Page 12 of Sinner’s Torment

“We’ve got you,” Sam said quietly, her hand briefly touching my arm.

Grace didn’t say anything, but she met my eyes and gave me a small nod. And for the first time since I had pissed on that pregnancy test, I didn’t feel completely alone.

The nurse led us down the hallway, past exam rooms and a small lab, until we reached a door at the end. She knocked once, then pushed it open.

“Dr. Joyce, your patient is here.”

The woman who looked up from the desk was younger than I had expected, with dark hair pulled back in a neat ponytail and sharp, intelligent eyes behind a pair of black-framed glasses. She wore scrubs and a white coat, and when she smiled, it was warm and genuine.

“Brandy?” she said, standing and extending a hand. “I’m Dr. Ann Joyce. It’s nice to meet you.”

I shook her hand. Her grip was firm and confident. “Nice to meet you too.”

Her gaze shifted to Grace and Sam. “And you two must be the support team?”

“Grace,” Grace said, shaking her hand. “King’s old lady.”

“Sam,” Sam added. “Jackass’ wife. I had twins here a few months ago.”

“How are they doing?” Dr. Joyce asked, her smile widening.

“Loud,” Sam said. “But healthy.”

“Good to hear.” Dr. Joyce gestured to the exam table. “Brandy, why don’t you have a seat, and we’ll get started?”

I climbed onto the table. The paper crinkled beneath me, and I tried to ignore the way my hands shook as Dr. Joyce pulled up a rolling stool and sat down, her expression calm and professional. “So, I understand you’re here for a pregnancy confirmation and initial check-up?”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Okay. Let’s start with some basics.” She pulled out a form and a pen. “When was your last menstrual period?”

I told her, and she made a note.

“And you took a home pregnancy test?”

“Two,” I admitted. “Both positive.”

“Any symptoms? Nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness?”

“All of the above,” I said.

She nodded, making more notes. “That’s normal. We’ll do a blood test today to confirm the pregnancy and check your hormone levels, and then we’ll schedule an ultrasound to determine how far along you are and make sure everything looks good.”

“Okay,” I said, my throat tight.

Dr. Joyce looked up at me, her expression softening. “I know this can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first pregnancy. But you’re in good hands, Brandy. We’ll take this one step at a time, and I’ll be here to answer any questions you have along the way.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Grace stepped forward, her hand resting on my shoulder. “She’s got us too,” she said firmly. “She’s not doing this alone.”

Dr. Joyce smiled. “That’s good to hear. Support makes all the difference.” She stood and moved to the counter, pulling out supplies for the blood draw. “Let’s get this done, and then we’ll talk about the next steps.”

As she prepped the needle, I glanced at Grace and Sam. They were both watching me, their expressions a mix of concern and encouragement. And despite everything, the uncertainty, the fear, the mess I had gotten myself into, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Hope... that maybe I wasn’t alone after all.

CHAPTER FOUR