“I can’t tell you how welcome this distraction is,” I said.
“Are you still at work?” she asked.
“I am. I have paperwork to go through. It’s a bitch.” I would much rather have been home, fucking Scarlett, spending the night in all sorts of compromising positions, instead of going through property values.
“I won’t keep you, then,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I asked.
“Yeah. I took a home pregnancy test tonight. I realized this morning that it’s been a while since my last period, so I calculated it and figured I had to check.”
I grinned. I couldn’t believe it. Pregnant! This was finally happening.
“I just wanted to let you know,” she said. She didn’t sound as ecstatic as I felt.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, it’s just a lot to take in.”
I could understand that. Going from living a relaxed life, to planning to get pregnant in such a short time, had to be jarring. I’d thought about it for a long time, but Scarlett had stepped onto the scene, and a few days later, we were going at it.
“I’ll set up a gynecologist appointment for you with Dr. Monroe,” I said.
“Thank you.” Scarlett sounded distant, switched off. I wanted her to speak to me, but we weren’t there. Our relationship wasn’t like that, and right this minute, I wished it was.
“I’ll speak to you tomorrow,” she said.
We ended the conversation, and I hung up the phone. I took a deep breath, trying to let the information sink in. A baby. I hoped it was a son. If it was a daughter–it wasn’t like I could pick and choose at this point–I would love her just as much, but I desperately wanted a son.
I managed to book an ultrasound with Monroe for Scarlett on Wednesday, the very next day. When we walked into the offices, there were pregnant mothers everywhere, looking at us. We were an odd couple–with her nearly half my age–but I didn’t give a shit what they thought. I knew what I wanted, and I knew what I was here for. Scarlett seemed less confident. She fidgeted while we waited.
I put my hand on hers, but she gently pulled it out of my grip.
“It’s going to be fine,” I said.
She nodded, but I didn’t believe that she agreed with me.
“Scarlett,” Monroe said, smiling when we walked into the office. “How are you doing?”
“Okay,” Scarlett said.
We both sat down. Scarlett had her hands in her lap
“What can I do for you, today?” Monroe asked.
Scarlett cleared her throat. “I think pregnant. I took a home pregnancy test, and it was positive.”
Dr. Monroe smiled. “That’s great news,” she said. “Why don’t we have a look?”
We moved to the next room where Scarlett got undressed behind a screen and put on a hospital gown. When she sat on the chair, she was visibly nervous.
Monroe squirted jelly on her stomach and used the scanner, sliding it over her lower abdomen.
“When was your last period?” she asked while she looked at the screen, moving the scanner back and forth. Gray shapes appeared on the black screen.
Scarlett gave her a date.
“Right,” she said. “That would mean you’re about eight weeks along or so, right?”