Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 43
They were going to have a girl.
In his excitement, Edward called his mother in Chicago after laying Carmen down on the bed. Esme shared his happiness; he could hear her yell for his dad to come to the phone to hear the good news. After a few minutes of joyful chatter about possible baby names and Carmen's well being, she demanded that Edward email her the ultrasound picture as a keepsake.
Edward recalled the technician handing Carmen the paper copy and the CD which she stuffed in her purse. He promised his mother to take care of the task soon and bade her goodbye.
He found Carmen's purse lying on the floor by the entrance where she had dropped it when they entered the house. He carried it to their bedroom so Carmen could fish it out for him, but found her soundly asleep.
He pondered the pros and cons of rummaging through Carmen's personal effects, but his eager impatience to send the image to his parents won out. Chances were, Carmen wouldn't even notice, and even if she did, surely she would overlook his snooping mission this one time. After all, it was for a good reason.
He unzipped the purse and ruffled through its contents to find the ultrasound CD or the printout. He couldn't find it immediately. Carmen's purse was like a bottomless pit, filled with countless nicknacks. He smiled silently at the items he saw inside the purse.
Why do girls need to carry so many things at all times?
A roll of scotch tape?
He carried the bag to the living room so as not to wake Carmen and then emptied its contents onto the coffee table.
There it is!
He found the folded piece of paper and the CD lying amidst an assortment of feminine things. He set aside the items he was looking for and began putting the rest back inside the purse.
That's when he saw the pill bottles.
Paxil.
Depakote.
The excitement Edward was feeling about sending his parents his unborn daughter's invitro image drained out of his mind. He picked up the bottles for a closer inspection. The label on both of them indicated that they were prescribed to Carmen by a Dr. de Luzlow. The refill date was a month ago.
Edward swallowed hard. His medical training was piecing together the puzzle blocks that his mind was desperate to deny.
Carmen was ill.
She was prescribed to take mood stabilizers and antidepressants.
Yet, she never thought it necessary to tell him about her condition.
Seizures, Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy. Various possibilities flashed through his mind as he recalled his pharmacology class.
What else was she hiding from him?
As the initial shock began to wear off, Edward's mind shifted to a new line of concern.
Neither Paxil nor Depakote were recommended for use during pregnancy.
Birth defects.
Malformed heart.
Still birth.
He couldn't recall the exact list of potential risks, but just the thought was enough to trigger a full blown panic.
How long had she been taking these?
How could Dr. Miller allow this?
How could Carmen?
He was angry. He wanted answers. And he was going to get them.
"Carmen!"
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