Chapter Forty-Five
The cab brought Owen and Jillian to a private clinic. Owen called to book ahead, and there was no waiting upon arrival. The tests were brief and discreet.
“Can we get the results today?” Owen asked.
“Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a literal same-day test,” the nurse informed him.
“Bet there could be, if someone wrote a big enough check,” Owen muttered.
“Oh, don’t,” Jillian said. “I’m sure we can cope a few days, after all the drama thus far.”
Another nurse approached and talked briefly to the one already standing by them. Glances were shared, and then the senior of the pair said, “I think there may be some mistake here...”
“Oh?” Owen raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“Well... while actual DNA tests take some time to turn around at the lab, some of the ancillary tests do give instant results. Such as the maternity test.”
“We know who the mother is, thanks,” Jillian said acidly.
“That’s the point,” the nurse replied. “You’re not. Very sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but...”
“You’re not pregnant.” Owen stared at Jillian, aghast at the depths of deceit.
“I bloody am!”
“I’m sorry,” the nurse repeated, “but you’re not.”
Owen felt the mad rage rising again and turned on Jillian. The look on her face stopped him. She had gone white with a wide-eyed, choked expression. One hand moved slowly to press against her abdomen.
“But... but...” she seemed unable to get any further.
The reaction was plainly so physical that it could not be feigned.
“You must be mistaken. I have all the symptoms. I know I am pregnant,” Jillian insisted.
“There is such a thing as a phantom pregnancy,” the nurse explained. “No one knows why, but the human body can sometimes create all the symptoms of pregnancy without there actually being a baby.”
“But...” Jillian staggered and sank down into a chair. “I’ve not had a period in months.”
“Yes, it happens,” the nurse reiterated.
“My breasts got bigger!”
“Yes, that too.”
“I can feel it! Right here!” Jillian pressed on her stomach. “I feel it kick!”
“Yes,” the nurse said again, “even that.”
“How? I mean, how is this...? What?” Jillian looked around wildly. “Owen, help, why are they telling us this?”
“Because it’s true,” the nurse said. “I’m sorry. There’s no easy way to give this news. It’s not the first time I’ve seen this. It’s quite normal to panic.”
“I should bloody co-co...” Jillian’s hand had moved from her stomach to her heart. She rallied and tried to rise, only to sway and sit back down at once.
“There’s no mistake?” Owen asked. “You’re sure?”
“We can’t do paternity tests if there’s no baby,” the nurse said pragmatically.
“And this is a real thing? She’s not just been making it up the entire time?”
The nurse gave him an odd look. “Just look at her. She’s in shock.”
“Owen...” Jillian’s hand sought his, her touch fluttering, fingers shaking. “Get me home, please.”
***
They were silent in the cab back to Jillian’s house. Only when they stood again on her drive did they speak.
“I really thought...” she said.
“I know. I believe you.”
“I wouldn’t have done any of this unless...”
“You thought you were pregnant.”
Jillian nodded, pale and shaken. “I’ll tell Nolan it’s all off. He hasn’t done anything irrevocable yet. He doesn’t deserve to lose his job over this. What will you tell... what’s her name?”
“Olivia. And I’ll tell her the truth, I suppose.”
“For what it’s worth, I hope the truth helps.”
“Whether she believes it or not is another thing. I can’t control that.”
“Huh. Owen Kim admits there are things beyond his control.” Jillian nodded. “Now if you don’t mind, I need some time alone. Then I have calls to make.”
“Are you going to be all right?” Owen asked, genuine concern coloring his voice.
“I don’t know.” Jillian shook her head. “I haven’t been all right, clearly. Apparently, I went more than a bit mad for months there, full-on delusional. But if I can say that plainly now, then I guess the fit is passed, and it’s time to face reality.”
“Here’s hoping everything else can suddenly become so clear.”
Jillian nodded. “It’s the weirdest sensation. When we got the news, I... I thought my heart had stopped. But now... it’s like a fog lifted. I can see and think clearly again, for the first time in, oh, I don’t know how long.”
“You might still be in shock.”
Jillian gave him a tight smile. “I’m fine now.”
“People in shock always say that.”
Jillian reached out and took Owen’s hand in hers. “I’ll be okay. I haven’t been. I have apparently been in the grips of psychosis for several months. The plan with Nolan was never going to work. It would always have fallen apart right here. I see that now. But we’re in danger of going in circles. I need to take some time alone, sure you have other fallout to resolve.”
Owen nodded. Jillian had caused him a lot of trouble, and he had put all his plans on hold because of this, but right now, he felt sorry for her. Seeing how shocked she had been to get the news made him decide to drop the issue and not pursue any legal action after all. “Goodbye, then.”
“Goodbye, Owen. And I’m sorry. I truly am.”
He got into his car and drove away. In the rearview mirror, he saw Jillian still standing at her door until he turned the corner at the end of the road.
A strange calm possessed him as he drove, the aftermath of a storm. He understood, belatedly, what Jillian had meant when she spoke of a fog lifting. The world felt bright and clean and so much larger suddenly than his perceptions. He found himself noticing the sky as if for the first time, not the city skyline and all it represented, but the great blue itself. The future, so much grander and more magnificent than anyone could imagine, beckoned with the promise of a life unshackled by the past. The saga of Jillian was over, and the relief of it left Owen feeling almost godlike, subject to the will of no other... Until he met the afternoon traffic. Nonetheless, he felt liberated and invigorated, and equal even to the task of maintaining patient calm in a traffic jam. Beyond the private bubble of his car, the world honked and raged in frustration. But within that bubble, for once and for a while, Owen was at peace.
A wide smile formed on his lips. I can finally be with Olivia, he thought. No more problems from now on. Just the two of us, happy!