I swallowed the unexpected lump in my throat. During the years I’d known Harvey, I’d never met Sadie (until the night Eric died, that is) nor had Harvey really brought her up, but he seemed truly smitten with her.

“Aren’t you going to finish that?” Harvey asked eyeing my plate, then looking up suspiciously.

I shrugged. “Sorry, I changed my mind on the fish.”

“You’re not eating right, Sara. You’re going to have to look after yourself better. If Eric was here…”

I knew that the moment he said those words, he regretted them immediately.

“Shit, I don’t half put my foot in it.”

I smiled reassuringly and said, “Don’t worry about it, no harm done.”

“Shit,” he repeated. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he said and claimed my hand. “I didn’t mean to bring him up. I can be such an idiot sometimes.”

I put up a hand and stopped him. “You didn’t say anything wrong. You’re right. Eric’s gone. He did terribly things to me, but that shouldn’t stop me from moving forward, looking after myself and… and Humbug.” I’d nearly let it slip, I thought.

He nodded and let the topic go. We passed the evening avoiding potentially dangerous topics and enjoyed each other’s company instead, and I even managed to eat some of my main course, which pleased Harvey enormously.

He paid the bill, and we decided to walk and enjoy the twinkling city lights as evening set in. I crossed my arms over my chest, trapping as much body heat as I could when he pulled me in close. I was beginning to really enjoy our little walk together. I glanced up at him, but he wasn’t looking down at me, his stare focused ahead of us and his touch light against my body.

The silence allowed the thought of what had happened earlier creep back in, and I contemplated a potential pregnancy. If I was pregnant, could I raise a child that I knew had been conceived in an act of hate? Deep inside I knew there were choices out there. Several options if I needed them. I needed time, but depending on how far along I was, I might not have much of it.

I let my mind wander… there would be nothing wrong with keeping the baby, becoming a single mom. The thought of having a family of my very own gave me a tiny thrill, but just as quickly as it came, it withered away with the thought of our future. Could I do it alone? Was I strong enough?

As much as I loved having Harvey around, he could not be with me forever, looking after me and the baby. It wasn’t practical; he had his own life. Eventually he’d want his own family, and he’d build a life with another woman—Sadie perhaps. I was just his stepsister, his friend. I pushed the unwanted thoughts aside as we finally reached the office car park.

“What are you thinking?” Harvey asked, peering down at me with his brows furrowed.

“Nothing,” I said.

“You’re too quiet. You’re not normally this quiet. You know you can tell me anything, right?”

I smiled in spite of his worry. I reached down and took his hand in mine and squeezed his fingers, “I know I can.” But I kept my mouth shut.

Tuesday seemed a little better at first, but then I got to the office, and as I stepped out of the jerky elevator a rush of nausea washed over me.

Not again.

I quickened my steps and dashed for the ladies bathroom. My hand clamped down on my mouth as I ran down the hall, passing a startled Sadie along the way.

“The office is the other way… Sara?” Sadie called, but I couldn’t stop.

With a distracted wave of my hand, I pushed open the bathroom door, then dashed into a cubicle and puked my guts out.

Well there goes the dry toast I had for breakfast, I thought, as bits of crumbs floated in the bowl.

I waited again for the unpleasantness to subside, sitting with my knees upon the cold, tiled floor. I grabbed another roll of toilet tissue, wiped my mouth and picked myself up from the floor, completely disgusted with my body and what it was doing to me.

I stifled a gasp as I exited the cubicle—Sadie’s face met my gaze, her hands in her usual position, resting upon her slim hips. Her eyes narrowed, ran over me, studied me.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked as she stepped forward and without asking permission pressed an icy hand on my heated forehead.

“A little bit,” I admitted.

“Here.” She pushed a bottle of water towards me, and I accepted it with a grateful smile. “I have some breath mints at my desk you can have later.” I twisted the cap off and sipped, swilling my mouth out, then spitting in the sink, desperate to get rid of the bitter taste. I would not get used to that, I thought.

“Sit down for a minute,” she instructed and helped me back into a cubicle. After she flushed the toilet she pulled the lid down and sat me upon it, her hold light and soft against my flushed skin. “How are you feeling now?”

A flash of concern flickered in her beautiful eyes, and I’d managed just in time to bite down my question as to why she was being so nice. “I’m feeling much better, thanks.”

“So, what’s the deal?” Sadie asked, eyeballing me. “You sick or something?”

I shook my head and debated whether I should tell her or not. Letting anyone know, even a partial stranger, would be a blessed relief, but I had to remind myself I’d be working with her, technically for her, for the days and months to come.

“Did you get food poisoning? Harvey didn’t take you somewhere seedy last night, did he? I’ll wring his neck for making my new assistant ill,” she said with a smile.

I bit my lip and shook my head again. With a sigh, I blurted, “I think I’m pregnant.”

I didn’t know if it was possible for someone’s eyes to bulge out of their sockets. If it were any other day, in another time and life, I would have laughed at Sadie’s expression when she heard my confession.

“Come again?” she said.

“I think I’m pregnant,” I repeated and swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Harvey’s?”

“What?” I said and almost stood up, startled. “No, of course not.” My cheeks were burning up. How could she think that?

She frowned, her beautiful, smooth face creasing. ”Well, OK then. How sure are you?”

“Pretty sure. I haven’t done a test yet. God, I don’t know what I’m going to do if I am.”

I dabbed at the corner of my eyes with a wad of new tissue and then blew my nose before smiling apologetically. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be unloading my problems on you. Harvey doesn’t know yet. You’re the only person I’ve told.”

“Hey,” she soothed and ran a palm on my shoulder. “It’s OK. Everything’s going to be fine.”

“But I have no one. All my family and friends have drifted away from me after the accident and my mom’s death. Well, all except Harvey.” I swiped at my tears and continued, “And my twin sister Anita has too much on her own plate, she’s got kids of her own…”

“Well, you can rely on me, and you should tell Harvey.”

“How can I do that when I’ve burdened him with so many of my problems already? And not to mention all the times I’ve stolen him away from you—him coming around all the time, taking me out to dinner when he should be taking you.”

Sadie laughed and said, “What? Are you mad? Harvey and I? Not a bloody chance! Not really my type if you know what I mean.”

“Oh? OH! Fuck… I’m sorry. I didn’t know, I thought you two were… well, I don’t know what to think now.”

“We get on like a house on fire, there’s no denying that, but there’s no way I’d be letting him anyway near my lady-parts! Not for all the money in the world,” she said with a scoff. “But seriously, you should tell him. He cares for you so much—I don’t think you realise how much, do you? But anyway, stop worrying about things until you know for sure, and take a damn pregnancy test to find out. I’ll even hold your hand.”

I chuckled at her bossiness and agreed to her demands.