“Appointment?” she asked, raising a curious brow as she settled into the armchair across from my desk.
I sat across from her, unbuttoning the front lapels of my navy-blue suit and settling into my chair.
“I found a brilliant obstetrician. She’s not far. On the Upper Eastside.”
“Youfound a doctor for me?” she asked in surprise.
I wondered if she was irritated with me. If I had crossed a line.
“I just know you’re overwhelmed. I wanted to do something to help.”
“But you’re already doing so much, Jeremiah.”
“Hardly.”
“You’re letting me move in with you. You’re taking it easy on me at work now.”
“And I’m coming with you to today’s appointment…” I said with an easy smile.
Her eyes widened slightly.
“If that’s okay?” I asked hesitantly.
“Of course. It’stodaythough?” She shifted in her seat nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“It’s as good a time as any.” I shrugged.
She nodded. I knew it was a lot for her. For both of us. I hoped I wasn’t pushing too much. I just wanted to do everything right.
“Thank you,” she said with a sincerity that met her eyes that were now rimmed with tears.
“Hey, hey. Don’t cry,” I said softly, reaching across my desk as an invitation for her hand to join mine. She laid hers gently in the center of my palm and I soaked in the kiss of warmth.
“It’s just…you’re doing so much for me.”
“Forus.” I clarified. “For the baby.”
Three hours later, Sadie and I let Tanya at the front desk know we were heading out for a meeting and lunch. She nodded, not showing any sign that this was unusual. It wasn’t. We did this all the time, but we usually weren’t lying about it. Sadie seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief as the elevator doors closed, sealing us in privacy.
“We’re okay,” I assured her, placing my hand on the small of her back before removing it as the doors opened to the lobby.
We took my town car across town to the tall, white brick building where our appointment was. Sadie looked up at the quaint building, reading the doctor’s name in the gold letters by the door. It was hitting us both in that moment, what we were about to do. How real this was all becoming.
“You ready?” I asked with ease that I mustered up, despite my nerves.
“How are you so calm about this?” she asked, shaking her head as I opened the glass door to the building.
“I’m not. I’m just trying to make you feel better.” I winked.
She laughed softly before lifting up on her tiptoes.
“Thank you,” she whispered in my ear before pressing her lips against my cheek, and walking past me.
In the lobby, we sat on one of the light blue couches while Sadie filled out paperwork. I eyed the front desk clerks carefully, but they showed no sign of recognition as to who I was. Still, I discreetly kept my back to them, aside from an occasional glance over the shoulder. Sadie walked her clipboard of paperwork up to the glass window and soon we were being called back.
In the exam room, a nurse took Sadie’s vitals and chatted warmly about this being her first pregnancy and how exciting it was. She seemed to put Sadie’s mind at ease, and I wished I could slip her a hundred-dollar bill just for her kindness. She had Sadie take another pregnancy test in the bathroom beforeleading her back to join me in the exam room. Soon, a woman with raven hair pulled into a long braid came in and we both sat up a little straighter.
“Hello, I’m Doctor Lambert. You must be Sadie,” she said warmly, holding out a hand.
