My throat is still burning when I cup my hands together under the faucet to rinse my mouth with some water.
Tears stream down my face as I place one hand on either side of the sink. I lower my head and take several more breaths. When it no longer feels like my lungs are on fire, I push myself off the sink, turn on the shower, and wait for the water to heat up.
Then, I scrub my skin raw and let my mind wander.
You need to make a decision, London. Help Olivia or back out. Keep the baby or give it up. One way or another, these things are going to catch up to you.
Guilt, frustration, and uncertainty are gnawing at me when I turn off the water and secure the towel around me. I use the back of my hand to wipe steam from the mirror and stare at my reflection, but I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me with dark circles under her eyes and a flush to her skin. I let the towel fall and peer at my stomach in the glass.
With a sigh, I bend over to pick up my clothes and nearly fall when I catch sight of the bright smear of blood in my underwear. In a daze, I carry my clothes to the hamper and ignore the hammering in my chest. Then, I dress hurriedly, cross over to the bedroom door, and wrench it open.
Without looking up, Katia continues to examine her blade. “Partying too hard, Blondie? You look like shit.”
“I need a doctor.”
“No can do, Princess. Best I can do is Advil, some water, and maybe a coffee.”
“None of those things will help.”
Katia snorts but still won’t look at me. “That sounds like a you problem.”
“Katia, I don’t want a doctor. Ineedto see one, so either you figure out a way to get me someone, or I will.”
Katia finally looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Doctor Shepard wanted to look at my wound. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.”
A short while later, there’s a knock on the door, and Katia motions to me. In silence, I follow her downstairs and to the restricted area of the manor, walking a long, meandering route until we reach a set of double doors. I’m momentarily blinded by the fluorescent lights before I make out a hospital bed in one corner, a few machines in the other, and a man with gray hair at his temples in front of me.
He snaps on a pair of latex gloves and nods to Katia. “Ms. Callahan, I understand you wanted to see me.”
I wrap my arms around my stomach. “I... I’m not feeling well.”
Doctor Shepard perches on the stool and nods. “Why don’t you lie down, so we can do a proper exam?”
“I’ll be outside,” Katia says to no one in particular. Once the doors swing shut behind her, I shuffle over to the bed and hop onto the table gingerly as the doctor’s dark eyes move over me.
“I found blood in my underwear a few hours ago,” I begin.
Doctor Shepard motions for me to continue as he unwinds a stethoscope from his neck. He presses the cold metal against my flushed skin, and a furrow appears between his brows. Then he picks up the nearest hand and presses two fingers against my wrist. I open and close my mouth several times, losing my nerve each time I come close.
“I’m pregnant,” I say quietly. “At least, I’m pretty sure I am.”
Doctor Shepard draws back and slides the stool across the room. He pulls one of the machines closer and rummages through a drawer. “Let’s take a look.”
I force myself to hold still as he squeezes some gel onto my stomach. Then, he presses a few buttons and places the wand over my center. A long moment passes where nothing happens, then there’s a loud galloping sound filling the room.
“Is that…” I pause as tears fill my eyes. “Is that the heartbeat?”
“You’re about seven weeks along, Ms. Callahan,” Doctor Shepard replies gently. He peers at the screen and pushes a few more buttons. “Everything seems to be good.”
There’s a strange ringing in my ears when he turns the screen toward me. “I… is… they’re healthy?”
Doctor Shepard smiles. “So far, so good.”
I wring my fingers together and look away. “What if I want to… to… take ca—”
Doctor Shepard cuts me off with another press of the button. “You’ve got until you’re twenty-four weeks along to change your mind.”
