The Girl in the Storm by L.G. Davis

Author:L.G. Davis [Davis, L.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

I look across the waiting room. Pregnant women are everywhere, all in their own private thoughts. Some are with partners, and others are alone. Most are reading glossy magazines with faces of smiling babies splashed across their covers. One woman is on the phone even though a small sign on the wall forbids phone calls in the waiting room.

The room smells of baby powder, or I could be imagining it. I don’t trust my mind much these days.

I glance at Jared, and nervous butterflies erupt in my belly. I have no reason to be nervous since the baby is his, but I am.

Jared tosses the magazine he was flipping through into a basket and leans back in his seat, eyes closed.

I reach for his hand. The moment my skin touches his, he moves away. I force myself to sympathize with him. In his shoes, I would probably be a wreck, as well. The truth will come out soon enough, and everything will be all right again.

I clasp my hands in my lap and occupy myself with studying the faces in the room. Are these people happy? What kinds of secrets are they hiding? I can’t imagine any of them going through what I’m going through.

“I need the bathroom,” I whisper to Jared and rise. Hopefully, a short walk will get rid of some of my nervous energy.

Instead of responding, Jared reaches into the basket for a cooking magazine.

I carry the ache in my heart all the way to a bathroom cubicle, where I lock the door and rest my forehead on it. I beg each breath I take to bring me relief. The ache refuses to be ignored.

The results of the paternity test don’t worry me. I’m worried about what will happen once we get the results and return to our lives. Will everything return to normal? What if my tormenter attacks me from another angle?

After this hurdle, how many more will we have to overcome? How much more torture can I go through before I break? It’s so exhausting running from the past.

A sound from outside the door yanks me from my thoughts. Someone is calling my name.

“Caitlin, we’re called in.” Jared’s muffled voice is stiff with tension.

“I’ll be right out.” I push away from the door.

I don’t find Jared outside. He’s already in the doctor’s office when I arrive.

Dr. Fern steps around her desk and comes to shake my hand. Her handshake is brief and not as firm and warm as the first time I shook her hand. “Caitlin, nice to see you again. I hope you and the baby are doing well.” She’s all business. No smile in sight; no glint in her eyes.

The residents of Faypine have pulled her to their side. She’s judging me just like everyone else.

“Baby is fine … I think.” I drop my lashes to hide the hurt reflected in my eyes and place a hand protectively over my belly.

She waves at the empty chair next to Jared. “Please, take a seat.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.