Chapter 5 UNWELCOME NEWS

I said, clutching the side of the examination table until my knuckles grew white, "You have to be kidding me."

My obstetrician, Dr. Hensley, sat across from me, smiling professionally and calmly, as if she hadn't just thrown a wrench in my already tumultuous life.

She turned the ultrasound screen so I could see the blurry picture and added, "I promise you, Tracy, I'm not kidding."

There, two tiny forms drifted, their little heartbeats pulsating like stars on the screen.

"Twins," she said again, as if repeating the word would help her accept the truth.

My thoughts were a whirlpool of terror and incredulity as I gazed at the screen. twins. Two infants. What on earth was I meant to do with this? With one kid on the way, I was barely able to make ends meet.

"How-how is it possible at all?" I stumbled.

Dr. Hensley gave a soft grin. Twins may sometimes run in families. In other instances, it is just a delightful surprise.

"I wouldn't use the word wonderful," I whispered to myself.

Not a beat was missed by Dr. Hensley. "I realize it's a lot to take in, but both you and the baby are doing well. That is the most crucial factor.

wholesome. That word should have made me feel better, but instead it made me feel every bit more responsible.

---

With the ultrasound pictures in my hands like a lifeline, I walked out of the clinic in a trance. The crisp fall air outside slapped me hard and brought me back to the present. Around me, the city was a flurry of activity, with people racing to and fro with their own issues and lives.

I felt jealous of them.

It was a haze on the way back to my flat. I felt like I was carrying the whole world on my shoulders by the time I entered.

I threw my purse on the ground and fell back on the sofa, gazing at the ultrasound pictures I was holding. twins.

Along with a million questions, the concept whirled about in my head like a hurricane. How am I going to pay for this? How would I balance two infants and work? What if I let them down?

I still hadn't disclosed my pregnancy to anybody. Not my parents, not Kenneth, nor Lisa. At this point, I would need to find out how to break the news twice.

---

I was jolted out of my reverie by the buzzing sound on my phone.

When I saw Kenneth's name on the screen, my heart skipped a beat as I grabbed for it.

I picked up the phone and said, "Hello."

Kenneth's voice was tight, almost panicked, when he said, "Tracy." "We must speak. Are you at home?

"I recently returned. What is happening?

He answered, "When I get there, I'll explain." "I'm en route."

Before I could reply, he hung up, leaving me feeling sick to my stomach.

---

Twenty minutes later, Kenneth appeared, his normally assured manner unsettled and his face pallid.

"What's happening?" I let him in and asked.

Instead of sitting, he paced my little living room like an animal in a cage.

At last, he said, "It's Derek."

I was startled at the name. "How about him?"

Kenneth lowered his voice and continued, "He's not just missing." "A fraud investigation is underway against him. Serious fraud. And they are investigating all of his associates.

I became cold. What am I supposed to do with that? It has been months since I last talked with him.

Kenneth stopped his pacing and gave me a somber look. They may not give a damn about it. They may target you as well if your name appears in any of his transactions.

I shook my head and remarked, "That's crazy." "I was unrelated to his company. Half the time, I had no idea what he was doing.

With a groan, Kenneth combed through his hair. "You and I are aware of it, but the authorities are not. They are investigating everything, including his background, relationships, and accounts. Tracy, you have to be ready.

My thoughts were racing as I collapsed onto the sofa. This was excessive. Derek's disaster, the twins, and now the chance that I could be pulled into his nightmare.

"What should I do?" My question was hardly audible above a whisper.

Kenneth took a seat next to me, his face softening. "First, you must keep quiet. Don't discuss Derek or his predicament with anybody. Second, just in case, you should start considering hiring a lawyer.

"A lawyer?" The term was unfamiliar to me.

"It's merely a precaution," he blurted out. "But being safe is preferable."

---

I sat by myself in my apartment's dark light, gazing at the ultrasound pictures once again after Kenneth had departed, hours later. Those two little forms' faces gazed back at me, their presence serving as a tenuous reminder of the life I was struggling to create.

After grabbing my phone, I browsed through my contacts until I found Lisa's name. I kept my thumb above the call button.

She was entitled to know. She had been my rock when the world had fallen apart, supporting me through it all.

However, I was going to phone when I was startled by a loud bang on the door.

It wasn't the sound of a neighbor passing by, nor was it Kenneth's typical tap. It was a strong, purposeful, and unnerving knock.

My heart was racing as I walked carefully to the door. I could see two guys in black suits standing on the opposite side of the peephole.

FBI.

Through the door, one of them whispered, "Ms. Miller," his voice muffled. "We have some questions for you regarding Derek Sullivan."

As the ultrasound pictures flew from my fingertips and onto the ground, my breath seized in my throat.