King of my Heart

SEVENTEEN

Jocelyn sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office with her nerves on high alert. This was it. This was the start of their journey to parenthood and honestly she was afraid of what they were going to tell her. Jocelyn looked around the room, seeing the other women sitting in the chairs. All three of them were noticeably pregnant. Jocelyn sighed. She sat there for what seemed like ages before the door opened.
"Jocelyn?" She stood up. "You can follow me." Jocelyn followed the nurse through the door, stopping in front of another door. "I'm going to need you to fill this." She handed Jocelyn the cup.
"Why?"
"Standard pregnancy test." Jocelyn let out a snort. "Something wrong?"
"I would know if I was pregnant. I know I'm not."
"We still have to do it, Mrs. Gibbs. Go right in there and I'll be waiting right here for you." Jocelyn disappeared into the bathroom, coming out two minutes later. She handed the sample off before following her into one of the exam rooms at the end of the hallway. "Go ahead and changed into the gown and I will go and test this." The door closed behind her, leaving Jocelyn alone. She changed out of her clothes, leaving them folded neatly on the chair. Sitting down on the exam table, Jocelyn waited. About 15 minutes later, the doctor walked in.
"Jocelyn. I'm Dr. Peters." She held out her hand, Jocelyn taking it.
"Hi."
"So, what are we in for?" She asked, taking a seat on the rolling stool.
"Well, my husband and I are ready to start a family, so I'm here to hopefully start IVF."
"Oh." Dr. Peters sounded surprised.
"Why do you sound surprised?"
"You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"Jocelyn, you're pregnant." Jocelyn shook her head.
"No, I'm not."
"You're 14 weeks pregnant, Jocelyn."
"How? I've never been able to carry this late. Did you not read my medical history?" Dr. Peters let out a small laugh.
"Of course I did. That's why we are going to refer you to someone who specializes in high risk pregnancies." Jocelyn's head fell into her hands. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just trying to process all of this. I'm pregnant. Oh my God." Jocelyn couldn't help the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Would you like to see your baby?" Jocelyn could only nod. Jocelyn laid back on the table. Within just a few long moments, the sound of their baby's heartbeat filled the room. "There's your baby. Active little bugger." Jocelyn look at the screen. She let out a breath that she didn't know was was holding in. Dr. Peters printed her photos for her to take home to Ty. She left the room to allow her to get dressed. She carefully tucked the sonogram photos away in her purse. Jocelyn left the exam room. "Here is all the information that you need to make your appointments with our specialist. We will still want to see you for regular visits." Jocelyn nodded before leaving. She couldn't wait to get home to tell Ty the news. Jocelyn still couldn't believe she was already 14 weeks pregnant. Their first night back together. Jocelyn got out to her car when her phone started to ring. It was Morgan.
"Hey, Morgan."
"Are you sitting down?" She asked.
"I'm in my car. What's going on?"
"Where did Ty go today?"
"He said he was meeting a friend for coffee. Why?"
"Did he tell who this friend was?"
"No, why?"
"He went and saw Elsie."
"What?"
"He went and saw Elsie. Someone saw the two together and took pictures. They're starting to circulate on the internet and social media."
"Where are these pictures?" Jocelyn heard Morgan sigh. "Morgan."
"I don't know if you should see them."
"My husband was spotted with his ex. I want to see." A few moments later, Morgan sent them. Jocelyn looked at them and tears started to form in her eyes.
"Joce."
"I need to find him." Jocelyn hung up without another word. She headed home, hoping he was there. Every mile that disappeared between her and the apartment made her more and more anxious. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. She should be heading home to tell her husband that they were having baby. Not to confront him about being with his ex. When she finally got home, the Supra was in its usual spot. Jocelyn took a deep breath and headed inside. Ty was pacing the living room when she walked in the door. "Ty."
"Joce." She set her purse and keys down on the side table. "Listen, it's not what it looked like..."
"Are you sure? Because it looks like my husband getting cozy with his ex. In a secluded corner of a coffee shop. Sitting six inches apart."
"I should have told you that she wanted to see me and talk."
"You should have. I would have told you not to."
"I made a mistake."
"You think?"
"Nothing happened. I swear. She wanted to convince me to get back together with her and..."
"She what?"
"Joce..."
"Does she not know about us?"
"She deleted most of social media. Muted my name and NASCAR on Instagram. Avoids all NASCAR broadcast and everything."
"Did you tell her?"
"Joce..."
"You left the house without your ring. I don't know why you take it off."
"I don't know."
"You didn't tell her that you and I are married, did you?" Ty sighed. "You made her think that maybe you two could get back together."
"I didn't."
"You left the house without your wedding ring, Ty! The one I put on your finger when we said our wedding vows!"
"I messed up, Joce! What else do you want me to say?" Jocelyn just stood there. "Joce, please. Talk to me." Jocelyn grabbed her keys and purse. "Joce, don't. Don't leave me."
"I need to get some air." Jocelyn turned and walked back out the door. She didn't know where she was going. She just needed to get enough space between her and that apartment. She drove around for a while, debating on if she wanted to head to the Bell's or the Chastain's. Jocelyn decided neither and stopped at a diner off I-77 in Statesville. She walked in and sat at the counter. Jocelyn ordered water and some food, knowing she hadn't eaten in a while. She had skipped lunch for good reason. When she got her food, Jocelyn wasn't really hungry though. She pushed the food around the plate.
"Penny for your thoughts?" She heard a familiar voice ask.
"Not now DeLuca."
"What are you doing here alone?"
"Why do I have a feeling you already know?"
"Ty texted the crew and Jackson, seeing if we could find you."
"How did you find me?"
"I live in Statesville and happen to spot your car in the parking lot."
"Why isn't he here? I'm assuming you told him where I was."
"I did, but I told him to stay at home and let you come to him. How are you feeling?"
"Like I want to throw up."
"That good."
"He left the house without his wedding ring for coffee with his ex-girlfriend. And never told her that we were married."
"He fucked up. He knows he fucked up. After you left, Ty called her."
"Great."
"Ty called her to tell her that you two were married. That he should have told her straight up that he was. Elsie was embarrassed about her actions. He didn't do anything wrong." Jocelyn looked at him.
"But he did, DeLuca. He wasn't honest with either of us upfront and look where we are right now. This was supposed to be a happy day."
"Why?"
"I don't know if I should tell you before I tell him."
"Are you pregnant?" Jocelyn nodded. DeLuca wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Congratulations. Seriously."
"Thanks."
"Go home to him. You don't have to forgive him if you don't want to. But he's suffered enough, okay?" Jocelyn nodded. She pushed her plate in front of him. DeLuca gladly accepted it. "I was planning on getting some food."
"Thank you, DeLuca." Jocelyn left money on the counter to pay for the food before leaving. She didn't want to go home right away, so she drove around for a while. Jocelyn needed a clear mind when she walked back into the apartment. By the time she got back to the apartment, it was almost 10. Ty was doing exactly what he had been doing a few hours before, pacing the living room. Jocelyn set her keys and purse on the side table once again.
"Joce." She held up her hand. "Jocelyn, I'm sorry. I just..."
"Can we not? I just want to go to bed."
"I need to talk about it."
"I really don't want to right now. I'm tired." Jocelyn crossed the living room. "Can I just go to bed?"
"We can't go to bed mad."
"Who said I was mad?" Jocelyn pressed a kiss to his cheek before heading into their bedroom.