Medical malpractice case

chapter 14 Jamie

I pour the batter into the pan and wait for it so I can flip it. I turn around to grab the toppings. I see Noah staring into space. I pop a piece of blueberry into my mouth.

"You okay?" I ask gently while gathering the honey and chocolate. He doesn't reply. I can tell he's deep in thought. Without thinking, I walk over to him and pull him into a hug. My head against his chest, my hands around his waist. He's taken aback from my sudden movement, but a couple of moments later, he melts into it.

"Am I enough?" He whispers.

"I promise you are more than enough. You're beyond that. You are enough." I reassure him over and over again. He sighs and burries his head into my hair. I rub his back soothingly.

"Go easy on yourself." I tell him, I let go slightly, still holding his waist. I look up at him. "Okay?" He nods. I can tell he needed that hug. I'd hug him all the time. I pull my hand away and walk over to the pancakes and flip them, then place them on the plates. I add chocolate on Andrew's with a side of blueberries.

"What do you like on your pancakes?" I ask. I turn around to look at him.

"I'll take honey." He says. I pick up the honey and drizzle it on, but it's smudged.

"Sorry, I don't really know how to drizzle on it."

"Here I'll show you." He comes up behind me, and I step aside to let him take over. He drizzles it his hand, moving in perfect motion. "Try." He says, handing me it. I take it, our fingers brushing.

I start drizzling, but my hands are shaking. Suddenly, I feel his hand on mine gently guiding mine, and we drizzle the honey on together. I smile as I do it perfectly.

"I actually did it." I say in surprise. He chuckles.

"You did." He says, looking at me proudly. I smile at him. I high-five him, and our hands intertwine. I chuckle along him. I'm proud of myself for doing that.

________

"I had a good time with you guys." Noah says, putting his fork and knife down. "Really, thank you for letting me stay over when I could've just gone somewhere."

"No worries. I'm glad I finally got to know you. Hey, by the way." Andrew begins, then turns fully to him."Thank you for taking care of my sister. I could've, but I live, not that close, so I appreciate it. She's been through enough." I kick him in the leg as he says,"I mean like... she needed it, especially now that's she's pregnant."

"Anytime. Jamie is... she takes care of me, too. I love that about her she's caring. " he smiles at me. I can't help but feel a pang of affection at his words. His words really touched my heart. I smile back. "Thank you for having an amazing sister." He says. I look at him in awe. I've never felt like this with anyone. Anyone but him. Not even Jake. Him. Is he truly turning into someone important in my life.

_______

It's been 3 months, and my bump has gradually grown more rounder and swollen. I've been seeing Noah more often, not just as my doctor but as a friend? We grew a healthy, friendly relationship, surely we had...moments where I wonder what we were for real but we wouldn't wann ruin the friendship not now. Not ever. Andrew visits here and then, but not as much as Noah. Noah is like there every day he doesn't have a shift. I can't help but feel a pang of affection for him. He's been the most person with me it's like he's been there since day 1 even though we haven't known each other since then.

If it wasn't for that lawsuit, I wouldn't have ever met him. I'm glad it happened because how else would I've met the one person I'm most comfortable with.

I enter the kitchen and cook lunch for him and I. I look at him cutting vegetables. I walk behind him.

"You know you could rest. I would do it." I tell him.

"No way, you need rest. You and the baby. Are you excited to find out the gender by the way?" Right, the gender I'll find out this Friday. I'm nervous.

"Nervous, but I am." I say, rubbing my swollen stomach. He smiles and continues. I take a seat on the barstool, admiring him doing the most simple task in the world. I can't help but smile.

_________

I lay down on the bed while he scans over my stomach with the sonograph. I could hear the faint heartbeats through the screen. It's a soft soothing sound to hear. He rubs it over and glances at the screen.

"Judge." He says softly. He has been using that nickname more often. I look at him with worry.

"What's wrong?" I say concern filling through me. He chuckles. I look at him with confusion in my eyes. "What? What's so funny?"

"You're having a boy." He whispers. I can't ever form words.

"No. No, I'm not. Wait, I am?!" I chuckle, still not believing all this. I sit up. I can't believe it. I'm having a boy. A baby boy. My only wish is that he becomes like Noah. Not Jake. And to get my traits and none of Jake's. Yes, he's Jake's son, but I'm never forgiving him. He hurt me.

Suddenly, I feel someone embrace me. Noah holds me tight. And whispers in my ear sweet, heartwarming words.

"Congrats." My shirt becomes wet. Is he crying? I lift his head and look at him. He is. I see a tear drop from his eyes. A single tear.

"Oh, noah." I being my thumb to his cheek and wipe the tear away and hug him. He melts into it immediately.