She paced again to the window, and looked out over the rear of the property. The land sloped down to the sea, silver under the crescent moon. The eerie light seemed to emphasize the feeling that she was standing on a precipice—change lay before her like a vast unknowing and unknowable plain. After tomorrow—the day of the launch—everything would change again.
A distant owl hooted, declaring its territory. She felt a buzz of excitement as she realized a good minute must have passed. She had to look back at the stick. Steeling herself for a disappointment, she looked straight ahead and caught sight of herself in the mirror. She looked pale, her eyes unnaturally bright. She shook her head at the sight of herself because she’d also changed. Her short, choppy hairstyle had become neglected as she’d focused on her work. The makeup that she’d always taken such trouble to apply had been forgotten about as she’d been in such a rush to get to the studio and get back to work. Her skin was clear and glowing. She’d never looked more natural and she’d never felt more happy. Whatever was on the stick, she’d be happy, she decided. She would.
She looked down. There was no thin narrow strip of blue that she’d hoped for so much. She looked again, tilting it to the light. But it made no difference. She wasn’t pregnant. She blinked and stared at it for a few seconds more before she rose and walled off the hope. She gripped the basin and dropped her head as she suddenly felt faint. She splashed cold water onto her face and blotted it away with a soft white towel. Must have been something she’d eaten.
The sound checks were going on at the castle. The stage, seating, and lighting were all in place and the orchestra and singers were having a rehearsal.
Taina had been enjoying the sun and sketching the castle and various flowers as Daidan came and took a seat beside her. “How’s it sounding?”
“Fantastic.”
“Everything else okay?”
“Hope so.”
“Don’t sound so worried. It’ll all be fine. Everything’s arranged. Everything’s in place.”
“Yeah, I know. Most things anyway. There’s been a few more changes.”
She frowned. “What?”
“Come on, I’ll show you.”
She took his hand and rose. She suddenly felt faint and staggered.
Daidan held her tight. “What’s the matter?”
She swayed. “I feel… I feel…”
And then she fainted in his arms.
“It’s not necessary,” Taina hissed at Daidan as they waited for the doctor to appear. She’d already given blood and a urine sample. “We shouldn’t be away from the island. It’s a risk we don’t need to take.”
“It’s a greater risk not knowing why you fainted.” Daidan rose. “Doctor, good of you to see us at such short notice.”
Dr Linna smiled at Taina. “I’ve been seeing Taina since she was a young girl. Good to see you again, my dear.” He sat down. “Now, what’s the problem?”
“It’s just the heat. I was working in the sun and then walking through the castle grounds.”
“Have you fainted before in the heat?”
She shook her head.
“Well then, it’s worth investigating.” Without further comment the doctor went about doing routine checks.
At the end he set aside his stethoscope and took a folder of papers from the nurse who stopped by. Minutes passed as the doctor read through the results of the tests.
“So?” asked a worried Daidan.
The doctor smiled from one to the other. “Nothing to be concerned about. All very natural for someone who’s pregnant. Less than three months, I suspect.”
Taina jumped up and shook her head. “No, I can’t be. I’ve had my period and I’ve done a pregnancy test—“
“You have?” asked Daidan in surprise.
She nodded. “But it was negative.”
“Sometimes those tests are unreliable. Your blood test confirms it.”
Taina paced the room. “No, I’m sure it’s just the heat.”
“Is this something you weren’t expecting?” the doctor asked.
“Perhaps not yet,” said Daidan, looking anxiously at Taina. “But we have decided to have children.” The doctor and Daidan both looked at Taina. “Taina? What is it?”
Taina couldn’t answer. Shocked by the news after she’d persuaded herself she wasn’t pregnant, out of the blue she felt floored, unable to believe it. She gripped the window sill and pushed open the window gulping in the fresh air. She shook her head.
“Hm, sometimes it helps to see something a bit more concrete than a blue line. I’ll get the scanning equipment in and that should make things a bit clearer for you.”