Page 106 of Training the Heart

“I take it this is unexpected. Do you need … to talk to someone?” Dr. Evans asks.

“No, I … it’s just, I’m not supposed to … I can’t carry a baby to term.”

Dr. Evans’s brow furrows as he glances down to his folder.

“Why not?”

I fill him in as he writes in his notes while he listens to my story.

“I’d like to schedule you for an ultrasound. Check for the heartbeat and see how the baby is, check everything out really. Your levels are great right now. Did you ever get a second opinion on your fertility?”

I shake my head, not even allowing the hope to register, not to mention this might be the last thing Wade wants in life right now. He says he loves me, but does he love me enough to make it through this loss with me?

“Would your previous doctor be able to be contacted for his notes?” Dr. Evans extends a box of tissue for me to take one. I do, gratefully.

“Yes, I believe so.” I nod, wiping my eyes with the tissue and taking a deep breath.

“Let’s schedule that ultrasound. We’ll know more then. I’ll grab some vitamin samples and schedule you a time. I’ll be right back,” he says.

The moment he leaves, the floodgates open for a child I haven’t even lost yet.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Ivy

Igo through the motions as I make my way back to town to meet Ginger at Annalise’s Nail Bar for our girl date. A girl date I don’t know if I can handle right now. I’m too emotional, until the moment I walk in the door and Ginger squeals and pulls me into the most comforting hug ever. Now I’m thinking maybe these next couple hours are exactly what I need before I face Wade. Before I change everything between us.

“I was wondering if you were going to stand me up, babe. I’ve already had almost one glass of champagne without you.” Ginger smiles at me with her perfect smile

“I’m guessing people don’t stand Ginger Danforth up often,” I tell her, taking my place next to her.

“How is your mama?” she asks. “Champagne?”

I shake my head. “No thanks, just orange juice, I have a lot of work to do this afternoon when I get back.”And I’m pregnant… It repeats in my mind every other second as if I could ever forget. “And my mama is … okay. Off to her new facility. I’m hoping it helps her,” I finish.

Ginger squeezes my hand. “Timing is everything, babe. You can think you know what you want, you can think you havecontrol, but you don’t, maybe it wasn’t your mama’s time before. Maybe this is it.”

“I hope so. I just have to get through Florida and then I can spend some time with her, let the training hands take a little more on with Angel for the next month or so. This is important.”

“Speaking of which, you’re wearing my boots on Thursday—they’re the good luck boots.”

“Deal.” I smile as we both get a sudsy foot bath.

I spend the next twenty minutes listening to Ginger tell me all about the drama Cole is going through with Gemma, how he’s worried she might try to get more time with Mabel now that she’s showing signs of actually trying to be a mother. Hearing her talk about him tells me she’s a lot more involved with CeCe’s brother than even CeCe may know. If I wasn’t such a wreck right now, I would be more curious as to what the actual story is with them, but I’m realizing my heart is elsewhere during this visit.

“Oh fuck,” Ginger says as she takes a big gulp of her champagne. “You might want to reconsider one of these.” She holds up her glass.

I’m about to ask why when I follow her gaze to hear the bell for the door chime and find two pretty—and loud—blondes walking into the nail salon. The loudest one is talking, like she’s letting everyone know she’s arrived. She’s tall and leggy; she almost looks like a more weathered version of Margot Robbie.

Ginger leans in. “That’s Janelle, Wade’s ex-wife, and she’s a goddamn treat,” she whispers as the taller blonde’s eyes lock with mine across the room. They narrow as if she’s asking herself how she’s never seen me before. As if she knows everyone in town and I’m clearly the outsider.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in, literally,” Ginger says as Janelle and her friend cop a seat right beside us.

“Long time no see, Ginger. Time to find new friends now that CeCe is hooking up with her brother from another mother?”

“Time to make yourself look prettier on the outside because there’s so much to make up for on the inside?” Ginger smiles so sweetly at her I almost giggle.

“Janelle Ashby,” the woman says, extending a hand to me. “You must be new in town; I haven’t seen you before.”

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