Tara gave her a look. “Are you sure? Because you still look a little pale to me.”

“Actually, you are a little pale, Liz,” Alicia said. “There are a lot of people out sick on our therapy team with the flu. God, it’s been awful. I’ve been hoping I don’t get it.”

“No, I don’t have the flu.”

“So, how far along are you?” Tara asked with a knowing smile.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re pregnant? How did I not know this?” Jenna looked affronted.

And Liz knew she’d never be able to hide this from the women she held so dear. She gave them all a smile. “Actually, I just took a test this morning, and it said I was pregnant.”

“Seriously? That’s awesome,” Alicia said. “Congratulations!”

Then she was surrounded by everyone and hugged. She couldn’t help but smile and laugh and shed a few tears.

“Dammit, you’re all making me weepy and emotional, and you know I hate that shit.”

“Well, get used to it. It’ll get worse before it gets better,” Tara said. “I was a water faucet and an emotional basket case when I was pregnant with Sam.”

“I’m going to get a grip here very soon. I don’t intend to let hormones get the best of me.”

Kathleen laughed. “Good luck with that, sweetheart. I don’t think you get to control your hormones when you’re pregnant.”

She lifted her chin. “I refuse to let my body take over. It’s bad enough I’m throwing up.”

“It’s only the first trimester,” Alicia said. “After that, you’ll be back to normal again.”

She didn’t think anything would ever be normal again. Her life—hers and Gavin’s lives, were about to change forever.

Surprisingly, and considering it was late December, the day had turned out beautifully. No snow, and it was in the fifties, so the guys went outside to shoot baskets. After that, everyone came inside for dessert.

Kathleen’s coconut cream pie was a big hit. Liz had made pecan pie, which everyone loved, and Savannah had made a peach pie that was to die for. Though she wasn’t hungry, Liz had to sample everything.

“And now I’m so full I think I’m going to explode,” she said.

“Think how awesome it’s going to be not to have to suck in your stomach anymore,” Jenna said.

Liz laughed. “You’re right. That’s the most awesome thing ever.” She rubbed her belly. “Thanks, baby. My diet is officially over for at least the next, I don’t know, seven months or so.”