Softly at Sunrise Read Free Page B

one out of the bag. “I figured it would be better to take two no matter what the first result is, just to make sure.”
Rachel smiled and hugged Rusty tight. “Thank you. I appreciate you doing this for me.”
Rusty pulled carefully away, her eyes dark with concern. “Is this a good thing or a bad thing, Rachel? I mean if you’re pregnant.”
“It would be a very good thing,” Rachel said in a low voice.
Rusty smiled. “Then I’ll cross fingers and toes the test is positive. You better hurry, though, if you don’t want the entire world to know. If Marlene shows up and finds you peeing on a stick, the entire family will be gathered in short order.”
Rachel laughed but took the box from Rusty and hurried toward the bathroom. “You be my lookout,” she called back.
“I’ll guard the door,” Rusty said in an amused voice from just outside the bathroom.
Rachel’s hands shook as she hastily tore into the box. They were shaking so badly that she nearly dropped the stick once she freed it from the packaging.
After reading the instructions twice to make sure she did everything accordingly, she forced herself to calm down and focus on the task at hand.
And then, so she wouldn’t drive herself crazy waiting for the first test’s results, she squeezed out just enough to go ahead and take the second test.
She straightened her clothing, washed her hands, and then checked her watch, all while avoiding the little indicator windows on the sticks lying on the counter.
Then she looked.
“Rachel?”
At first she didn’t respond.
“Rachel, is everything okay in there? It’s awfully quiet.”
“Y-you can come in,” Rachel managed to get out.
The door opened, and Rusty stuck her head in and then looked down at what Rachel was obviously staring at.
“They’re both positive,” Rachel murmured.
Then she looked up at Rusty, a rush of fear, excitement, and pure adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Rusty smiled. “That’s good, right?”
“It’s wonderful,” Rachel breathed.
Tears filled her eyes, and then Rusty was hugging her, holding on tight as Rachel fought the wave of emotion engulfing her.
“Congratulations,” Rusty said in a fierce voice. “I’m happy for you, Rachel.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said, giving her a watery smile as she pulled away.
Rusty shook her head and made a tsking sound. “You so better get rid of the watery, red eyes before Mama Kelly gets here. She’ll be on you faster than a duck on a junebug. I’m assuming you want to tell Ethan before the rest of the family.”
Rachel grabbed a washcloth and ran cold water over it. “Yes, of course I do. I appreciate you keeping it secret, Rusty. It’s such a shock. I mean, it’s not completely unexpected. I certainly knew it was possible. It’s just that I never imagined it would happen so fast. I figured with everything that’s happened, that it could be months or even years after we started trying before I got pregnant. I want some time to get used to it myself, and I want to be able to tell Ethan at the perfect moment before we tell everyone else.”
She wrung out the washcloth and pressed it to her eyes and face. When she pulled it down, she grimaced.
“There’s also the fact that I miscarried once before, so I don’t think it’s wise to bust out with the news until a little further along in the pregnancy.”
Rusty’s face wrinkled in sympathy. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine this time. You know the family will close ranks around you. You’ll be fortunate if they let you lift a finger at all.”
Rachel bunched up her nose. “Ugh. Ethan was already not happy about me going back to work. He’ll really flip out now.”
Rusty’s soft chuckle echoed through the bathroom. “I’m sure you’ll straighten him out in no time. It’s not like you don’t have him wrapped around your little finger.”
Rachel grinned, and then a giddy rush fizzled through her veins much like a shaken up soda.
“Oh my God, Rusty, I’m pregnant!”
She