Chapter 6 - THE HEARTBEAT HE WASN'T THERE TO HEAR
Nora's next prenatal appointment took place on a rainy Thursday.
She sat alone in the examination room.
Her hands trembled.
The doctor smiled gently.
“Ready?”
Nora nodded.
The ultrasound monitor flickered.
Then the sound filled the room.
A heartbeat.
Fast.
Steady.
Beautiful.
Nora began crying.
The doctor handed her a tissue.
“Everything looks reassuring today.”
Nora laughed through tears.
She had spent years waiting for those words.
After the appointment, she sat in her car.
She stared at the new ultrasound photograph.
Then opened Evan's contact.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
He deserved to know.
But she wasn't ready to tell him.
Not yet.
She needed time to understand what motherhood might look like without her marriage.
She needed to know that her pregnancy would not become another reason for Evan to control her choices.
So she called Margaret.
“I need to tell you something.”
Her attorney listened.
Then said, “Nora, congratulations.”
Nora began crying again.
Margaret waited.
When Nora could speak, she whispered, “I'm pregnant.”
There was a pause.
Then Margaret said, “All right. We'll make sure your legal and medical decisions remain yours.”
May you like
Nora closed her eyes.
For the first time, she felt a little less alone.
Related Stories
