Chapter 4: The Doctor Found Something in My Blood
Julian grabbed my wrist before I could take another step toward the courtroom exit.
“Give me your phone, Audrey.””
For a moment, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
My husband had just watched his six-year-old son beg not to return home with him. A judge had delayed our divorce because of serious allegations. And now, after receiving a message from my doctor's office, the first thing Julian wanted was my phone.
“Let go of me.””
His fingers tightened.
“Audrey, you're pregnant, you're emotional, and you're reading messages you don't understand. Let me handle this.””
“Handle what?””
He glanced toward the court officer.
“Not here.””
I pulled my wrist free.
“No. Not anymore.””
The officer stepped closer.
“Mr. Vance, you need to give her space.””
Julian raised both hands, pretending innocence.
“I'm trying to help my wife.””
“Your wife has asked you to step away,” the officer replied.
“Ex-wife,” Clara muttered from behind him.
Julian shot her a furious look.
That tiny exchange told me more than either of them intended. They weren't a united couple celebrating their future anymore. They were two people terrified that the other might say the wrong thing.
Margaret hurried over, carrying her briefcase.
“Audrey, what's happened?””
I showed her the message.
She read it once, then again.
“We're going to the hospital,” she said.
“Now.””
Julian immediately stepped forward.
“I'll drive you.””
“No,” I answered.
His expression hardened.
“You can't seriously expect me to let you drive yourself in your condition.””
“I'm not asking your permission.””
Margaret turned toward him.
“Mr. Vance, given the allegations raised today, my client will arrange her own transportation. Any medical information should be discussed directly between her and her doctor.””
Clara folded her arms.
“This is ridiculous. You're letting her turn a normal pregnancy into a criminal investigation.””
Leo, who had been holding my hand, suddenly looked up.
“You said it wasn't normal.””
Clara froze.
The little boy's lower lip trembled, but he continued.
“You told Daddy that Mommy Audrey was getting too sick. You said it was working.””
Nobody spoke.
I felt as if the air had been sucked from the corridor.
Margaret crouched in front of Leo.
“Sweetheart, can you tell me exactly what you heard?””
Leo looked toward his father.
Julian took a sharp step forward.
“Don't answer that.””
The court officer immediately intervened.
“Mr. Vance, stay back.””
Leo clutched my fingers.
“Clara said Mommy would sleep more and stop asking questions. Daddy said we had to wait until after the baby came.””
Clara's face went white.
Then she did something I would never forget.
She pointed at the child and screamed, “You little liar! Do you have any idea what you've done?””
Leo began sobbing.
I pulled him against me.
“Don't you ever speak to him like that again!””
My voice cracked through the corridor, louder than I had intended.
Clara stared at me with open hatred.
“You think you're going to win? You have nothing! No house, no money, no business. Julian gave you exactly what you're worth.””
Julian grabbed her arm.
“Shut up, Clara.””
She jerked away.
“Don't tell me to shut up! You said she would never find out!””
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Julian stared at her.
Margaret slowly straightened.
“Thank you, Ms. Bennett. I believe everyone here has heard enough to understand why this needs to be investigated.””
Clara pressed both hands over her mouth.
I didn't wait for another word.
Margaret arranged a ride, and we left the courthouse with Leo beside me. By the time we reached the hospital, my hands were shaking so badly I struggled to fasten my seat belt.
A nurse brought me into an examination room while Margaret stayed with Leo in the waiting area.
Dr. Patel arrived ten minutes later, carrying a tablet and wearing the serious expression I had come to recognize during difficult appointments.
“Audrey, I need you to tell me about any symptoms you've experienced recently.””
I described the headaches, the dizziness, and the mornings when I had struggled to stay awake. I told her about the orange juice Julian had prepared for me, the tea Clara sometimes brought upstairs, and the strange metallic taste that had occasionally lingered in my mouth.
Dr. Patel listened without interrupting.
“Have you taken any supplements or medication outside what we've prescribed?””
“No.””
“Has anyone else been preparing your drinks or medication?””
I swallowed.
“My husband. Sometimes his girlfriend.””
She paused.
“Your bloodwork showed an abnormal finding that requires further testing. I don't want to frighten you with conclusions we cannot yet support, but given your symptoms and pregnancy, we need to investigate this carefully.””
“Could someone have put something in my drinks?””
“It's one possibility we need to discuss with the appropriate specialists. We cannot establish that from this result alone.””
My daughter moved beneath my ribs.
I pressed both hands against my stomach.
“Is my baby going to be okay?””
“We're monitoring her heartbeat now. At this moment, we're not seeing an immediate emergency, but I want you admitted for observation while we investigate.””
I nodded, tears spilling down my cheeks.
Then Dr. Patel asked a question that made my stomach turn.
“Audrey, when did these symptoms first begin?””
I thought back to the calendar on our kitchen wall, the prenatal appointments Julian had insisted on driving me to, and the mornings when he had placed a glass of orange juice beside my bed.
“About six weeks ago,” I whispered.
Dr. Patel glanced at the dates on her tablet.
“That's important.””
“Why?””
She hesitated.
“Because your earlier bloodwork was normal. The abnormal finding first appeared in the sample collected six weeks ago.””
Six weeks ago.
The morning after I had told Julian I was considering leaving him.
The morning he had kissed my forehead, brought me breakfast in bed, and promised everything would get better.
My phone vibrated again.
This time, the message came from an unknown number.
*Ask Julian what happened to the first bottle. He threw it away after I refused to sign the statement.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*My name is Evelyn's former housekeeper. I kept a photograph of it. And I know why Clara was so desperate to get rid of the rabbit.*
