“Do you understand, Ara?” Hilary snapped when I said nothing.
“Yes,” I mumbled. “I’ll leave now.”
“Good,” my fertility counselor replied.
When she said goodbye, I mumbled my response, and the call cut out, but for a second, I couldn’t move. I had a very bad feeling about this.
I shotTeresa a quick text on my way out the door. Hilary was right, after all. The Fertility Act made it clear that all employers must put the welfare of unborn babies first. Plus, I knew my boss would be supportive.
The walk to the Health Department building was short, but I still seemed to get there in no time. And I didn’t even remember the walk. My mind was too busy spinning in circles, too focused on what I would learn once I arrived. Genetic testing could reveal a whole range of issues, but from what I’d read, it wasn’t always definitive and often, an amnio was needed to confirm a diagnosis. But was it too early for that? I thought so, but since I’d been told to come in, maybe I was wrong. Then there was the ultrasound, which seemed to have gone okay, but I hadn’t really paid that much attention. Maybe between it and the bloodwork, they’d discovered something bad. Maybe I’d have to have a D&C and start this whole process over in six weeks.
The thought had me torn because while I didn’t want to have surgery, I also didn’t want to be pregnant. Although that was something I would be sure to keep to myself. No reason to fan the fire when it was already blazing.
I was too distracted while going through security to even register who was on duty and could barely conjure up the required responses when addressed. And as if sensing my mood, Ramirez left me alone for once.
Department of Fertility Barbie straightened when I stepped out of the elevator on the third floor. “Miss Murphy, you’re here. Good. I’ll let Hilary and the doctor know.”
I swallowed when I couldn’t find my voice, then said, “Doyou know what this is about?”
The way she flushed told me she did, but she quickly shook her head. “The doctor will fill you in.”
I wasn’t sure if she’d been instructed not to say anything or if my lecture from last time had done the trick, but she quickly looked away and picked up the phone.
As I moved to the waiting room in a daze, I heard her say, “Miss Murphy is here.”
I didn’t even have a chance to sit before the frosted glass door opened and Hilary popped her head out. “Ara?”
Instantly, I changed course.
Hilary held the door open, allowing me to step past her, then released it once I was inside. It swung shut with a whoosh a second later, but she was already moving, waving for me to follow.
“Is something wrong?” I asked as I hurried after her.
“The doctor will fill you in,” she said, not looking back at me.
Despite her non-answer, I could read between the lines and understood that yes, something was very wrong.
As if things were too urgent for her to bother walking any farther, Hilary turned into the first exam room. The lights flicked on as I followed her in, making me squint, and I looked around like I was hoping the room would provide a clue about what was to come. It was normal, though. Exam table with stirrups, sink and cabinets, and a portable ultrasound. Nothing to alarm me, but that didn’t stop me from worrying.
I turned to Hilary. “What’s going on?”
“The doctor is on his way.” She crossed her arms to let me know she had no intention of saying more.
Thankfully, it didn’t matter, because only seconds later, Dr. Hendricks hurried into the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
“Miss Murphy,” he began, waving to the table to indicate I should sit, “we seem to have run into a problem with your pregnancy.”
I did as instructed, cringing when the paper crinkled through the silence. “What is it?”
“A rare complication, I’m afraid.” He turned on his tabletand tapped the screen a few times. “Have you ever heard of a molar pregnancy?”
“No,” I said, my scalp prickling as my unease grew.
He turned the tablet, allowing me to see the image on the screen. It was an ultrasound, but it looked different than any I’d ever seen, although I couldn’t say exactly what I was looking at. Not a fetus, that was for sure.
“You see this area that looks almost like a snowstorm?” he pointed to the screen.
“Yes,” I said, because even though that wasn’t what it looked like to me, I couldn’t miss what he was pointing at.
