Page 14 of Toxic Salvation
“What exactly is going on here?” Murphy demands the moment Luka is out of earshot.
Vesper’s hand tightens on my chest. I can feel the tremor in her fingers, but her voice remains steady. “We have something we’re keeping from Luka. It’s still early, so we’re not ready to tell him yet.”
Murphy crosses her arms. “And what would that be?”
“I’m pregnant.”
If my life didn’t depend on it, that might’ve broken me. As it is, I have to lock every muscle in my body to keep from reacting, to maintain the mask of calm that’s served me so well over the years.
It has to be a lie, of course. A desperate attempt to throw Murphy off the scent.
Except the way she said it… The tremor in her voice, the pressure of her fingers on me like she’s trying to anchor herself…
“Pregnant?” Murphy repeats skeptically.
“That’s right. We found out recently, and we’re waiting for the right time to tell Luka.”
Murphy pulls out her notebook, scribbling something down. “I’ll need documentation for my report. You understand—court requirements.”
“Of course.” Vesper reaches into her pocket without hesitation, pulling out a folded piece of paper. “And as luck should have it, here’s my first ultrasound.”
She hands it over, and I catch a glimpse of the name at the top before Murphy takes it.
FAIRFAX, VESPER.
It can’t be…
But it is. It’s real. The ultrasound is real, which means?—
So is the baby.
“Well,” Murphy breathes, studying the image. “That’s… Congratulations.”
“Thank you. We’re very excited.”
Murphy folds the paper and hands it back, her entire demeanor shifting. “I should let you get back to your family business. I can catch Dean Thomas another time.”
“Of course,” Vesper agrees. “You must be busy.”
Murphy nods curtly and starts down the hallway. The tapping of her heels fades slowly before it disappears altogether. I watch her go, waiting until she’s completely out of sight before I turn to face Vesper.
She’s staring down at the ultrasound photo in her hands, her face pale except for the three small birthmarks on her right cheek. Orion’s belt. I used to trace those marks with my thumb when she fell asleep beside me.
The urge to touch her now is so strong it’s physically painful. I want to pull her against me, bury my face in her hair, apologize for every cruel word I’ve ever said to her.
Instead, I force my voice into neutral territory. “Who does that belong to?”
She flinches like I’ve slapped her. When she looks up at me, her eyes are bright with unshed tears.
“Me,” she says, her voice hollow. “It belongs to me. But don’t worry, Kovan. You don’t have to concern yourself with any of this.”
“Vesper—”
“No.” She steps back, putting distance between us. “You made yourself very clear a month ago. I’m not family. I’m not blood. I’m nothing to you.”
“That’s not?—”
“Save it.” She turns toward the hallway where Luka disappeared. “I need to go say goodbye to him. And then I’ll get out of your life permanently, just like you wanted.”
