The Report That Broke Us

call them, not lik

and Martha, were

the image of co

ily's pristine reputatio

oice hard, already dialing. "They'll u

ossibly be on that paper

his words urgent, laced with that

a problem with the pregnancy. A serious one. Y

thout waiting

the room was he

"David, perhaps we should discuss what you

avid snapped, his eyes still bu

it was probably only twenty mi

their faces et

g?" Mom asked, her hand im

ression stern. "What is this

e trembling. "It's... there's so

baby is healthy," I ins

vid, then to the doctor.

lear," Dr. Peterson affirmed, though

e genetic repor

ohn. Page three. The spe

rs, Mom looking o

praying for them to d

furrowed

ression mirro

s calm paramedic demeanor vanished,

outh, her eyes wide with disbelief a

d Dad put an a

whispered, his v

o cry, quiet,

pathy, but with the same fear a

, devoid of its usual warmth. "You

t is on that paper?" I crie

said, her voice strained. "It just..

nounced, his tone leaving no room for argu

p up my spine. The lake cabin wa

heart," Mom said, but her

ent now, a united front

k, no longer gentle, but fir

silent and disturbed

s terribly wrong, bu