David stood by the window scrolling through messages with a smug half-smile on his face. His divorce was complete. His mistress was pregnant. His family was celebrating. As far as he knew, the wreckage of his old life had already been swept away.
When the nurse called Allison’s name, David followed her into the exam room. Linda tried to follow too, but the nurse gently blocked her path. “Only one companion, ma’am.”
The door closed, leaving the rest of the family gathered outside like anxious theatergoers waiting for the next scene.
Inside, Allison reclined against the examination bed. David took her hand. “Relax. In twenty minutes we’ll walk out there and tell them it’s a boy.”
Allison’s smile trembled slightly. “I hope so.”
The doctor, a calm man in his late fifties named Dr. Rosen, began the ultrasound with practiced precision. Gel. Probe. Screen.
The grainy black-and-white image flickered into view.
At first, David noticed nothing unusual. The doctor, however, became very still.
He adjusted the angle.
Looked again.
Adjusted it once more.
Allison noticed it first. “Is something wrong?”
Dr. Rosen didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pressed a button near the wall. “Please send legal counsel and security to Ultrasound Room Three.”
