"cut from the same cloth" - their story.

Chapter 33 - My turn

As Autumn sat in the booth, sipping her non-alcoholic gin and tonic, she tried to maintain a sense of normalcy. Marjorie arrived, her eyes brightening as she spotted her friend.

"Hey, Autumn! I didn't know you were coming here. Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," Autumn replied with a smile, though there was a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I thought it'd be nice to get out of the house for a bit."

Marjorie slid into the seat across from Autumn and ordered her drink. As sara left, she turned her attention back to Autumn. "It's good to see you out. I've been worried about you lately."

"Yeah, I've just been needing a break from everything," Autumn said, trying to sound casual.Their conversation started light, with Marjorie catching up on work and mutual friends.

 However, Marjorie couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She noticed that Autumn's drink was still mostly full, and there was something about Autumn's demeanor that seemed different.

"Is everything alright, Autumn?" Marjorie asked, her voice softening with genuine concern. "You seem a bit off tonight. Are you feeling okay?"

Autumn hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm fine, just... a bit tired."

Marjorie's concern deepened as she observed Autumn. She glanced down at Autumn's drink again and felt a wave of worry wash over her. Could Autumn be drinking while pregnant? The thought made her heart race.

"Autumn," Marjorie said gently, leaning in closer. "I couldn't help but notice you haven't really touched your drink. Are you sure everything's alright? You know you can talk to me."

Autumn's face flushed with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. She tried to brush it off with a light-hearted comment. "Yeah, I'm just not that thirsty tonight."

But Marjorie wasn't convinced. "Autumn, please. If there's something going on, you can tell me. I'm here for you."

Autumn's eyes filled with tears as she realized she couldn't keep her secret any longer. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "Marjorie, I need to tell you something, but I'm scared."

Marjorie's eyes widened with concern, her heart pounding. "What is it, Autumn? You can tell me anything."

Autumn looked down at her drink, then back up at Marjorie, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm pregnant."

Marjorie's eyes softened in understanding, but her initial shock quickly gave way to a deep, comforting empathy. "Oh, Autumn. I had no idea. I'm so sorry I didn't notice sooner."

Autumn's tears began to flow more freely as she squeezed Marjorie's hand. "It's been overwhelming, and I wasn't sure how to handle it all."

Marjorie's initial panic turned into a reassuring calm. "I'm just glad you told me. You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, and I'll support you in any way I can."