The New Office

Seven

--Mitch--

We have an ultrasound today. I'm now 4 months pregnant and getting bigger by the day, I swear.

"Mitch are you ready?!" Scott called. I was standing in our room looking at myself in a tall mirror. I lifted up my shirt and rubbed my belly.

I ran my shaky fingers over the scar on the bottom of my enlarged stomach. I remember the day I had Andrew. I was at home by myself. I was scared as my water broke on the couch but I crawled on the floor to a phone. I called for an ambulance and they came within 10 minutes and rushed me to the hospital. I had Andrew by myself..."Mitch? What're you doing babe? We're gonna miss the ultrasound." I let go of my shirt as I was startled by Scott's presence.

"Oh. Sorry I was almost done." I readjusted my shirt and left the room with Scott following behind with his hand on the bottom of my back, "I love you, Scott."

"I love you too, Mitch. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, yeah. I was looking at my scar in the mirror," Scott helped me get my shoes on, "And I was thinking about when I had Andrew."

"And?"

"I was alone. Joel left me at home by myself all day and my water broke on the couch. I crawled to the phone and an ambulance took me."

"What?" Scott looked up at me with shock as his expression.

"I called Joel in the ambulance and before I had Andrew. He didn't come until I was allowed to leave the hospital. I was by myself with our baby. I was scared out my mind that he wouldn't be there with me, or Andrew. That I'd have to raise this small human being by myself, without someone to lean on. And really, I didn't. Even though he was there, he wasn't really there. It made me feel like I failed. Failed to be a good father to my son."

"How did you fail?"

"I had a baby with that man. I chose to be with a man who treated me and my son like shit. I should've thought about the future, how it would effect Andrew, or even me. I was so broken until you. You helped me, Scott. You helped me realize I was a good dad to my little boy. That I could make something of myself and give my kid a good life." Scott leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me in a hug.

We both started to cry and Andrew came down the stairs, "Daddies...? What's wrong?" He walked over to us and wrapped his arms around Scott's legs, "Is everything okay?" He asked, concern filling his voice.

"Everything is just fine bud." Scott tried to assure him, "Daddy was talking about his past. It's okay, he's okay. Let's go before we're late." We all stood up and walked out the door.

----

"Good afternoon boys." The nurse said as we walked into the room, "Just a check-up?" She asked.

"Right." Scott agreed.

I got up on the table and the nurse lifted my shirt, squirting ultrasound gel on the bottom of my stomach. She set the probe on the gel and started moving it around, "Your baby is doing great. It's nice and healthy, exactly how we want it."

"Great." Scott said with a sniffle, then wiped the tears off his cheeks.

"Here's your sonogram photo," She handed Scott the photo and me a paper towel. I wiped the gel off my stomach and sat up. Scott helped me off the table and we left.