The Cuckoo's Cage

Chapter Seventeen

Anna fidgeted in her seat, looking around the Doctor's office. Days had now passed since Hans and Karl had left for the front, and both she and Freddie had been exceedingly glum. Neither wanted to face the very real possibility that they might not return. Freddie had tried to cheer her up on the drive there by talking about his last visit with Elli; she was given clean clothes regularly and was far chattier with him this time around. But it did nothing to soothe her. If anything, it made her more anxious. Anna sighed loudly, clearly impatient for the Doctor to arrive. Freddie put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing a little in support. She looked up at him.

"It will be fine," Freddie assured her. She looked at him doubtfully.

"There's no point in me being here," she mumbled.

"You might still change your mind," he said, but she shook her head.

"I'm not having that man's child Freddie. It means I'd have a part of him with me forever and I can't face that." He didn't reply, simply squeezing her shoulder again. The Doctor soon bustled in, smiling at her.

"Frauline Lehman, is that right?" he asked, sitting in his chair as Anna straightened herself protectively.

"Yes, it is," she said.

"So," he said, "you're pregnant?" He had a tone of disapproval, Anna's fists clenching. She was certainly glad that Ernst wasn't with her, gushing over her. But that did usually mean that people treated her with more respect.

"Yes," she said, "but still in the early stages. Somewhere in the first trimester?"

"And you're basing this on your last period?"

"Yes," she said.

"Well, I'll have a little feel of your stomach, if that's all right." She nodded. He guided her to the bed behind them, Freddie holding her hand the entire time. "Are you the father?" the Doctor asked Freddie.

"No," he said, "just a friend. The father couldn't be here so..."

"Delightful," he replied, clearly not interested. When Anna was comfortable, he asked her to open her blouse and loosen her skirt, and then began to inspect her stomach. "It feels bigger than expected," he said, his brow furrowed.

"Yes," said Anna, unwilling to keep up the same charade she performed around Ernst. "Is that normal?" He got his stethoscope out, placing the cold pad on her stomach, moving it around several places. "What's wrong?" asked Anna.

"Nothing's wrong," he said, removing the stethoscope from his ears. He then proceeded to measure between her pelvic bone and her navel. "But I would say that you're well into your second trimester now."

"I beg your pardon?!"

"I can hear a single heartbeat, which rules out twins, and from your measurements, I'd say you have to be at least four months along, more likely five. Actually, considering a heartbeat can only be heard from four months, I would say you are on the smaller side, given how far along you appear to be."

"No, there has to be some mistake," insisted Anna, sitting up quickly.

"Was your last period very light? he asked.

"Y-yes," she said, "but that's not unusual for me."

"It is still possible to have some spotting throughout your pregnancy, especially the earlier days." Anna's hand covered her stomach, as she started breathing deeply. She lay back, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't hear anything that was being said. She felt as though she had been plunged into ice cold water, everything swirling around her as she sank lower and lower. Freddie was squeezing her hand tightly as the Doctor droned on, both of them trying to keep it together.