Page 98 of Fame and Obsession

The shaking intensifies. “Gage?”

Thankfully, he knows me well enough to immediately take over. “Dr. Reid, we’re a little confused. Phoebe doesn’t have a prescription for Palladone. If you’re insinuating she took it illegally, you’re wrong.”

Dr. Reid adjusts his glasses. “Actually, I wasn’t suggesting anything of the sort. When we pumped Miss Ryan’s stomach, we found traces of the dark and light green capsules in which hydroxyzine is normally packaged.”

“Now I’m confused,” Gage says, sinking back into the chair.

The doctor stares directly at Gage. “The pills Miss Ryan took out of that hydroxyzine bottle may have looked normal, but there was no hydroxyzine inside them.”

“What are you saying?” I whisper.

“I’m saying those capsules were filled with two hundred milligrams of Palladone, Miss Ryan. Either your pharmacy should be investigated or—”

“Somebody tried to kill me,” I finish for him. Stark reality sinks deep and merciless into my mind.

It’s happening again.

Silence surrounds us until Dr. Reid clears his throat. “There is one other thing to discuss, Miss Ryan.”

Oh shit, what now?

“Please don’t tell me there were more drugs in my system,” I plead.

“No, but…” He hesitates, glancing at Gage once again. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to speak privately?”

“He stays.”

I need him now more than ever.

Dr. Reid taps his pen against the chart in his hand. “There’s something else in your blood work that needs to be addressed.”

I squeeze Gage’s hand for support. I don’t know how much more information I can take. “Okay…”

“We need to schedule further testing to see if there’s been damage, but preliminary hormone levels show you to be about five weeks pregnant, Miss Ryan.”

It feels like the floor drops out from underneath me. I shake my head, sure I misheard him. “I’m sorry, I thought you said pregnant.”

“I did,” he says. “I take it you weren’t aware?”

“That’s not possible,” I mumble, shock gripping me by the throat. “I’m on the pill.”

He’s not impressed. “Birth control pills are only ninety-nine percent effective, even when taken correctly.” He pins me with an accusing look. “Did you miss any doses?”

Thinking clearly isn’t an option. “I-I don’t know.”

He glances at Gage, then turns back to face me. “I’ll give you and your brother time to discuss this. I’ll order an ultrasound to make sure the pregnancy wasn’t terminated by the overdose. Until then, try to rest.” As quickly as he barged in, he’s gone.

“Pheebs…” Gage starts, a dazed look in his eyes.

“This can’t be happening,” I whisper, willing it to be untrue. “Gage, I can’t be pregnant. It isn’t possible.”

“Baby doll, it explains a lot. You’ve been sick, super tired, you get up to pee at all hours of the night…and not to be an ass, but you’ve been bitchy as hell lately.”

Pregnant?

I can’t have a child. For Christ’s sake, I still act like one most of the time. I can’t be anyone’s mother.

Oh God, how the hell am I going I tell Julian? He probably won’t even give me the chance.

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