More than a month passes, and Wilhelmina tries her hardest to keep it together. She tries not to think about the pregnancy, or the paternity. She focuses on work.
March 29th: As she goes over the last few things she has to take care of before heading home for the day she gets the overwhelming sense that something is wrong. She finishes up at Mode, and heads home. She's halfway home when she decides to call the doctor. She checks her watch as the phone rings.
"He's probably out of the office for the day," she tells herself.
"Hello?"
"Doctor Moss?"
"Yes," he confirms.
"This is Wilhelmina."
"Is something wrong?"
"Not exactly," she answers.
"What do you need?"
"I'm sorry to bother you. I'm sure that you're getting ready to leave your office for the night."
"Something bothering you?"
"I feel fine. And I know that this sounds completely ridiculous, but I just have the overwhelming feeling that something is wrong."
"I'm just finishing some paperwork. Why don't you swing by my office, and I'll take a look at you?"
"Thank you."
"I've learned to never doubt a mother's instinct."
"Thank you for understanding."
"See you soon," he hangs up.
She tells her driver to make a u-turn. She arrives at the doctor's office to find the receptionist filing paperwork along with a nurse.
"He's waiting for you," the receptionist tells her without looking up, "In exam room one."
She makes her way down the hall to exam room one. He quickly performs an ultrasound.
"Everything looks fine."
She stares at him, but she shows no look of relief.
"It's too early to do an amniocentesis, but there is a non-invasive procedure that I can do."
"Ok."
Just then the nurse knocks on the door. She sticks her head in. "Do you need any help?"
"I could use your assistance," he tells her.
He walks Wilhelmina through the procedure, and discusses the risks, and the success rate of the procedure.
"It's going to take up to seven days to get these results."
"And once you get them?"
"If they come back positive then we wait until you're far enough along to do an amniocentesis, to confirm the diagnosis."
"Ok," she agrees.
Two days later she's in her office going over her schedule with Marc when the phone rings. He answers it before she can even think about it.
"Wilhelmina Slater's office," he answers.
"May I please speak to Miss Slater?"
"May I ask who's calling?"
"This is Dr. Moss," he answer.
Marc covers the receiver with his hand, "A doctor Moss, on the phone for you."
She takes the phone from him. "Will you go get me some tea?" she asks politely.
He nods, and leaves the room. When he returns Wilhelmina is off the phone. The back of her chair is facing the door. Marc sits the tea on her desk.
"You ok?"
She doesn't answer him. He moves toward the door. "I'll leave you alone," he informs her.
"Don't," she says in a low voice.
He closes the door, and then approaches her desk. He doesn't dare walk over to her.
"Are you ok?"
She spins around. She doesn't answer him. Her tear stained face tells him the answer.
"Willie what's wrong? What did Dr. Moss want?"
"He was calling with test results," she answers as she wipes away tears.
He hands her a tissue. "I'm guessing that they weren't good."
"They were positive."
"For what?"
"Down syndrome," she answers.
"Oh," he replies solemnly.
"The test isn't a hundred percent accurate. He said that false-positives are not entirely uncommon."
"So they could be wrong?"
"Could, but it's unlikely."
"So when will you know for sure?"
"I have an appointment the twenty ninth to have an amniocentesis."
"Today is the first," he reminds her.
"I know. I just have to wait," she answers.
"I know that you probably don't want to hear this, but maybe this is a sign."
"Of what Marc?"
"Maybe you shouldn't have this baby."
"Maybe I shouldn't, but I am."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," she replies stoically.
"What if the test on the twenty ninth confirms the results?"
"I'll figure it out."
"How?"
"I'll take a leave of absence, or I'll resign. I'll do whatever I have to."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. Marc I've learned that you can't be sorry for the hand that life deals you, because if you walk around feeling sorry for yourself all the time you'll never accomplish anything. You must simply do the best that you can with the hand that you have."
"Why don't we go to lunch? Get your mind off things for a while?"
"Ok," she agrees.
They're getting ready to order when Wilhelmina sees Daniel come into the restaurant.
"Just pretend that you don't see him," Marc suggests.
"I can't," she answers.
Daniel walks over to their table.
"What do you need? We're trying to have lunch here," Marc asks hostilely.
"I know, and I'm sorry to interrupt, but Wilhelmina I need you."
"What do you need?"
"The photographer is down with the flu, and the models backed out at the last minute. The dresses never came, and we lost our location. I need your help."
"You owe me," more than you'll ever know.
"I'll give you whatever you want," he answers.
"Ok. Let's go," she agrees.
"And I'll make sure that you get lunch," he adds.
