Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2) by Silla Webb Read Free Book Online Page A

let’s just hope for the best.”
    “I’ll hold your hand, little sister. ” She giggles.
    After I’ve checked in for my appointment and filled out the pages of questions asking for my medical biography, I wait impatiently under shaky legs that don’t seem to stop jumping nervously. I’ve bit a hole in the corner of my lip, pinched a hole in the thick vinyl seating from my death grip, and zoned out any conversation and audible noise that stirs around me.
    The thin flesh of my under arm pulls and I flinch at the sensation. Savannah snaps her fingers in front of my face, pulling me from my trance. “Ya alright there, Sis?” I nod. “Let’s go, they’re ready to see you.” She motions to the nurse holding the door open that leads back to the exam rooms. My eyes zoom to the size of saucers as her words register. She gives me a nudge, and I stand on wobbly legs and make my way over to the nurse. She has a small, inviting smile on her face as she introduces herself to me.
    “I’m Kaylee. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other.” I smile in return, but can’t find any words to speak. “Go ahead and step up on the scale so I can get your weight, and we will do vitals and a urine test next.” She smiles, peering down at me. After Kaylee has noted my chart, she leads me back to an exam room where she tells me to dress in a rough paper gown. Savannah waits in the hall, and once I’ve put on this glamorous, itchy paper towel, I knock on the door letting her know I’m ready.
    Savannah enters the room with Kaylee and Dr. Staton on her heels. I’m a bit taken aback by Dr. Staton’s youth. She is average height, taller than me at 5’5, maybe 5’6. She has long dark blonde hair with caramel highlights, olive toned skin, and light hazel eyes that glisten when her smile reaches her eyes. She can’t be much older than thirty. She stretches her hand out as she introduces herself, and I accept with a warm, clammy hand.
    “ A bit nervous are ya?” She asks with a twinkle in her eye. I don’t even have time to reply, before she continues. “That’s to be expected. So, Kaylee tells me that you performed a home pregnancy test that was positive, to which she was able to confirm with a test in office. We will do some routine blood work to check your HCG levels, CBC levels and so on.” I nod, cringing over the thought of needles penetrating my skin. “Now lay back, and let’s get this show on the road. Won’t take just a minute.”
    Laying back against the cool vinyl table, I pull in a deep inhale of air as Kaylee lifts my legs into the stirrups. Savannah is seated next to me. She laces her fingers in mine and gives a slight squeeze as Dr. Staton snaps hot pink gloves over her hands. “Take a deep breath and think about the beach. Always did the trick for me.” Savannah whispers.
    “Okay Carly, you are gonna feel cool s teel, then you will feel your vagina stretching as I open the speculum to dilate your cervix. Just take a deep, calming breath.” Pinching my eyes shut, I pierce my teeth through the corner of my lip until I can taste the metallic that seeps through the small cut. I fill my mind with the swooshing sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
    “Sis, it’s over.” Savannah says, tapping my shoulder. I spring my eyes open wide, taking Kaylee’s hand as she helps me to sit up.
    “Okay, now that that is done, it looks from your last menstrual cycle that you are just over seven weeks pregnant. Your expected due date is September 6 th . Kaylee is gonna draw some blood. You’ll need to take these pre-natal vitamins daily and drink plenty of water. We will see you back here in 2 weeks for a follow up, where we’ll do a trans-vaginal ultrasound. Do you have any questions, Carly?” She says turning to enter notes into my file on her laptop.
    “Actually, yes. I’m concerned about the paternity of the baby. Are there any tests that can be done to determine the paternity prior to birth that