3D: The Secret

Weeks flew by quickly like melting ice. Aubrey and Julio enjoyed their little secret while it could remain so. They giggled and whispered in the privacy of their bedroom—their hiding place—discussing all the things as if they ran out of time. Baby names, schooling options, new traditions and even discipline were on the menu nightly. But, like all good things, soon the secret would reveal itself whether or not they wanted it to. Winterfest, a holiday designed to share joy, seemed the perfect time to let everyone in on the secret.

Aubrey’s guilt about taking on yet another holiday lasted approximately nine minutes. She enjoyed having the family over for big meals and mirth. Surely Jonathan and Skyla appreciated not having that responsibility anymore. Maya should thank her because it was a lot of work she didn’t have to do. Besides, the next year, Aubrey would be a mom. Maybe she’ll want a break, and Maya can have all the holidays.

With the house decorated and food mostly ready, there was one item left on Aubrey’s agenda. She strode through the living room to Salma’s quarters. Aubrey gave her a few days off to enjoy the holidays with her own family, but she didn’t have anyone. She worked in the mansion most of her adult life, making it easy to understand why she was so attached to the Corleonesi family and even how she succumbed to Tony’s charms.

“Happy Winterfest,” Aubrey said in a genuinely cheerful voice.

Salma nodded. “Are you going to stand in the doorway like a stranger? Come in.”

Aubrey entered the room, glancing quickly at everything. What a strange predicament to have a room in her own house she’d never seen. It was rather plain and only contained the essentials. The old pictures on the wall sparked so many questions. Were they relatives? Did she have family or friends but ran from them? A blanket colored similarly to the walls covered the mattress, resting on a cheap frame. With all the money Tony had—her money—he couldn’t buy the woman a decent bed? Even after he slept in it? The plainness almost seemed intentional. Wasn’t it already humiliating enough to work in this capacity? Creating a visual separation added insult to injury.

“Are you going to join us?” Aubrey asked anxiously.

Salma smirked. “Was that your way of inviting me?”

Aubrey rolled her eyes. Why could she never just answer a question? She didn’t have to one-up her every time. “Ok, first of all, you’re off duty and don’t have to spend all day and night in here. Second, you didn’t give me a chance to ask!”

Salma fell back into the chair laughing. “Oooh, mama! That baby’s already doing a number on those hormones, huh?”

Aubrey’s eyes and mouth shot open. She couldn’t move if she tried. “How do you know I’m… Have you been-“

“Aubrey, Aubrey, Aubrey. May I call you that? You know…since I’m off duty and all.”

Salma had such a way with words. Just one inflection of a tiny phrase changed the entire tone of a rather simple sentence.

Aubrey swallowed a small amount of bile that crawled up her throat. “I-I wish you’d call me that all the time.”

Like a bully on the playground, Salma circled Aubrey like a lioness intimidating her prey. “I am good at my job. When you’ve taken care of people as long as I have, you learn them quickly. Catch onto their habits. Notice their…mistakes. See what they think they’re hiding.”

Her words, laced with accusation, raised tiny hairs at the back of Aubrey’s neck. Surely delaying the announcement didn’t warrant such ridicule. How in the world did she feel entitled to know anyway? No. She had something else in mind. Something cruel she intended to hold over her head when the time was right. Now more than ever, Aubrey needed to watch her back.

Salma folded her arms victoriously. “So, if the only reason you’re inviting me is so I can be present for your reveal, I already know. I’ve known for a while. Congrats, by the way.”

She said it so dry and heartless. Did she even mean it? Nothing about this woman gave Aubrey comfort. Ever.

“I wanted you there for that, yes, but I thought you could use a break too.”

That one eyebrow shot up in tandem with the hand grasping her hip. “Mrs. Pruett … Do you go to your restaurants and hang out on your days off?”

As much as Aubrey wanted to counter with an equally snarky repartee, she couldn’t deny the underlying truth. Salma’s workplace was Aubrey’s home. Despite how she behaved, and the fact that she also lived there, the mansion was not her home. “Ok. I understand. I’m sorry. “

Salma held her gaze for a moment, causing Aubrey to swallow again.”It’s ok. Thanks in advanced for the meal. I’ll have some later.”

Aubrey left hurriedly, upset and very confused.

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The shock of the announcement never really wore off, but after the grins and hugs, questions, presents, and several slices of cake and pie, Maya pulled her away for some overdue sister time. The blizzard from the previous night left Newcrest sparkling like a diamond. Even after spending half her life in green cities, the Oasis Springs girl still got excited about white Winterfests. The temperature had not risen above freezing yet, but Maya still insisted on going for a brief walk. Maybe a blast of cold air would slow down her buzz.

“I can’t believe you’re pregnant, sis!”

Even after a month of knowing, it still felt weird to say. “Heh, me neither. At least I can’t believe it’s happening now.”

Maya’s lip quivered just a little. Her fierce protection of her sister always made Aubrey feel warm. “Are you ok though? Like, you’re not upset, are you?”

Aubrey shook her head. “I’m excited. I was just hoping we could delay it a few years, you know?”

“HA!” She threw her arm around Aubrey’s shoulder. “Well, little lady, you could have prevented that. Or, were you asleep in SexEd?”

Aubrey broke away. “You’re really annoying. You know that, right?”

She shrugged. “I’m just saying! I haven’t been pregnant because I didn’t want to be. You wanna know a secret though?”

“What?”

“We’re trying too,” she whispered.

Aubrey gasped. The news wasn’t exactly the same, but perhaps that zing of energy was the same feeling everyone got a little while ago. “You are?! That’s great! I hope it happens soon.”

“So you can get your wish?”

“What wish?”

“Remember when we started dating, and you went on and on and on about how cool it was that we were dating at the same time so we can go on double dates and get married and be pregnant together, and I said it was a terrible idea?”

“Oh! I had forgotten all about that.”

“Well, maybe we’ll both get what we want. You might get your pregnancy compadre, and I can still be there when the baby is born.”

The idea warmed her even more, and she scoffed at the freezing temperature. “That is so great. I’m glad our kids will grow up together.”

“Well, let’s not put the cart before the horse. I don’t have my baby yet.”

“But you will! Stay positive!”

“I am!” She sighed. “I’m just also aware I’m not as young as you.”

Aubrey snorted. “I’m not that young either. Besides, Mom had a baby in her mid-40s! I’m pretty sure you’ll be just fine in your mid to late 30s.”

“Pretty sure things don’t work that way, but I appreciate your vote of confidence.”