It's harder than we both thought

 "I shouldn't have been so blunt with her," Sammie felt the need to tell someone about Vada. And Carmen always listened.

"Oh, you did the right thing. Sometimes, you have to say what you have to say. Maybe it's testing your friendship, but you have to be honest. And you were honest," Carmen said as she folded laundry on the kitchen table.

Sammie helped. It was good to keep busy. She did her best to get up and move when she could since that was what the doctor had said about her pregnancy, and they were going to go for a walk at the park nearby as soon as the laundry was folded. And they quickly got it sorted and put it away. 

"I'm afraid Jade thinks I'm pregnant," Carmen said on their way out. She said it was true that she had put on some weight. Her meds had been changed, and she was now on an antidepressant that made her hungry with a vengeance. "But it helps me relax at night, so I will just keep trying to eat healthy and you know, exercise."

"Oh, I can't believe she thinks you're pregnant," Sammie said she looked healthy.

"Well, she didn't say it, but the way she looks at me, I know what she's thinking." Carmen sighed as they walked out of the parking lot to the nearby trail that led to the park. It was breezy out with a touch of fall in the air. Although the leaves were barely changing. 

"I have a feeling Jade wants to be pregnant, and she might envy you." Sammie's smile was open, and Carmen laughed back at the thought.

"I mean, we do get along. We do. I like working with Jade. I'm glad we can both work there, you know." Carmen said about the matter. "At this rate, I'm going to have to start working out at the gym with all the food Eric brings me."

They picked up the pace of their walk. Still, those with dogs past by. It wasn't too busy at the park, but enough. A few families were out with their kids at the playground. Sammie watched wondering how she would be with a little one. Actually, she thought of Gabe.

"Gabe, is going to the appointments with you, isn't he?" It was if Carmen read her mind.

"Not as much as I thought, but you know, he is busy working." Sammie nodded.

"I don't know how Justin would be. I mean, I've never thought of it, actually." Carmen shrugged about the matter. "I know he likes being babied himself, but he'd never admit it. Never." She chuckled then.

"There is a part of Gabe I don't know. I think it has to do with being with his dad all those years and not seeing his mom. I just know, he's afraid he'll be his dad when the baby is born." Sammie felt a little sad at the thought. "It's just I'm afraid of what I have in store, just..you know, having the baby." She talked about the pregnancies she knew of. How happy she was for Bren and her brother. "Bren is so strong. I don't know if I'm that strong."

"Oh,  you're strong. You are," Carmen smiled at her as if she believed it. Sammie nodded. She knew she had to have faith. Still, she wished Gabe were with her for these appointments.