Page 94 of Captive Omega

I was in no fit state to get myself there under my own power.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Just glad you and baby are okay. Garrison yelled and well… he never yells. I thought the worst. We all did.”

Garrison yelled? I can’t imagine it. He was single-handedly holding me together as I fell apart. I thought he was perfectly in control.

I’m still processing his admission when a knock sounds at the door. “Are you ready to go, Resa?”

It’s Garrison.

Appointment time. One I looked forward to and one I equally dread.

Vaughn squeezes me again and releases me.

“I’m coming.” Time to find out if everything truly is okay after all.

The drive to the clinic is quiet. Blaine drives again, Vaughn sits in the backseat beside me, and Garrison is in the passenger seat. I hadn’t expected they would all come with me, but I’m glad I’m not going alone.

Lex gave me a small container of my fancy apple juice, and I nearly cried. I told myself it was hormones, but I think I was lying to myself.

As I sip my juice, I run through all the things that could go wrong. Isaura will have the results of my blood and urine tests, and Sadie probably showed her my scans. The second I walk into the room, I’ll know if something is wrong.

I do not expect to be ambushed with a hug by a beautiful, smiling pregnant woman.

“Ah! Resa. I have been so looking forward to meeting you,” she announces in a softly Spanish accented voice.

In mere seconds, she has me across the room, perched on a loveseat. Sadie said Isaura doesn’t work at the clinic all the time, but there are pictures on the desk, flowers, and signs that this is her office, even if she only uses it part time.

Dr. Isaura Lopes, from the name card on her light wood desk, is tall and curvy, with short dark hair that looks silky. She has large deep brown, almost black, laughing eyes and her skin is a flawless medium-brown with warm undertones.

She’s in a navy chiffon sleeveless maxi dress with black flats. And the best thing of all, there’s no sign of a white coat anywhere.

“Dr. Lopes, I?—”

She makes a soft sound in her throat. “Isaura, or Isa. I insist.”

Sadie was brisk, efficient, but confident. Isaura’s manner is the equivalent of a warm hug.

I steal a peek at her desk. No files there. If she has my test results, there’s no sign of them, and she’s too smiley to deliver devastating news. Unless she’s a masochist. “About the results…”

“I’d like to take your hand. Can I do that?” she asks, palm up, her smile open and kind.

I nod tightly as I brace myself for the worst possible news. Garrison, Vaughn, and Blaine are waiting in the hallway. I wish I hadn’t so confidently declared that I would be fine going in by myself, that I didn’t need anyone to come in with me.

Isaura takes one of my hands between both of hers and gently squeezes, lowering her voice as if she can read my terror. “Today is about reassurance.”

I forget to brace myself for bad news. Now I’m just confused.

She pats the back of my hand and smiles brightly. “Nerves are expected, so is fear, worry, anxiety, and as we drift closer to the birth, excitement. It is my job to alleviate as much of those negative feelings as I can. Now those handsome men you arrived with…”

For some inexplicable reason, I blush. “What about them?”

“I hope they don’t mind waiting. We have a lot to get through today.”

I glance at the closed door. They parked themselves right outside. Garrison said it was safe, and both Blaine and Vaughn nodded, but they still defaulted to security mode. That default mode seems to be guarding me.

“They said they didn’t mind.” Even though they must have something more important to do than sit around waiting for me to get through my appointment.

“Sadie told me a little of your history, and I understand you might not be ready or willing to share all, or even some, with me. That is okay.”

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