Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“No, I have no clue. It couldn’t be more than a few weeks … maybe a couple of months? I’m sorry.” I sigh. “I sound so irresponsible.”
“No, you don’t,” she says. “You sound like most women who aren’t keeping track. Since you aren’t sure, I’m going to do a transvaginal ultrasound. Let me just grab the nurse.”
While she’s gone, I lie on my back and stare at the ceiling, refusing to believe that I’m pregnant. There’s no way. I mean, sure, we never used protection, but to get pregnant that quickly … no, there has to be something wrong.
A few minutes later, Dr. Greenburg returns with a nurse. She goes about checking me and then grabs the probe to do the ultrasound.
The screen is gray and fuzzy at first. I have no clue what I’m looking at, but I try to stay focused on what she’s doing, not wanting to think about the last time I was in this position. I was married, and we were so excited. Brandon held my hand while we both held our breaths, waiting for the doctor to confirm I was in fact pregnant.
“And that’s the heartbeat,” Dr. Greenburg says, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Wh-what?” I stammer, blinking back the tears that are filling my lids. “Say that again.”
“Based on the size, you’re roughly seven weeks pregnant with a due date of December 16. Looks like you’ll be getting the best Christmas gift.”
“Are you sure?” I ask even though I can tell she’s not messing with me. No doctor would be that cruel.
“I am,” she says. “I know this is a shock to you, but you’re only seven weeks, so you do have options.”
Oh my God, she thinks …
“No,” I breathe out, my hand going to my belly. “I don’t want any options. I want this baby. It’s just … I don’t feel sick at all, and I was told it would be hard to conceive.”
“I read your chart, so I understand your concern. But right now, everything looks good. I’m going to recommend you get started on a prenatal vitamin and avoid as much stress as possible. I’m going to have the nurse run a panel of blood, and we’ll see you back in two weeks.”
“I thought it was every four weeks.”
“It is, but because of your history, I want to see you every two weeks, just so we can monitor you closely.” She pulls the probe out, sets it down, and removes her gloves. Then, she walks back over to me. “Congratulations, Kinsley. Despite the odds and what you were told, you’re carrying a little miracle. Some would say it was meant to be.”
THIRTY-TWO
Kinsley
I’m pregnant. I can’t believe it.
I mean, I can since Shane and I never used protection, but I always thought it would be harder to conceive—which, up until recently, I didn’t plan to ever do. I’m scared since I’m only seven weeks and anything could go wrong, but I’m also excited, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect this baby.
I head back to where I know I’ll find Shane, so I can tell him the crazy good news, but when I get there, I walk in on what looks like a serious conversation.
“She doesn’t have anywhere to go,” Taylor says. “And the doctor said she needs to be looked after while she recovers.”
“I heard the doctor,” Shane says with a sigh.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, stepping into the room without knocking since the door was open.
“Yeah,” he says, standing and coming over to me. “Can I talk to you for a minute outside?”
I glance from him to Jamie, whose features are expressionless, and then to Taylor, who looks concerned.
“Yeah,” I say, my stomach tightening in worry.
“Dad,” Taylor says, “you don’t have to go outside to talk. Kinsley will understand.”
“Understand what?” I ask in confusion.
“My mom lives in the city, but she doesn’t have anyone, and the doctors don’t want her to be alone while she recovers from brain surgery, so she mentioned staying with us, and I told Dad that we have the guest room that never gets used. We can’t leave her to go back to the city on her own. She’s family.”
“Taylor,” Shane says, his tone serious. “I need to speak to Kinsley outside.”
He takes my hand and guides us over to an empty waiting room and has a seat. “I’m sorry about all this. Taylor is worried about her mom since she doesn’t have any other living family.”
Family.
My thoughts go back to what Pamela said at the family barbecue …
“Everyone knew they would still hook up when she came into town.”
“With Shane never dating, we all thought maybe one day …”
“When’s the last time you slept with her?” I blurt out.
Shane flinches, and I already have my answer.
“Taylor was about two years old, and Jamie came back into town to visit for a few days in between jobs. I was young and dumb,” he says. “She said she missed me, and I believed her. But then she left, and I told myself it would never happen again, and it never did.”