Page 84 of Mountain Trial

Too late.

“Let us in, Kat,” Tess said, laughing. “We’re freezing our butts out here.”

Kat buzzed them in and opened the front door.

“Brrr … it’s cold out there,” Tess said, going straight to Kat’s wall heater.

“Careful, Tess, you’ll burn your hands doing that.”

“Or your butt,” Isolde laughed. “It seems Tess isn’t used to Chamonix winters yet.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this!” Tess replied, her eyes twinkling.

“How are you feeling, Kat?” Isolde asked. She arched an eyebrow. “You don’t look so great.”

“Is that what you say to your patients, Isolde, when they come see you?” Kat laughed.

“Come on, we’ll take you out for a drink and some calamari, and you’ll feel―”

Usually one of Kat’s favorite foods, the word calamari triggered a visceral response in her. She ran to the bathroom, made it to the toilet just in time to avoid throwing up all over the bathroom floor. Afterwards, she brushed her teeth and patted her mouth dry.

Tess and Isolde we outside the bathroom, looking worried.

“I’m sorry,” Kat said. “You should both probably just leave before I give you whatever virus I have.”

A long look passed between her friends. It was Isolde who spoke first.

“Ah, Kat, have you been throwing up a lot?”

Kat shook her head. “Just the last couple of―”

And, just like that, the lightbulb went off in her head.

Oh.

Isolde nodded, patting her own, just barely rounded belly.

“You and Luc …”

“We didn’t use protection. But I’m on the pill and he … oh, fuck.”

“I’m going to leave you two ladies here,” Tess said, “and head downstairs to a pharmacy to pick something up. I’ll be right back.”

Kat sat down on the couch, squishing the pillows she’d just fluffed minutes earlier. She tried to think back.

Did I forget to take the pill any day?

“Do you think―”

“Let’s wait for Tess, Kat, before making assumptions. We’ll know soon enough.” Isolde held her hand. “But if you are pregnant, it’s going to be okay.”

Kat looked at Isolde’s belly. “It’s different for me. Luc and I … we’re not like you and Drake.”

“Of course you’re not, Kat. Every couple is different. And I can’t tell you it’s going to work out between you, but I can tell you it’s going to be okay,” Isolde said.

“You’re using your professional voice. I can tell.”

“It’s no less true. You have a lot of people around you who care about you, Kat.”