“You’re mine. No one else is ever going to be with you like this again. Just me.”
“I’m yours.”
His lips press to mine one more time before he lowers me to the ground, using the towel to clean me up. “There’s nothing I’d rather do than stay locked in this bathroom with you for the rest of the day making up for all my wrongs, but you need to go check on my baby.”
“I’m going to be honest … I never thought you’d embrace this. This is going to ground you, you know that?”
“I’ve been waiting for something to ground me for years. I’m happy to be grounded with you.” He smiles, throwing me my sports bra.
I laugh for the first time since the situation became real. “Your seed has officially been planted.”
“Turn that into a Hallmark card. Daddies across the country will love your little analogy. Maybe add a tree to the front.”
“I think it’s time for you to give me some space so I can get to the doctor on time. You’re distracting me,” I say, turning out my lower lip.
He sticks out his lower lip mockingly. He probably looks cuter than I do. “I’ll go back down and talk to your mom. I think she’s just starting to not hate me.”
I open my mouth to object, but he’s gone before I get a chance.
After pulling on the clothes he gave me, I tie my hair up in a loose knot and put just enough makeup on to mask the dark circles under my eyes. There’s not much to the outfit, but it’s acceptable around here this time of year.
I slip on a pair of brown leather flip-flops and make my way downstairs a little before one. My mom is stirring something on the stove while Blake flips through one of her old recipe books. “You two are really freaking me out,” I admit without thinking.
“What?” Blake says without looking over. “You know I like to cook.”
My mom chuckles. “That’s good because it’s never been one of her strong points. I tried.”
“I’m glad the two of you have made an alliance at my expense, but I need to leave for the doctor, or I’m going to be late.”
Mom stops what she’s doing, pulling the pot off the burner. “Am I driving or are you?”
Blake doesn’t say anything or look back, but the pages stop turning. I can tell by his eyes he’s staring, at one point, not actually reading.
“Actually, Mom, I was hoping Blake and I could go together. It’s just—”
She holds her hand up to stop me. “I get it. See if you can get me a picture, okay?”
I shake my head, watching Blake stand from the table with an easy smile. “I don’t think there’s much to see at this point, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Blake pulls his keys from his pocket. “We can take Frank.”
Great. I’m going to pull up at the doctor in an old Trans Am wearing a pair of cut-offs. Better yet, my boyfriend looks like he hasn’t touched a comb or a razor in a few days—he definitely doesn’t look like he’s from here. He’s still the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, just not what I would have dreamed of a few years ago.
“See you in a little while, Mom. I think I might take Blake out to Grandpa’s farm after so I can show him my spot.”
“I’ll have something ready for dinner when you get home,” she replies, waving as we head out the door.
He opens the passenger door for me before going around to his side. The engine roars as I give him directions to the one and only clinic in town, my legs shaking uncontrollably as we get closer.
“Hey,” he says, placing his hand over my knee. “It’s going to be okay. Besides, I’m here now, and there’s nothing we can’t get through together.”
“I know. I hate going to the doctor in general.”
We pull into the parking lot with only a few minutes to spare. “I don’t want this to come off wrong,” he says. “But, do you have insurance? I can help out if you don’t.”
“Yeah, I got it through Stanley a few months ago.”
He cringes but drops it as we make our way inside. My fingernails tap on the reception desk as I wait for her to get off the phone. “Can I help you?” she asks, staring at my hands.
“Lila Fields for Dr. Phelps.”
“Oh, yes, I’m going to need you to fill out a couple forms since it’s been a while.” She hands me a clipboard and a pen. “Take a seat and bring it back when it’s complete.”
I take a seat, filling out as much as I can. It’s the standard health history and insurance information they get every time I come. After handing it back to her, I sit back down next to Blake, resting my head on his shoulder.
“You feeling okay?” he asks.
“I hate waiting.”
His knees bounce up and down. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him this nervous. We’re quite the pair. “How did you know you were pregnant?”
“Umm, I took a test.”
“No, I mean, how did you know that you might be pregnant?”
I think back to the couple of days before I finally bought the test on the way into work. My cycle had been irregular since I got the shot so there was nothing out of the usual there. I felt queasy for two or three straight mornings but had chalked it up as a case of the flu. Then, my breasts started to hurt just from putting my bra on. When the exhaustion hit, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. “When you know your body, you can just tell. The test was just confirmation of what I already knew deep inside.”
He nods, throwing his arm over my shoulder. “You’re going to be a great mom.”
I smile, thinking that in a matter of months, I will definitely be someone’s mom. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. “I have a feeling this baby might love Daddy even more. I don’t think he or she will have to work hard to have you wrapped around their finger.”
Blake is a little tough—little arrogant—but under it all, he knows how to love better than anyone I’ve ever met. He shows it differently than most. He doesn’t shout it from the rooftops or make grand gestures. Blake loves like only Blake can. It’s my favorite love.
“Lila?” the nurse asks, perching the door open with her foot.
I pick up my purse and walk toward her, feeling Blake’s hand at the small of my back.
“Good morning,” she says as we walk in. “We’re going to start by getting your height and weight then I’ll need you to use the bathroom before the doctor comes in to see you.”
Blake stands by for my weight and height, which doesn’t bother me a bit.
She picks my purse up from the floor, handing it to Blake. “I’m going to bring you to room 3 while she goes to give her sample. She’ll join you in just a couple minutes.”
He squeezes my hand before we go our separate directions. The nurse hands me a cup, and I lock myself in the bathroom, easily filling it and tucking it behind the metal door. I wash my hands and find room 3—my Blake. At times, I still can’t believe he’s here until I actually see him.
“How’d it go?” he asks, wrapping his arm around my shoulders when I take the seat next to him. His knees still bounce nervously as his fingertips tap along my shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
“Just nervous, you know? I just want everything to be okay.” He bites down on his thumb.
“It’s—”
There’s a quick knock at the door before Dr. Phelps walks in. She’s cut her hair, but other than that, she’s the exact same as she was a year ago.
“Well, Lila,” she announces. “You are definitely pregnant. Congratulations.”
My eyes well when I look at Blake whose face has relaxed from just a couple minutes ago. There really is a baby in there.
The doctor takes the stool next to me, typing in the computer. “Do you remember when your last period was?” she asks.
I shake my head. I’ve never been one to mark it on my calendar and since they are so irregular, it’s not like I can just count back.
“What I’d like to do then today is an ultrasound to determine how far along you are. Lay up on the table so I can take a look at your stomach then I’ll have the nurse walk you down to radiology.”
Blake watches as she positions me, and gently presses against my abdomen. “Do most women know they’re pregnant before they take a test?” he asks.