Page 24 of The Doctor's Twins

I thought about Dr. Taylor throughout the day. I couldn’t help myself. She fascinated me. I made arrangements with the theater staff to book a timeslot and prayed that Dr. Taylor was as strong on the inside as she appeared to be on the outside.

8

PEYTON

The floodgates opened as soon as I stepped out of Dr. Forbes’ office building. It felt as if someone had plunged a knife into my heart. My baby was dead. I cried for the loss, for the future that might have been, and for all the milestones mothers and their children shared.

It’s strange how the mind works. I’d never been envious of Madison’s motherhood. But, suddenly, my sister’s ability to enjoy her children made me feel like half a woman. It wasn’t logical, but I felt it all the same. Bloody hormones.

Come on, Peyton. Pull yourself together. You will have a child someday—with someone worthy of fatherhood. Perhaps this is for the best. You know Mateo would have destroyed your child. No mother should have to live with that kind of fear.

The voice of reason was right. Not that it was much of a comfort to my broken heart at that moment. I returned to my new apartment and spent the afternoon resting and preparing myself mentally for the DNC.

I’d been putting off talking to Alyssa. But it was time. I dialed her number.

“Hey, stranger! Where have you been?” Alyssa asked me when she answered. “Don’t tell me you and lover boy were off on another exotic getaway because I’ll have to throw up from pure envy.”

“Hi, Lyssa. No, I’m afraid not.”

“What’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

“I don’t know where to start. Oh, Lyssa, it’s all such a mess.”

“What the hell is going on, Peyton? Talk to me.”

“I should have listened to you.”

“About what? You’re scaring me. What are you talking about?”

“Mateo. He’s a psychopath, Lyssa. You were right. I should have taken more time to get to know him before I jumped into marriage.”

“Tell me what he’s done, Peyton.”

I didn’t quite know where to start. Feeling like an idiot wasn’t helpful either. But Alyssa was my best friend and I knew she wouldn’t judge me, so I told her everything. Everything except for the bodies in the basement. I wasn’t ready to share that yet. I also explained to her why I hadn’t gone to the police.

“Oh, God, Peyton! I don't know what to say. I’m so sorry. Where are you now?”

“I’m safe. I’m in New York.”

“How can I help you, my friend?”

“I need you to open a bank account for me. I don't want to make it easy for Mateo to track me down.”

“Of course. Do you have enough money?”

“Yeah, I’m okay for now. I sold my car. But I’ll need to find a job soon. I don't want to burden my parents.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’ll help you.”

“No, you won’t. I have to do this for myself, Alyssa. I made a mistake and I plan on fixing it.”

“But, what about the baby? How will you work once you have a newborn to care for?”

“I…I lost the baby.”

Alyssa was silent, but I could hear muffled sniffles which set me off again. Together, my best friend and I mourned the loss of my child. It was a while before we spoke again.

“I’m so sorry, Peyton. So sorry. I wish I could kill that bastard.”

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