It was a perfect, late spring day. Clouds coming in from the west over the mountains hinted at a fresh, afternoon shower. As I shut my car door, my reflection caught my eye.
I turned, placing my hand on my belly once more and trying to imagine what I’d look like with a big pregnancy bump. It was still all too surreal to wrap my head around.
I stepped into the huge lobby of the downtown office building where Lighthouse was located. Dozens of well-dressed men and women were there, some checking in, others gathered in little groups as they discussed one business matter or another.
Melody, one of the receptionists, was working at the front desk. As I approached the desk to hand her my keycard, her big brown eyes flashed with surprise. It was as if she was shocked to see me.
The odd expression on her face only lasted a moment before being replaced by her usual sunny expression.
“Sadie!” she said. “Hey! Good morning!”
“Good morning,” I replied.
Something was definitely up.
“So great to see you,” Melody said. “How’s…um, how’re things?”
Her eyes flicked to my belly, which was strange considering that I hadn’t yet told her the news of my pregnancy. My circle was small, so far.
“Things are good.”
An awkward silence fell. Melody’s eyes flashed again.
“Oh! I need your card.”
“Sure.” With a small smile on my face, I handed it over. Melody quickly ran it under the scanner, then gave it back.
“OK! You’re good to go!” Another glance to my belly. “Have fun! Um, have a good day at work!”
“I will. You too.”
With that, I tucked my card back into my bag and made my way to the elevator. On my way in, I glanced over my shoulder to see that she was looking at me.
When she noticed I’d noticed her, another flash of surprise took hold, and she quickly turned her attention to something else.
That was strange,I thought as the doors shut, the elevator packed with people.Why the hell was she acting so weird?
The way she kept glancing at my belly, her surprise at seeing me, and her stare after I’d walked away – they all added up to something suspicious.
When the elevator doors opened to my floor, I stepped out and was greeted with the massive Lighthouse logo over the front desk.
But no one was there.
Something was definitely off.
I made my way through the front doors with trepidation, as if something terrible were awaiting me in the office. My blood ran cold.
Was Marta going to fire me? Had Melody been placed as a lookout for when I arrived? Was I going to turn the corner and see a pair of security guards ready to throw me out on my butt?
I turned the corner, my heart beating hard in my chest.
What I saw was not what I was expecting – at all.
The entire office, all three-dozen people, were gathered together on the main office floor. Maggie, Marta, and our other boss Lisa Shepard were all gathered in front of a table packed with food and a banner that read “Congratulations, Sadie!”
They cheered as I approached, my eyes wide and my jaw slack.
Maggie grinned as she hurried over to give me a big hug.
“You didn’t really think we were going to just let this go uncelebrated, did you?”
Tears formed in my eyes. I’d told my boss to not make a big thing out of it but being there in the middle of so much love was enough to change my mind.
Lisa and Marta came over to extend their congratulations, and I thanked them like crazy.
Once the shock of the surprise wore off, all I could think about was what would happen when everyone found out the truth.