Book 2: A good guy's guide

Chapter I: The Aftermath

Tess was sitting across Diane at her kitchen table. A pale, ghost white Diane, who was looking down at her fingers, not being able to face Tess.

Diane, her sister-in-law, came to visit Tess that morning, after a phone call that stressed Tess to the core.

She was now in her kitchen, not saying anything, just staring down at her hands in her lap. Tess offered her some tea which she accepted. But now she wasn’t drinking or talking.

- Whatever it is, you can let it all out, said Tess trying to encourage her to speak.

- Tess…I am pregnant, blurred out Diane and started to sob cry, shaking with her whole body.

- It’s ok. It’s not the end of the world. I know you might not be ready for it and you don’t have to be. Aidan will be there for you regardless. He loves you, said Tess in a soft voice.

But the words seemed to make things worse as Diane was crying now even louder, with her head on the table, hiding from Tess and the world.