My Ten-Year-Old’s Pregnancy Test Was Positive –

“If there’s a baby, will I have to keep it?”

My throat closed.

“We don’t know that there is one.”

“But the test said—”

“The test found a hormone,” I reminded her. “That’s all we know.”

The technician abruptly stopped moving the probe. She saved several images, then left the room without explaining why.

Eric began pacing.

“This is what happens when everyone worries about Daniel’s feelings instead of finding out what happened to Sophie.”

“Your accusation did not create the test result.”

“No, but living with him might have.”

Sophie squeezed my hand.

“Mom, what are they looking for?”

Before I could answer, Dr. Ortiz did.

“Something that should not be there.”

Chapter Four

The Second Place They Looked

Daniel was waiting outside the MRI department.

He stood when Sophie’s wheelchair appeared, but he did not approach us. A security officer remained nearby—not because Daniel had been arrested, but because Eric had warned the hospital there would be trouble if Daniel came near his daughter.