Second Chances // Joe Burrow

1. Didgeri-dont

Madison

The last month of my life has been nothing short of Hell on earth. But today, I get to go check on my baby. The only thing keeping my head above water right now. My baby.

"Sweetie, are about ready to go?" My aunt, Sarah, calls knocking on the door to their guest house.

"Yeah, I'm just lacing my boots." That was a lie. I was trying to put myself in the right mindset to get in a car. Something I haven't been able to do for the past two weeks without a full blown panic attack to follow.

"Alright Honey, I've got the car running. It'll be super warm."

I took a deep breath and stood up, opening the door to the guest house and greeting my aunt with a half smile.

"Aren't you so excited, you get to see your baby for the first time!" She said, halfhearted to try and lighten the mood.

"Yeah. Super excited." I grimaced, tightening my grip on my purse strap as we walked toward her suv.

Here goes nothing.

...

"Miss Barnes, how are you feeling today?" The overly perky nurse asks, walking in and rubbing hand sanitizer up to her elbows.

"Still nauseous, still barely any appetite." My aunt Sarah answers for me. I still didn't trust my voice after the almost panic attack in the car. It was only a 20 minute drive.

"We just have a few questions from your initial paper work we need you to answer, concerning family history."

"Oh Uh, I was a-adopted when I was 9. Be-before then I was in the system since I was 2. I d-don't have my family history." I explained, taking deep calming breaths to minimize the stuttering.

The nurse nods in understanding. "And dad's medical history?"

"If you can track him down at the Univeristy of Melbourne, let us know." My aunt scoffs. "He found out she was pregnant and dipped after an almost six year relationship."

"You know, family history is that important for these first appointments, let's just skip that part." She says grabbing a pair of gloves. "Do you know around what time was conception."

"I think the beginning of October, or around there." I say, picking at my fingers.

"So you're about six weeks along now then?" She asked.

What date was it? I couldn't tell you. My moms died November 5th. How long ago was that?

"I think so. What day is it?"

The nurse and my Aunt Sarah exchanged looks. "It's November 17th honey."

"Oh. Yeah. Six or seven weeks sounds right."

"Alright, why don't you lay back for me and we'll try and abdominal ultrasound first. It may be too early to detect a heartbeat this way, but if we're super quiet, we should hear it."

I did what she asked and laid back on the table. Lifting up the flimsy gown I was given on the way in here, she squirted the cold gel on my belly.

"So, truthfully mom, how are you feeling? I know it's been a tough few weeks for you."

"I don't know. I've just been keeping my head above water for my baby. I don't really have room to stress or grieve, ya know?"

"Have you talked to anyone?" She asked, rubbing the wand around on my lower abdomen.

"I have a therapist, yes. I mostly just text them updates though, I haven't been able to make it through a phone call."

"As long as you have an outlet for your feelings, it doesn't matter how they're getting out there." She grins and then turns the screen around. "Looky there mama, your babies are safe and sound."

"Babies? Plural?" I ask, blinking at the screen to make sure I was seeing right.

"Mhm, two perfectly healthy little beans." She smiles again before asking if I would like pictures. I nod furiously.

She goes on to talk about the dos and don'ts of pregnancy. What I can or can't do or eat. How to keep me and my babies safe and healthy. I just hope my aunt was listening because I was still staring at my two perfect little beans, safe and sound in my uterus.

"I think we should go surprise your uncle at work, what do you think?"

"Mhm. Sure." I reply, not even really registering what she was saying.

I'm going to be a mom. Proof of life was right here in front of me, in my hands. And their dead beat dad would rather be fucking off with a didgeridoo than be a father. But that's fine, they don't need him. I don't need him. I can be BOTH parents for them. I can do this. I will do this.

"Madison!"

I looked up from my lap and over at my aunt.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around confused.

"At the stadium, did you not here me when I told you we were stopping by?" She shakes her head and turns the car off, opening the door.

"Woah wait, the football stadium? With like, actual football players?" I freak out, trying to smooth down my unruly curls, then just deciding to throw my toboggan back on.

"Yes, that generally what you would find at a football stadium." She chuckles. "The boys are playing on thanksgiving so we're having a team diner today."

"Oh." I said, slumping back into the car chair. "I don't think I can be around a crowd right now."

"If it gets to be too much for you, we can leave." She sighs. "Lot of the guys on the team are your age, I think it would be good for you to be around your peers."

"My peers? These guys are like Uber popular, they are not my peers." I chuckled. "Besides, no one wants to be friend with the 24 year old single orphan, twice over."

It was kind of a twisted shit when you think about it. I've been orphaned twice in my life now.

"Come on, I know one of the WAGs make a mean pumpkin pie." My weakness, I will always say yes to a pumpkin pie.

"WAG?" I ask, stepping out of the suv.

"Wives and Girlfriends." A deeper voice answers, causing me to jump just a little. "Coach sent me down to walk you ladies up. I'm Joe by the way. Joe Burrow."