“But . . . that isn’t a contusion from my accident?”

Dr. Barr shook her head. Then she tugged Shiori’s shirt back into place and helped her sit up. “All right. This is a surprise to you. So let’s backtrack. What was your last period?”

Shiori scrolled back through the last month. No period. Did she have one the month before that? No. The last time she’d had her period had been . . . before Ronin and Amery had left for Japan. “Omigod. I haven’t had one for months, but I’ve always been irregular.”

“Any unprotected sex?”

“One time. Just one time . . . two and a half months ago.” Her gaze flew to the doctor’s. “But I took a morning-after pill.”

“Was the intercourse consensual?”

“Yes! I’m still very much involved with him—the baby’s father—omigod, how can I be pregnant?”

“How long after intercourse did you take the pill?”

Shiori thought back. “It happened Saturday night, and I took the pill around noon Monday.”

“Pills you bought at a pharmacy here in Denver?”

“Yes.” She looked at Dr. Barr, and she knew every bit of fear shone in her eyes. “Why didn’t it work?”

“Well, honey, those pills aren’t one hundred percent effective. The effectiveness drops after the first twenty-four hours, and it’s about half as effective after forty-eight hours. That could’ve played a part in the failure.” She patted Shiori’s knee. “I can’t give you a definitive answer beyond the pill failed and you are pregnant.”

Shiori clapped her hand over her mouth.

“Feel sick?” Dr. Barr asked.

She shook her head.

“In shock?”

Shiori nodded. How could this be happening?

“Deep breaths. Don’t pass out on me.” She rubbed Shiori’s back. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-five.”

“Any other children?”

“No. I’ve never had a pregnancy scare. Never.”

“You didn’t want children?”

Shiori had to take a minute to slow her breathing. “I was in a bad marriage and it wasn’t an option then. After that I devoted my time to work and I didn’t have a steady relationship until recently.”

Dr. Barr kept rubbing her back, trying to calm her down. “After hearing this, I’d guess you’re about ten or eleven weeks along. Almost through the first trimester. I can do a pelvic exam, but I’m not sure I need to.”

“Why not?”

The doctor moved in front of her. “Is terminating the pregnancy an option?”

She started to say, I don’t know. But in that moment, Shiori did know. She was keeping this baby. “No.” She cleared the emotion from her voice. “I’m in shock, and probably will be for a few days, and I have no idea how the father will react, but I’m having this baby.”

Dr. Barr smiled. “It’s your choice. For what it’s worth, I think you’re making the right choice.”

“Why?”

“I was in your situation once. I’d ended up divorced because I’d focused solely on my medical career. I had a drunken one-night stand with an old friend from college and whoops . . . I got pregnant.” She smiled again. “At thirty-five. That baby was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. She was the joy of my life. She still is thirty years later.”

Shiori managed to keep her tears to just a few and not an outburst. “And the baby’s father?”

“Oh, he was a deadbeat. Wanted nothing to do with either of us. Turned out we didn’t need him. So since you are going through with the pregnancy, I’ll do a pelvic exam and then . . . would you like to hear your baby’s heartbeat?”

At that point Shiori did burst into tears.

*   *   *

SIX hours had passed by the time Shiori finished at the doctor’s office. She had the car service take her to her place.

She showered. After she wrapped her hair in a towel, she stood in front of the mirror and turned sideways. Her belly didn’t look like a baby was growing in there.

But one was. She had a couple of very grainy pictures and she’d heard the heartbeat. She wished Knox had been with her.

How did she break the news about her pregnancy? Buy a pair of baby booties and give him a Congratulations on your impending fatherhood card?

Buy a jar of pickles and a carton of ice cream, hinting that she’d be having cravings for it in the next seven months?