Page 32 of Depraved Truths

“Busy? Alls, this isn’t like you. You’re my best friend. I know you as well as I know myself, and I sense something is wrong. Now spit it out. Or should I be talking to Dalton?” I say, grabbing my phone.

“No, wait, stop.” Her eyes fill with fear and shame. She runs a shaky hand across her face and takes a deep breath before continuing. “That night at the bar, Dalton was so drunk. He was so angry with me, and I embarrassed him. I shouldn’t have been dancing like that.”

“What happened?” my voice softening with concern. But on the inside, I can already feel my rage building.

“He didn’t mean to do it.” A small sob escapes her lips. “I know he didn’t mean to hurt me.”

Through clenched teeth, I enunciate each word in my next question. “What. Did. He. Do?”

Her pale face goes green as she covers her mouth and rushes into her bathroom. I follow behind as she vomits into the toilet. I hand her some wet paper towels to wash her face with as she flushes the toilet and turns around to face me.

She meets my gaze and brushes the hair back from the left side of her face, revealing a fading yellowish bruise just below her temple.

“I’ll fucking kill him,” I gasp out. “Why did you keep this from me?” Literally, I’ll kill him. His days are numbered and ticking down quickly.

“Because I knew you would react like this. You don’t like him, and I know that. But he’s never done this before. I- I really think he was going to punch the wall, so I grabbed him. He didn’t mean to hit me. It was an accident.”

“Allie. This isn’t okay. This is assault. You deserve better than this,” I seethe.

“Do I?” she lashes out angrily but then pauses to take a calming breath. “Look, he apologized for hours. He got on his knees, crying and begging for forgiveness. It was clear he was heartbroken about it. I know he meant it. Afterward, he grabbed a pack of frozen peas, pressed it against my cheek and later held me so gently in bed.”

“And every day since, he’s been doing more to help me around the house. He finally put up the bird feeder I’ve been wanting for ages. Our porch now has a new pair of rocking chairs that he bought. He’s even been making me dinner.”

“I’m sure he is sorry. And the next time, he’ll apologize again. It’s a vicious cycle we both see daily at work. You know this as well as I do,” I say, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“Tess, I need this to work out. I have to give it a chance.”

A feeling of dread washes over me. “Why do you say that?”

“I-I think I’m pregnant.”

Chapter 22

Iglare at the computer screen as if I could change what’s staring back at me. It’s confirmed, no doubt about it. After dragging Allie down to the ED and getting a urine pregnancy test—which came back positive—I also ordered a blood test.

Sighing, I head into the room where Allie’s waiting. The nurse administered an anti-nausea medication per my order and hung a liter of IV fluids. Her eyes meet mine as I pull up a chair next to her bed.

“Do you have any idea when your last period was?” I ask softly.

“No.” She shakes her head. “Everything’s been so hectic, and I didn’t even realize I missed it. I take my birth control pill religiously, but I guess I didn’t notice I skipped the placebo pills.”

“When did you start feeling sick?”

“A few days ago,” she says with a slight tremor in her voice. “I thought maybe it was a stomach virus or something I ate. I can’t believe this.”

“Based on the hormone levels in your blood, it looks like you’re about four to six weeks along.” My voice takes on a clinical tone,the professional distance feels so wrong when I’m speaking to my best friend in the world. “It’s too soon to see anything on an ultrasound, but we should get you in with an obstetrician in the next couple of weeks. If you notice any bleeding or stomach pain, come in immediately.”

“Tess.” Her hand clutches mine, eyes pleading. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I need you to be here for me. Promise me—no matter how you feel about Dalton—you won’t leave me.”

I should be calling the police. Or stringing him up by his toes and gutting him like a fish. Instead, I watch her tears fall like rain, and I can’t move, my heart breaking for her. A child won’t make the situation with Dalton any better, but I know Allie, and she’s always dreamed of being a mom.

“Please don’t tell anyone. Don’t do anything. Let me figure this out myself.”

“Alright.” I let out a heavy sigh. “I’ll back off for now. But if he touches you again, all bets are off.”

Her face brightens, and she gives me a real smile, the first I’ve seen today from her. “I promise, you’ll be the first person I call.”

The day drags on relentlessly as I struggle to mask the storm of emotions brewing inside me, desperately determined to keep my professional facade in place. I treat patient after patient, nothing urgent, just one minor thing after another. But I give each one the same care, as if they were the only thing that mattered.

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