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“Good morning,” she called. “Everyone, take your seats. We’ll get started in a moment.”
Yet something didn’t feel quite right. As Emma stood in front of her class and began to explain the agenda for the day, her legs began to feel strange. Then her head felt light, as light as a balloon. She was still talking, she thought, but her students didn’t seem to understand what she was saying. Then, the floor was rushing up to meet her and everything was dark.
* * *
“Ms. Armitage?”
Emma stirred at the sound of her name. Her real name. It took her a long moment to realize that it was okay for someone to know her real name — she was teaching as Emma Armitage. She forced her eyes to open and immediately saw a bright light, then the kindly face of a doctor.
“Hmm?”
“Oh, good. You’re awake. I’m Doctor Banerjee. How are you feeling?”
“I feel a little strange,” Emma admitted.
“Well, I’m not surprised.” The doctor gave her a friendly smile. “You’re at San Luis General Hospital. Do you remember how you got here?”
“I…” Memories came rushing back and Emma winced. “I think I fainted at work. Are my students all right?”
“Yes, they’re fine. One of them called an ambulance and had you brought in. You’re severely dehydrated, Ms. Armitage, and you have very low blood sugar. I know morning sickness can make it hard to eat, but you need to keep your strength up for yourself and your baby.”
Emma must have hit her head when she fell. That, or she was just confused after her fainting spell in the classroom and the stress of the last few days. Dr. Banerjee couldn’t have possibly just said something about morning sickness. Or a baby.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“Ms. Armitage, I know you’re feeling a little strange still. Just take a few moments. Is there someone I should call? Your partner, maybe?”
Emma felt weariness course through her. It was all she could do to not close her eyes and try to make this all go away. There was no one whom Dr. Banerjee could call. Emma wasn’t in touch with her parents, and even if she were, they lived hours away. For an inexplicable moment, Emma considered giving the doctor Patrick’s number, but that would be a mistake on several levels. There was no way he would come. And if he did, she would just be leading the police straight to her.
“No.” Emma shook her head and tried to smile. “There’s no one.”
“Okay.” The doctor pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed. “What did you mean that you don’t understand?”
“You said something about a baby.” Emma’s voice sounded shaky, even to her own ears. “And morning sickness? But that isn’t possible. I’m not pregnant.”
The doctor leaned forward. “Ms. Armitage. Emma. You are pregnant. I would guess you’re about six weeks along, although I can do some tests to confirm.”
The world spun. Pregnant? Despite their best intentions, that night with Patrick must have led to something. To a baby. Emma’s first thought was panic. How could she be pregnant? How could she raise a child? Especially the child of the man she’d betrayed?
But then the spinning slowed until Emma was able to focus on one thing. One perfectly amazing thing. The baby.
Emma had always wanted to be a mother. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d dreamed of the moment she’d find out she was pregnant. She’d dreamed of days spent nurturing her children and watching them grow. Of course, she had imagined that the circumstances would be a little different — or maybe more than a little — but the heart of the matter was the same. Emma was going to be a mother. She was going to have a child.
And despite everything, that was good news. This was something new. A new beginning, both for the baby and for Emma herself.
She couldn’t mope around any longer. Her guilt over what she’d done to Patrick would just have to wait. Emma was going to have to start sleeping more and eating better and taking care of herself, no matter what it took. She was responsible for another life now. A life that was just beginning.
“Ms. Armitage?” Dr. Banerjee was looking down at her with a worried expression. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes.” Emma smiled. “Everything is all right.” And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t lying.
“Do you need any information on your options?” Dr. Banerjee asked.
Emma was confused for a moment, but then she shook her head. For her, there were no options. She was going to raise this baby, and she was going to be the best mother she could be.
A few more tests followed, but Emma was soon discharged with firm instructions to start taking better care of herself. She didn’t need the reminder, though. Now that she knew her symptoms were because of pregnancy, not guilt and stress, things seemed easier. She was set on the way forward, and she wasn’t going to waver.
The only thing that continued to tug at her over the next few days and weeks was Patrick. Before, she’d felt terrible for stealing the painting and lying to him. But there was a new element now. Now, she was pregnant with his child. Emma went back and forth on what to do. She knew that Patrick had a right to know he was going to be a father, but she couldn’t imagine that conversation would go very well.
