Page 7 of Ryker

“I don’t have an appointment for either of you,” Janie said.

“I really need to see Dr.Myron,” I said.“I don’t know when I can make it back here, so it has to be now.”

Janie winced.“Dr.Myron is at the hospital delivering a baby.He had someone call and tell me there were complications, so all we have on staff right now is a Nurse Practitioner.Dr.Myron likely won’t be back until tomorrow.”

My cheeks flushed.“I need to take a pregnancy test.”

Janie’s eyebrows shot up.“I see.Have a seat, and I’ll let Nurse Owens know that you’re here.”

I sat and Isabella claimed the seat next to me.My hands were shaking, and I felt like I might throw up at any moment.I didn’t think it was because I was pregnant, though.I figured it was more nerves than anything else.I was terrified about the results of the pregnancy test, and even more scared to tell my brother.Oh, God.I’d have to tell Torch and the other Dixie Reapers!This really wasn’t going to go well.

Nurse Owens popped her head out into the waiting room.“Laken, why don’t you come on back?”

I stood and took a deep breath before I followed her down the hall.She handed me a plastic cup and nodded to the bathroom.I knew the drill after having a series of UTIs last year, and filled the cup, then stepped back into the hall where she was waiting.Nurse Owens led me to an exam room, and I climbed onto the table, the paper crinkling underneath me.

“Now, why do you think you might be pregnant?”Nurse Owens asked.

“Well, my period is late by four days.And I’m never late.If anything, it comes a day or two early every month.”

Nurse Owens nodded.“I checked your file, and the last time you were here, you told Dr.Myron that you’re a virgin.I take it that has changed.”

Did she think it was an immaculate conception?How else would I think I was pregnant?

“Yeah.I had sex for the first time about three weeks ago, and then again about a week later.”

“You’re on the Depo-Provera shot, but it’s not one hundred percent foolproof.You’d actually be surprised how many women get pregnant while they’re on the shot.We’ll see what your urine shows, but we may do a blood test too, just to be sure.It sounds like you aren’t very far along if you are pregnant, so blood would be more accurate.”

“Can we go ahead and do that?”I asked.

“I’ll send someone in to draw your blood.Once I have the results from both tests, I’ll come back and let you know what we’ve found.”

“Thank you,” I murmured as she stepped out of the room.

It didn’t take long for someone to draw my blood, then I was stuck waiting.My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out, wincing when I saw Flicker’s face.I swiped the screen, ignoring the call, and knew he’d just keep calling until I answered.But I didn’t want to talk to him, not yet anyway.Hell, maybe not ever depending on what the test results revealed.I didn’t know how I could go home if I was pregnant.Flicker would be pissed, and likely all of the Dixie Reapers would be too.And I could only imagine how Ryker would react.

When Nurse Owens stepped back into the room, the expression on her face said it all.My shoulders slumped as she came closer and patted my hand.

“You’re pregnant, honey, but it’s not the end of the world.I’m going to give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and I’ll have Janie set up an appointment with Dr.Myron in a few weeks.But if you have any questions in the meantime, you just call us night or day.You still use the pharmacy on Main Street?”

“Yes, ma’am.Thank you, Nurse Owens.”

The older woman smiled and opened the door, waiting for me to get off the table and walk out.When we reached the front, Nurse Owens asked Janie to set up my next appointment, and then I walked out with a silent Isabella by my side.She unlocked her SUV, but I just stood on the sidewalk staring at it.I couldn’t go back to the compound, not right now anyway.I needed some time to think.I knew I couldn’t keep this a secret, but I didn’t know how to tell everyone either.

I got into Isabella’s SUV and asked her to take me to the pharmacy.

“Are you pregnant?”she asked.

“Yeah.But don’t tell anyone.Not yet, please.I just need some time to figure everything out.”

“If they called in prenatal vitamins, they likely aren’t ready yet.I love our pharmacist, but he’s kind of slow.Why don’t we go get something to eat, and then we’ll stop by there, okay?”

“Sure, but I’m running low on money.Flicker usually gives me some every week, but since I’ve been housebound, he hasn’t given me any.”

“My treat,” Isabella said.

“Great.It can be my last meal, like the ones they give people on death row.”

She snorted.“You’re pregnant, not dying.”

---