The Breakthrough Read Online Free

love,” Boone said, “but I’m already excited.”
    “I’m not even sure I’m pregnant. If I am, and if it’s not right—”
    “Can’t you take a home test?”
    She fell silent.
    “Have you already taken one?”
    Haeley shook her head.
    “You’re afraid?”
    She nodded. “If I found out I was pregnant before I could talk to Kris, I’d be even more worried.”
    “You and your doctor are on a first-name basis?”
    “You’ll love her, Boone.”
    “If she delivers our baby, I sure will. What else could make you late?”
    “No idea. I just want her to tell me I’m pregnant and that everything is normal.”
    “Me too.”
    “But wouldn’t you think it would be the same as the first time?”
    “I wouldn’t know, Hael. You want to check with that Indian guy from church?”
    “He not a baby doctor.”
    “But don’t they all study this stuff? He could at least put your mind at ease.”
    “Maybe.”
    Boone found a home number for Dr. Murari Sarangan, the physician from St. Luke’s who had been so kind to him when he lost his first wife and son in a fire.
    He and the doctor traded pleasantries, and Boone apologized for bothering him after hours.
    “Don’t think a thing of it,” Dr. Sarangan said in his lilting accent. “I have been so pleased to see you with your new family.”
    Boone put his phone on speaker and introduced Haeley.
    “Yes, hello, Mrs. Drake! I have seen you at church with your handsome son.”
    Haeley briefly ran down her symptoms.
    “As you know, this is not my field, but many factors besides pregnancy can cause this. You do not appear either overweight or underweight.”
    “I always want to lose a few pounds.”
    “But if I may say, that is just vanity. Your weight does not appear to be a medical problem, at least from my perspective. And you’re sure you haven’t miscalculated on the calendar?”
    “I’m sure.”
    “Have you been under stress?”
    “Not at all. If my life was any better, I’d feel guilty.”
    “That’s wonderful,” the doctor said, but Boone was sobered. Was this the other shoe he’d feared would drop? “Any change in meds?”
    “I’m on nothing but a multivitamin.”
    “Good for you. That leaves just the symptoms. Illness itself can delay your cycle, but a pregnancy could also cause illness.”
    Haeley told him of her appointment.
    “I know Dr. Fabrie,” Dr. Sarangan said. “Excellent. She will be able to tell you for sure whether a pregnancy is causing your ailments or your ailments are causing your lateness.”
    Haeley asked him about a home test.
    “My only hesitation is that a false negative could result if you do this too early. And I suspect that would only add to your anxiety.”
    “For sure.”
    “I would advise you to treat your symptoms over the counter until your doctor can give you a conclusive diagnosis.”
    JUNE 30
    Saturday morning Jack Keller and his former live-in girlfriend, Margaret, arrived in separate cars about half an hour before they and the Drakes were to leave for the west side. They had finally accepted a longstanding invitation from Fletcher and Dorothy Galloway. The last time Boone and Jack had visited the Galloways had been in the middle of the night to involve the recently retired chief of the Organized Crime Division in one last case. Dorothy had lectured the pair and told them the next time they came to her house it had better be because their cholesterol was down a quart.
    “And just so you know,” she had added, “I will be speaking only to the women.”
    “Been looking forward to a ride in your new chariot, Boones,” Jack said. “And have I got some questions for your wife.”
    “I can’t wait,” Haeley deadpanned. “Does decency ever give you pause?”
    Jack and Margaret both laughed.
    “Didn’t think so,” Haeley said. “But you need to know I don’t feel obligated to answer.”
    “We’ll see,” Jack said.
    “Well, we have to drop Max at the sitter’s before we go,” Haeley said, “so