After hours

Chapter Twenty-Two

I was freezing in the paper gown and with my legs in stirrups. I looked around the ceiling awkwardly. I was holding Daniel's hand perhaps just a little too firmly as the doctor did his exam.

"I thought they did this on her stomach." Daniel said watching the screen with the doctor.

"Later in pregnancies yes." He agreed with a slight nod.

I thought back to three days earlier in the bathroom.

We held hands tightly and he helped me climb to my feet. We turned around to look at the tests but I couldn't, I kept my eyes tightly closed. He squeezed my hand and I peeked one eye open.

We both leaned over in unison to look at the tests.

"Well alright then." Daniel remarked.

Two lines pointed to us, a happy face mocked us, and a bright pink plus symbol signaled our newest addition.

His hand left mine and he picked up two of the tests. "This one is negative!" He said quickly.

"Daniel that one is yours." I lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down.

"Oh." He brought a test only inches from his face. "I didn't check the expiration date on them before I bought them, maybe..."

"All three?"

"Right..." He lowered that test and picked up another one and did the same.

His disbelief and panic was making me feel awful! Was the thought of having a child with me this horrifying to him? A long term commitment with me was that awful? Did he think I would never be a good enough mother?

"Maybe you should take another. Just in case."

We were all silent except for the occasional typing or clicking of the mouse as the doctor worked one handedly to take measurements on his computer.

"Everything looks to be in order." The doctor joked lamely. I lifted my head to see the screen. Daniel was giving him a cold and dangerous glare.

I swatted Daniel's arm with my free hand. "Be nice." This guy did have a wand shoved up my hoo-ha, I believe at this point in time he had the power.

"This here." The doctor said pointing to the screen and dragging his finger along the entire thing. "The grey is healthy uterine tissue." He explained. I nodded and he moved his fingers to a small black circle in the middle. "This is the sac. And this..." He pointed to a small grey spec. "This is the embryo."

"The embryo?" Daniel probed.

"That's the baby." I breathed in awe.

His hand suddenly left mine and he shoved his fists into his pockets. It was a sting of hurt I hadn't expected. I was already feeling emotional, both confused, and terrified with just a touch of panic, remorse, and excitement.

"You look to be just about five weeks."

"How did this happen?" Daniel asked.

I rolled my eyes. "He means I was on birth control."

"Well." The doctor began.