Chapter Thirteen
Carla looked up the scaffolding where brick layers put the finishing touches on the exterior walls. She was happy it was exactly how she had envisioned it. The house looked imposing from a distance. Sprawling mullioned windows and pilloried porches gave it a regal demeanor with just the right touch of quaint coziness that was both inviting and homey.
Even the interior changes passed her strict requirement. She knew she did a good job. Falcon would be happy if he was here. But he wasn’t. Carla spent the weeks following his departure burying herself in work. There was nothing too minute that she didn’t deal with. Nothing too big she couldn’t deal with. She was in total control.
With Falcon gone, Carla developed a kinship with her young assistant Jacques who spoke his mind freely. His honesty was disconcerting, but Carla learned to live with it. It was refreshing to see so much seriousness in someone so young.
It was Jacques who first noticed that Falcon was gone.
“Did you have a fight?” Jacques asked with candor.
“Yes,” Carla replied.
Jacques scratched his head, then said, “Lovers quarrel?”
Carla sighed before replying, “Its more than just a lover’s quarrel. I’m afraid he’s gone for good.”
Jacques shook his head and retorted, “No, he’ll be back,” he said assuredly.
“What do you know about it,” Carla teased.
“Because you’re having his baby,” He answered simply.
Carla gulped. “Am I showing already,” she asked him stroking her belly.
“Don’t worry. The men won’t notice. They are used to fat wives and even fatter daughters,” he laughed.
Carla chucked a tracing paper in his direction. “Are you calling me fat?”
“No. You’re still the sexiest ‘dame architect’ I’ve ever met.” Then he turned serious and asked, “Are you seeing a doctor for the baby? I know someone in town who is a good doctor. You should go see her.”
Carla was only too glad to do so. Her last visit to an obstetrician was on the day she found out she was pregnant. Although she felt fine, it was always at the back of her mind. She skipped work one morning leaving Jacques in charge.
Dr. Dubois was an elegant looking woman with wonderful bedside manners. She engaged Carla in light conversation as she performed an internal examination.
“Things look fine. But I would suggest taking an ultrasound since you are now in the second trimester of pregnancy,” the doctor suggested.
She gave Carla a name of a reputable radiologist and assured her that the results will be delivered back to her office. Carla made an appointment with the radiologist who showed her what the baby looked like.
Carla felt a profound happiness as she stared at her baby through the computer screen and along with it, an overwhelming sense of loneliness too. She held back tears as the doctor made a 3D copy and handed it to her. He then asked if she wanted to know the sex of the baby. Carla refused. She didn’t understand why she refused. It just felt like it wasn’t the right time yet.
***
It was while she was looking up at the scaffolding admiring the men’s work that her phone rung. It was Dr. Dubois asking her to come see her at the clinic immediately
“Is something wrong,” Carla asked.
“No, you’re fine. We have the results of the ultrasound.” The doctor assured.
Carla felt uneasy. Dr. Dubois sounded serious.
She met the doctor and the radiologist who conducted the ultrasound was present too. Carla felt her heart pounding.
“Carla,” Dr. Dubois started, “we wanted to discuss the results of the ultrasound. It’s still too early to tell, but Dr. Nasser here believes that your baby is showing early signs of congenital heart disease.”
Carla felt her world tilt. Dr. Dubois proceeded.
“It’s not uncommon for babies to show symptoms while still in the womb. Although we have the latest technology to help determine whether a symptom is real or not, we usually wait for the baby to be born before doing additional tests.”
