Chapter 10: Seven Weeks

They put her in a curtained cubicle in the emergency ward and took her blood.

I should have gone home.

Instead I sat on a plastic chair at the end of the bed with my father's box on my knees.

I watched the drip run into her arm.

Nobody asked me to leave.

I was still her husband on every form in the building, and nobody had told the computer.

The woman who came in an hour later wore a white coat with a name tag I did not read.

She had a portable ultrasound on a cart, and she was from the maternity wing.

"Valeria," she said gently. "Your blood work came back. I'd like to do a scan, if you'll let me."

Valeria opened her eyes.

She had been awake for some time, looking at the ceiling.

"Why a scan?"

"Because your hormone level is high."

Valeria did not move.

"Which hormone?"

The woman glanced at me, and then back at her.

"Valeria. You're pregnant."

The curtain moved in the draft from the corridor.

I heard my own heartbeat in my ears.

"No," said Valeria.

"Let me show you."

She raised the hem of the gown.

The doctor squeezed cold gel across her stomach and pressed the probe down.

Then she turned the screen toward the bed.

A grey shape appeared, and in the middle of it, one small flicker.

It beat quickly.

"Seven weeks," the doctor said softly. "That's a strong heartbeat."

Valeria stared at the screen.

Her hand went to her mouth, and stayed there.

She did not cry.

I had never seen her face empty before.

"I'll give you a few minutes," said the doctor.

She went out and drew the curtain behind her.

The cubicle was very quiet. Somewhere a monitor beeped at a steady rate.

Keep reading free with an account. Start You Chose Another, Now Forget Me from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.