A Baby Affair (Parent Portal 2)
A vision of Craig came to mind, standing in his oh-so-sexy riding gear in between their bikes, waiting for her. As he would be in just a few hours. And the vision changed. One of the bikes had a stroller attached to the back with a sleeping bundle inside.
She had to call. To find out the sex of the baby. She’d tell him tonight.
He wanted to know. Telling him would be good for both of them. He seemed like her unofficial sponsor as she got over her need to hang on so tight to things that were out of her control.
That was it. She was going to call now. But as she glanced at her cell, she picked up her pencil, starting to draw. Fine metal chain links appeared, every two connected by a small lace rose. Beads appeared in bell caps, in place of the chain link...different stones for the various colors of lace she already knew she’d be getting.
The afternoon wore on. Angie came in, said they’d had to fire a packaging employee for anger-related issues, but that in the end, according to their plant manager, the woman had gone peacefully. Angie was truly excited about the idea of experimenting with baby clothes, was going to run to a box store, get some inexpensive items and start playing around with them.
And Amelia was already on her way to her meet with Craig—something Angie tolerated but still worried about—before she actually gave the voice command for her car system to dial the Parent Portal. She might not even be able to get ahold of someone who had the authority to look at her records, her test results and give her the information she sought on such a short notice.
She’d promised herself she’d know by the time she saw Craig. That she’d tell him.
His body. Those riding pants. Images flashed. Confusing her as the ringing on the line played through her system. She was nervous, getting more tense with each ring. And she was growing moist down below, too.
He wasn’t going to be a father to her baby, but she wanted him—it wasn’t just hormones. The craving was growing worse, not easing off.
“The Parent Portal.” The professional feminine voice cleared Amelia’s mind.
“This is Amelia Grace. I had the NIPT several weeks ago and opted not to know the sex of my child, but I’ve changed my mind. Is there someone there who can get that information for me?”
If she’d chosen to use her own obstetrician, she could have called an office, but she hadn’t. She’d wanted to stay at the Parent Portal, working with their doctors. She was approaching the last corner before the street where she was meeting Craig.
“Just one moment, Ms. Grace, and I’ll check on that for you.”
On what? Check on what? The sex of her child? Or whether there was anyone there who could give her that information?
She turned the corner. The parking lot they were meeting in was half a mile ahead on the right. He might not be there yet. She was five minutes early. He was always there when she arrived. Always.
Maybe he was one of those people who had to be early everywhere they went. She couldn’t stand to waste time waiting around. Nope, she was a right-on-time kind of person...her mind babbled, glommed on that which didn’t matter...to distract her from that which did. Waiting was excruciating.
“Ms. Grace?”
She slowed as she approached the lot. Turned in.
“Yes?”
“I have that information you wanted,” the voice on the other end of the phone said as she parked and spotted Craig, standing between their two bikes.
“Okay.” She was yards away from the sperm donor—the man who’d somehow become dear to her.
“You ready?”
Oh, God, get it done! “Yes.”
“It’s a girl, Ms. Grace! You’re having a girl!”
A girl. Isabella. The name suddenly appeared, fully formed, in her mind.
A girl!
She was having a baby girl!
Looking down, Amelia cupped he
r stomach, surprised when a tear dropped off her face, wetting her hand.
“I love you, little Isabella. I love you so much.”