“Are you okay?” Dmitri’s hand settled on my cheek.
“No, I think—” I pushed my chair back and stood too fast, already moving. I ran toward the house, one hand over my mouth as heat surged up my throat.
The guest bathroom was just beyond the back door. I made it inside and bent over the toilet, retching. Nothing came, only the pressure sitting high in my chest. I spat and forced myself to breathe.
A hand settled on my back. “Did you drink?”
It was Dmitri.
I straightened and shut my eyes, waiting for the room to stop tilting. He turned me gently and cupped my face. “Hey.”
“I’m fine.” I swallowed.
“Is everything okay?” Alessia’s voice came from the doorway.
“I’ll call the doctor,” Dmitri said, already moving before I stopped him.
Alessia came in with Caitlin right behind her, both of them watching me closely. I turned to the sink, running cold water over my hands before splashing my face.
“I didn’t drink,” I said. “Why did I suddenly feel sick from the smell of garlic sauce?” I looked at myself in the mirror, then at them through the reflection. They didn’t answer. “What?”
They exchanged a look, then looked back at me.
“Nothing,” Alessia said. “Good thing we have a doctor.”
My mother appeared in the doorway, reading the room before stepping inside. “What happened?” she asked.
“I’m fine.” I let out a small laugh and moved everyone out of the bathroom. Grandma was already in the corridor. “Why iseveryone here? Let’s not ruin Grandma’s birthday.”
“The doctor is here,” Grandma said.
Dmitri returned with a woman walking behind him. I dropped the argument before it even started. Everyone had already decided.
I followed them into the sitting room and sat on the sofa. I let Dmitri speak with the doctor about my history of gastritis and turned to Alessia. “Do they always keep a doctor on hand?”
“I came with her. Rodion brings her everywhere,” she said, and I nodded. She was pregnant, which explained it. “I meant to ask, are you sure that—” Alessia stopped when the doctor turned to me.
“Does your stomach hurt?” the doctor asked.
“No,” I shook my head.
“Do you feel better after eating, or is there a burning sensation?”
I considered it. “No. Not lately.”
The doctor nodded once. “When was your last period?”
“Sorry?” I blinked. “Last month. I don’t remember the exact date, but…” I paused, trying to locate it, but the specific date didn’t come to mind. “My periods are irregular, so it’s been a while.”
She pulled on her gloves. “We will run some pregnancy tests.”
“What?” I let out a short laugh. “I don’t think that’s the case.” My gaze went to Dmitri. He wasn’t saying anything. I looked around the room, and everyone looked like they could suggest a pregnancy test too.
“Dmitri,” I whispered, panic settling in.
“Everyone out,” he said, and the room cleared quickly. My mother was the last to leave. She paused at the door and looked at me like she wanted to come back.
“What do you mean, pregnancy?” Dmitri asked the doctor.