Page 161 of Misrule
“That’s because you are.” Dr. Will smiled. “Your test came back positive.”
“Are you sure?” Meggie persisted. “I peed in a cup here and on sticks at home. My pee might be wrong.”
Dr. Will studied Meggie. “Would you like to come to my office so we can talk?”
“No.” Tears rushed to Meggie’s eyes. “I want you to tell me that I’m not pregnant. Wejuststarted having sex again after his procedure.”
Dr. Will and Viola exchanged shocked looks.
“I haven’t been with another man,” she said.
“Then—”
“That means I got pregnantbeforethe procedure,” she interrupted the doctor. “Meaning Christopher went through unnecessary pain and paid needless money. Meaning, uh…” Her voice trailed off and she sniffled.
“Oh! Right. Mr. Caldwell won’t take too kindly to this,” Dr. Will said, nonplussed.
Christopher had once assisted Cam to rescue Dr. Will from very violent in-laws.
“Dr. Will, shouldn’t Mr. Outlaw’s doctor have run tests before the procedure?” Viola asked. “I’m not a doctor, but I’m just saying.”
“He should have, but I’m not sure if he did or not. I didn’t know about this beforehand.”
“What reason would a physician have to not do right?” Viola asked. “You could always be just a few days pregnant.”
“I guess. In answer to your first question, it might have to do with thecashChristopher pays for his medical expenses. Since my kidnapping, he hasn’t been himself,” Meggie admitted. “I don’t know if he would’ve even thought about tests prior to the procedure. He was just looking for a way to keep me safe and, apparently, the urologist was more than willing to grab the money without doing his job properly.”
Viola harrumphed. “Well, if that doctor was fool enough to double-cross Mr. Outlaw, then he deserves whatever he gets.”
Turning to a cabinet, Dr. Will pulled open the door. “Let’s not panic and go through this step-by-step. First, we’ll do a pelvic exam. Just to reassure you, I’ll also send you to the lab to get a blood test. You can’t get any more definitive than that.”
“Okay, Dr. Will.”
Offering an encouraging smile, Dr. Will headed for the door. “Change into a gown and we’ll get started.”
“You were kidnapped about two and a half months ago, correct?” Dr. Will asked Meggie as they both seated themselves in the physician’s private office.
Memories of that underground prison went through Meggie’s head, and she could only nod.
“Were you having any pregnancy symptoms before then?”
“No.”
“Were you under a lot of stress?”
Other than Kendall’s lies and schemes leading Johnnie to strangle Meggie, nope, not at all. “Some,” she admitted.
“Have you heard of women who are far into their pregnancies, or in labor before they realize theyarepregnant?”
“Yes.”
“The medical term is cryptic pregnancy. For whatever reason, the fetus produces low levels of HCG. It could be a genetic quirk, a chromosomal disorder, or in response to maternal stress. In the latter case, and to put it simply, there’s a bit of self-preservation on the baby’s part. Now, that could be what’s happened in your case.”
“I’ve just started to feel pregnant.” Not wanting to wait the day it would take to get results from the blood test, Meggie had requested Dr. Will perform an ultrasound. She’d confirmed Meggie’s pregnancy and then suggested they talk in her office after all. A horrifying thought crossed Meggie’s mind. “Is the baby okay?”
“He’s perfect,” Dr. Will answered.
Meggie smiled. “We might have a girl.”
