Free Vile by Debra Webb

“How did you know?”
    “The look of panic on your face is one I’ve seen many times.” The doctor settled on the stool next to the small wall mounted desk and considered the tablet she carried. She tapped a few keys. “It’ll be a few days before all your labs are back. I’m not so concerned about the Wilson’s disease since you don’t have any symptoms. We’ll know soon enough if there’s anything to worry about there.” She typed a note into Jess’s record.
    Her sister had recently been diagnosed with Wilson’s disease after some scary symptoms. Thank goodness, they caught it in time to reverse the damage and get her on the right track. The disease had caused her body to not properly metabolize copper. The subsequent build up wreaked havoc on her organs.
    “Is there a due date I should put on my calendar?” Jess ventured, her pulse fluttering like hummingbird wings.
    The doctor laughed. “There are a lot of dates you should put on your calendar, but based on your last menstrual cycle, we’ve calculated your due date as April twentieth. A little later we’ll do an ultrasound that’ll confirm that date one way or the other.”
    April twentieth . Jess had about seven months and three weeks to get prepared for motherhood. Goose bumps tumbled over her skin. Not nearly long enough!
    “You may continue to have the same bouts of the nausea you’ve been experiencing for a few more weeks. Generally, when you reach the second trimester that subsides.”
    Second trimester. Okay. “Is there anything I should be concerned about moving forward?”
    Dr. Fortune closed the record. “We’ll put you on the routine pregnancy schedule and I’ll see you again next month. Take your vitamins, keep a healthy diet, and get plenty of rest. Your body is working extra hard right now, it needs sufficient down time. There are a few more tests we’ll want to do a little later related to your age, otherwise, that’s it.”
    Her age. She was old. Jess wilted a little bit more. “Thank you, Doctor.”
    Fortune paused at the door. “I meant to ask, is the handsome gentleman outside the father? He could’ve come in with you, you know.”
    Jess didn’t need a mirror to know that red had rushed up her cheeks and all the way to the roots of her hair. “No. No. He’s a detective on my team.” No need to go into all her other troubles with her obstetrician. “My… the father couldn’t get away from work.” She chewed her lip. That excuse made Dan sound as if he didn’t care so she quickly added, “He’ll be here next time.”
    The doctor gave a nod. “See you in a month.”
    Jess didn’t move for a minute after the doctor had gone. When she’d awoke this morning, she wondered whether this baby would be a boy or a girl and if he or she would have blond hair and brown eyes like the little girl left on the street yesterday.
    Maybe she would drop by and check on the child. Make sure she was okay. It would give her something to do besides going back to the office before meeting Lil for lunch. Jess stood, smoothed her skirt, and walked to the door. She hesitated, her hand on the lever. In her entire adult life, this was the first time she’d ever wanted to do anything else more than she wanted to go to work.
    Not a good sign.
     
    Redmont Road, 11:20 a.m.
    The home was a nice one in a very good neighborhood. The lieutenant followed Jess up the sidewalk. Mrs. Wettermark had called ahead and informed the family that Jess would be stopping by to see the little girl. Wettermark had insisted the child was fine, but Jess would feel more comfortable when she saw for herself. It was foolish really. If the case investigator said she was fine, then Jess should accept her word. Somehow, she couldn’t.
    She pressed the doorbell, listened for the chime, and then waited. Inside a dog barked. Judging by the deep boom it was a larger one. She supposed it was nice for kids to be around pets.
    Was that something else she would need to pencil