mination table until my knuckles grew

miling professionally and calmly, as if she hadn't

ould see the blurry picture and added,

their little heartbeats pulsa

if repeating the word woul

the screen. twins. Two infants. What on earth was I meant to do wit

possible at all

sometimes run in families. In other inst

word wonderful," I w

it's a lot to take in, but both you and the baby

e me feel better, but instead it mad

-

e. The crisp fall air outside slapped me hard and brought me back to the present. Around me, th

ealous o

I felt like I was carrying the whole wor

l back on the sofa, gazing at the ultr

y head like a hurricane. How am I going to pay for this? How w

t my parents, not Kenneth, nor Lisa. At this point,

-

y reverie by the buzz

the screen, my heart skippe

he phone and

panicked, when he said, "Tracy."

eturned. What

get there, I'll expla

hung up, leaving me fee

-

eared, his normally assured manne

ing?" I let hi

ced my little living room

e said, "I

at the name. "H

sing." "A fraud investigation is underway against him. Seri

to do with that? It has been mon

hey may not give a damn about it. They may target you a

y." "I was unrelated to his company. Half

but the authorities are not. They are investigating everything, including

his was excessive. Derek's disaster, the twins, and now

question was hardly a

t keep quiet. Don't discuss Derek or his predicament with anybody.

e term was unf

," he blurted out. "But b

-

in after Kenneth had departed, hours later. Those two little forms' faces gazed back at

gh my contacts until I found Lisa's name

en my rock when the world had fallen

one when I was startled by

y, nor was it Kenneth's typical tap. It was

he door. I could see two guys in black suits s

B

. Miller," his voice muffled. "We have some

om my fingertips and onto the grou