Esther’s POV
The clock on the pediatric wing wall ticked so loudly it felt like a hammer inside my skull. Each second was another beat of dread. I’d sat through dozens of these checkups before—Carl’s symptoms waxing and waning—but tonight something in Dr. Reynold’s expression made my stomach lurch before she even opened her mouth.
“Esther…” She hesitated in the doorway, chart pressed to her chest like a shield. “We need to talk. In my office.”
I stood, smoothing the wrinkles out of my scrub top as if that could iron the panic from my face. “Is it about the latest labs?”
She nodded once. Her eyes darted to Carl, asleep under a warm blue blanket, then back to me.
“I don’t want to alarm him.”
“Of course.” My voice was a rasp. I leaned down and kissed Carl’s damp forehead. He always swe
