Free Whispers by Robin Jones Gunn Page B

we just leave it at that?”
    Mark maintained his solid-as-a-rock expression. He didn’t look relieved or surprised.
    “Coffee?” the waitress asked him as she automatically filled Teri’s cup.
    It took Mark a moment to answer. “No,” he said looking up at her. “No thanks. I’m leaving in a minute.”
    “I’ll take the check,” Teri said.
    The young woman pulled it from her pocket and placed it on the table.
“Mahalo,”
she said and sauntered away.
    Teri sipped the hot coffee and looked at Mark. Her mind and heart were flooded with doubts. She wanted to tell him she had been too blunt, too rigid in her approach. She hadn’t even given him a chance to say what he thought. Maybe that was because she didn’t want to hear it. Better that she reject him before he rejected her.
    We’re too different, she reasoned. He has his life on the sea with the whales, and I have, well, I don’t think I could live on a boat. He’s so quiet and reserved. I’m too forceful. I would dominate the relationship … like I am right now
.
    “Well,” Mark said slowly. “I’ll do that. I’ll call you sometime.” Now he looked hurt.
    Teri wished she could retract her words and start thisencounter over again. She hated it when her sister dominated her, and here she was, dominating Mark.
    He slid out of the booth and gave Teri a final grin.
“Aloha,”
he said and strode through the maze of tables and out toward the harbor.
    Teri let out a huff and could smell her own coffee breath. Her stomach was in a knot, and she had a painful feeling of remorse. She might never see Mark again. At church perhaps. But she would never know what he really felt. She hadn’t given him the opportunity to say anything.
    Her emotions wavered all the way back to Dan and Anita’s place. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had made the right decision.
    Dan was waiting for her so he could take the car to work. He seemed especially cheery as he left.
    “Annie?” Teri called out as the screen door slammed shut behind her. “Are you up?”
    Teri ventured into the bedroom and found her sister sitting up in bed with a peculiar look on her face.
    “It’s positive,” Anita said.

Chapter Eleven

    W hat are you talking about?” Teri asked, making room for herself on the end of the bed.
    “The pregnancy test,” Anita continued. “It’s positive. I’m pregnant.” She still had a dazed look on her face.
    “Annie, congratulations!” All of Teri’s woes vanished. “Does Danny know? Of course he does. This is fantastic!”
    Anita nodded. “Gordo was right, I guess.”
    “I don’t think Gordo had anything to do with it,” Teri said. “You’re going to have a baby!” She threw her arms around her sister. “No wonder you haven’t been feeling well. Do you want me to get you something? Tea or juice or anything?”
    “No, it’s still too early in the day to think about putting anything in my stomach. I can’t believe this. I’m pregnant.”
    “You don’t look too excited.”
    “I’m scared, Teri. If I lose another baby, my heart will absolutely break.”
    “Let’s pray,” Teri said.
    “I have been praying.”
    “I know, but let’s pray together. Right now.” Teri slid closer and placed her hands on Anita’s stomach. Together the two women tearfully asked God to protect the life of this tiny child. When the Moreno sisters were united on anything, there was no stopping them.
    “Amen, amen,” Teri said. She leaned over, wiped her sister’s tears, and in an excited whisper said, “I’m going to be an auntie!”
    After their prayer time, Teri decided to spend the day on the beach and give Anita an opportunity to work. By the time Teri returned to the house later that day, she had pretty much convinced herself she had correctly handled the situation with Mark. That relationship was destined not to go anywhere. The fireworks from last summer had fizzled, and there was no rekindling them.
    With that relationship settled, she had