The Fated Trinity

Chapter Three: The Test Results

My heart races and flutters as I wait for Dr. Griggs to come back into the room. There is no way I am pregnant. I had s*x one time. ONE FREAKING TIME. I feel like I am going to be sick and no it’s not because of whatever sickness I have going on. I just know I am not pregnant.

A light tap on the door startles me out of my thoughts as Dr. Griggs and her nurse walk back in. She has an awkward smile on her face and she stares at me for a moment.

“We have the results back,” she says softly, her face dry and lacking expression.

“Okay.”

“You are pregnant, Amber.”

My heart drops and I can’t hold the feeling of needing to vomit back anymore. A few dry heaves later I expel what is left of my sanity and dignity.

“Pregnant?” I wail.

“Yes. We will be doing blood work to confirm and scheduling an ultrasound based on your blood work.”

A million thoughts are flooding my mind. How? Why now? What the hell was the guy's name? Dad’s going to kill me. And I am only eighteen.

“Try not to worry too much, Amber. You have options and we can go over all of that once I get your blood work back.”

I nod, trying not to vomit again, but I can’t bring myself to even force a fake smile. Dr. Griggs's nurse drew seven vials of blood and she advised me she would be in touch in twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Walking out to the lobby of the doctor's office I dread seeing my Dad. He is going to know something is wrong, but until blood work confirms I am pregnant, I will not be telling him, Sia, or anyone.

“Hi Hunny, everything okay?” Dad asks quietly as I approach him.

“Mhm, just have a bug,” I lie.

I hate lying to him, but I am not ready to have this conversation until I have to. He nods and we head home. The next two days feel like months as I wait to hear back from Dr. Griggs, but thankfully with the medication she prescribed me, I am able to work!

Wednesday afternoon shortly before I get off of work I receive a call from the doctor's office. I feel my phone vibrating and pull it out of my pocket, but for some reason, I send it to voicemail. I shake my head and decide to call back after I get off of work.

I am normally relieved for the end of my shift, but that damn dreaded voicemail is taunting me.

“How are you feeling?” Sia asks, pulling me from an internal struggle.

I sigh slightly and force a fake smile, “Feeling a bit better.”

She smiles and opens the car door, hopping in. I guess I am driving. After a short drive home, I head up to my bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. I toss my phone on my bed while I get changed out of my work clothes. There it is when I turn around, mocking me. My frustration grows and I finally work up the courage to listen to the voicemail.

“Hi Amber, this is Marney with Dr. Grigg’s Office and I am reaching out regarding your blood work. Please call the office back at your earliest convenience to discuss your results. Thank you.”

Why? Why couldn’t she have just left it in the voicemail? I throw my head back, dreading this phone call. I hit the number and the phone rings. f**k my life. I roll my eyes, not even sure if I want to know the answer.

“Thank you for calling Dr. Grigg’s Office, this is Alyssa. How can I help you?”

“Hi, this is Amber Masterson. I received a call from Marney.”

“Alright, hunny one second, and I’ll see if she’s available.”

The annoying elevator music is enough to drive me crazy. I nearly jump out of my bed when I hear a voice on the other end.

“Hi, Amber.”

“Hello.”

“Can you please confirm your date of birth and address?”

I verify the information she asked and there is a long pause.

“Alright, Ms. Amber, your blood work has confirmed pregnancy and Dr. Griggs would like you to come in on Tuesday, May 2nd for an ultrasound and follow-up blood work. Would 3:15 p.m.Would that work for you?”

My mind goes blank and I don’t hear the rest of what she said. Her words, “Confirmed pregnancy” are replaying on a loop in my head. f**k. I can feel the sting of tears forming in my eyes.

“Amber? Are you there hun?”

“What? Yeah, I’m sorry. What?”

“Does that appointment date and time work for you?”

“Yeah, wait, when?”

She repeats the information and I hang the phone up. I need to talk to Sia, I know she will listen to me without judging me. She’s my sister. I roll out of my bed as tears stream down my face and walk out of my room.

“Sia,” I say as I knock lightly on her door.

She’s smiling when she initially opens the door. As soon as she sees the state I am in she rips her earbuds out.

“What is wrong?” she asks, concern lacing her words.

“Sis,” I say as I lean into her and begin to sob.

“What the hell. What’s wrong?”

I walk into her room and slowly close the door behind me.

“Sia. I’m…I’m pregnant,” I stammer.

Horror contorts on her face.

“Excuse me? You’re what?”

“Please don’t make me say it again.”

Her eyes widen as she realizes I’m not joking. She pulls me in for a tight embrace and the tears stream freely down my cheeks. All I can think about is how can I be a mom. I didn’t have one growing up and I’ll probably be horrible at it. I am only eighteen and I don’t even know the baby's fathers name. Slut. That is the word that rolls through my mind. How could this have happened? Why didn’t I make sure he wore a condom? Well dumbass because you were drunk. The internal conflict I am having with myself is broken when Sia talks.

“Have you told Dad?”

“What? No. I just received the call a little bit ago. I am terrified of telling him.”

“Amber, you have to tell him.”

I press my fingers firmly into the bridge of my nose, “I know.”

I take a deep breath and wash my face in Sia’s bathroom and she agrees to come downstairs with me. Dad just got home, so this is going to be an interesting hello.

“Dad,” I say softly as he sips a beer he just cracked open.

“Yeah, hunny?”

“I need to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.”

He’s standing in the kitchen next to the island and I lose the courage to tell him for a moment. His face grows concerned as he stares at me and he sits his beer down on the counter.

“What’s wrong, hunny?”

“Dad,” I say, but burst into tears as he grabs me and pulls me in for a tight hug.

His eyes trail to Sia who stares with a devastated look on her face.

“Amber, what in the hell is wrong?” Dad asks urgently.

“I’m…I’m…pregnant, Dad.”

His hands fall from me and land firmly on the kitchen island and he looks away from me. The tips of his fingers turn white from how hard he is gripping the counter. I already felt like I was going to vomit and now I know I am going to. I run to the trash can next to the back door and Dad comes running over.

“How did this happen, Amber? When?”

I wipe my mouth and peek up at him, “One time Dad. I had s*x once in March.”

His lips fold in as his head lands in his hands, “Overshare, Amber.”

“You asked her,” Sia says softly.

He shoots her a death glare before focusing his attention back on me.

“How do you know hunny?”

“My doctor's appointment. I’m sorry I lied to you, I just wanted confirmation before I disappointed you.”

Dad’s eyes land on mine, my eyes are bloodshot from crying, I have dried snot on my face and he wipes a falling tear, “Hunny, I’m not disappointed in you. Life happens. We will figure all of this out,” he replies softly as he pulls me in for another hug.

I nod lightly and look up at him, “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“Amber, who is the father?”

I swallow hard as my eyes pace back and forth between him and Sia. I don’t know Dad, I can’t remember his name.”

“Why can’t you remember his name?”

“I was drunk…”, I reply nonchalantly.

Dad’s face contorts with anger, “You were what?”