Free Waterfalls by Robin Jones Gunn

their heads touching, staring at the plastic stick, willing the second line to appear. A full minute and a half passed.
    “It’s only one line,” Shelly said.
    “How long has it been?” Meredith asked.
    Shelly looked at her watch and then placed the test stick on top of the box. “Seven minutes.”
    “Are you sure?” Meri said, trying to offer hope.
    “Yeah. Seven minutes,” Shelly said with a sad sigh. “There’s definitely only one line.”
    They were quiet for a moment. Shelly gathered up the instructions and put all the pieces back into the box.
    “It’s probably all the stress you’ve been under lately,” Meredith suggested. “You’ve had a lot of strain on you getting ready for this grand opening.”
    “You’re right. I’m sure that’s it. Besides, we really aren’t ready to have a baby. We talked about trying in a year or so. We have a lot going on right now, you know, with the opening of the conference center and everything.”
    Meredith spotted a solitary tear on the rim of Shelly’s eyelid.
    “Don’t be so brave. You were almost pregnant, and you have every right to be emotional about that.” Meredith opened her arms, and Shelly received her comforting hug.
    “And who knows,” Meredith said as Shelly pulled awayand wiped her tears. “You still could be pregnant, but you’re just not pregnant enough for it to show up on the test.”
    “That’s true. Except I don’t think I can stand the suspense of doing another home test. If I haven’t started by the end of next week, I’m seeing a doctor.”
    “Good idea. Are you going to tell Jonathan?”
    “Yes, of course. I eventually tell him everything. Do me a favor and don’t say anything to Mom, though, okay?”
    “I won’t,” Meri promised. “Do you want to get back to your lodge full of guests now?”
    “I suppose I should. There aren’t that many people left, I don’t think.” Shelly tossed the remains of the home test into the bathroom trash can. “I’m sorry you missed the dedication ceremony while you were at the drugstore. It was really wonderful. Dad prayed, Kyle said some very nice things about Jonathan, and I cut the ribbon. Wish you could have been there. But I appreciate your going to the pharmacy for me, even though it ended up embarrassing you.”
    “That’s okay. I was glad to do it for you.”
    Shelly opened the bathroom door. Bob Two was sitting there, panting and waiting for them. Scooping up the little fur ball, Shelly said, “For now you’ll be our baby.”
    He licked her cheek, and Meredith cringed. “How can you stand to have dog saliva on you?”
    “Haven’t you ever heard how clean a dog’s tongue is?”
    “You have to be kidding. No offense, Bowser, but I saw you licking around the kitchen trash earlier. You’re a big ole slime-ball, you know that?”
    “Don’t talk to my baby that way!” Shelly said, putting Bob Two down. “You stay here, Bob Two. We’ll be back later tonight. I can’t let you out because too many sweet old ladies are around here, and you might scare them to death.”
    “Yeah, right,” Meredith muttered.
    Bob Two barked as they slipped out the screen door.
    “He doesn’t like you,” Shelly said.
    “Of course he doesn’t. He’s a male. Tell him to get in line,” Meri said.
    “You know, I was thinking. Why don’t you call Jake?” Shelly suggested as they walked back to the central lodge.
    “Why? And I thought you weren’t going to mention him again.”
    “Well, I changed my mind. I think you should call him to tell him the pregnancy test was for me and you promised not to say anything. It doesn’t matter now because I’m not pregnant.”
    “You don’t think you’re pregnant.”
    “Same thing at this point.”
    “I don’t think my calling him would change anything,” Meri said. “It wasn’t just the questionable appearance of my buying a pregnancy kit. I terrorized the guy all day long. He doesn’t want to hear from me again; I can guarantee