"My girl needs to see a doctor. We think she's pregnant."
"Okay, I'll need her license and insurance card."
I went to the sparsely packed small lobby and deposited Pen in one of the chairs. Kissing her forehead, I said, "I'll be right back."
Pen's information was in her purse, which I had to go get out of the car. Once back inside, I gave the dude what he needed then went back to my lady. I scooped her up, sat down, and held her to my chest. Her colorless skin had me concerned like hell.
Several pairs of eyes darted our way, realizing who Pen was. I wasn’t concerned about anyone blasting her news on social media, and I’m sure she wouldn’t have cared either. As long as no one came with the goofy, weird shit, then I had to learn to be okay with being in situations where we could potentially bephotographed. During the season was one thing, but in Pen’s off time, the possibility was there to still have the attention.
She fell asleep as we waited. Normally, I'd be in this bitch complaining about one thing or another. Instead, I was focused on Pen, rubbing her back and kissing her forehead any time the thought of doing so fell on my mind. We waited for a little over thirty minutes before her name was called. The exhausted-looking petite, young, Black nurse didn't even speak or introduce herself. She handed Pen a cup and told her to provide a urine sample. She led us to the restroom where I assisted a weak Pen with handling her business. This was grown man love type shit. If I could put my tongue in her pussy and ass, then I could hold a cup while she held onto my shoulders and peed.
Once in the exam room, the nurse started firing off questions and taking Pen's vitals at the same time, being a little too rough for my liking. It was her eye rolls and huffing that had me bothered, and the occasional clanking down of whatever was in her hand—a pen, the stethoscope.
"When was your last period? Any spotting? Nausea? Vomiting?"
"‘Xcuse me." I had to stop her. Pen had barely answered one question before NurseKatrinashot off another one. "It seems like you have an attitude."
Katrina's face turned red, and her slumped shoulders perked up. "No Sir."
"Well, give my lady time to answer yo' questions before you ask another one. Can't you see she isn't feeling well?"
Katrina thought I missed her turning her lips to the side. "She's just pregnant. This is normal what she's experiencing."
"Zoo," Pen groaned, feeling my energy shift.
"I don't give a damn if she came in here with a common cold. It's disrespectful not to speak and introduce ya’self. Then you in here actin' like we made you take this damn job. And anotherthing, don't brush off how she feels. That's gon' piss me the fuck off."
"I'm just saying, Sir, being pregnant isn't an illness."
"You know what," Pen stated, keeping me from replying. "If I wasn't pregnant, I'd wait in the parking lot until your shift was done, so I could knock that attitude up outta you. It doesn't matter if this is normal.I'venever experienced it, so I don't fuckin' feel good. Gon' and get outta here before I report you."
"Just because you're you, doesn't mean you can come in here and demand—"
"I'm not demanding anything yet."
Damn. Pen's glare and lightly issued threat had me scared. Katrina must've realized she had the wrong one and exited the room, rolling her eyes in the process. About ten minutes later, the doctor came in. He checked Pen over and confirmed that she was pregnant. She cried happy tears, and I wiped the wetness from my eyes.
The doctor gave her instructions to visit her OB/Gyn in the next couple of weeks. He prescribed her something for nausea and told her to stay hydrated and rest. When he gave all the concerning symptoms to look out for, I mentally logged them.
Shortly after we left the urgent care, I took Pen home and got her settled in. Her phone rang as I was leaving the room, so I backtracked to grab it.
"Hey, Ma," I answered.
Instead of Pen’s Mama, her pops was on the other end. We talked often, so he didn't find it strange that I answered her phone.
"'Sup, Zoo?"
There was no need in hiding that Pen was pregnant, so I said, "Just got home from the urgent care. Pen is pregnant, and my baby is giving her a hard time already."Loud screaming had me pulling the phone away from my ear.
"Excuse my wife." He chuckled.
"It's cool. So, about y'all moving here. Have you decided on a house?" I'd shown them several of my properties and gave them the option to choose.
"Yes, that's why we were calling. How about the downtown cottage? It gives us access to everything down there with a simple walk."
The cottage was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom beauty that I’d purchased two years ago. I used it as an Airbnb for the exact reason Mr. London just mentioned. I would accommodate my woman's family any way that I could.
“Absolutely! Great choice," I said. "How does moving in the next week sound? I'm sure Pen and Naomi are beyond ready for y'all to be here."
