped with sheer happiness the entire time, and eventually, I bid her goodbye for the day.


    Then, I grabbed my phone, changing my appointment with the doctor. I would be able to stop in tomorrow, thankfully, and exined that I suspected I was pregnant. I was relieved I hadn’t been drinking at alltely.


    That also exined the mysterious sickness, of course. I felt both hungry and nauseous more and moretely, and while I was d to get relief from the stomach pains, I knew the probable cause. That made them far less frightening.


    I walked into my own office, a skip to my step. Starting up theputer, I noted all of my research and let out a sigh. So much for Guatem, for now. At this point, I would definitely lean more into staying here and working on something like that from afar.


    James and I had a growing family, and after everything, I was very happy. I swallowed, however, recalling that incident with Allison. What if she had stabbed a bit lower and killed the baby? I would have never known. A tear trickled down my face at that realization.


    Shaking my head, I told myself to focus on the positives and how we’d gotten through it. The going had been tough, but now I could move on to another Chapter in my life. I sat, typing on theputer and looking up ways to remotely help out this charity idea.


    I didn’t want to give up one of my dreams, and wouldn’t. The stopping point on this Guatem charity would be a ‘for now’ more than anything. After typing away for a bit, I sent out a text to Antite, telling her about the news.


    She’d been supportivetely, and I was happy to have a friend in her now. She was going through rough times given the Stepford wives wereplete harpies, but she was slowly getting through it, so she said.


    Now, she would know why I needed toy off charity ns, most likely. I finally felt very hopeful toward the future, beyond settling on the charity idea. More tears crawled down my cheek, and I leaned back in my chair, just basking in the happiness.


    Everything happening had been bringing me down horribly, but I was now on a very positive path and couldn’t be more relieved. So much peril, fear, and darkness had shut my mind away for a while, but this new baby, if the doctor confirmed I was pregnant, would bring more light into my life.


    I couldn’t wait for Dahlia and Alessandro to have a new baby sibling.