Oh God, I’m going to puke. I hold my hand to my forehead as I pray for the nausea to pass.
“Are you feeling sick again?” Jade asks quietly after a few hours, and I slowly turn my head her way, afraid that any sudden movement will cause me to throw up. Since we’ve been on the road, I’ve gotten nauseated more than once, but thankfully we’ve been just about to stop to use the restroom or get gas each time.
“Yeah.” I turn one of the air vents my way, hoping the cool air will help.
“I’ve never known you to get carsick.”
“I haven’t before. I probably caught a bug after all the stress from moving.”
“Yeah, maybe,” she agrees, then mutters, “or maybe you’re pregnant.”
“Don’t say that,” I hiss. My heart starts to hammer away inside my chest, because I thought the same thing after I realized I haven’t gotten my period yet—something I normally would have gotten a week ago. I glance toward the front seat, thankful that Maisie is asleep and Bernard is distracted by singing along to the radio.
You’re on birth control. You can’t be pregnant, I remind myself.
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Okay,” she says, not sounding convinced. “Do you want Dad to stop at the next rest stop? Maybe if you get out and walk around, you’ll feel a little better.”
“No,” I reply. “We’re so close.” I glance at the GPS. “I should be able to hold out another hour.”
“Are you sure?”
No.
“Yeah.” I rest my forehead against the cool glass and watch the forest off the side of the road pass in a blur of green and brown, then close my eyes when it becomes too much.
“Cybil.” I blink my eyes open and find Maisie turned around toward me, and I sit up as Bernard pulls in to park in front of Tanner’s house. “You fell asleep, sweetheart.”
“Not sleeping much last night must have caught up with me.” I yawn as I grab my cell phone. “I was supposed to call Tanner to let him know when we were thirty minutes out so that he could come meet us. We’ll probably have to wait a few minutes for him to get here.”
“That’s fine.” She unhooks her belt and hops out, stretching her arms over her head while I put my cell to my ear.
“Hey, sunshine, are you close?” Tanner greets, sounding happy, and I smile.
“Actually, we’re already here. I fell asleep. I’m sorry.”
“No big deal. There’s a key in a rock in the garden next to the front step. You can use that to get in, and I’ll be there in about twenty minutes, tops.”
“All right.” I unhook my belt and open my door.
“Fuck, I can’t wait to kiss you.”
“Me too.” My heart flutters.
“I’m getting in my truck. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“See you in a few,” I say. Then I whisper, “Love you.”
“I love you too.” He hangs up, and I hop down out of my seat and walk to where Maisie, Bernard, and Jade are standing.
“Tanner said there’s a rock near the steps with a key in it,” I tell them, and Maisie turns to look at me. I notice her eyes are glistening. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“This looks almost exactly like your mom’s house.” She walks toward me and wraps me in a tight hug, whispering, “It’s like serendipity, being here and knowing this is going to be where you’ll live and start a family of your own.”
I squeeze my eyes closed, not wanting to cry. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never been this emotional. Clearing my throat, I smile. “I said the same thing when I saw it the first time. I mean, not the part about starting a family here, but that this place is just like Mom’s house.”
She laughs and lets me go. “There’s plenty of time for talk of babies later on.”
“Did Tanner say exactly what the rock with the key in it looks like?” Bernard asks, cutting into the moment, and I look to where he’s standing and can’t help but laugh, because there are dozens of rocks near the bottom step in the garden, on both sides of the stairs.
“He didn’t, but if we don’t find it, he’ll be here in just a few minutes.” I go to help him look while Jade and Maisie walk around the house to take in the view.
“Victory!” Bernard exclaims, coming up with the key after a couple of minutes, and I take it from him, unlock the front door, and head inside, with everyone following me.