Edwina lay curled up on the bathroom floor, feeling the nausea wash over her in waves. Morning sickness had hit hard, leaving her weak and shaky. With a trembling hand, she reached for her phone on the sink counter. Her teller shift at the credit union loomed ahead, but the thought of facing anyone right now seemed impossible.
As she hovered over the toilet, Edwina's fingers fumbled with her phone. She couldn't risk calling in and breaking down in front of her boss. Instead, she composed a quick text to her sister, Melvina. "Hey Mel, feeling really sick. Can't make it to work today. Sorry, please tell my boss" she typed, her stomach lurching with each word. Pressing send felt like a lifeline.
Her older sister always got her out of trouble, but she wasn't sure how things would turn out this time.
After one last bout of nausea, Edwina slumped against the bathroom wall, waiting anxiously for Melvina's response. She knew her sister would understand, but she also knew there was something else she needed to share.
She got a notification from Melvina.
"Done."
Gathering her strength, Edwina took a deep breath and whispered to herself, "I have to tell her about the baby."
Melvina stared at her phone in shock as Edwina's text sunk in. "I'm pregnant," it read, and her mind raced. She couldn't believe what she was reading, especially not while Shane and Vic waltzed into the break room with a box of donuts, their usual smug expressions plastered on their faces.
"Morning, ladies," Vic greeted with a grin, holding up the box. "Fresh from Donut Mania."
Shane nodded, looking equally pleased with himself. "Got all the good flavors too."
Melvina forced a smile, trying to keep her composure. "Oh, thanks, guys."
Shane's smirk widened. "What's got you all flustered this early, Mel?"
Melvina bit her lip, searching for the right words. "Um, well..."
Before she could finish, the reality of Edwina's bombshell of a text hit her like a ton of bricks. "No, guys, you don't understand," she blurted out, unable to contain her anxiety.
Dutch, who had been passing by the break room, caught wind of the commotion and hurried inside. "What's going on?" he asked, concern etching his brow.
Melvina jumped, startled by his sudden appearance. "My sister is pregnant!" she exclaimed, the words tumbling out in a rush.
Dutch's face registered a mix of surprise and relief. "Oh, thank god," he muttered under his breath.
Vic, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist a jab. "Well, sounds like someone's pull-out game is weak," he teased, a smug grin playing on his lips.
Shane snickered, chiming in with his own brand of humor. "Yeah, Dutch wouldn't know what that means, being a nerdcel and all."
Dutch and Melvina both blushed furiously, caught off guard by the teasing. Vic and Shane busied themselves with the donuts, stuffing their mouths with sugary treats.
"Here, buddy," Vic said between bites, holding out a donut to Dutch. "Have a donut like the adults who actually get girls."
Melvina, grateful for the diversion, joined in with a playful tone. "Come on, boys, just because he's a nerdcel doesn't mean we should bully him."
Shane and Vic exchanged amused glances but let the teasing drop. Melvina took a deep breath, realizing she needed to focus.
"Oh right, oh my god, my sister's pregnancy!" she exclaimed suddenly, a wave of urgency washing over her. "I have to call her!"
Without waiting for a response, Melvina hurriedly left the break room, leaving Dutch standing there, still blushing and slightly flustered from the unexpected banter. He glanced at Vic and Shane, who were now wolfing down the last of the donuts, and shook his head with a wry smile.
"Thanks, guys," he muttered sarcastically, before heading back to his desk, his mind buzzing with relief. His secret was safe.