Authors: Cat Johnson
“
You
can go back and wait outside until the doctor’s ready to see
you.”
Panic
overtook her. “Um, can’t I wait in here?”
“
It
won’t be long. We’ll call you in a few minutes when an
examining room is available.”
All
too soon, Maddie was thrust back into the waiting room and directly
in front of the accusing gaze of her brother.
“
Something
you want to tell me?” He crossed his arms.
No
use hiding it now. She shrugged. “I guess that depends on the
results of this test, now doesn’t it?”
“
Well,
whose would it be? Antonio?”
“
Yes
of course Antonio. What do you think, I’m sleeping all over
town now that I’m back on the market?”
“
No.
It’s just…a shock. How do you feel about it?”
“
I
don’t know. It’s too soon in the relationship to even
consider it, but after thinking I was infertile for so long…
We don’t even know if it’s positive yet, so let’s
not get ahead of ourselves. And not a word to anyone, not even
Alyssa. I haven’t even told Antonio I’m late. If it is
true, he should be the first to know.”
“
Okay.”
Brad covered her hand with his just as the nurse came back out.
“Madeline. The doctor will see you in her office now to discuss
the test results.”
This
was it. It would either be negative or positive. Her heart pounded
wildly as she considered that. Maddie gripped Brad’s hand
harder.
“
Do
you want me to come with you?” Brad offered. “Alyssa will
probably be a little while.”
Having
her brother in the room when she found out if she was pregnant by her
new boyfriend was strange, but she wasn’t sure she could face
this alone. She swallowed hard. “Yes. Thank you.”
When
she and Brad both rose together, the nurse raised a brow, apparently
wondering why Brad was here and holding hands with two possibly
pregnant women both with the same last name.
Never
one to miss an opportunity, Brad wrapped an arm around Maddie. “Come
on, sweetheart.”
“
He’s
my brother.” Maddie scrambled to explain.
The
nurse’s brow rose higher. Great, now she probably had even more
perverse thoughts. Maddie shot Brad a look. She couldn’t have
frowned any deeper if she tried as the nurse led them to the doctor’s
office.
“
The
doctor will be right in.” With one more look, she was gone.
Once
the door closed, Maddie spun to Brad. “Now the nurse thinks
we’re incestuous.”
He
smiled. “That’s her own problem if she jumps to the wrong
conclusion.” He reached over and squeezed her hand again,
serious now. “It’s okay, Maddie, whatever happens. Alyssa
and I will both be here for you.”
“
I
know. Thanks.”
Chapter 7
Antonio
pushed aside the nagging feeling that something was up with Maddie.
He figured she was probably just flustered at almost forgetting an
appointment. As fun loving as she was when she was off, he’d
discovered she was just as serious and diligent when she was working.
He
decided to stop by the food store and surprise her with a traditional
Latino home cooked meal. Shopping bags in hand, he let himself into
her condo with the key she had given him. He got a tingle of
happiness using his new key for the first time. He set the bags down
in the kitchen and rummaged through until he found the bag of
disposable razors he’d purchased to keep in Maddie’s
bathroom for when he slept over. Using the razor in her shower, the
one she used on her legs, was killing his face.
As
he walked through the apartment toward the bathroom, he started to
make lists in his head about what he wanted to get done before she
got home. Get the chicken and rice started cooking, set the table,
light some candles, put on some music, open a bottle of wine.
Antonio
was just dropping the razors off in the master bath when the phone
rang. He considered picking it up in case it was Maddie, but then
realized she would just call his cell. Checking the phone hung on
the waist of his jeans, he confirmed it was on and had signal and
walked back to the kitchen, figuring her machine would pick up
eventually. He started unloading the grocery bags as he listened to
Maddie’s voice on the outgoing message and smiled.
Boy,
he had it bad if just hearing her answering machine message could
make him feel warm and fuzzy. Then he heard the beep and the caller
say, “This is County Obstetrics and Gynecology calling for
Madeline Morgan. Just a reminder that you neglected to leave us a
copy of your insurance card when you were in for the pregnancy test
this morning. If you could fax over a copy or drop one by the office
as soon as possible, we’d appreciate it.”
The
package of chicken slipped from his grasp and hit the counter with a
thud. His knees felt shaky as he leaned on the kitchen table and
grasped the edge with both hands. He had a brief memory of what
they’d done on that very table. All over the condo, actually
and never once had they taken any precaution because she was so sure
she couldn’t have kids. Holy shit. No wonder Maddie sounded
weird on the phone.
She
hadn’t told him she was worried or even that her period was
late. Why hadn’t she? Whatever her reason, he’d have to
respect her decision not to tell him yet. He took a deep breath. As
hard as it was going to be, he was going to have to pretend he hadn’t
heard this message and let her tell him in her own time.
And
then…? What would he say to her then? How exactly did he feel
about this?
He
walked to the wine rack in the kitchen and bumped the opening of a
bottle of wine to the top of the list of things he had to do. He
poured himself a big glass. Leaning against the counter, Antonio took
a long drink and let the idea of Maddie being pregnant with his child
settle in.
On
autopilot, he started getting things ready for dinner. He put the
vase of flowers he’d bought on the dining room table, then
wandered over into the living room and picked up a picture of Maddie
and Brad as children. It must have been taken in the summer when they
were about the same ages as his kids were now. They were sitting in a
field of daisies. Maddie had picked a fistful and held them out
toward the camera. She’d been a beautiful child. She’d
have beautiful children. He noticed his hand was trembling. He put
down the picture and went to the kitchen to start browning the
chicken.
~
Maddie
drove home from work, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster
she’d been on since she realized her period was late. Now, all
she wanted to do was maybe take a bath, put on a pair of cozy pajamas
and sink into Antonio’s arms.
When
she pulled into her spot, she was surprised and very glad to see his
SUV already parked there. Her bag from the pharmacy in one hand, she
walked fast to the door, anxious to be with him. She realized she
loved coming home to Antonio.
They
would have to have a discussion about all that she had discovered
today, but maybe she could push that off, at least for a little
while.
Inside
she stashed the bag and her coat in the hall closet, and then walked
past the table set with candles and flowers and directly into the
kitchen. She wrapped her arms around Antonio and hugged him hard.
“Hey. I’m so happy to see you.”
He
threw the dishtowel he was holding onto the counter, hugged her back
tightly, then pulled back to look at her. “You okay?”
She
nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine when I’m with you. But I
could definitely use a nice glass of that wine you’re
drinking.”
“
Wine?
You sure?”
She
let out a breath. “Very sure.”
“
Okay.”
He poured barely an inch of wine into a glass and handed it to her.
She
frowned down at it, wondering why he was being so stingy with the
wine when there was still plenty in the bottle and nearly a case
still in the wine rack. But she accepted what she was given and
swallowed deeply. “So, what are you cooking?”
“
Mama’s
specialty, Arroz con Pollo. It’s not going to be ready for a
little while though, so why don’t we go sit down in the living
room and, uh, talk.” Antonio looked at her very strangely.
“
Okay.”
She moved into the living room, him at her elbow. She perched on the
couch and put her already empty glass on the coffee table. Eyeing his
full glass, she decided she’d simply drink Antonio’s wine
if he didn’t pour her a decent-sized glass of her own. “So,
how is everything going?”
“
Nothing
really new with me.” He shrugged. “You?”
“
Same.”
She returned his shrug with one of her own. He’d diverted her
question with a counter question. Very interesting. “So, Tina
and the kids are fine?”
He
nodded. “Yeah.”
She
continued. “And your shift at the firehouse. Anything happen?”
“
Nope.
Same old stuff.”
“
Oh.
That’s good I guess.” Maddie was running out of options.
She was nearly out of small talk. Considering as a lawyer she talked
for a living that was pretty amazing.
“
So,
did you get to whatever appointment you had today?” He reached
out and took her hand in his, holding on to it tightly.
“
Um,
yeah. I got there five minutes early actually.”
She
frowned. What could be making him act so weird today? If he’d
grabbed her and thrown her on the bed, or even the kitchen table, and
made love to her, she’d expect it. Enjoy it even. But this
question and answer period was strange. It wasn’t making her
feel any more comfortable about bringing up what she needed to talk
to him about.
Then
she noticed something. Were Antonio’s hands shaking? She looked
closer at him. Something was definitely wrong. “Are you certain
everything is fine?”
“
Yeah.
It’s just, Maddie, I’ve been thinking.”
Uh,
oh. That was never a good start to a conversation.
“
We
haven’t known each other for very long…” Antonio
took a big breath.
He
was definitely visibly trembling and now so was Maddie. No way, she
would not let herself believe he was about to dump her. But something
was definitely very wrong. Then she watched him get down on one knee.
“I don’t even have a ring to offer you, but Maddie, I
want you to be my wife.”
Her
eyes opened wide and she realized so had her mouth, although no words
came out. Just when she was sure he was about to break up with her,
he proposed instead? After they had only been dating for a few weeks?
Was his divorce even final yet?
Relieved
but confused, she pulled him up off his knee and back onto the couch
beside her. “Antonio, what’s this about? Are you sure
you’re all right? Oh, my God. You didn’t get trapped in a
fire and almost die or something, did you?”
He
shook his head. “No. It has nothing to do with work. I…I
love you.”
A
smile crept across Maddie’s lips. “I love you too. But
marriage? Don’t you think this is a little soon?”
“
I
guess soon is relative. It depends really.”
“
On
what?”
His
warm hands continued to envelope hers. He squeezed her fingers. “The
circumstances.”
Maddie
frowned. “What circumstances? What’s changed between
today and the last time you and I saw each other?”
“
I
was going to wait for you to tell me in your own time but…”
Antonio let out a sigh. “The phone was ringing when I got here.
I couldn’t help but hear the message.”
“
What
message?” Her heart began to pound. What in the world was going
on?
“
Your
OB/GYN, talking about your pregnancy test.”
She
should have shared this with him immediately. The moment she realized
she was late. Then the most recent news. He should have been there
with her to hear it. She could have used him actually. Couples shared
the good and the bad. He deserved that at least from her.
“
I
went to the doctor today because my period is late. I was afraid I
might be pregnant because—” Maddie drew in a deep breath.
She looked him directly in the eyes. “—when I went
through Alan’s old stuff this morning, I found the paperwork
showing the lying bastard has a low sperm count and the doctor’s
advisory that it would most likely be very difficult to conceive
naturally given his condition.”