Haleb - I never stopped loving you

Chapter Three (Caleb)

I can't exactly remember how I got here; walking in the back door of Hollis Medical Centre with Hanna, who, by the way, is now 7 weeks pregnant, constantly looking behind my shoulder to check no one is watching us or questioning why we're going in. The last thing I need right now is Jordan beating me up in an alley behind the hospital because I've impregnated his fiancé. And I certainly don't need Ashley finding out this way either. Or A.D for that matter.

'Name and appointment.' The receptionist says without looking up, as we walk over to the front desk.

'Hanna Marin, Dr. Chard, ultrasound scan.' Hanna replies. I can sense her voice shaking as she says it. I can't lie, I think if I spoke, I'd be doing the same. The woman gestures for us to take a seat in the waiting room and I grab Hanna's hand as we sit down. She's trembling and sweaty, so I lean down and give her a kiss on her head. She looks up then turns away. I feel like such an idiot.

'Hanna Marin.' A small lady shouts into the waiting room. Hanna gets up and follows her down a huge corridor with names of doctors lining the walls in gold lettering, and wheelchairs and drips sitting sadly on the side. I start to catch up with them when I see it. A flash of black and a small, wrinkled, plastic looking face dart around the corner, but not quickly enough for me to question who they are: A.D.

My legs start to shake and I suddenly panic. Now they know Hanna's pregnant and my guess is that Jordan will found out pretty soon as well. I can't tell Hanna. It doesn't feel right to stress her out like that. I keep on walking and look through the double doors that they ran through but the corridor behind is empty. I decide to let it go. Big mistake.

Dr. Chard's Office

'So, Hanna. You're here for your first scan. And this is dad, I assume?' Dr Chard is a tall, beautiful, black lady with long, neat dreadlocks and a kind, round face. She waves her hand in front of the seat and the bed in the corner of the room. I sit down and Hanna gives me her bag and lies down on the bed.

'Er, yeah. I guess you could say that.' Hanna says quietly, looking down at the floor.

'Well then, let's get started.' Dr. Chard lifts up Hanna's top and starts to rub a clear gel onto her belly. The bottom of her bra is peaking out and I realise it's the one she was wearing that night. I let out a small laugh and Hanna looks up at me and glares. The Doctor runs a small device over Hanna's stomach and a picture on the monitor next to her appears. It's fuzzy and grey and barely recognisable, but it's our baby. That tiny, white blob is our baby.

'Well would you look at that!' Dr. Chard chuckles. 'It's already lively and ready to get going! Would you like a print out of the scan?' Hanna looks shocked as she stares up at me and then the monitor again. She stays silent and moves her finger over her belly.

'Yes please.' I say on Hanna's behalf. The doctor presses a few buttons and a Polaroid picture comes out of the bottom of the monitor. She passes it to me and I slip it into my wallet. Despite the inevitability that Jordan and Ashley and A.D will make this a living hell for both me and Hanna, I couldn't be more grateful for that tiny little human growing into my child.