“For now.”
His face changed.
The same way it had when he saw the pregnancy test.
Except this time, he was the one standing accused.
Paula grabbed his arm.
“Diego, let’s go.”
He pulled away from her without thinking.
She noticed.
So did I.
So did the doctor.
That small movement was the first crack in the fantasy they had built together.
Diego looked at me one last time.
His voice dropped.
“I’ll call you.”
“No,” I said. “You’ll call my lawyer.”
The nurse escorted them out.
When the door closed, I finally broke.
Not prettily.
Not quietly.
I folded over my belly and sobbed.
Dr. Salinas sat beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You are safe here,” she said.
Safe.
I had not realized how long it had been since I felt that word.
I left the clinic with two ultrasound photos in my purse and a new fire in my chest.
Outside, Diego was waiting near the parking lot.
Paula stood several feet away from him, arms crossed, face hard.
They were arguing.
I could hear Paula’s voice.
“You told me she cheated.”
Diego answered sharply, “I thought she did.”