The Fall - Book 2

209. ‍ ‍We did this!

APRIL 20, 2020  — NEW YORK — RÉA

"I feel really out of place in here," Bucky whispers to me.

We're in the waiting room of Doctor Lawrence's practice...well, I say her practice; she actually shares it with several other obstetricians and gynaecologists. The waiting room is well-furnished, with surprisingly comfortable 'standard waiting room' chairs—there are even a few couches and armchairs—and wooden tables. Beautiful artwork dots the walls; magazines are fanned out and pamphlets about several health topics sit in clear acrylic holders on the tables and the reception counter.

Bucky is the only man in here, and I understand why he feels out of place, even though the waiting room is fairly empty: the only other patients seated here are two very pregnant women, who are lovingly rubbing their bellies, an adorable little old lady, and a woman with a neon blue mohawk and some very unique facial piercings, who keeps giving Bucky the side stink-eye.

"I'm...I don't know if 'I'm sorry' is the right phrase, because I know you're happy about why we're here...and I also understand why you're feeling out of place. Our appointment time is in five more minutes; hopefully, Doctor Lawrence is running on-schedule, and we'll get back in a room soon."

He nods, and I notice his gaze is fixed on one of the pregnant women—specifically, on her belly; turning to me, he speaks softly.

"You're going to look beautiful like that," he tells me, a soft expression on his face and in his eyes.

"Thank you," I quietly reply.

"That was really sweet," the woman says. We both turn toward her, matching expressions of surprise on our faces. "Sorry to eavesdrop; I have three other kids at home, so I'm used to listening really well when it's quiet...because when it's quiet, that usually means they're getting into mischief," she lightly chuckles. "And I wish my husband would say things like that to me, unprompted. I know he finds me attractive because this is baby number four...and oh my gosh, I'm oversharing. I'm so sorry."

"It's alright," I reply, and she nods before grabbing one of the magazines and becoming very engrossed in it.

A door opens, and a petite, scrub-clad woman with galaxy-coloured hair in a high ponytail emerges.

"Ray-uh?" she calls out, looking up from the chart in her hands.

"Well, glad Doctor Lawrence has my chart under 'Réa' and not 'Réalta'...but I need to correct that pronunciation," I very discreetly whisper to Bucky as we make our way to the woman.

"Ray-uh?" she asks.

"It's actually Réa, like 'ray of sunshine', but yeah, that's me," I give her a small smile.

She nods, and makes a note on the chart. "Sorry about that."

"No worries; thanks for updating that."

"Of course. Well, my name is Camilla, and I'm Doctor Lawrence's nurse; if you'll follow me, I'll get your height and weight, then get you back into a room and take the rest of your vitals."

We follow her through several short hallways, to a small area with a scale.

"Alright, shoes off and step up," she instructs, glancing at Bucky; he turns his back.

Once I'm on the scale, she lifts an attached measuring stick and places the flat flap on the top of my head.

"Okay...five-ten...one-fifty-six..." Camilla mutters under her breath as she makes more notes in my chart, "...alright, you can step down."

We finally arrive at the room; Bucky and I settle into two chairs beside a small desk, and Camilla settles onto the stool at the desk. She takes my blood pressure and explains how this appointment will go.