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I looked back at the doorway. How odd, I thought, that the whispering Sylvia imagined coordinated so well with the orders Mrs. Matthews gave. It was a fleeting thought, but it lingered for the rest of the afternoon, until I asked Mrs. Matthews if she had said anything to Sylvia about being confined to her room.

“I might have mentioned that the day would come when she would be. Why?”

“She thinks she has to do that now.”

“Perfect. It makes my job so much easier when the patient anticipates my orders and carries them out.” She flashed her usual cold smile and went into Sylvia’s room.

When the phone rang, I was anticipating Arden to be calling to tell me why he couldn’t be at dinner again tonight, but I was surprised and even frightened to hear Dr. Prescott’s voice.

“Audrina? Dr. Prescott here,” he said. “I heard the craziest story today,” he continued. “One of my patients, Ceil Rubin, told me she saw you at the supermarket and that you were quite pregnant, as she put it. She mentioned that Helen Matthews was with you and there was some sort of emergency scene at the cash registers. What’s this about?”

This

was something neither Arden nor I had anticipated. We certainly should have, I thought. Dr. Prescott was our family doctor. Of course, he would be interested in anything involving us. My brain scrambled for the right answers. I could mess up everything, all that we had worked for these past months. I wasn’t concerned as much about my efforts going for naught as I was concerned about what would happen to Sylvia. We would fail to prevent all that would follow, all that we knew would be unpleasant. Arden would be enraged for sure.

Why? I asked myself, imagining the question he would ask. Why would we not have immediately called Dr. Prescott if I was indeed pregnant?

“I’m sorry, Dr. Prescott.”

“Sorry? Are you pregnant, Audrina?”

“Yes, I am,” I said.

He was silent for a moment. I waited, afraid to utter another word. “Why didn’t you come to me?” he asked finally.

“Arden hired Mrs. Matthews to look after me. She’s full-time here now.”

“Pregnant. Well, I am happy to hear it. I know that’s what you and Arden wanted. I’m just surprised when you consider the odds.”

“Maybe it was something that was meant to be,” I offered.

“Yes, apparently so. Well, I don’t mean to sound upset or anything. I’m quite pleased.” He paused. It was coming. “But really, I am surprised you didn’t come to see me.”

“Arden was upset with the results you got from the testing and the prediction you made for us,” I said. “He wanted us to handle it this way, but as soon as the baby is born, I intend to bring him or her to you to examine and care for all the time.”

“Pleased to be of service,” he said, but his voice was heavy with hurt. “What happened at the supermarket?”

“Oh, just a little spotting. It turned out to be nothing. I’m doing fine,” I said. “I’m going to take it a lot easier for the remaining time.”

“Spotting? How far along are you?”

“I’m a little more than six weeks away,” I said.

“And Mrs. Matthews told you that, gave you the approximate date of delivery?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. I’m aware of who she is and how vast her experience is. I’m sure your father would have been very excited about it. Good luck, and call me if I can be of any help.”

“Thank you. Thank you for calling, Dr. Prescott,” I said.

He hung up without saying good-bye. I held the receiver for a few moments, my heart still pounding. Dr. Prescott’s voice had been full of skepticism. I didn’t think he would make the leap to Sylvia immediately, but he was certainly suspicious. And I was feeling very guilty. I knew how Papa would have disapproved of our not using Dr. Prescott, but then again, how could we? It would surely be unethical, even illegal, for a doctor to do what Mrs. Matthews was doing for us.

I hung up and called Arden.

“What is it now?” he asked as soon as he got on the phone.

I told him about Dr. Prescott’s call. “He was full of disbelief,” I added when he was silent. “What if he starts talking to people, asking more questions?”