The thought of this woman being in my apartment was what made up my mind to call Teresa. I pulled my contact list up, scrolled down until I found her name, and was about to tap on it when spotted the one just above it. Bette Billings.
Would it be crazy to call her? She was practically a stranger, but she knew what I was going through. Was going through the same thing. And even though this had been voluntary for her, she’d seemed sympathetic to my plight. She’d even wanted to get together, had told me to call her anytime with any questionsor concerns. This was a little bigger than she’d probably been expecting, but still, it was worth a shot. Wasn’t it?
I looked at Hilary, who was tapping her foot impatiently, then back to my phone. I stared at Bette’s name for a few seconds, thinking it through. Thinking about the annoying woman next to me taking me home. No way. I didnotwant Hilary to have any more access to my life than she already did.
I tapped Bette’s name, hit call, then held my breath.
She picked up only a few seconds later.
“Hello?” she said, her southern twang somehow more pronounced over the phone.
“Bette?” I said as I turned my back to Hilary, not wanting her to witness my humiliation if this woman said no.
“Yes.” There was a pause. “Is this Ara?”
She didn’t sound annoyed, more guarded, but she also didn’t sound as open and friendly as she had the other times we’d spoken. Which had my back stiffening.
“Um, yes. From group. Remember?”
“Oh!” she replied in a brighter tone. “Of course, how nice! I was wondering if you’d call. Well, honestly, I didn’t think you would. But I hoped you would.”
My unease turned to shame. This woman had really and truly wanted to be my friend, and I’d totally disregarded her because she had the nerve to actually want to get pregnant. Was I any better than the people who thought I should be happy to be part of the program? Not really.
I blew out a long breath. “Yeah, I’m sorry. I’ve just been busy.” True, but also not true. “Listen, I hate to do this, but I’m in a bit of a bind, and you did say to call for anything.”
“I did and I meant it.”
That was promising.
“Good. I’m glad. Thank you.” I sucked in a long breath. “Can you pick me up at The Health Department building at four? I kind of need a ride home and my go-to person isn’t answering his phone.”
There was a pause, and when Bette replied, her tone wasn’t uncertain, but it was confused. “Is everything okay?”
I’d known I was going to have to tell her why I needed a ride, but at the thought of saying the words, I froze up.
As if sensing my hesitation, Bette quickly said, “You know what, it’s none of my business. Of course, I can come get you. Four, you say?”
My body relaxed. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Of course! I’ll see you then, Ara.”
I mumbled another thanks, ended the call, and turned to discover an unfamiliar nurse had joined Hilary in impatiently waiting for me to arrange a ride.
“Everything taken care of?” the nurse asked.
I shoved my phone in my back pocket. “Yup.”
I wasn’t sure if it was true, wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, but at least I had someone to pick me up. That was something.
Twenty-Two
After hanging up with Bette, the nurse led me deeper into the Department of Fertility. Hilary trailed after us like a lost puppy. Or, more accurately, an annoying younger sibling who couldn’t accept that their cool older sister didn’t want them around. Because puppies were cute and endearing and this woman was neither.
“These are the rooms women labor in,” the nurse I didn’t know said, sounding like a tour guide as she waved to the currently empty rooms. “They all have birthing tubs and comfy beds, and nice big showers for after the delivery. They really are luxurious.”
They were, even if they still had a hospital feel to them, with real beds instead of uncomfortable hospital beds and big tubs in the middle of the rooms, as well as plush couches, which I assumed were for fathers – or partners – in case that was something the laboring woman had.
“Back here we have the pre-op area, which isn’t as nice, but still much better than what you’d get at a hospital,” the nurse said as she stepped into a room.
