Breakthrough

Bearer of Bad News (Part One)

"Hi, I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Marks," I said to the receptionist who answered the phone.
"Ok, did you have a specific time you needed to make your appointment for?" The woman asked.
"Um, I'd prefer a morning appointment. What's the earliest she can take me?"
"Dr. Marks can do as early as 8:45. Will that work for you?"
"Yes. That's perfect," I said as I began to doodle on a notepad in front of me.
"Ok, let's see," the receptionist said. I could hear the clicking of a mouse in the background.
"Can you do the first? That's next Thursday."
"Next Thursday..." I said flipping to the page in my planner to make sure I was free. "Yes. Thursday at 8:45?"
"Yes ma'am. Now can i just need your name," the woman asked softly.
"Sophia Jackson," I said as I continued to write my initials and then Blake's initials ok my notepad.
"And your birthday."
"March 21st, 1991."
"Ok, so this is your first appointment,"
She said as she continued typing on the keyboard.
"Yes ma'am."
"Okie dokie Ms. Jackson. We will see you on the first at 8:45. And if you have any questions before that feel free to give us a call ok?"
"Ok, sounds great. Thank you so much."
"You're quite welcome sweetie. Have a good day," she said hanging up. Ugh. That's one thing off my list. After putting my planner back in my tote bag I went back upstairs to join Blake who was still in bed. When I made my way up to his room I saw that half of his bare back was covered with the white cotton comforter and his face was turned away from the window where the sun was starting to peek in. I slipped back into bed slowly and cautiously hoping that he wouldn't hear me and I could go back to sleep but, of course that wasn't the case.
"There you are," he said with his eyes still closed.
"Hmm, I guess you weren't asleep," I said slipping under the sheets and comforter and turning my body towards his.
"I heard you down there. Were you on the phone?" He asked as he shifted his body a little.
"Mhmm, I made a doctors appointment for the first."
"That's what...next Thursday?"
"Mhmm, it's in the morning too so you don't have to miss practice or anything and I don't have to miss work."
"You know I'd miss anything for you and baby Griffin," Blake said kissing me behind my ear and putting his large hands at the base of my back.
"Yeah, I know you would," I said smiling at him and kissing his cheek to return the favor.
"What are your plans for the day?"
"Um, probably go see my mom and my dad. And then we have a game tomorrow so I need to ask Julie and see if any prep work needs to be done with any of the guys."
"I don't want you working with Jordan," Blake said sharply.
"Well sometimes I don't really have a choice," I added.
"I don't want him with you. He's bad news Soph and you know that."
"Blake. I know. I don't want to work with him but it's my job. I may have to work with him. I can't let my personal life interfere with my job."
"I know, I know. Just you know..."
"I know how you are and I know what you mean, ok?"
"Ok," he said sighing as he rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling.
"You wanna go get breakfast?" I said running my hand over his chest.
"Mmmmm, nice way to avoid a conversation," Blake said rolling his eyes at me.
"Ok, well that wasn't the only thing I was trying to do. I figured you're hungry and so am I."
"Ok, ok, easy!" He said laughing as he sat up.
"You want to go to The Broken Egg?" I asked him. "I could use the long drive."
"Yeah. We can do that. Want to leave in like twenty minutes?"
"Yeah, yeah that sounds good," I said getting up and going into Blake's closer to find something to wear. I went with light wash jeans and another one of Blake's tshirts. I figured I may be wearing these a lot in the coming months when nothing else would fit which I didn't mind. They were comfy and he had quite the variety. After grabbing my purse and sunglasses I went down stairs and waited for Blake. I thought about going to my mom's about noon. That gave Blake and I plenty of time to get there and back from Santa Monica and for me to call Julie to make sure everything was ok for the game.
"You ready?" Blake asked coming down the stairs with a pair of gray Adidas shorts, white tshirts, and sunglasses on.
"Yeah, I'm ready," I said heading toward the garage.

When we got to the restaurant we were seated immediately by the same waitress that we had last time. I ordered French toast while Blake went with a omelette. After the waitress took our order she came back with my coffee and water and another orange juice for Blake.
"You know I was reading in this other book I got and it says caffeine isn't good when you're pregnant," Blake said taking a sip of his juice.
"Look at you, daddy to be. I'm impressed. But, I know. I know it's not good. But it's early. I'll start next week, promise," I said stirring my coffee.
"Hey, I got some big shoes to fill. But caffeine is no bueno momma," he said winking. Momma. sort of liked the sound of that. It made me feel a little more grown up and like I had something going for myself.

Our food came out shortly and Blake and I continued to talk.
"Have you given any names any thought?" Blake asked taking a bite of his omelette.
"Actually, I did. Well I have been for a very long time."
"What? I thought you told me the other day you never even thought about it?" He asked surprised.
"Well, I lied. I've had names in mind since I was probably eighteen? Maybe even before that."
"Well what are they? Let's hear them."
"For a girl, I really like Emerson. Emerson Jane, after my grandmother. And for a boy I really like Jackson, Knox, and Wilson."
"Emerson? I don't think I've ever heard that one but I like it. And I love Jackson and Wilson. Have I told you about Wilson?" Blake asked.
"No, who is Wilson?"
"Wilson was my best friend from high school. He was this big guy that was always so happy. He always found something to be happy about and it was just amazing to watch. And Wilson was diagnosed with leukemia. He was ok for awhile but you could tell it was getting the best of him. He died the day of the dunk contest during All Star Weekend. I remember my mom calling me and just hysterically crying and I knew what had happened. But I could be upset then. I had to go out and win. Win for Wilson. And that's all I kept thinking about the entire day until I stood up getting ready to jump over that car." I could feel myself tearing up just hearing Blake tell the story. There was this light in his eyes when he spoke about his friend. Something that I've never seen him have.
"That's so sweet Blake. Truly amazing," I said grabbing his hand across the table. Blake's fingers grazed a less my knuckles as he looked at me.
"You know when we used to talk about having kids we would always say that we could be like the dynamic daddy duo," Blake said smiling as continued holding my hand. "But, I think those are great names Soph," he smiled at my as I wiped at my wet eyes. "I'm glad to see your finally getting a little more excited or a little upset?"
"I am. And I know. Just you speak from your heart and that gets to me. But I'm excited. I really am. You know last night I was on Pinterest looking at all these cute personalized blankets we can get for the baby."
"I bet. Baby Griffin is gonna be decked out. All the newest and coolest stuff in the game," Blake said smiling.
"Haha, I bet. Between our parents I don't think we will have to buy anything for the first three years."
"Hey, I'm ok with that. Less work for us."
"Yeah. So should I tell my mom about this today? Like I'm out of my funk now and I want to be excited when I tell her."
"I think that's up to you. I'm probably going to wait until you tell your parents before I tell mine. I'm just thinking maybe hold off until we get good word from the doctor and we are good to go, you know?"
"Yeah, that's true," I said taking the last bite of my French toast. I mean he did have a point and it's not like my mom would be less likely to be mad at me if I told her later.
"But if you wanna tell her today, why not. It's not like you're bearing bad news," Blake said putting a $50 on the table and holding out his hand to me.

When we get home Blake and I leave at the same time as he goes to practice and I am off to my parents'.

"There's my Soph!" My dad says answering the door and bringing me into a huge hug.
"Hi, Daddy," I said breathing in his peppermint scent.
"I didn't thing you were coming over until later."
"Well, we just got back from a breakfast and I just thought why not," I said smiling at him as he opened he door wider for us to go inside.
"Us?" He asked locking the door.
"Blake and I."
"I knew he'd come back! I kept telling your mother that but of course she was hoping for the worst. How is he? He's playing today isn't he?"
"Yeah, we worked out our little tiff. And yes he's playing today. And he's good."
"Good. You know he was too good for you to pass up?"
"That's why I gottem back," I said grinning.
"That's my girl," my dad said wrapping his arm around me.
"Jay? Who are you talking to?" My mother whined.
"It's Soph, Kim," my dad said as we both walked into the living room where my mother sat in front of the TV watching HGTV.
"Hey mom," I said setting my bag down and going to sit next to her on the couch as my dad sat next to me.
"Honey, how are you!?" She asked cheery as she gave me a quick hug.
"I'm good. I'm good."
"How was the trip? I'm sure you were whipped when you got home." She asked draping her hand over the back of the couch.
"It was good. A good experience all around but I'm glad to be home."
"Of course. So what have you been up to since you've been back? I know you were busy the the night."
"I was at Blake's game."
"Sophie. C'mon. Do you really feel it necessary to be lingering? You just need to be done," she said sharply as I was taken back a bit.
"We're back together mom."
"Oh my god. Really Sophie? Really? That quickly. It's no good," she said throwing her hands up on the air.
"What do you mean it's no good? We worked out our issue and we're moving on. Together. I love him mom. I wish that would just get through your damn head."
"Oh please Sophie. Love? Really? What does he do for you?"
"He cares about me mom. He loves me. And he's given me something that I've always wanted."
"And what is that exactly?" She asked.
"A baby."