Page 18 of Secret Shifters Next Door

A faint thought flitted across my mind.I could still get an abortion.But the thought made me just as sick as it had when I first contemplated it. There was no way I could get rid of the child growing inside me. I’d messed up, and I needed to live with that. Just because both possible fathers were shits didn’t meanthe baby would be. That was up to me and the girls. We would give the child a loving and healthy home. I would love the child as fiercely as I loved Mariah and Jordyn.

“Mrs. King?”

I jumped at my name. I hadn’t noticed the nurse opening the door. Snatching up my purse, I stood and walked into the adjacent room. The door closed behind me, shutting off the waiting room. I couldn’t help but imagine the door was not only cutting off the room, but cutting off the life I’d known before. Almost like I was stepping into a different universe.

The doctor was a very sweet and pleasant older woman, who didn’t make a fuss about me being on my own. The cold gel for the ultrasound was a shock to my system and not entirely pleasant. The exam was pretty simple and just as thorough as the exams I’d had in New York. One of the fears I’d had was that rural medicine would be a lower tier, but the opposite seemed true. Without so many people coming and going, she was able to spend more time on my questions and care. By the end, I was much more relaxed than I thought I’d be.

The doctor glanced at her chart and said, “Things are looking very good. I don’t have any worries at the moment. Baby is measuring well. From what I see, I would think you’re right at three months along. As you saw during the ultrasound, it looks like we have a little boy on our hands. Your history says you have two daughters, so that should be exciting. A whole new adventure.”

A shaky sigh escaped my chest. If I really was at three months, there was no way Luis could be the father. It had been almost four months since we’d had sex. So Tate was the father. I didn’t feel any relief. Neither men were ideal. Though I had to admit, if I had to choose, I was happy Luis had been ruled out. I could deal with Tate. Things with him were already strained, but Luis was crazy and possibly dangerous. If he had been the fatherand found out about it, I had no doubt he would somehow use it to manipulate me. I put that out of my mind and focused on what she’d said. A boy. A whole new adventure. I wasn’t in the mood for adventures.

I nodded. “Thank you so much. No, I don’t have any questions.”

“Sounds good. If you have no questions, then we’re all set here. I’ll let you get dressed. The nurse at reception will set you up for your next appointment.”

My clothes went on robotically, almost like someone else was dressing me. I grabbed my purse and walked down the hall to the little window where the nurse sat. We had a conversation, but I only knew it because I could hear our voices, but I was somewhere else. Barely listening or paying attention. All I could think of was how Tate had treated me the week before and after the fireworks. He had been so distraught and angry. How would he react if he knew his child was growing inside me?

I was able to get out of the doctor’s office before the tears started. It didn’t build up slowly, either. I went from dry-eyed and in control to sobbing in seconds. Tears and snot poured down my face. Anyone on the sidewalk would see my breakdown, but I couldn’t stop it. All I wanted was to get to my car, so I could fall to pieces on my own.

“Harley?”

My head jerked. I turned, wiping my eyes. Emily stood on the sidewalk, looking concerned.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong? What happened?” she asked.

I straightened and did my best to calm down and tell her I was fine. Instead, I burst out in another crying fit. I wasn’t even able to excuse myself and run away. I was too distraught to do anything but stand there and cry. Emily put an arm around me and led me down the sidewalk. I leaned against her, not payingattention to where we were going. Five minutes later, we were seated in a little café, and I was clutching a menu.

Emily ordered me a glass of water, then took my hands in hers. “Harley, what the heck is going on? Do you want to talk about it?”

Her tone wasn’t judgmental. She genuinely wanted to hear my problems. I’d wanted to keep everything a secret, but I might explode if I didn’t unload. I told her about the baby, how alone I was, and how frustrated I was that the father wanted nothing to do with me. Basically, every dreadful thought I’d had at the doctor’s office spilled out as one big verbal vomit to a woman who I’d only met five days before.

The server must have realized things were a little emotional because she waited until I was done to swoop in and drop off our drinks. The look on her face let me know she felt awkward after watching and hearing my emotional breakdown.

“Well, ladies, what can I get you?”

Emily smiled and said, “Chef salad, please. Italian dressing.”

“Got it, and for you, miss?”

I looked at her and said, “What’s the greasiest, fattiest thing you’ve got?”

“Um… well, we have our double cheeseburger and fries… uh… I can add bacon to the burger and add chili and cheese on the fries?”

“That sounds like a heart attack on a plate. Bring me that.”

The server chuckled and walked away with our orders. My tears were fully spent, but after all the crying, I had a splitting headache. Emily looked stunned by all the information, but not judgmental, which was a relief.

“Harley, that’s a lot to deal with. I know you said you didn’t want an abortion, what about giving the baby up for adoption?”

The thought of my child out in the world, being raised by someone else, never knowing me or his sisters, offended me more than I thought it would.

“Absolutely not. This is my child. I will raise it,” I snapped.

“No, I’m sorry, I was giving you options. You seemed so distraught and torn up about the whole situation.”

“Sorry, I know you’re trying to help. I could never do that to a child I birthed. I’m so close with my daughters, and the thought of losing the closeness I could have with another child is too much to imagine. I’m just so alone.”

Emily leaned forward and took my hand again. “You are not alone. I understand it must be overwhelming, but I’m here. I know we just met, but I think we were meant to cross paths. I want to help any way I can.”

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