"What condition did you mean? What's wrong with the tea?" And then she heard Valerie ask consecutively without missing a beat in a slightly shaky voice.
"This tea is too heavy to be taken by a woman who is… expecting…" Her eyes did not leave Valerie's countenance as she spoke. Lowering her eyes to capture Valerie's trembling hands that were holding the cup of tea that she had perceived to be acceptable, she added, "That's why I didn't make one for myself." And Joanna's gaze settled there for a couple of seconds before she fixed it on Valerie's pale demeanor.
"Oh my… Are you expecting, Ann?"
Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, Joanna shifted her gaze towards Aunt Camille, who pulled her attention from the frozen Valerie with her voice that was laced with a hint of bewilderment.
"I am not sure yet, aunty. I haven't had myself examined," Joanna answered in a low voice, her own trembling hands clasped tightly on her lap.
