This Thing Called Love (ON HOLD INDEFINITELY)

chapter twenty eight

NOW

I rush into the doctor's office with a cup of coffee in my hands. It slightly spills over, landing on Noel's white blouse. I mutter a list of curses and try to clean it off with a piece of the napkin I have at the bottom of my purse. On any normal day, I couldn't even be drinking coffee. I had zero hours of sleep last night. After picking Olivia up from ballet, we went straight to Noel's. I didn't go back home and pack anything as I didn't want to run into Tobias again. When we got to Noel's, we ate dinner and I put Olivia down for bed. While everyone else was sleeping, I was downstairs using her desktop. I was looking for any 2 bedroom apartments in Long Island that was in my price range. I was hoping 2 bedrooms were going to be big enough. The baby would be in his/her crib until they're about 2... and after that who knows where I will be. It was going to be difficult, dropping Olivia off at school and then rushing into the city for work. At least I had Tobias to help out before. But now I was truly on my own. There were so many single mothers out there. If they can do it, then I can do it too.

"Hi, my name is Reign Dawson. I'm here for a 12:30 appointment with Dr. Clark," I said to the receptionist, placing my coffee cup on the front desk. I smile at her warmly as I try to clean the remains of coffee on my shirt.

"I have you signed in. As a first time patient, I need you to fill out a couple of forms," the receptionist said, scooting a clipboard to me.

I said my thanks and grabbed the clipboard along with my coffee. I took one long sip before discarding it in the trash and took a seat in the waiting room. I filled out the standard forms every doctor hands you when you first start coming. I checked "no" for every pre-existing condition. I was blessed to not have any allergies or conditions. Olivia was too, which was a miracle on its own as I drank when I was pregnant with her and with Tobias' past with drugs, I was sure something was going to be wrong with her. But besides being born prematurely, my little girl was healthy. I placed a hand over my belly, praying that this baby would be healthy too.

"Ms. Dawson?" I look up, just as a receptionist stands up. "Dr. Clark will see you now."

I thanked her and handed in the completed forms. I walked into a decent size room and sat down. A moment later a middle-age woman with specks of gray hair walked in with a warm smile on her face.

"Hi, Reign. I'm Dr. Clark, it's nice to meet you," she said, extending a hand. I smiled back and took her hand in mine.

"It's nice to meet you, too."

Dr. Clark closed the door behind her and stuck her hand under the hand sanitizer and cleaned her hands. She then began typing away on her computer.

"Do you know how far along you are?" She asked as she continued to type away.

"No. I took the test about a week ago but my periods have always been a little irregular. I don't really keep track of them anymore," I said, folding my hands in my lap. Dr. Clark nodded and typed something else.

"Experiencing any symptoms? Nausea? Fatigue?"

I shook my head no but realized she couldn't see me. "No, nothing out of the ordinary."

"Beautiful," she said, her back still towards me. "If you could lay down and lift your shirt up a bit we could get a better look at an ultrasound."

I followed her orders. She took a tube and squirted some jelly on my belly. I sucked in a deep breath of air, not expecting it to be quite so cold.