“Nice to meet you, too,” she said, overly polite. Why did she always try to kiss up to doctors?

“And what’s your name?” Dr. Jennings bent to Lincoln’s level.

“Link,” he said cheerfully, not taking his eyes off his toy. “Want buy something?”

Dr. Jennings pulled a book about a teddy bear visiting the doctor off a nearby shelf and handed it to him. “This book, please.”

“That will be two dollar.”

“Perfect.” She rummaged in her pocket and pretended to hand Lincoln money. “Looks like I have two dollars exactly. Thank you, sir!”

“Welcome!”

Sadie smiled. She liked Dr. Jennings.

Dr. Jennings stood beside her. “So, baby number two. How are you feeling this time around?”

“Nervous,” Sadie immediately replied, before trying to backtrack. “I mean, absolutely excited, too, of course. I’m not entirely sure how it happened. I mean I know the mechanics or whatever, but I was never great about tracking my periods. I was actually on the pill when it happened. I think I missed one…or two.”

Sadie braced herself for some sort of judgmental comment from Dr. Jennings, but it never came. “Maybe an IUD would be better after this pregnancy,” she said instead, her voice kind and understanding. “It’s hard to remember to do something at the same time every day, and when you put a toddler into the mix? Yikes.”

Sadie smiled. “Seriously.”

“Now, let’s take a look.” Dr. Jennings pulled on a pair of gloves and did a quick pelvic exam. “Everything looks good. Are you ready to see your new addition?”

Sadie took a deep breath as the ultrasound went between her legs.

And then?

A grainy little gummy bear came into view on the screen. Dr. Jennings squinted.

“Is everything okay?” Sadie asked, her voice suddenly thick and anxious.

Dr. Jennings adjusted the wand two, three, four times. “Hmmmmm.” Dr. Jennings frowned slightly, making Sadie nervous. “I’m not seeing a heartbeat. Given the gestational age, I would have expected to see one by now.”

Sadie shivered, a coldness flushing through her veins. “What does that mean?”

“It’s too soon to make a call. I’d like you to come back in a week and we’ll try again.” Dr. Jennings furrowed her brows. “The pregnancy might not be a viable one. I’m so sorry.”

“Oh. Oh, okay,” she murmured, numb as an Arctic winter.

Dr. Jennings offered both reassurances and possible medical explanations as to why this had happened, but she wasn’t listening. She couldn’t focus on anything except the sound of Lincoln cashing out again and again.

“I’ll see you back here in a week?” Dr. Jennings repeated, maybe understanding that Sadie was hardly comprehending. “And please call the office if you start cramping or bleeding.”

“Right. Yes. Good.”

God, no. Not good. Bad. Very bad.