After the Sky Fell Down by Megan Nugen Isbell Page B

and they were the only two people on the planet.  She felt safe and protected in his arms, and as she now sat waiting for the little stick to reveal its answer, she could almost feel his arms around her again.
    Lacey had remained silent as Kathryn was lost in thought, but suddenly both girls’ heads jerked up as the oven timer started to beep.  Lacey jumped up and walked quickly into the kitchen to turn it off.  Kathryn stood up nervously and began her walk to the bathroom. 
    The test was still sitting innocently on the counter, not realizing it may have the information that could change her life forever.  She gently picked it up, slowly raising it into her sights and then in black and white, in plain English, she had her answer.  PREGNANT. 
    She felt her knees begin to buckle and she sat down on the edge of the bathtub before she could lose her balance.  Lacey appeared in the doorway a moment later, looking at her friend for answers.  Kathryn simply nodded, gesturing towards the test, and Lacey’s hand flew to her mouth in shock.
    “Let’s try another one,” she said urgently beginning to turn away to get another test.
    “No,” Kathryn said quietly. “This one is right.  I don’t need to take another test.”
    Lacey came and sat down next to her.
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know,” she said in a low voice, but as she said it, her hand reached up to her stomach, gently resting her open palm on her abdomen and smiled, knowing that a piece of Ben, a piece of them, was growing inside of her.             
     
                                 

Chapter 9
     
    Kathryn stared around the sterile room, fixated on the medical diagrams portraying fetal development and ovulation cycles.  She’d been in this room before for her yearly well woman checkups, but this visit was different.  She had called her gynecologist shortly after reading the results of the pregnancy test the day before and luckily they were able to get her in for an appointment the following morning.  Lacey had offered to come with her, but Kathryn wanted to do this alone.  The only person she wanted with her was Ben, and since he couldn’t be there, she didn’t want anyone there. 
    Dr. Ware, who had been her doctor since she first started going for checkups, walked into the room, closing the door gently behind her.  She was an older woman, with white hair and kind eyes. 
    “Hello Kathryn.  It’s nice to see you,” Dr. Ware said in her usual calm voice.
    “Hi,” Kathryn said nervously, not knowing what the doctor would say to her or what she was thinking.
    “So, I have the results of your test from the sample you gave the nurse when you first came in,” she said, pulling up a small stool on wheels until she was sitting only a couple of feet from Kathryn , who sat with her hands folded in her lap and her legs dangling off the exam table.  She waited, holding her breath, until Dr. Ware began speaking again. “You are pregnant.”
    Kathryn nodded , having already known the answer. Her eyes began to fill with tears though as she heard what she’d already known solidified.
    “I take it this wasn’t a planned pregnancy.”
    “No.  No, it wasn’t.”
    “You have options Kathryn.  Have you told the father?”
    Kathryn shook her head and the tears began to fall, although she remained quiet.
    “Are you still involved with the father?”
    “The father’s dead,” she sniffled and the room became instantly silent.
    Kathryn could tell this reve lation had shocked the doctor, who leaned back slightly and her eyes widened as the words registered.  Their eyes met and Kathryn could tell the woman did not know what to say.
    “My fiancé died two months ago from a brain aneurysm.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Dr. Ware said kindly .
    The room fell silent again and she reached over to the counter and handed Kathryn a box of tissues. She grabbed two gratefully and began dabbing her