Consider Yourself Lucky

Twenty-Six

Collin has picked as many pregnancy and baby pamphlets off the information board as he could find. There's probably about twenty different ones. There are some for breastfeeding, what foods to avoid, how to prepare for labor. The list goes on and on. We're sitting in the waiting room for about fifteen minutes before a nurse walks out the same door, I went through last time to get my blood work done. Ironically, it's also the same nurse. She leads Collin and I to a different area from when I was here last. We walk into a room, and she closes the door.

"First off, I want to say congratulations." She looks at Collin then looks back at me. "And I assume this is dad, correct?"

"Yes I am." He sounds so happy and proud which makes me smile. She asks me a couple questions about my last period and my symptoms. She hands me a booklet of paperwork and after about a half hour of explaining how they set up appointments and things, she leads us to another room farther in the back. We walk in and there's a TV on the wall and a computer looking machine next to a bed. She asks me to lay down and pull the top part of my pants down just a little. I do as she says, and she squirts some really warm gel on my belly. She puts the probe thing on my stomach and the screen on the wall shows everything. I glance over at Collin, and he looks intrigued. She moves the probe for about two minutes before a little white dot shows up on the screen. It looks like a little bean.

"And here is your baby. You look to be about six weeks along which is still pretty early." My baby. That is my baby up on the screen. Before I thought things couldn't get any better, she turns the sound on. A heartbeat. Collin grabs my hand and squeezes it. I can see the tears in his eyes which makes me even more emotional. I have never loved something more as much as I love this little bean growing inside of me. I am in awe.

"Everything looks good. On your way out just stop at the front desk to schedule your next appointment."

"Addy, that's our baby." The nurse prints out some pictures for us to keep. She wipes the gel off my stomach, and I pull my pants back up. She leads us back out to the front and before leaving I schedule another appointment.

"We have an opening in three weeks if that works for you." I turn to Collin to make sure it works for him too. He nods. Perks of owning your own business, you don't have to request days off.

"Yes that sounds good to us."

"Perfect. Here is a card for an appointment reminder and you're all set. Have a great day." We turn to walk out and he grabs two more pamphlets.

"What? You can never have too much information."

We get to the car and my stomach growls.

"Are you hungry? Do you want to stop and grab a quick bite to eat?" I knew that muffin wasn't going to be enough, but I didn't want to eat something big and regret it while puking on the side of the road.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

"Are you craving anything? We can go wherever you want."

"A cheeseburger sounds tasty."

"Cheeseburgers it is. Off we go."

We drive to the nearest restaurant that sells burgers which also happens to be the place where Collin asked me out on our first date. Smooth man, he is. We get out of the car, and he runs in front of me to open the door to the restaurant.

"After you, my lady." I giggle to myself. I can tell he's trying. He really is and I appreciate that. But it's going to take a lot more than holding the door open and satisfying my cravings to win me over again. The hostess brings us to a table and the waitress comes right over to take our orders. I already knew what I wanted and so did he so that was easy. We couldn't forget the mozzarella sticks with extra marinara. As we wait for our food, Collin won't take his eyes off of me.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer." Here goes the rude sarcasm again.

"Oh, trust me, I have plenty of pictures of to stare at. However, I prefer the beauty to be right in front of me." I blush.

"Oh, stop it. If we have a son, you better teach him to be a gentleman and none of those corny pick-up lines. And if we have a daughter, I'll teach her to not fall for those corny pick-up lines." He sarcastically acts offended.

"There is nothing wrong with my pick-up lines. And our daughter won't fall for them because she won't be allowed near a boy within thirty feet. No boyfriends. No heartbreak. No nothing. She will be treated as a princess and only that." Wow. Shocking coming from someone who had someone else the entire time we talked.

"Okay serious question." I look at him, waiting for him to ask. "Are we going to be sports parents?"

"Well that all depends on if they want to play sports. If they decide they want to then yes of course. I'll be bringing mega horns and screaming their name from the bleachers."

"Okay okay, what are our thoughts on school? Public or private? I think private might be a good way to go."

"Collin, our baby isn't even here yet. We still have eight more months of preparing and years before we have to figure out school arrangements."

"I know, I just want to be able to give my baby the life I never had. They deserve at least that. And so do you. Even if we never end up together again, if you want to be a stay-at-home mom with the baby I will one hundred percent support you both. I don't have to live with you but anything you guys need, I got it. I promise."

"Thank you, really." He holds my hand across the table. Our food comes, ruining the sentimental moment we were sharing.

"This looks so good." My mouth starts watering and I dig into my burger faster than Collin can even thank the waitress.

We finish our meals and Collin drives me back home.

"Do you need anything else?"

"No, I'm okay but thank you for lunch."

"Of course, anything for you and the baby." We pull into the driveway, and he kisses my cheek and says goodbye. I walk into the house and watch as he backs out onto the road. The house is quiet, and everything is how I left it this morning. It's almost two in the afternoon, Grandma never usually sleeps this long.

"Grandma?" Nothing. Complete silence. I call for her again and Flake runs down the stairs asking for attention. I pat her on the head then go upstairs to see if Grandma is still in her room. I open the door to her bedroom. Empty, except her bed isn't made. Grandma always makes her bed. Every single morning. I look over to her closet and the box of pictures is dumped on the floor. I frantically check every room in the house, my heart beating faster and faster with every empty room. Where is she? As I go back into the kitchen, I notice the back door is cracked open. Surely, she didn't go for a walk. Grandma hasn't felt strong enough to take walks lately but even if she did, she would NEVER leave the back door open. I take my phone out of my purse and call the one person I know I can count on for help.

"Addy? Is everything alright?" I start to cry and panic.

"I came home, and nobody is here. I can't find Grandma and I don't know where she would be, but her bed isn't made, there's pictures on the floor, and the back door is open and-"

"Addy, slow down. Take a breather and say it slower this time." I try to calm down enough so he can understand me.

"Collin, I can't find Grandma."

"Shit, I'm on my way."