“We’ll do the ultrasound in an hour, okay?” she said, leaning over to pat my hand. “There’s nothing but saline and a bit of glucose in your IV, sweetheart. It’s only because you fainted. You’re not bleeding, and the pain has passed. These are excellent signs.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath. “You’ll be back in an hour?”
“With the machine,” she promised.
It didn’t escape my notice that Marco still hadn’t said a word. He jerked his head in a nod at the doctor when she turned to leave, his face as pale and ashen as I was sure mine was.
Once we were alone, his throat worked as he swallowed. His eyes were bright but almost vacant, and they didn’t come anywhere near mine.
“I need to step out to make a call,” he croaked out. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Are you going to be okay?”
“I think so,” I said, my own voice also weak and rough. “I need to speak to Kyle. He’s going to freak out.”
Besides, Kyle had always been there for me. Even if Marco couldn’t be right now, Kyle would be. More than that, we’d faced everything difficult in life together. I only hoped against all hope that wasn’t about to change now.
My brother was my go-to, my rock. Whenever the universe yanked the carpet out from underneath me, he was there to steady me, to catch me if I fell.
Right then, I needed him to hold out his arms. The universe had just pulled the mother—no pun intended—of all carpets right out from underneath me, and I needed him to be ready to catch me.
Marco left the room. I stumbled to my feet, unplugging the machine containing the bag of anti-fainting juice I was on. Using it to lean on, I made my way to the opposite side of the floor.
Since Kyle hadn’t talked to me since the doctor had broken the news, I wasn’t sure what to expect from him. What I hadn’t expected, what I’d never have expected from him, was the flat disappointment in his eyes when he met mine.
In all my years, he’d never looked at me like that. I hated it. It was terrible.
I felt lower than the waste of an ocean creature that had sunk to the bottom of the sea, but I kept moving forward. Once I was inside his room, I shut the door firmly behind me.
“What happened to Drew?” I asked, not that it really mattered. I just didn’t know what else to say.
Kyle lifted his shoulder listlessly. “Nancy told me he went home.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Right.”
Standing just inside his room, tears sprang to my eyes again. “Can I sit?”
“Do whatever you want, Adaline.” His use of my full name sliced right through the center of my heart. “That’s what you always do anyway.”
Moisture tracked down my cheeks, but I lifted my chin and frowned at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He expelled a huff through his nostrils. Glancing over at me, he opened and closed his mouth a few times before any words came out. “I don’t really know what to say, sis. I haven’t seen you in person for almost five years. You jet over when I have a heart attack, collapse less than an hour after you get here, and then I find out you’re pregnant.”
“I know this is hard.” I took a breath, trying to stem the steady rush of emotion welling up in me. “Trust me. I didn’t expect this either. I’m sorry, Kyle. I’m so sorry.”
My voice broke on the last sentence. My brother didn’t move at first, but then he let out a pained groan and pulled me into his arms.
Holding me as I cried, he murmured to me. “You don’t have to apologize to me. I’m just trying to process. That’s all. I know you’re an adult, but wow, this is crazy.”
“I know,” I repeated, hanging onto my brother for dear life. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I swear. I’d have told you if I’d known. I didn’t know. I promise.”
“I was there when the doctor told you. I know you didn’t know.” He cradled me gently but released me from his firm embrace. “I hate to have to ask you this, but do you know who the father is? I mean, we’ve got a lot of stuff to figure out, but that seems like the obvious place to start.”
To be fair to him, he didn’t even flinch when he asked me the question. I supposed he’d gotten pretty good at discussing topics that might have been awkward for other guys to talk to their baby sisters about when he’d been the one to have “the talk” with me. Multiple times.
As I’d gotten older, he’d remained the person I’d gone to with my questions. He’d even been the one to buy me my first box of condoms.
And now this. I had the urge to bury my face in my hands, but I couldn’t. I owed him an answer. “We don’t need to figure it out. I know exactly who it is.”
He cocked his head, rolling his fingers in the air when I took too long to tell him. “There’s no point in trying to make me guess. I don’t know anyone but Elena over there, and somehow, I doubt she’s responsible for this.”
I dragged in the deepest breath I could. “It’s not Elena. Don’t worry. I didn’t lie to you and dress up my boyfriend in a wig for all your video calls.”
“Stop stalling, Addy. This isn’t the time. And again, there’s really no point. It’s not like I could know the guy.”
“You do actually,” I said softly. “You met him earlier. It’s Marco. He’s the father of the baby.”
Kyle’s face drained of the little color it had regained, then turned so red it was almost purple before paling again. “What? I thought you said he was your boss. Why would you lie to
