Don't Need A Man

in which she visits the doctor

Prim hugs me once again before I have to leave for work. London agrees to watch her the once a week I go into my four shops to collect paper work to take home and analyse. I work from home most of the time, it's convenient for the kids but also for whoever has to watch them when I'm gone.

"I'll be back in a few hours," I tell London. She shrugs me off and ushers my kid into her condo.

The drive to the first shop is short. The in-store manager hands me the files and I'm off. The same goes for the second and third flower shop, I get my files from the in-store manager and leave.

I reach my last shop and walk right into a heated argument.

"I don't understand why these are so expensive in store!" A man with a very expensive suit grumbles. "Online they are fifteen dollars cheaper."

I step up and the cashier's eyes widen. The man looks down at me, courtesy of my short height, and raises an eyebrow. The cashier, Ashley, quickly tries to calm the man but he keeps insisting to Ashley as to why the purple roses are fifteen dollars more in store.

"Yes, Ashley, why are these flowers fifteen dollars more expensive than online?" I question with a smirk. She seems to know that she's already lost her job.

"I-Uh-Miss Beckett--."

"Shut up and give him the flowers half off, you can leave your apron and name tag on the manager's desk."

She stutters but quiets and rings the man up, only charging half price for the purple roses. The man in the expensive suit looks over at me again.

"I'm Juan Sanjana."

"And you knocked my sister up," I snort. "I really hope those aren't for her. She hates roses."

He looks like he just lost a billion dollars. "Really?"

"Really."

"Fuck," he swore and put the flowers back where he found them. "I don't know anything about Ginger. She doesn't want to marry me but I insisted. Fuck!"

I pat his back. "Don't make her marry you, Mister Sanjana. Ginger is a lot of things, but she isn't weak. She can raise the baby alone."

Juan just shakes his head and exits my store.  I grab the file from the manager's desk and leave too.

➖✖➖

"London!" I shout as soon as she picks up. "I'm so, so, so sorry, but I have an appointment today--."

"I'll watch her. Go see your baby doctor."

"Thank you." We exchange goodbyes before hanging up. I drive peacefully now, the only sound in the car the incredibly high pitched voice of Ariana Grande from the radio.

The insemination clinic is half an hour away from the flower shop, which is five minutes away from my house. The drive feels like it was an hour long. What if Doctor Michael says I can't have anymore kids for some unknown, unscientifically proven reason? What if the guy I always get is out of stock and I have to go through picking a man again? What if--.

A loud honk brings me from my thoughts. I made a last left turn and come face to face with the clinic. It's small with only four cars in the parking lot. I take a spot in the middle of the lot, just so it's secluded from the other four.

The front desk lady giggles at something Doctor Michael whispers in her ear. Her eyes catch mine and she swats the handsome, older man away.

"Rosemary! You're back!" She greets.

"Hello, Mary, how have the last couple of years been?"

"Absolutely amazing, darling. Trev-- I mean, Doctor Michael can see you straight away."

I go through the familiar doors and make the right turn into the room with the gold name plate 'Dr. Trevor F. Michael' on it. I push the door open and Doctor Michael sits nonchalantly at his computer.

Without looking up he speaks. "Sit, Rosemary, I have your results right here." I jump onto the examination table, my legs swing as I wait nervously for him to turn around. When he does turn his face is unreadable. "I'm going to give it to you straight. Your levels of estrogen are a little low for a woman of your age during ovulation. If you want to do ahead with the insemination I must warn you: the chances of impregnation are lower than your last two."

"Oh." At least I have a chance at all.

"Don't be discouraged. There is still a very high chance you will get pregnant the first time we inseminate."

"What's the next available slot for insemination?"

He spins in his chair and clicks a few things in his computer. "The earliest I can do is Friday at noon." That's in two days.

"Yeah, yeah. That's fine. Do you think I can bring my daughter, can she stay with Mary while it gets done?"

Doctor Michael gives me a crooked smile. "Absolutely. I always love to meet my creations." I snort at his cheeky smile. He gives me a copy of my results and strict requirements for Friday, most importantly I have to be emotionally ready for this. Once I get pregnant I am not getting unpregnant. "See you on Friday, Rosemary."

"See you."