Chapter 26: Unsettling News

The doctor's expression turned serious as she began to explain the results of the tests. Ashley and Ethan exchanged a nervous glance, their hearts racing with anticipation. The doctor's words were laced with a sense of caution, and she seemed to be choosing them carefully. "I'll just need to...take a closer look at these results," she said, her voice trailing off as she turned to face the machine behind her. She pressed a few buttons, and the machine whirred to a stop. "Excuse me for a moment," she said, her eyes scanning the screen in front of her. With a sudden sense of urgency, the doctor quickly stepped outside the room, leaving Ashley, Ethan, and Ender in an awkward silence. Ender, still bubbling with excitement, looked around the room, oblivious to the tension that had suddenly developed. "I'm going to get a juice box from the vending machine," he said, getting up from his seat. "Can I get you guys anything?" Ashley and Ethan exchanged a nervous glance, but neither of them responded. They were both too caught up in their own thoughts, wondering what the doctor had seen that had made her leave the room so abruptly. The doctor rushed down the hallway, his long strides eating up the distance as he searched for his boss, Dr. Thompson. He found him in his office, reviewing some papers on his desk. "Bob, I need to talk to you about the Smith case," he said, his voice low and urgent. Dr. Thompson looked up, his expression questioning. "What's going on?" The doctor hesitated for a moment before responding. "I think we need to run some further tests. The results are...inconclusive, and I'm concerned that there may be something we're missing." Dr. Thompson's expression turned serious, and he nodded for the doctor to continue. "What kind of tests are you thinking of?" The doctor took a deep breath before responding. "I think we need to do a detailed ultrasound, and possibly some additional genetic testing. I want to make sure we're not missing anything." Dr. Thompson nodded, his eyes scanning the doctor's face. "Let's get the tests set up right away. I'll talk to the Smiths and explain the situation to them." Meanwhile, back in the waiting room, Ashley and Ethan sat in anxious silence, Ender chattering away in the background, completely unaware of the sudden change in atmosphere. Ashley's mind was racing with worst-case scenarios, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Ethan put a reassuring hand on her knee, trying to calm her down. "We'll get through this, Ash. Whatever it is, we'll face it together." But as they waited, the silence between them grew thicker, punctuated only by Ender's occasional chatter and the sound of the vending machine dispensing a juice box. Ashley and Ethan exchanged a nervous glance, their hearts pounding in unison as they waited for the doctor to return with news that would change their lives forever.