“Have a great night,” I say, turning to walk back into the school. Older kids are still lingering as they take their time leaving. Walking into my class, I hear the ping from the phone right away, I sit down at my desk and pick up the phone to see thirty-seven missed text messages. “What in the hell?” I say, opening them and seeing it’s just Alex and Julia.
Julia: When are you coming back down?
Alex: I just stepped into my house, and let me tell you flying hungover. Would not recommend.
Julia: YOU FLEW PRIVATE.
Alex: It’s still an airplane.
Julia: Did you lie down?
Alex doesn’t answer. Instead, she sends a picture of her on the couch in the plane curled up in a ball with a cover on her head.
Julia: You had a couch.
I shake my head, reading through the back-and-forth, and finally add to the conversation.
Me: Can someone explain why I’m on this thread?
I look down to see the three dots come up, and Julia is the first to answer.
Julia: We didn’t want you to miss out on the fun.
I shake my head and grab the Tupperware container of fruit on my desk, looking at the clock and seeing that I have thirty minutes to get to my appointment. Cleaning off my desk, I grab my fruit as I walk out of the school toward my car.
Once I park and get out of the car, I look around to see if I see Michael anywhere. Making my way into the doctor’s office, I smile at the receptionist. “It won’t be long,” she says to me. “You can have a seat.”
I walk over to an empty seat and take out my phone, seeing I have more missed messages.
Alex: Why don’t you guys come to New York for the weekend?
Julia: Ohhh, I want to go to New York.
Alex: I’m staying in the loft in Soho. You guys should definitely come.
I don’t even bother answering them, my head spinning as I look at the clock on my phone and see that he’s a couple of minutes late. The door opens as the nurse steps out and calls my name. “Jillian,” she says, and I take a deep breath getting up. I ignore the burning in the pit of my stomach as I walk back with her. “How are you doing?” she asks when I walk in, and she takes me to the scale right outside of the doctor’s office.
“Let’s get you weighed,” she says, and I step onto the scale. She comes over and looks down, writing the number in the file. “You’ve gained three pounds,” she says, smiling at me, and I look down at my stomach.
“That is good,” she assures me, and then we walk over to one of the closed doors. “Doctor will be right in,” she says to me, and then I see the receptionist look over at us.
“Jillian,” she says my name. “Someone is asking for you.” I feel relief.
“Yes,” I reply, looking at her. “That’s the dad.”
She just nods as she opens the door for him, and he steps inside. He nods his head at her as he looks around. His face is filled with worry until his eyes land on mine. “Hey,” he says, walking to me, and I take him in. He is wearing blue track pants with the matching jacket. The team logo is on the leg of his pants and the crest of his jacket. Another Dallas baseball hat on his head. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” he apologizes once he gets close enough to me. “I had a phone call.” He stops in front of me and then leans down. My whole body tingles as I see his lips come toward mine but he moves his head to the side, kissing the corner of my lips. “You look pretty.” He smiles at me as I try to control the erratic way my heart is beating.
“If you can get undressed.” The nurse finally cuts in as she looks from me to Michael. “She’ll be right in.”
I nod as I walk into the doctor’s office and see the desk in the corner with a computer on it. The chair/examining table is in the middle of the room. The ultrasound machine right next to the table. “I’m afraid to move,” Michael says from the door. “Or touch anything.”
I laugh as I pick up the hospital gown. “I have to change.” His eyes go big.
“I’ll turn around,” he offers, turning to look at the door as I slip out of my white loose dress. My matching white bra and panties set leaves little to the imagination since it’s lace. I slip the gown on. “I’m really nervous,” he says, and I look at his back as he puts his head back. “Like so nervous I almost vomited in the car.”