"I don't know, I've never bought one ... hiccup ... but buy two of them. Different kinds. Something that looks accurate. I'll have Burnett with me helping pick out something for my hiccups."

Kylie tried to think. "How does an accurate pregnancy test look any different from one that's not accurate?"

"Just buy two, but not the cheap ones." Holiday sighed as they made their way down the path back to the office.

"Here." Holiday handed her a couple of bills and Kylie stuffed them in her pocket with her small wallet. "Now that's taken care of, let me tell you the other stuff."

Oh, yeah, the other stuff. "What is it?" Kylie asked, suddenly concerned.

"Your dad called. You need to call him."

"Okay," Kylie said. "Can I use your phone?"

"Yeah." She reached in her pocket and handed Kylie her phone. "And the next thing-"

"There's more?" Kylie asked.

"Yeah. Tomorrow you're getting visitors. If you want them."

"Visitors? Who?" Kylie stuck the phone in her pocket.

"The Brightens. Your real dad's adoptive parents. They are back from Ireland and got all the messages.

They're eager to meet you."Chills ran down Kylie's arms. "I'd almost given up on meeting them."

"Well, they will be here tomorrow, at two, if you agree to it."

Kylie swallowed. "Yeah, of course I want to meet them." And just like that, Kylie started missing her dad again. More than that, she could swear she felt a touch of cold. Cold that reminded her of him. And oh boy, could she ever use a visit from him now.

* * *

When they arrived at the office, Hayden and Burnett were standing by the coffee machine-not talking.

The awkward silence told Kylie that they'd recently halted the conversation when they heard them coming. Meaning they were keeping secrets.

Which frustrated the fire out of her, because after all, this was about her, wasn't it? She almost called them on it, too, but realized an argument might delay the trip into town. And Holiday needed her. So Kylie buried her frustration, vowing it would be unearthed, resuscitated, and dealt with full-force later on.

Holiday cut a glance to Kylie as if she'd read the emotional marathon happening inside her. After a few nods of uncomfortable greetings, Holiday glanced at Burnett. "You ready?"

On the ride to town, Holiday drove and hiccuped the whole way. Burnett fretted over her hiccups and kept a keen lookout as if he was worried Mario would drop in.

"We should call the doctor," Burnett said when Holiday let out another one.

"I'll just pick up some antacid or something," Holiday said.

When they entered the pharmacy, Kylie started to the feminine product aisle. Burnett started after her, but when he saw her walk up to the tampon rack, he turned around.

Kylie saw Holiday pull him with her to a different aisle.

Taking a deep sigh, Kylie went to look for the pregnancy tests. Feeling rushed, she scanned the different packages but was at a loss. There were numerous kinds, each offering a different promise.

Realizing she didn't have time to read them all, she grabbed two and then just to be sure she got the right one, she grabbed another. Checking to make sure no one was looking, she bolted to the pharmacy counter to pay for them. It wasn't until she saw the older man standing there that Kylie realized how hard this was going to be.

The man, an elderly preacher-looking type, was going to think that the tests were for her. Oh, just great.

She swallowed a big lump of embarrassment down her throat. Then, thinking of Holiday, she put the three boxes on the counter.

The man eyed her purchase, then looked up. Kylie could see the judgment in his old gray eyes as a frown marred his face. Lovely! She was getting judged for being pregnant and she was still a virgin.

"Do you know how to use these?" he asked in a very condescending voice.

Kylie felt her face flush red. "I ... will read the instructions."

"Would you like my assistant Angela to speak with you about ... anything?"

Like safe sex, Kylie bet he was thinking. "No," she blurted out. When the man just kept staring at her, she added, "Thank you."

He rang up the items slowly. Kylie's heart beat to a nice, steady rhythm of embarrassment. She opened her mouth to say: "These are for a friend." But what was the chance of him believing that?

"That will be forty-two and ninety-six."Kylie went for the bills Holiday gave her. "Shit," Kylie mumbled when she saw she didn't have enough.

"Excuse me?" the little old man said, now not only offended that she was pregnant but because of her language.

And he should be offended-by the language. She knew better than to curse in public. But face it, the man's opinion of her was already in the pits, what was one little word going to matter? But still, she offered, "Sorry."

"Do you want to buy these or not?"

She nodded. "Yes, it's just ... I don't think I need three. Just two."

Frowning, he looked down at the boxes. "Which one would you like to return?"

She took a deep breath, realizing somewhere along the line she'd stopped doing that.

Then, remembering her mom's credit card-to use only in case of emergencies-she pulled out Holiday's phone and then the little wallet. "Never mind, I'll take them all."

Tossing the card on the counter, she bit down on her lip. She wasn't sure this was the kind of emergency her mom was referring to, but getting away from this man's judging eyes seemed pretty important.