“Her hCG levels were kind of low but the doctor said it happens, they fluctuate. I looked it up and found the same answer. I told her it was silly to let her fear stop her from planning for what we need to do for the baby.”
I never see the fist come at me, until it slams into my chest. Ow, motherfucker, I choke for air. “Fuck you, Che, what the fuck?”
“You dumbfuck, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. As a health professional and a woman, Bethany has to know that. Alicia had a miscarriage before she got pregnant with Sophia.”
“What? Why didn’t you guys say anything?”
“Because we weren’t even aware she was pregnant. She thought it was a heavy period, but her pain got intense and she had a fever. The minute I felt she was hot I took her into the emergency room, they diagnosed it then. With the fever they thought it best to do a D&C to make sure there was nothing left behind that could cause or might be causing an infection. It was awful. There were a lot of late nights spent holding her while she cried. As bad as it was, it would have been ten times worse if we had known. God forbid if we had come home to a nursery decorated for the baby. We’re talking a whole different level of hell, and that’s all Bethany is asking you to avoid. I hope to hell you guys never experience a miscarriage, but respect Bethany’s fear. Don’t just indulge her as a hormonal woman pregnant with your baby.”
I try imagining the hours spent shopping and buying things for a baby, only to have them sitting there unused. A shudder rips through me. “I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Bethany and I’ll mean it, and talk to Alicia and let her know please. Bethany wants to wait, then we’ll wait.”
“Good, there’s nothing wrong with waiting. Are you guys really going to stay in the condo?”
“We hadn’t discussed it actually. We’ve been in a happy stupor. Haven’t even talked names, just me wanting a girl, her wanting a boy. If she doesn’t want to leave the condo I’m good. We do only have the one free room right now though. I’m thinking of maybe getting rid of my workout room and using yours, if that’s all right?”
“You know, I’ve been thinking. My place is sitting empty, when we stay in the city it’s easy for us to stay in the apartment above the office. Why don’t you knock down some walls and join the two places together? We’ll call it a wedding gift.”
“Are you serious?” It would be perfect, to turn my workout room and office into bedrooms and use Che’
s already set up would make everything easier. We’ll need to redecorate the other side to make everything more cohesive, but it wouldn’t take much to do it.
“Yeah, it makes perfect sense. You guys are going to need more room. It’s crazy how much stuff comes with one small baby.”
“No gift though, I’ll pay market value.”
Che shakes his head. “No, it’s a gift. If you argue with me I’ll sic Alicia on you.”
***
Bethany
When I see the car waiting I straighten, ready to lay into Dante, only Charlie gets out to open the door for me. Dante isn’t in the car. Wind taken out of my sails, I sag into the seat as I fasten my seat belt. What is up with him? Is he mad at me? And how dare he be mad at me when I’m mad at him. I finally read the text at the end of the day. All it said was sorry. It wasn’t much of an apology as far as I’m concerned.
Opening the door to the condo, I’m surprised at how quiet it is. He isn’t in the library or his gym. I go in to find the couch is moved and our red silky comforter laid out on the floor with large pillows scattered on top. There’s a basket I’m guessing is filled with food, but Dante is having a hard time keeping Mittens and Maude off the comforter and away from the basket, ruining the romantic feeling he’s going for.
“What are you doing?”
He’s kneeling with Mittens in his arms. He sighs as he sits back on his heels. “I’m sorry for being an asshole. I’m sorry for not respecting your fear and concern. Whatever way you want to do the next nine months, the next fifty years of our life, that’s how we’ll do it.”
Dante Sabatini, billionaire, former manwhore extraordinaire, know-it-all who is always right, is down on his knees with a kitten in his arms and another cat climbing up his shoulders, saying he’s sorry. How the mighty have fallen. At least I’m not the only one.
“Does this mean we can get another kitten?”
He shrugs. “What’s one more? Mittens needs a partner in crime.”
I’m down on my knees now. Dante sets Mittens down to pull me into his arms. “You forgive me?”
“Hmm, I guess. You are pretty good at apologizing.”
“I try. We’ll focus on the wedding. I got a few wedding planners you can interview. Then this weekend you and Alicia can go shopping for a wedding dress.”
“You have all the answers.”
“For you. Let’s take this basket to bed, these cats are driving me crazy and I want to be able to focus on driving you crazy.”
“Sounds good to me.”
18