After Lucy's classes were over, she went to the library to do some research for her psychology midterm. By the time she got home it was almost six. Lucy parked her car in the driveway and quickly ran up the stairs to Kevin's apartment.
Kevin smiled when he saw Lucy come up the steps, "Back so soon?" he asked with a smile.
"Kevin!"
"What?" Kevin asked laughing, "your parents bought our story, we're good to go."
"Yeah, but what if I'm you know..."
Kevin turned to stare at his girlfriend, "no, you can't be."
"Why not? We didn't use any protection." Lucy let a tear fall from her eye.
Kevin stood up and walked over to her, pulling her into a gentle embrace, "Let's just wait and see what happens, okay?"
Lucy nodded and tried to wipe away her tears.
A week later, Lucy woke up alone in her room, feeling sick. Quickly she ran to the bathroom she and Ruthie shared and began to throw up.
"Ruthie!" she called, wanting a towel. After waiting a minute, she remembered that Ruthie had left for summer camp the day before. Sighing she pulled herself up off the floor and found a wash cloth. Silently she wiped her pale face and sighed. Now is not the right time to have the flu. I have mid terms next week. She thought, trying to convince herself that it was the flu, not...no, don't think about it Lucy.
Lucy took a deep breath then walked into the kitchen. "Are you okay?" Annie asked.
Lucy shook her head 'no.' "I think I have the flu."
Annie put her hand across her daughter's forehead, "you do feel kind of hot, why don't you go lay down and I'll bring you some soup."
"Okay, but I need to study for midterms."
"That's probably why you're sick."
"Midterms?"
"Stress." Annie replied, remembering her college days.
Lucy nodded, then walked back up the stairs.
A few minutes later Kevin entered the kitchen, "where's Lucy?" he asked.
"She's not feeling well," Annie replied, "here do you want to take this up to her?" she asked handing him a bowl of chicken soup.
Kevin nodded then walked up the stairs.
Lucy smiled slightly when Kevin entered the room.
Kevin set the soup on Lucy's bedside table then sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into an embrace, "what's wrong sweetie?" he asked.
Lucy sighed, "I think I've got the flu, if I were you, I wouldn't get too close." She answered, not wanting to worry him.
Kevin laughed, "too late." He replied, kissing her cheek.
After Kevin fed Lucy her soup, he left for work, and Lucy felt better so she went to the library to study.
The next morning, Lucy woke up early and ran to the bathroom, where she threw up again. After throwing up several times, she felt tired but fine. So she got dressed and went to her classes, then to the library.
The next day the same thing happened. Once Lucy stood up from the toilet she knew it wasn't the flu. She remembered Annie throwing up every morning when she was pregnant with the twins, and Ruthie, and Simon. Could I be...? Lucy didn't even want to think about that. Quickly she picked up the phone.
"Hi this is Mary, I'm in the air, but leave me a message and I'll call you back"
Lucy sighed deeply, "Mary, I really ... really need to talk to you. Call me back."