Read Blurred Lines for Free Online Page A

to say.

Chapter 5
Jade
Little Feet
    ––––––––
    R aquel Matthews was not a nervous woman. Ever. She was always well put together, composed, and sure. But the look on her face told me my mother was as nervous as I was as we waited in Dr. Burke’s consulting room.
    Dr. Burke had been our family doctor since before I was born, and my mother had already scheduled an appointment by the time we landed back on home soil. Grady had dropped me off at the airport, and waited until my father’s jet had landed. I’d asked him to let Kennedy know I’d come home, and that I’d call her as soon as I could.
    “What about Reid?” He’d asked. “You know he’ll be going out of his mind when he finds out you’re gone.”
    “I don’t care what you tell him,” I’d replied. “I doubt he’d care after what happened with Stella.”
    On the cab ride over to the airport, I’d finally broken down and told Grady what had happened with Stella, and to say that he was ready to rip her apart was an understatement.
    “Don’t you worry about that bitch,” he’d said angrily. “You can bet your fine Spanish ass that Kennedy and I will take care of her.”
    I hadn’t bothered fighting him on it. I knew once he’d set his mind on something there would be no getting him to change it.
    I could only hope there would be no residual blowback from Reid.
    Dr. Burke walked into the room, and my mother and I both sat up straighter. I’d been feeling anxious ever since she’d done the blood and urine tests, and couldn’t quite explain why I had the strangest feeling in my stomach – like little flutters or something. I’d had very little to eat since we landed, but didn’t want to risk eating anything. I was sure it was nothing more than a stomach bug that had made me sick.
    “Your tests came back,” said Dr. Burke. She took a seat on the other side of her large, ornate mahogany desk, and frowned down at the papers in front of her. “When was the last time you had your period, Jade?”
    My forehead crinkled. “Two weeks ago,” I replied. “Why?”
    “Well,” she sighed, “It would appear that you’re pregnant.”
    What?
    “No,” I shook my head. “That can’t be. I haven’t had any morning sickness, and I haven’t skipped a period.”
    “I tested both your blood, and your urine twice to make sure. You’re definitely expecting, Jade. Some women still get their periods, and may experience little to no morning sickness at all. ”
    Time stopped, right along with my heart.
    Pregnant.
    A baby.
    My mind raced with every possible explanation, but stringing together a coherent thought was as challenging as trying to open my mouth to speak.
    “Is that what made her so ill?” Asked my mother. I looked at her, expecting her to be mad, or at least disappointed, but her face was soft, and filled with worry. How could she be so fucking calm? I’d just found out I was pregnant, and was on the verge of freaking the fuck out.
    “No,” replied Dr. Burke. “But because Jade had no idea she was pregnant, she could have easily ingested something that most pregnant woman are advised not to eat.”
    I thought back to the night before, and what I’d eaten, but it was a blur of meaningless moments. I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that I had a baby growing inside me.
    Reid’s baby.
    I felt a sense of panic start to creep in, and I grabbed my mothers’ hand on the armrest between us. I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t break down.
    She squeezed my hand in reassurance, and I somehow knew I wasn’t about to go through this alone.
    “Can we find out how far along I am?” I croaked, grateful to have found my voice.
    Dr. Burke smiled softly. “We can do an ultrasound, and find out. You should also be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
    She rose from her desk, and my mother and I followed.
    “I’ll have one of our ultrasound technicians meet you in here,” – she opened a door to a room kitted out with an