I rolled my eyes. Dr. Stubens had no idea.
"Hi, Eleanor," J.J. said.
I turned to stare at him. He called her by her first name like they were old pals.
He felt my gaze and looked down at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he grinned.
"Eleanor used to babysit me."
"Don't repeat that anywhere but here," Dr. Stubens demanded. "If you say it in public then everyone will remember how old I really am."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," J.J. said.
Dr. Stubens shook her head at him but focused on me once again. "Well, you've had quite a bit of upheaval in your personal life this year, haven't you? I didn't even realize the two of you were dating."
My face heated but I forced myself not to look at J.J. Dr. Stubens might be fun and hilarious, but she was smart and sharp. She would see right through that exchange of eye contact.
Though she probably already had a very good idea that we'd gotten married because I'd gotten pregnant.
"So based on the timing you've listed, you believe you're approximately twelve weeks along, correct?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Have you been taking prenatal vitamins?" she asked.
I nodded. "I'm not sure how many stayed down the last month or so, though. The morning sickness was more like all-day sickness and I had trouble eating."
"That happens more often than people realize. How's the nausea now?" she asked.
"A lot better. I'm still queasy in the mornings but I usually feel fine once I have some toast and tea."
"Are you limiting your caffeine intake?" she asked.
I sighed and nodded. "Yes. Believe me, everyone in the family is keeping a close eye on how much caffeine I consume." I shot J.J. the side-eye. "My brothers and this one tried to talk me into giving it up completely, which I will do if it's necessary, but everything I've read indicates that a small amount of caffeine a day is okay for the...the baby."
I still wasn't used to saying those words. The baby. As if he or she were real. You'd think after all the throwing up I'd done over the past month or so that it would seem real already, but it didn't.
Dr. Stubens nodded and gave J.J. a reproving look. "A cup of tea or even one cup of coffee per day should be fine. Once I give her a more thorough examination today, I should have a better idea if she needs to avoid it."
J.J.'s fingers squeezed mine gently and I glanced up at him. He wasn't looking at me but he was smiling slightly.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, zip it," she groused. "Now, you're actively trying to make me feel old. Okay, Lee, lie back and assume the position."
I swallowed hard and leaned back on the table.
"Do you want me to leave the room?" J.J. asked me.
As I was shaking my head, Dr. Stubens said, "That won't be necessary. Stay right up there by Lee and hold her hand."
I scooted and wiggled until my butt was on the edge of the table and I put my feet in the stirrups that Dr. Stubens folded out.
"That looks uncomfortable," J.J. whispered to me.
"It's not exactly pleasant but it's not horrible either," I replied.
"And you'd better get used to it because you'll be in this position a lot over the next few months and for a couple of months after," Dr. Stubens muttered from the end of the table.
