I opened my mouth to say I couldn’t afford a lawyer.

Eva shook her head before I spoke.

“You have been married eleven years, Ruth.

You are not a guest who can be shown the door with no questions asked.”

That night I called Dr.

Mercer’s office and asked the nurse whether the shock and hours of walking might have harmed my pregnancy.

She told me which warning symptoms required immediate evaluation and arranged a follow-up.

She didn’t dismiss my fear, but she also didn’t pretend anyone could make promises without examining me.