Page 135 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Emma struggled to remember her conversation with thefertility doctor. It had been such a difficult time for her—one she wouldrather forget entirely. All those months had been spent in a haze of dazed daysand going through the motions. Her grief had been damn near unbearable.

“I believe there was a procedure that was mentioned,should another happen,” Emma replied.

The doctor glanced up. “I’m familiar with it.”

“It’s not a guarantee.”

“It’s better than what you’re looking at now. A lotbetter.”

Emma nodded, and stared down at her hands. “I went toeighteen weeks.”

“Good. Then we have a bit of time to plan.” The doctorreached for a pen and said, “I need some information, and then you can head onhome and tell your husband the good news.”

Good news.

It was more like a horror story.

One that would end terribly for Emma.

“Last missed menstrual cycle?” the doctor asked.

Emma’s throat tightened around her words. “Tomorrowwould be the first day for it. I should have gotten it tomorrow.”

The doctor hummed. “Early indeed. It was really justluck that we caught the pregnancy like this. If you hadn’t come in forbloodwork, you might not have known for another few weeks, maybe a littleless.”

What did it matter now?

She was, regardless of the rest.

Pregnant.

Emma swallowed convulsively, her stomach churning. Shewas pregnant. Her own stupidity was going to cost her another child, or worse,her own life. After mentioning a couple of weeks ago to her doctor during afollow-up appointment that she was still quite tired and often exhausted afterthe beating, the doctor suggested a blood workup. It was possible, the doctorhad said, that after losing so much blood, her body was struggling toregenerate as fast as it should, and her iron levels could be lower than normal.

She had finally gotten in yesterday to do thebloodwork.

Today, Emma had gotten a call.

“I see you’re on birth control,” the doctor said now.

“Yes,” Emma said.

“Stop taking it today. Do you have any idea why itfailed?”

“Because I was an idiot,” Emma replied.

“Oh, sweetheart.”

Emma flinched at the pity in the woman’s tone. “Don’tdo that. What I said was true. I’m an idiot, and I wasn’t careful like I shouldhave been. I had missed a few pills last month after my attack during my daysin the hospital. And when I had to continue taking antibiotics after I got out,I knew I was supposed to use a backup.”

It was almost like she’d done this to herself, knowingwhat would come of it. It made Emma hate herself a little more.

Instinctively, she put a hand over her stomach as thedoctor continued talking about options and how they would proceed from here.

“I understand you’re frightened,” the doctor saidquietly. “After all that you’ve been through this last year with your previouspregnancies, I can certainly understand why you would feel that way. I want toassure you that this pregnancy is much more likely to succeed, Emma, because weknow what the problem is and we can fix it. Or rather, try our best to give youas much time to carry your baby as possible.”

Emma nodded, but she couldn’t make her lips move torespond.

Nothing would be fine.