The woman cupped her ear. “Speak up, sweetheart. My hearing ain’t what it used to be.”
Daisy almost smiled at the woman’s self-deprecation, but today there was no room for smiles. “Daisy Daniels,” she repeated flatly.
After filling out the forms with shaking hands, she was escorted to provide a urine sample, then bloodwork. Each step made it more real. When the nurse confirmed her pregnancy aloud, something inside Daisy cracked.
She had always imagined this moment differently: tears of joy, Jameson wrapping her in his arms, both of them giddy at the thought of becoming parents.
But this wasn’t her fantasy. This was the real world. And it could be cruel.
As she lay on the exam table, her mind spun with unthinkable decisions and harsh realities. Daisy tried not to run her hands over her stomach while she waited for a technician to come in, but she couldn’t help herself. It was as if they had a mind of their own.
They roamed over her stomach as if drawn by instinct, in disbelief that a tiny spec of life was inside of her.
Life,she thought.
Was that what it was?
She couldn’t let herself believe it, not now. Belief would make it all unbearable.
The door opened, and a technician introduced herself. “Hi, Daisy, I’m Helen. I’ll be doing your sonogram today.”
Already in a paper gown, Daisy lay back as Helen prepared the machine. “Would you like the sound on or off?”
Her heart twisted. She wanted to sayyes,but her lips formed the word “Off.”
Helen nodded, and the probe pressed cold against her skin. Daisy stared at the ceiling, refusing to look at the monitor. She knew the instant she saw it, the flicker of a heartbeat, the curve of a shadow, she would never be able to let go.
It was the same with her art. The same with music. The same with Jameson.
But now she had to let go.
The sun was merciless when she walked back out into the parking lot, her cheeks streaked with tears. The black SUV waited where she’d left it, but Daisy turned the other way. She couldn’t face him. Not now. Not when his mere presence felt impossible.
“Daisy!” His voice carried from behind her, ragged.
She walked faster.
“Stop!”
She didn’t. Not until his footsteps caught up, pounding hard against the sidewalk.
“What are you doing? Are you okay?”
She turned on him, hollow-eyed. The question was so absurd it nearly ripped a scream from her throat. Instead, she said, firm and cold, “Leave me alone.”
“Daisy, you need to get in the car.”
Her eyes filled, but she would be damned if she let them fall. “Leave. Me. Alone.”
“Daisy…” He reached for her hand.
She ripped it away like his touch burned. “I said leave me the hell alone!”
The curse stunned him into silence.
“I hate you,” Daisy spat.
The words landed like a knife. His face twisted—not in anger, but fear. Fear of losing her… fear he already had. After today, Daisy would only be seen as a liability to the band. And shewouldn’t be so naïve to think he’d choose her over them. At this point in their lives, that outcome was not plausible.
