Finding Christina (Wild Rose #2) by Scarlett Jade Page B

wise for you to continue classes. Not with your immune system being in the shape it is.”
    “I will be fine. I can’t just walk away from my classes. I won’t have anywhere to stay.” Christina groaned.
    “So you have no family?”
    Christina’s stomach clenched. “Not that will take care of me.”
    “I see. No friends?”
    “Not that I can burden,” she answered honestly.
    “You need to figure something out, Christina. Your health is the most important. You need somewhere quiet and healthy to grow this baby. The last thing you need is to get sick. Your body just can’t fight it off.” Dr. Raleigh cautioned.
    “I understand,” Christina whispered, her chin dropping to her chest in defeat. “I have one person I could call, maybe.”
    “I think it would be a good idea. We need to take some blood and run some basic pregnancy tests.”
    “Will my baby be born with HIV?” Christina choked out, her voice strangled and hoarse with fear.
    Dr. Raleigh reached over to grab a box of tissues and pass them over. “The chance of your baby being born with HIV in this day and age is pretty small. The risk is there, but it’s not as likely as it used to be. With you being on medication that passes through the placenta, that helps. When your child is born, we will give him zidovudine, which will help protect him against anything he came into contact with on his journey into the world. We will test him, but it will take some time to find out for sure if he has it or not. We need two negative tests to be sure that he does not have HIV. You won’t be able to breastfeed, as HIV can pass that way. There are less than two hundred babies born with HIV in the United States each year, so statistically, you’re in a good position.”
    “Okay, that makes me feel a little better.” She blew out a slow breath of relief.
    “Yes, as long as you keep taking your medicines while you are pregnant, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about transmission. My only concern is you getting sick. I understand that you had a flu shot, but it’s not necessarily fool proof.”
    “I know I can’t get sick.”
    “I am going to have the phlebotomist come in and draw your blood and I will give you the numbers to some doctors near Yale. I’m going to call a couple of them and see what I can do to get you in. I will pass the blood work results to them. If you see any spotting, have any cramping, go to the ER.” Dr. Raleigh smiled as he stood. “Do you have any questions for me?”
    “No, I don’t. Thank you.” Her whispered response was soft and powerless. She knew what she had to do and it was the very last thing she wanted.
    The phlebotomist came in a few moments later and took her blood, then she was followed by the nurse, who gave her a card with numbers to doctors in her area on it. Christina took it and slipped off the exam table.
    “It will be okay.” The kind nurse smiled, taking in Christina’s dejected pose.
    “Sure, that’s what they all say. It will be okay. But what if it won’t be? What then?” Christina demanded.
    The nurse seemed to be taken aback and horrified that her well-meaning kindness wasn’t being accepted. “Well, I don’t know.”
    “Then don’t tell me it will be okay when you haven’t gotten to the end of the book yet. None of us have a damn clue what the future has in store for us. Saying it will be okay is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg. Just stop. I appreciate your kind words, but that’s all they are. Words. Excuse me.” Christina picked up the magazine she’d set to the side and moved around the nurse quickly. Pounding down the hall, irritation fueled her fast pace.
    Once outside, she pulled her phone from her purse and dialed Addie’s number. “I’m done.”
    “Great! We’re just around the corner. Are you hungry? Is everything okay?” Addie chirped.
    “I’m a little hungry and everything is okay.”
    “See you in a few!”
    Christina disconnected the call, placed the