Page 61 of Dark Christmas
I take a deep breath, feeling the words tumble out of my mouth before I can even think about them. “I think I’m pregnant,” I blurt out. “I’ve been feeling nauseous, throwing up, and I’ve been absolutely terrible about taking my birth control. I took a home test and it came out positive.”
She holds up a hand, calming me down instantly with that steady, professional energy. “Alright, let’s take it one step at a time. First, we’ll do a pregnancy test here to confirm. I’ll also order bloodwork.”
She stands, handing me a cup. “Once we know the results, we’ll be better able to diagnose what’s causing your symptoms.”
I head to the bathroom, do my business, and hand the sample to a nurse, my heart racing the whole time. Back in the room, I nervously wait, my leg bouncing uncontrollably. Dr. Harris comes back in with a smile on her face, and my stomach drops.
“Well, Amelia,” she says, “it’s confirmed, you’re pregnant.”
The room starts spinning and I can’t catch my breath. My chest tightens, and I’m afraid I might be having a panic attack.
Dr. Harris notices immediately. “Breathe, Amelia. It’s okay. Just take some deep breaths. In and out slowly; that’s it.”
I do as she says, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly until the spinning stops and I feel my pulse slow down.
Dr. Harris gives me a gentle look. “You’ll want to make an appointment with your OB/GYN soon.”
I nod, still trying to wrap my head around everything.
“Is the father in the picture?” she asks gently.
“Yes.”
Dr. Harris gives me a warm smile as she stands up, grabbing a pamphlet from the counter.
She hands me the pamphlet along with a little card full of phone numbers. "Here are some resources, places you can call if you need help, have questions, or just need someone to talk to. There’s no rush to figure it all out, but it’s important to have support, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed."
I glance at the numbers. Counseling, prenatal care, a support group. "Thanks," I say, offering a weak smile.
She smiles back at me. "You’ve got this, trust me. Just make sure you take care of yourself, and that will take care of the baby.”
I step back into the waiting room to find Melor on the phone again. I quickly shove the pamphlet and card Dr. Harris gave me deep into my bag, not wanting him to see it. He spots me, and just like that, he ends the call and walks over, eyes full of concern.
He wraps an arm around me as we leave the office.
“How are you feeling?”
I force a smile, trying to keep my cool. “Doctor said it’s probably just a bug. Gotta let it run its course.”
He nods, but his expression doesn’t soften. “I’ll make you some mushroom and potato soup when we get home. It’s an old favorite from my childhood. It always made me feel better.”
My heart warms at that, and I can’t help but smile as we walk to the car, his hand wrapped around mine. It feels nice, normal even, but inside, I’m a complete mess. How long can I keep this secret from him?
I glance at him as we get in the car, his gaze looking cautiously up and down the street. I can’t tell him about the baby. Not yet. Not when he’s already dealing with so much. He needs to be able to concentrate so he doesn’t make a fatal mistake.
Chapter 31
Melor
It’s late and Amelia has already gone to bed. The house is quiet.
I sit in my office, the glow of my laptop lighting up the darkened room. On the screen is Mashkov, his hard features etched with years of violence and wisdom. His silver hair is cropped close, his face set in lines that speak of a life lived in the shadows. He’s in his sixties, but he’s still sharp, still dangerous.
“I’ve sent you everything I’ve got,” Mashkov says. “Daniil Medvedev’s in Oakland. Looks like he’s been laying low there for a while.”
I nod, scanning the info. Oakland is close, close enough that it’s no wonder the Medvedev brothers thought they could take me out. They’ve been right under my nose.
“We think living near you gave them the idea to finally make their move,” Mashkov continues, his gaze sharp as ever. “But all I’ve got is the address. No other intel.”