The clinic smelled like antiseptic and cedar. A nurse greeted them with a polite smile, gesturing them inside. She was middle-aged, sharp-eyed, and calm in a way that made Danielle feel oddly comforted.
“This way, please.”
They followed her down a short hallway, the walls lined with framed prints of forests and wolves. The room she led them into was simple but clean: one exam table, a couple of chairs, a monitor, and a tray of supplies already prepped.
Danielle sat on the edge of the table, her hands folded in her lap. Seth stood beside her, not touching but close.
The nurse pulled up a stool and rolled over, glancing between a clipboard and Danielle. “So you’re here today to confirm a pregnancy?”
Danielle nodded, voice steady. “Yes. I took a home test this morning.”
“And was it posi
