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“Now, um, I know this is a very sensitive situation, but really, time is of the essence, so I’m just going to get straight to the point.”
“Sure, Doc, we appreciate it.”
Dr. Morris cleared her throat, then spoke gently. “This envelope contains your birth mother’s contact information.”
I stared at the thick white envelope on the table, my blood rushing in my ears. That innocuous piece of paper held the answers to so many questions that had haunted me for years - who was my birth mother? What was her story? Why did she give me up for adoption all those years ago? I could feel the anxiety coiling tighter in my chest just staring at it.
My birth mother. Those three little words carried so much weight, so much meaning. For the first time, I had a tangible connection to the woman who brought me into this world, however tenuous.
“She is the single best chance we have of getting a good result for your babies. How would you feel about reaching out to her and asking her to get tested?”
Fuck.Part of me was desperate to rip open that envelope right then and there, to devour whatever information it contained, like a starving person wolfing down a meal. But another part of me - the scared, insecure teenager who had cried herself to sleep so many nights wondering why she wasn’t good enough to keep - held me back with a paralytic grip of fear.
What if the truth was too painful to bear? What if she had simply abandoned me, tossing me away like garbage? Could I handle that kind of brutal rejection all over again? Opening that envelope also meant stepping into the unknown. Tearing open that seal would fling open the door to a Pandora’s box of emotions and revelations I wasn’t sure I was ready to face yet.
“I don’t think this is something Scarlett feels up to right now.”
“I... I can’t,” I admitted in a small voice, hating how weak and scared I sounded. “Not right now. It’s just...it’s too much.”
“I understand. How would you feel if I contacted her? I’m more than happy to do that.”
I had to swallow hard around the lump in my throat before I could talk. “What if she says no?”
“Even if she says yes, she may not be a match, so it’s certainly a good idea to start looking at the donor registry for compatible donors. So, we’ll do that while also contacting Mrs. Parker and requesting a sample. How does that sound?”
Mrs. Parker. So she was married. She had a whole life, a whole history I knew absolutely nothing about. “Um, yeah. That sounds good.” I guess.
“Excellent. I’ll get all those balls rolling and update you as soon as I have more information.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Your more than welcome, Mr. Rivers.”
The heavy thud of the door echoed through the room as Dr. Morris left. My heart was racing, blood pounding in my ears, and I was struggling to catch my breath.
So much to process - a rare disorder threatening my babies. And now the possibility of tracking down my birth mom after all these years? It was all too fucking much. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind, the walls closing in.
I should’ve felt relieved that we had some answers, a path to protect my children. But I just felt crushed under the weight of it all.
Instinctively, I turned to Rhett, craving his strength to ground me. But as our eyes met, I saw the concern in his gaze, the offer of comfort and support. And I... I just couldn’t. Not right then.
Abruptly, I pulled away and pushed myself off the bed, moving to the window. I needed space. A chance to get a grip before shattering completely. Wrapping my arms tightly around myself, I stared blankly outside, my mind whirling.
How had everything spiraled into such a terrifying mess so fast? Just weeks ago, my biggest worries were battling Rhett in court and saving those damn frogs. Now an unexpected twin pregnancy, complicated medical issues, and the very real threat of confronting the mother who abandoned me over thirty years ago.
It was too much. Fear, anger, the crushing uncertainty - it battered my defenses until I felt skinned raw by the relentless onslaught of emotion.
I was vaguely aware of Rhett hovering behind me, no doubt confused by my abrupt withdrawal. Part of me desperately wanted to turn around, let him pull me into his arms and just... break. Release the floodgates - let the storm of tears, screams, and fear pour out until I was hollow, empty, purged of all these awful feelings.
But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not yet. Not when I felt so fragile, like the slightest harsh word or worried look might shatter me into a million jagged pieces.
So instead, I remained frozen, arms wrapped protectively around my body as I struggled to hold myself together through sheer force of will. I didn’t react as I heard Rhett’s retreating footsteps, the door opening and closing as he left me alone with my whirling thoughts and fears.
Only when I was utterly alone did I let the first burning tears slip free, streaking silently down my cheeks as I pressed a trembling hand to the cool glass. My forehead followed, leaning into the window as I dragged in deep breaths, determined not to completely fall apart.
CHAPTER 30
Rhett