Preparing change for the register, Verity heard the ding of the bell that hung above the door. "I'll be right with you," she announced, automatically, freezing when the person spoke.
Fred.
Fuck, Verity cursed internally, desperately trying to school her expression and calm her heartbeat. She'd managed to successfully avoid him for the past few weeks, thanks in large part to Mags, but she'd know this day had to come sooner or later. She was just hoping it would be later. She tried her best to Not think about things but had been failing spectacularly. Although she wasn't showing yet (she examined herself in the mirror every night and at this point, aside from the tiniest of bulges, the most noticeable sign was that her breasts had grown almost a cup size), the morning sickness and aches served as constant reminders
"Here I am," she responded, forcing a nonchalant tone into her voice and dropping the rest of the change into the till.