I had been invited to serve it.
When My Body Could No Longer Ignore the Pain
I carried the final dishes back to the kitchen while the dining room filled with conversation and clinking glasses, and as I leaned against the marble counter for a moment, the tight pressure in my abdomen suddenly sharpened in a way that made me gasp softly.
Pregnancy had taught me to recognize the difference between ordinary discomfort and something more serious, and the sensation that moved through my body at that moment was not something I had experienced before.
Still, I tried to breathe slowly and steady myself.
A few minutes later Lorraine entered the kitchen, her heels clicking against the tile floor as she inspected the counters and serving trays with an expression that suggested constant dissatisfaction.
“Why are you standing there?” she asked sharply. “The gravy needs to be brought out.”
I swallowed carefully.
“I’m feeling a little dizzy,” I admitted quietly. “I think I need to sit for a moment.”
Her expression hardened immediately.
“Every holiday someone claims to be tired,” she said impatiently. “You’re young and perfectly healthy.”
When I reached toward one of the kitchen stools to steady myself, L
