“Because we are friends. Because of your standing and future here.” He hands me the drive. I take it. “Your charge is in very serious trouble, Judge. I’ll expect to hear from you tomorrow to arrange the time she will appear.”

23

Mercedes

“How are you feeling?” Solana’s eyes move over me in appraisal as she takes a sip of her tea.

“Same as yesterday.” I offer her an amused smile, but she doesn’t return it. “And the day before that, and the one before that too.”

I don’t mention that Judge has been acting weird all week, leaving me vague instructions to get ready to go to the IVI compound this afternoon. Other than that, he’s been keeping himself busy, and I have too.

“Mercedes, this is stressing me out.” Solana sets her cup aside and glances at Georgie for backup. “You won’t be able to hide this forever.”

“I know.” I shift on my seat, smoothing the hem of my dress over my legs. I’m already paranoid that someone will notice any day now that I’m dressing differently. That my stomach is softer and rounder.

“Do you really think Judge has no clue?” Georgie butts in.

“I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m just getting soft in the middle,” I mumble. “I don’t know. I’m not parading around naked in front of him in broad daylight, and I’ve avoided letting him near my belly. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“But you are still getting naked with him,” Solana says. “He’s going to notice any day now, whether it’s in the dark or not.”

I nod, accepting that they’re right. I was slender to begin with, so that’s worked to my advantage, but the clock is ticking, and I can’t forget that.

“So?” Georgie looks at me expectantly.

“Soon,” I choke out. “I’m figuring it out. My niece’s baptism is in a couple of weeks. I don’t want to do anything rash before then.”