Wedding Bell Hell

Chapter 8: Surprise

Chapter Eight: Surprise

I woke up at five in the morning the next day, feeling so queasy. I shot up from the bed and ran to the toilet just in time for the contents to empty out of my stomach. I turned on the faucet and poured water into my mouth, and spitting it into the sink.

I leaned my bottom against the counter and rubbed a cool cloth on my forehead. I peered into the bedroom and saw Ben still passed out on his side of the bed, his limbs sprawled all over the place, taking up the majority of the room.

I sighed. I may as well stay up now that I was wide awake.

I put on a pair of joggers and a sports bra and made my way outside to go for an early morning run.

When I was in my late teens, I enjoyed these early morning runs. It allowed me time to think and time to be on my own and do whatever I wanted. I put in my earbuds and blasted the loudest and most upbeat music I owned on my phone.

I ran toward the lake near our home and moved to the beat of the music. By the time I reached the house again, it was seven. I entered our bedroom and smiled when I saw Ben still laying the same position when I left.

I showered, got dressed in a navy blue pencil skirt and a black blouse. I looked in the mirror at my reflection.

I've always thought I was a pretty girl. My nose was symmetrical on my face and just the right size, my brown eyes were the perfect shade, my blonde hair was the perfect length and neatly twisted into a tight bun. My body was how I always imagined it would be. I sound narcissistic, but I am also a truthful woman who knows she is attractive and appreciates her looks. My makeup made my eyes pop and my skin tone looked flawless and paler than normal.

My phone bleeped as I fixed a flyaway piece of hair. I grinned when I saw the text: You're such a beautiful woman - x, Ben. Followed by: PS: I can't wait until I'm home from work tonight so I can lavish you.

Swoon.

I checked the time. Ameliah would be here any minute. I walked into the bedroom and smiled at Ben, sitting up with his back against the headboard.

"You're cheesy, you know that?" I grinned.

"Just for you, babe." He winked. "You look absolutely gorgeous and I can't help it if I have a sexy ass girlfriend."

Ameliah wandered into our bedroom and waved her hands in the air. "I'm here!" I rolled my eyes at her dramatic entrance. She wobbled her way into our bedroom and placed her hands on her hips. "Are you ready to go?"

I nodded and waved goodbye to Ben.

The whole car ride was spent with me thinking about my episode this morning. I thought about what I had eaten the day before, if Ben ate the same thing I did, when my last period was...

Am I pregnant?

I never even thought of the possibility. Ben and I had never used condoms before, but I am on the Pill. Had I missed a pill? No, I didn't. Pregnancy could still be a possibly.

My stomach felt better now and it wasn't like I have the stomach flu.

When Ameliah pulled up outside of the OBGYN office, she turned to me and looked at me up and down. I raised my eyebrow at her.

"What's going on?" She asked, crossing her arms over her bulging belly. "You were quiet this whole car ride and have been looking out the window."

I sighed. "I threw up this morning and I don't know why."

Ameliah's mouth parted as her eyes widened. "Are you pregnant, Remi?"

I shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I haven't missed a pill at any point, but we haven't been using condoms..." Suddenly. I remembered. "I missed a Pill when we were in Rome."

"Well," she took my hands, "we are at a gynecologist. Maybe she has time to see you. If not, we'll get you a pregnancy test before we go to your house."

I nodded, tears pricking my eyes.

We were walking toward the front doors of the doctor's office when Ameliah turned to me and said, "How do you feel about it, Rem?"

I shrugged. "Scared. Nervous."

She held open the door for me, smiling as she did.

The office had marble floors and brown walls. A fish tank was in front of us near the inside pharmacy. Pictures of babies and pregnant bellies lined the walls, making me feel a little uncomfortable. Especially if I was pregnant.

"Please have a seat in the waiting room," the secretary said. "Dr. Wilson will be out with you shortly, Ameliah."

"Oh, does Dr. Wilson have time today to fit in an ultrasound for my friend here?" Ameliah smiled.

The secretary scrunched her eyebrows and said, "Let me see here...." After a moment, she nodded her head. "Yes, she does." She looked at me and smiled. "If I can just get your personal information, dear, I can set you up."

Ameliah sat on the bed underneath paper, grinning as she was on her phone. My phone beeped in my purse. It was from Ben:

Hello my love. I hope you're having an awesome day. I was just thinking about you as I was making breakfast. Work soon. I love you and I can't wait to see you tonight.

~ Ben

PS: Kim is coming tonight and is spending the weekend with us!

Dr. Wilson knocked on the door and smiled. "Hello, dear! I hear the little miss is doing well!"

Ameliah rubbed her belly. "Yes, she is! I'm ready for her to come out though."

My phone beeped again, this time it was from my sister:

Hey, sista! I know you were busy for Dad's party, but we wanted to have a little get together tomorrow! I hope you can make this... I miss you!

I smiled.

Dr. Wilson grabbed the ultrasound equipment and sat in a chair beside Ameliah. "Who do we have with you today? No Ahren?"

Ameliah smiled at me. "This is Remi. She actually scheduled an appointment with you today."

"We'll get you out of here and then have you and Remi switch places." She said as she smiled.

She put blue jelly on Ameliah's belly and moved a wand over the area. She found the baby and smiled. "She looks healthy." She looked at Ameliah. "Do you have any names picked out yet?"

"We've thought of Olivia, but we aren't sure what we really like yet." She shrugged. "We'll know when we see her."

Dr. Wilson nodded. "I think that's a great idea."

After she was wiped off, it was my turn to sit on the patient bed. The doctor looked at me and said, "Why are you here, Remi?"

I fiddled with my hands, something I never do. "I have had nausea this morning and a missed menstrual cycle. Just wanting to do a pregnancy test to make sure I'm not pregnant."

The doctor nodded and proceeded to put on rubber gloves. "When was your last menstrual cycle?"

I bit my lip, thinking back to my last period. "I believe it was..." I paused. My lips parted. "About 7 weeks ago."

She nodded. "Is this the first time you experienced this?"

"The nausea isn't anything new lately, but the vomiting is." I sighed. "Before I had nausea when I first woke up and before bed, but now I woke up in the middle of the night to actually vomit."

"Well, let's look, okay?" Dr. Wilson said. "You are sexually active, correct?"

I nodded. "I have a boyfriend."

She took the same wand used on Ameliah and asked me to pull up my shirt. As she put the cool gel on my stomach, I looked at my belly. It did raise up a little bit, but it didn't appear to be big enough to notice a difference. She used the wand on my stomach. I looked at the screen and saw a flickering. A constant, steady beating. A heartbeat.

Shit.