Choices of Fate (Fate Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ethan.
    “You want to get out of here, go somewhere a little quieter where we can talk?” Ethan asked.
    She should have said no. He was a stranger, a dangerous stranger if the last few minutes were any indication, but with his beautiful eyes staring down on her she gave the response that was in her heart as a bright smile lit her face.
    “Sure.”

CHAPTER 3 - Just A Little Pinch

    “Ms. Ryan? Ms. Ryan?” Barb whispered as she gently tapped Alexa’s shoulder, snapping her back to the present.
    “I knocked before I came in, but you didn’t respond, are you okay?”
    “Oh, yes, I’m fine. Guess I just zoned out for a minute.” Alexa smiled down at Chloe still sleeping in her arms, then looked back up at the kind nurse. “With everything the last couple of weeks I haven’t really had any peace and quiet to just think, so I guess my mind decided to take full advantage of the opportunity.”
    “I certainly can’t blame you for that. I told you Dr. Kline is a miracle worker. It’s hard to believe that’s the same child I saw earlier. I hate to have to do this, but we need to get her blood sample now. Yours too.”
    “Of course, can you do mine first? At least give her a few more minutes of rest, God knows she needs it.”
    “Absolutely, if you can just shift her over a bit and give me your free arm.”
    Alexa did as instructed. As the nurse swabbed the inside of her elbow with alcohol she started noticeably shaking.
    The nurse raised her eyebrows slightly. “Afraid of needles?”
    “Um, no, I don’t think so. Well, I don’t know, I’ve never had to think about it. I guess I’m nervous because I don’t know what to expect.”
    “Really, you mean you’ve never had your blood drawn? Never had a shot before?”
    Alexa shrugged her free shoulder slightly. “Not that I can remember. I recall hearing something about there being bad reactions to vaccines in my family or something, so I was opted out of the mandatory stuff when I was a kid. There hasn’t really been any reason to have my blood drawn, I never get sick.”
    “What about when you were pregnant with Chloe, your doctor would have wanted to run some tests early on, check your iron levels, etcetera?”
    “No, I actually decided to use a midwife and have a water birth at birthing center. I wanted as little intervention as possible. She always came to my house for my checkups and the pregnancy was really easy. I felt amazing the whole nine months. I didn’t have any morning sickness or other problems to speak of at all.”
    “Well, you sure are brave, and lucky! I had all four of mine naturally, though that wasn’t really by choice. Back when I was young that’s just how it was done, but you can bet I would have taken the drugs if they offered ‘em to me.” She chuckled as she swiveled on her stool and grabbed the syringe that was waiting on the nearby tray. “All right, honey, I’ve been doing this for a whole lot of years and I’m damn good at it if I do say so myself, so don’t you worry, you’ll barely feel a thing, just a little pinch. Look away, I’ll count to three and then do it, okay?”  
    Alexa shook her head and looked away.
    “Ready, one...okay, it’s in there, told you it wouldn’t hurt much.”
    Alexa turned to look while Barb snapped the first collection tube in place. “I thought you said you were counting to three?”
    Barb gave her a playful wink. “I’ve learned over the years that it hurts a lot less when people aren’t anticipating the pain. Most of it is in our heads you know.”
    After filling up another tube, the nurse removed the needle and placed a small cotton swab and Band-Aid on Alexa’s arm. Just then, Chloe started rooting around towards her free arm like she wanted to nurse. Alexa shifted her over and turned her head the other way. After a few moments she was still again.  
    “Ok, now comes the hard part. I hate to say it, but I’ll warn you this one is probably going to hurt you a lot more than