“What?”
“I don’t know, but I feel like I’m going to faint. Are you sure that there was No-Doz in that bottle?”
Trina quickly took the bottle and emptied the contents onto the counter to better examine them. Each one was an exact replica of the other. Thinking to check the back of the container, she read through the warning labels and found no reason that Ivy should have been sweating and shaking.
“All it says is that women pregnant or nursing should consult a doctor before using their product,” Trina said without thought. “Do you think that you need to go to the emergency room?”
“Wait! What did you just say?” The words stung Ivy’s ears making her think clearly for a moment.
“It said if you are pregnant or….” Trina looked over at Ivy as her words registered. “Oh, damn, Ivy! You can’t be pregnant.” Sitting back down in the small chair across the room, Trina dropped the bottle on the ground and sighed. She needn’t ask to know. Women knew the look upon discovering their small fragile secret.
“Oh God.” Ivy grabbed her heart. “I am late!” Normally, she would not worry, but she had been with Nicola last month, too.
“Are you sure? You have been under a lot of stress. It could be coming? When was your last cycle?” Trina tried to reason more with herself that than with Ivy.
“The 28 of September.” Silently, Ivy sat on the end of her couch with her hands clasped together. “So much has been going on, I just didn’t think about it.”
“Ivy, it’s November. Well, let’s not waste anytime. Grab your shoes and let’s run up to Walgreen’s to get a pregnancy test.”
“I’m almost too scared to, Trina. What if it’s positive?”
“That’s what we’re gonna’ find out,” Trina said slipping on her shoes.
*
There was nothing more profound to Ivy than watching her life go down the toilet with the upheaval of her lunch and the discovery of a bastard child preparing patiently to expose its brilliant head. Sitting up on her bathroom toilet in complete silence, Ivy looked at the results again for the tenth time. Positive. Too shocked to cry, she reached out for Trina’s hand. One of her worst nightmares had come true, and she didn’t know what in the world to do about it.
“Don’t worry, honey. I’m sure that Grey will be very supportive,” Trina said trying to smile.
“Maybe but will Nicola?” The thought sent chills down Ivy’s spine.
“Are you telling me that you slept with him?” The thought seemed inconceivable to Trina who had known her friend and all of her actions to be sensible until that very moment.
“No, I’m telling you that I’m the Virgin Mary. Don’t be naive’, Trina. Yes, I slept with him, but only once…only to say goodbye.”
“Some how, I don’t think you two will be saying goodbye, yet.” Trina sat down on the edge of the bathtub and scratched her head. “I told you not to let him get you in bed. The man is a certifiable dog. Well, you’ve always got a choice.” With a raised brow, Trina insinuated abortion.
“You know how I feel about that.” Ivy would not even allow the conversation to take place. Her tired eyes were filled with tears. “Damn it. How could I have been so stupid? Only six months away from my wedding, graduation, a new job, a new life, and I go and get pregnant.” Ivy wiped the tears from her eyes. “This is so messed up.”
“Yeah, it is.” Trina was for once lost for words.
“What am I going to do?” Ivy asked rhetorically as she hit her leg with her closed fist.
“You’re going to have to tell him.” It was Trina’ best advice under the circumstances. “That way both of you can come up with a solution.”
“Him? Which him would you be referring to? Or have you forgotten that I don’t know myself?” Ivy clasped her hands together.
“You didn’t use protection with a man you barely knew?” Trina was disgusted for reasons unapparent to Ivy.
“Yes, we used protection, but I don’t remember how many times.” Ivy shook her head in disbelief. “I was sort of drunk, and I just don’t remember. Anything could have happened that night. I know that morning we used protection, but I just don’t remember everything that happened the night before.”
“Well, what about Grey?”
“I slept with Nicola around the 12 of October. I slept with Grey shortly after. The day we got back together, he didn’t use anything.” Ivy sighed. “It could literally be either one of them.”
“Not if you used protection with Nicola...” Trina begged for it not to be so. “Ugh, I can’t believe you let him touch you,” Trina could not get the thought out of her mind.
“Trina! Okay, I get that you’re a little disappointed, but could you get off my ass, please?” Ivy wiped the tears from her cheek.
“I’m sorry,” Trina said getting focused. “Okay, we can figure this out together. How far apart did you sleep with them?
“Three days.”
“So you were ovulating when you slept with both of them.” That wasn’t good news.
“Yeah.” Ivy closed her eyes at the thought of it. “This is a potential disaster.”
“You’ll have to tell both of them the truth. As hard as it seems now, believe me, it will be for the best.” Trina knew that such a delicate situation called for not only sensitivity but also sensibility. Right now more than every Ivy needed a true friend who wasn’t willing to cut corners with her.
“I guess it’s not one of those situations you can easily lie about for too long anyway, huh?” Silence. “Shit! I’ve never been unfaithful, and the one time I do… the one time I do, I get pregnant. I just don’t understand life. I don’t understand the purpose.” She began to cry. “I’ve tried too hard to just fail.” Sniff. “To just go home with my tail tucked between my legs and let my family take care of me.” Sniff! “What I am I
