Chapter 3: Mom, You Already Knew, Didn't You?
For a moment, nobody moved.
Daniel looked at the doctor, then at his daughter.
"Privately?"" he repeated.
"Why can't we discuss it here?""
Dr. Reynolds kept his voice calm.
"I understand your concern. But I need to explain some findings to both of you first.""
Maya tightened her fingers around the hospital blanket.
"Am I in trouble?""
The doctor immediately turned toward her.
"No, Maya. You're not in trouble.""
"Then what's wrong with me?""
"We're still reviewing everything. I want to make sure we explain the results properly.""
Daniel stepped closer to the bed.
"Doctor, she's frightened. Whatever you've found, please tell us what you can.""
Dr. Reynolds nodded.
"I understand.""
Sarah adjusted the monitor and began saving the ultrasound images.
The screen still displayed the examination results.
Daniel glanced at it.
He wasn't a doctor. He didn't understand the shapes, measurements, or shadows.
But he could tell that something about the image had made the medical team take the situation very seriously.
He looked at Diane.
She was standing perfectly still.
Her hands were clasped around the folded hoodie.
"Diane?"" he said.
She looked up.
"What?""
"Did you hear what the doctor said?""
"Yes.""
"Then why aren't you asking him anything?""
Diane swallowed.
"I think we should listen.""
Daniel stared at her.
"That's exactly what we're trying to do.""
Maya shifted slightly on the bed.
A small sound escaped her as the movement caused discomfort.
Daniel immediately turned.
"Easy, sweetheart.""
"Can you stay here?""
"Of course.""
Dr. Reynolds pulled a chair closer.
"Maya, I'd like you to remain comfortable while we speak with your parents. The nurse will stay with you.""
Maya looked at Sarah.
"Are you going to leave me alone?""
"No," Sarah assured her.
"I'll be right here.""
Daniel bent down and kissed his daughter's forehead.
"I'll only be a few steps away.""
Maya held his hand for another moment before releasing it.
But just as Daniel began turning toward the doctor, Maya looked at her mother.
"Mom?""
Diane raised her head.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
Maya's voice was quiet.
"Why are you acting like this?""
Diane frowned slightly.
"Like what?""
"You're not asking what's wrong.""
"I'm worried about you.""
"Then why do you look like you already know?""
The question landed heavily in the room.
Daniel stopped.
Sarah lowered her eyes toward the medical equipment.
Diane's fingers tightened around the hoodie.
"Maya, you're in pain. Don't worry about anything else right now.""
"But I am worried.""
"Sweetheart—"
"You told me it was nothing.""
Diane stepped closer.
"I didn't want you to panic.""
Maya stared at her.
"Why would I panic if it was nothing?""
Diane didn't answer.
Daniel slowly turned away from the doctor.
"What is she talking about?""
Diane looked at him.
"Daniel, please.""
"Please what?""
"Not here.""
Daniel's eyebrows drew together.
"Not here? Our daughter is lying in a hospital bed, and you're telling me not to ask questions?""
Dr. Reynolds intervened gently.
"Mr. Carter, I think we should take a moment.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Doctor, what did you find?""
The physician took a breath.
"I need to speak to you both. Privately.""
The words were almost identical to what he had said minutes earlier.
But this time, Daniel heard something different in his voice.
Urgency.
He looked at the ultrasound screen again.
Then at Sarah, whose expression had become noticeably more serious.
Finally, his eyes returned to his wife.
Diane looked down.
Maya noticed.
She slowly turned her head toward her mother.
"Mom, you already knew, didn't you?""
Nobody spoke.
Daniel froze.
"What?""
Maya's eyes filled with tears again.
She wasn't looking at her father now.
She was staring directly at Diane.
"Mom," she whispered.
"You already knew, didn't you?""
Diane's hand stopped moving.
Her lips parted slightly.
For the first time since they had entered the hospital, she seemed unable to find a reassuring answer.
Daniel turned toward her.
"Diane?""
She didn't respond.
"Look at me.""
Diane lifted her eyes.
Daniel studied her face, searching for an explanation that would make sense of everything that had happened in the kitchen.
Why had she dismissed Maya's pain?
Why had she insisted it was nothing?
And why, when the ultrasound appeared on the screen, had she seemed to recognize something before anyone explained it?
"What's going on?"" Daniel asked.
Diane opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Maya pulled the blanket closer to her chest.
"Please tell Dad.""
Diane looked at her daughter.
Then at her husband.
Her expression shifted, as though she was standing at the edge of a truth she had spent a long time avoiding.
Dr. Reynolds remained beside the monitor.
Sarah stood quietly near the machine.
Nobody moved.
May you like
Daniel finally turned his head toward the camera, his face tense and confused.
"What did she know? Watch part two below.""
