Tea Leaves and Opal Necklaces

Good News

Match Twenty-Nine: Good News:

Bik would have two reasons to be happy within two weeks. Her morning started off as nothing special.

"Good luck, baby," the nurse said over the phone. "I love you too." She hung up as she switched the "closed" sign to "open". It didn't take long for the first patient to come along. Bik was about to walk to her desk she heard the bell ringing on the top of her door. She turned to see Ju walking into the lobby. Automatically, her heart pounded against her chest.

"Are you...?" she started to ask.

"I think," Ju said. Bik covered her mouth as she started squealing.

"Okay," she said. "Come with me." The nurse took Ju by the arm and led her further into the clinic.

"Have you had your period yet?" Bik asked.

"No," the clan leader said.

"When was your last one?"

"Last month, I believe."

"When was the next one supposed to start?"

"Hang on." Ju pulled out her cell phone and went to the period tracker app on her phone. "It was supposed to start today."

"Any nausea? Throwing up? Tired?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Breasts swollen?"

"Not yet."

"Any food cravings?"

"Rice noodles. Does that count?"

Bik tried her best not to break down squealing. "How many tests have you taken?" the nurse asked. Ju did a quick count on her fingers.

"About three or four," she said.

"And you came here to be certain?" she asked.

"Yes," the clan leader said, nodding. Bik cleared her throat.

"Are you sure you don't want to check with a hospital first?" she asked.

"I will go there too," Ju replied. "I want to make sure before I tell Yao and the rest of the clan." The nurse quickly nodded her head.

"Okay," she said. "We'll do a standard pregnancy test right away. Though, you should still go to the doctor to get checked out. I am curious about something, though."

"What?" Ju asked.

"Why come to me here?" Bik asked. "Why not go to the hospital or catch me at home?"

"You weren't home by the time I got up," the clan leader said. "I don't want to tell Yao and the clan until I am certain. Ideally, I don't want to say anything until the second trimester. Make sure my chances of miscarriage dropped." The nurse gave her an understanding smile.

"I understand," she said. "Please follow me." Ju followed her to the bathroom.

One trip to the hospital later, Bik got a call on her cell.

"Hello?" she asked.

"It's positive!" Ju said over the other line. "I'm pregnant!" The nurse about fell out of her chair.

"Really?!" she asked.

"Yes!" the clan leader said. "By three weeks." The nurse's squealing could be heard from the hallway.

"Ow, my ear," Ju said. Bik took in heavy breaths.

"Oh, oh, I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I will tell Yao myself," the younger woman went on. "Please don't tell the others yet." Bik sat up straight and nodded.