After running cold water on the dumplings, she used a ladle to scoop them up and place them on the plates. “Not that many,” I said. “I’m still nauseous.”

Becky nodded in understanding. “I know why you feel so nervous.”

“Why?” My eyebrows arched, already knowing what she would say.

“Because...you are a good girl. Getting pregnant before marriage is frowned upon. It’s something an irresponsible person would do, and you’re not that at all. Somehow you see it as something you did wrong, and not Max. That is the kind of person you are. You’re putting the blame on yourself when the finger should be pointing at the both of you. To tell you the truth, nobody really frowns upon pregnancy before marriage any more unless you’re a teenager.”

I knew Becky was right, I just didn’t want to admit it. Taking the plates to the table, I said, “I know. Maybe you’re right.” I went back to the kitchen to get glasses of water and walked back out with Becky, who brought out a dish that she’d heated up in the microwave.

Becky put the dish on the table and sat down. “They call this Chinese broccoli. I love this vegetable.”

“I had that before with Max. I call them long, skinny trees. But they don’t look appetizing right now.”

Becky let out a short laugh and placed some on my dish. “Try...for the baby’s sake.”

“Okay, Mom,” I joked.

I didn’t know if she heard me. Suddenly, she looked at me as if she realized something that she hadn’t before. “You didn’t tell your parents, did you?”

I stabbed a fork through one of the dumplings, dipped it into the soy sauce, and took a nibble. “No, not yet. I wanted to see how his parents would respond first. My mom is going to want to know how they reacted. She’ll want to know that they have embraced the news so that it will make it easier for her to do the same. My dad is pretty easy going, so I’m not worried about what he will say.”

Becky took a sip of water and nodded. “I understand. I really do. Just don’t think that this is your fault and don’t think there is any fault to being pregnant. You told me before that you were so worried that you couldn’t. Well …” She swallowed the bite she’d just taken. “Embrace it. You’re supposed to be glowing. It’s not good for the baby to be sulking. Happy Mommy makes happy, healthy baby.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at Becky. She was right. I just needed to hear it.

“When’s the due date?”

“November. A week before Thanksgiving day.”

Becky’s eyes twinkled with delight. “See,” her tone went up a notch, “a Thanksgiving baby.” She let out a hearty laugh. “Even your baby is trying to tell you something.”

Smiling from her words, I looked down at my stomach, which would be growing soon. “Yes, my baby is.” I looked up at her again. Becky’s mouth was stuffed, chewing as fast as she could while trying to tell me something. Nodding, chewing, and pointing a fork in the air, she mumbled a few incoherent words. All I heard was “… dumplings are so good …”

I had to admit it, they were. After I nodded to agree, I spoke again. “I’m going to answer your question that you asked me earlier before you changed the topic. I think you should wear whatever you want. You’ll look beautiful no matter what.”

Becky’s head tilted in a shy manner with a smile, but it was more of a thank you gesture. She was never shy, or at least not that I knew of. When she finally swallowed, she asked, “What should we bring? This is my first time.”

“Since you’re driving us there, we can stop by the bakery and the floral shop. We can bring a bouquet of assorted flowers and stop by JJ Bakery. They make the best cake. Their frosting is the best, not too sweet. The cake melts in your mouth.”

“From your description, sounds like you’re craving a piece,” Becky said.

“Maybe my baby wants cake.”

“Baby must have food first. Eat some more. You hardly ate.”

“Yes, Auntie Becky.”

“Auntie Becky. I like the sound of that. I promise to be the best auntie.”

My eyes started to pool with tears. “Thanks, Becky. That means a lot to me. Blood is not thicker than water for sure.”

“Nope. I love you as if you were my own sister. You mean the world to me. Don’t you ever forget that.”

Becky’s words made the tears I tried to hold back fall. Wiping them away, I said, “I won’t.”

Chapter 12

Becky

My heart thumped out of my normal beat; sweat dampened under my armpits. It was difficult to concentrate on the road ahead. The closer the GPS indicated we were to Matthew’s parents’ house, the faster my blood pumped through me. What was the matter with me? I’d never been so nervous in my life.

“Becky...you missed the exit.” Jenna laughed out loud. The bouquet of flowers she was holding in her lap was practically blocking my view of her so that I had almost forgotten she was there.

“Oh shit. I’ll get off at the next one and just go local.” I paused to look at the time. “Oh no, we’re going to be late.”

“Becky, it’s okay. I already texted Max to tell him we were running late.”

My shoulders immediately relaxed. I exhaled a deep breath I didn’t realize I was holding in.

“We’re here. Turn right at the light,” Jenna directed. She must have noticed that I wasn’t even looking at the GPS. I was in my own world...again. I had to snap out of it, or I was going to make a big fool out of myself.