“So, it appears you and Xavier have reconciled.”

She smiled. “That’s one word for it.”

“I’m glad. Luke said he’s a good guy. I mean…he rode a mudslide for you.”

“For everyone. But yeah. For me too.” She lowered her voice to the merest whisper. “I can’t tell you why he did what he did…but I get it. It’s okay.” This was her first time saying this aloud, and as she said the words, she knew they were true with her full heart. She could let all the anger and pain go. More important, she trusted him again in a way she’d never thought she’d be able to.

Undine nodded. “Yeah. Luke said that too.”

“I can’t believe he and Jae were there. They saved Xavier’s life. He’d have drowned in the mud if he was on his own.” She placed her hand over her friend’s. “They saved the life of the father of my unborn child.”

Undine’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Get out!”

Audrey laughed. “I guess Luke didn’t tell you.”

“Nope.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t guess when I got my coffee from the decaf carafe.”

Undine took a sip of her tea. “I didn’t notice. I’m sure Luke thought it would be more fun if you told me yourself. Especially since, if you’d been paying attention, you’d have seen that I skipped my usual Earl Grey and am drinking a caffeine-free beverage myself.”

Now it was Audrey’s turn to let out an excited squeal. “No way! When?”

“Mid-August. You?”

“End of July. Holy crap, we’re just two weeks apart.”

Audrey thoroughly enjoyed the conversation that followed. Not only was it not about mercenaries, explosives, or violent acts of nature, it was also the first time since she’d learned she was pregnant that she simply got to share the excitement and joy and talk about the wonders of it all, and that it was with a friend who was on the same wild, yet oh-so-common journey made it all the sweeter.

She walked Undine to the front of the hospital and hugged her tight as she thanked her again for bringing clothes and toiletries.

As she headed to Xavier’s hospital room, she felt different. More herself now that she was in her own clothes and clean and relatively rested. But also, she touched the waist of her jeans, which were now snug, and thought about the fact that soon, she and Undine would be shopping for maternity clothes together.

For the first time since she’d learned she was pregnant, she knew she’d be able to enjoy sharing each milestone with not just her friends and family, but with Xavier’s as well.

There was so very much joy and excitement ahead of them.