Suddenly, Mark chimed in, "What nonsense! She's been single her whole life—how could she possibly be pregnant?"
The group erupted in laughter as the mood reached a fever pitch.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my! Your tiger wife isn't even here and you're still keeping her secrets? We all know about you and Carrie …"
"But to be fair, it's all David's fault for running his mouth and causing Cassie to get hurt for nothing! Thank goodness the baby in her belly is as resilient as she is!"
Cassie hurriedly defended herself, “I really am not pregnant! Stop talking about it, or Jane will kill me."
"She would not dare!"
Mark's roar reverberated through the phone, making my eardrums ache.
After a moment of silence, someone else stepped in to smooth things over. “Your tiger wife may look fierce, but she's actually dumb as a rock. How dare she try to go toe-to-toe with Mark! Just that one punch from him would probably leave her needing several stitches.”
Just as I finished recording the voice note, the message, which was likely sent by accident, got recalled. No one knew I was in that group. But their cautiousness only makes them look guilty as hell.
The next second, Cassie tagged me in the main group. [Jane, is your wound serious? Did you get it checked at the hospital? I gave Mark a harsh beating for you. He knows his mistakes. He'll go back home tonight to kneel on a wheel of blue cheese to beg for forgiveness. Don't be mad with him, okay? Sticking out tongue emoji]
She attached a photo of the blue cheese that she had just bought. Then she tagged Mark.
[Hurry up and apologize to Jane! Or me and you are done!]
After Mark sent a helpless emoji, he quoted Cassie's words. [Jane, are you okay? It’s all my fault for not holding back.]
I didn’t reply. Instead, I reached out to my best friend in obstetrics and gynecology.
“Jane, I’m on annual leave. Wait until I get back and I’ll check you.”
Five days isn't long. I can wait.
Mark returned in a drunk state, with a wheel of blue cheese that I hate, in his hand. He leaned over the bed and whispered to me, "Honey, I bought you some blue cheese. Smell it! It's so fragrant …"
Fighting back my nausea, I slapped him awake. "Get out!"
Only when he saw me pinching my nose and frowning did Mark finally recall that the smell of blue cheese made me nauseous. He scrambled out the door with the cheese.
By dawn the next day, the smell had finally dissipated.