Second Chance Rival

He abruptly stood and leaned over my desk. “You’re a Hawkins now. You’re welcome.”

It was the best I was going to get out of him. As he exited, Paige walked in.

“What’s this I hear about you trading me in?”

“Oh…” I exclaimed. “Tristian told you?”

“Not in so many words. He said something about a friend of his needing an EA for six months.”

“Once I get pregnant, I’m not going to be as demanding as you’re used to, and I know your speed, Paige. You’ll get bored. In reality, I’m doing this for you.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

“We can set something up at our house in a few weeks. Introduce you without making it obvious. See how you feel about him and go from there. If you don’t vibe with him, then no damage done.”

“Mmm… I guess we could do that.” She gazed down at her watch. “You need to leave soon if you’re going to make your appointment.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know after I meet him.”

I nodded, smiling.

I arrived at my appointment a few minutes before three.

“You’re all checked in, Mrs. Hawkins. If you could follow me.”

After the nurse took my vitals, my blood was drawn and then I peed in a cup. She put me in a room and asked me to undress, offering me a thin, scratchy paper gown to cover myself for my exam.

I laid on the exam table with my feet in stirrups as I stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing as I counted down the minutes until the doctor and nurse would come in.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in!”

The door opened. “Hello there,” Dr. Wanda greeted. “How are you doing today?”

“I’m great. How are you?”

“I’m doing well, thank you. So what brings you in other than you’re annual checkup?”

“I was wondering if I could get a prescription for prenatal vitamins.”

She nodded. “Yes, I was just going to suggest that.”

She went on to ask me some questions as she conducted my exam.

“All done.”

I sat up.

“Everything looks great. Are her lab reports ready?”

The nurse scrolled through my chart on her laptop.

“I’ve also been feeling rather fatigued lately. I’m getting enough sleep, so that’s not the issue.”

“Fatigued is perfectly normal.”