Page 60 of Omega's Fever

“Yeah.” The bag weighs a thousand pounds in my hand. “Let’s go.”

The courthouse is already busy when we arrive. I make an excuse about needing the restroom and practically sprint to the family bathroom on the third floor. My hands won’t stop shaking as I rip open the first box.

The instructions swim before my eyes. I’ve never done this before. Never had to.

When all three boxes are open, I sit to pee and do get all the testers done at the same time.

Three minutes. The longest three minutes of my life.

The first test shows two pink lines.

The second has a plus sign.

The third just says PREGNANT in digital letters that can’t be misinterpreted.

I sink onto the closed toilet seat, staring at the evidence lined up on the sink. This can’t be happening. Not now. Not like this. Not with him.

I shove the tests into the pharmacy bag and stuff the whole thing in the trash.

Judge Melkham is already on the bench when I slip into my seat beside Kellen. He glances at me, a small frown creasing his forehead, but I focus on arranging my files. The prosecution calls their next witness. I take notes mechanically, cross-examine on autopilot.

The lies pour from the witness’s mouth. Yes, he saw Mr. Hayes collecting money. Yes, Mr. Hayes was definitely in charge. No, he never saw any indication of trafficking. Blah blah blah.

It’s all so obvious that they’ve been coached. The only way a reasonable person could think this was real was if Kellen were the most inept criminal ever and then there was no way he’d ever be clever enough to run off with the millions of dollars that he supposedly has.

I stand up to question the witness but I’m struggling to concentrate. I should be sharper. I can tear the testimony apart. Instead, all I can think about is the life growing inside me.

I grit my teeth and start questioning the witness. It’s not hard to tear their testimony apart, but still I feel like I’m on autopilot.

The jury are all watching me blank-faced. I can’t get a read on them and that’s bothering me.

There must be something else I can ask, something that really proves Kellen is innocent. I wrack my brain.

“Counselor?” Judge Melkham’s voice cuts through my spiral. “Do you have any further questions for this witness?”

I’ve been standing here, silent, for too long. “No, Your Honor. No further questions.”

Kellen’s hand brushes mine as I sit. The touch is electric, grounding. I jerk away.

The morning drags on. My stomach churns through all of it and I breathe through my nose, will myself not to throw up in open court. The bailiff calls for recess just as I’m reaching my limit.

“I need to make a call,” I tell Kellen, already moving toward the hallway.

“Milo-”

“I’ll be right back.”

I find a quiet corner, pull up my doctor’s number with trembling fingers. He answers on the third ring.

“It’s Milo Warren. I need- I have a question about the suppressants you prescribed.”

“Of course. Are you experiencing side effects?”

“What would happen if... hypothetically... someone was taking them while pregnant?”

The silence on the other end makes my blood run cold.

“Milo, are you pregnant?”