I smile, “the money’s real good though”.
“I don’t care how good the money is. I don’t want my son to grow up thinking that in order to make it he must become a professional athlete or rapper or singer. I want him to be educated and find success in other ways.”
I wanted to tell her that there is nothing wrong with Travis becoming a professional soccer player if that’s his dream. Fuck these stereotypes about black people, let the kid be himself. I understood her point but she had a one sided view of life that I sometimes hated. She grew up poor and had to struggle all her life living in the projects of Atlanta’s toughest neighbourhoods. I on the other hand had parents with good jobs that afforded a very comfortable lifestyle. I’ve never had to want for anything. Sadie and I often disagreed on things like this.
Instead of saying anything to her, I got up and headed towards the lunch room to make a cup of coffee.
“Catch ya later”, she said.
I give her thumbs up and walk slowly towards the lunch room.
As I enter the lunch room, all eyes are on me. Mischka looks up from her coffee and magazine, “Ooh look what the cat dragged in”.
I give a lack luster smile and head straight for the coffee machine.
“Somebody’s eating too much fried chicken, corn bread and collard greens”. Johnathan the office gossip queen said as he looked me up and down.
“Geez Johnathan, that’s low key racist”, Mischka exclaimed.
“Umm as the only other black person in this room besides Aria, correction; that’s high key racist” Brandon said defensively. “Don’t you have to go reapply your lipstick or some shit?”
I can’t help but laugh, I’ve always liked Brandan. Sadie and Mischka think that we would make the best office couple but I like him as a friend and co-worker. I’m not one to mix work with pleasure in that way.
“Oh my God, that is so fucking homophobic”, Johnathan cried as he walked out of the lunch room.
“Yeah but you are wearing lipstick though”, Brandan shouted.
I smile at Johnathan and whisper, “Thanks”.
“One would think that in a city like Atlanta with such a high concentration of black folk there would be more diversity here at Oasis Media”, he said shaking his head.
“I know, I should have a serious talk with Rebeca down at HR”, I say.
Brandan nods, “yep somebody ought to”.
Grabbing my coffee mug I walk slowly to my office, “have a great day guys”, I say.
As I exit the lunchroom I can’t help but feel self-conscious. I’m starting to show; pretty soon everyone will be talking about me. Of course it’s not the 1940’s so there’s nothing wrong with being pregnant and unmarried. Yet I can’t seem to shake the sinking feeling that I will become a major topic in office gossip circles.
CHAPTER SEVEN
My appointment with Dr. Mc Daniel is in two days and normally I would avoid scheduling doctor’s appointments on a Friday but I want to get closer to the truth about what happened to me. In the meantime, I try not to think of my predicament and focus on getting some work done to meet my work deadlines. My cell phone buzzes and I see that my mom is calling, “Hey mom what’s up? How’s Grenada?” I say trying to feign enthusiasm and a sense of normalcy. I am silently hoping that she doesn’t detect the tiniest hint of despair in my voice as I speak. Mothers have an innate ability to detect when their offspring is distressed about something. With my mother this ability is magnified times 10.
“Oh Grenada is beautiful, but it’s so hot. The dry season here has been brutal, we are praying for some rain.”
“And how about the restaurant”, I probed.
“Oh we’ve been getting a lot of tourist this season so the restaurant has been super busy. Plus you know we have the usual students from the University who come out in droves and some of the locals. Seems like we’ll be able to buy a luxury yacht pretty soon”, she joked.
“Sweetheart, how are you? Are you taking care of yourself? You know I had a dream about you last night, it was a weird dream.”
“Oh no here we go”, I say actually holding my head.
“Please don’t tell me you dreamt about fish!” I plead.
Mom laughs in her classy, lady like way of laughing, “Why are you pregnant? She asks.
“Mom what did you dream?” I ask quickly in the hope that she would digress from the topic of pregnancy.
“Whew child this dream was strange. I’m warning you! I dreamt that we went hiking in the desert and you went in to a cave and Samuel and I were trying to stop you from going into the cave but you wouldn’t listen.”
I chuckle, “sounds like me”.
Mom continues, “well eventually you went in and Samuel and I dashed in to rescue you but we ended up falling for a long period of time until we landed in the Grand Etang lake. As soon as we surfaced in the lake we looked around for you but you were nowhere to be seen. Then Samuel and I get out of the lake and lo and behold you’re there in the water right behind us but when we try to pull you out of the lake it’s like you’re stuck.”
“Yes that is one crazy dream mom. How does it end? Do you guys pull me out from the lake or do I drown?”
“Unfortunately I woke up at that point so I don’t know how the dream ended but I thought I would just check in with you to make sure you’re alright.”
“Oh I’m great mom, everything’s fine!”
“Okay but is there something on your mind? You know you can tell me anything right?”
“Yes mom, I’m fine. Really! I just have a lot going on at work at the moment.” I hope I sound convincing.
“Okay sweetheart but don’t work too hard. Remember to take some time for yourself too. How are Sadie and the family?”
“Sadie and everyone is fine, I’ll tell her you said hello.”
“Okay Aria! I love you! Take care of yourself and remember I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thanks Mom! I love you too! Say hello to Samuel for me.”
I hang up the phone wishing that I could tell my mom everything but I can’t; at least not until I know how this happened.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The waiting room at Dr. Mc Daniel’s office reminds me of the reception area of an upscale spa. A young woman well dressed in a grey pantsuit approaches and tells me that Dr. Mc Daniel is ready to see me. I follow her into a large room lined with sofa’s, a plush rug and a bare centre table. The walls of the room are painted in a soothing grey colour and several paintings hang off of it. The young lady who I assume must be one of Dr. Mc. Daniel’s receptionists or possibly an assistant; instructs me to have a seat on the couch. I do as I’m told and I sit quietly while browsing through my iphone. The young woman leaves the room gently closing the door behind her.
Cautiously I look around the room wondering where Dr. Mc Daniel could be; but there is no one in the room except me. I glance at my watch and realize that it’s only been five minutes past the time of my scheduled appointment so I figure that Dr. Mc Daniel must be running a little late. Just then the door swings open and a tall dark woman with long curly hair appears in the doorway. “Ms. Cromwell I’m terribly sorry for the delay. It’s just that we had some difficulty with a previous client and that threw me off schedule a little bit. I can assure you that you will get one full hour with me today though. So how are you today Ms. Cromwell? Do you mind if I call you Aria?”
I smile, “I’m doing okay and yes you may call me Aria. I don’t mind”.
“Well Aria can you tell me a little about yourself”.
I begin by giving her a brief summary of my childhood and then I move on to my career and personal life. I make sure to tell her about my past and how I’ve recovered from it and why I chose celibacy. I omit the fact that I’m pregnant. I decided that it would be best to spill those details a little later on.