“With your light period roughly six weeks ago, followed by an apparent failure of your implanted birth control, it’s safe to say you are most likely between the six and eight week mark. Split it down the middle and say seven weeks,” she smiles. “Ready for that ultrasound now?”
Am I?
Tentatively, I nod and Dr. Perry opens a door inside my examination room. It adjoins the ultrasound room, allowing me to avoid the busy hallway. Once I’m comfortably resting on the examination table, the ultrasound technician explains each step of the procedure to me. She’s so nice and didn’t even flinch when she saw me. My suspicion is that the others have already filled her in on my injuries.
“My name is Melissa. If you have any questions, just get my attention and I’ll be glad to answer them for you. Sound good?”
Taking a deep breath, I nod and she begins the ultrasound. My silent prayers become a chant inside my head.Please let my baby be okay.
“Look at this, would you?” she says excitedly and turns the monitor screen more toward me.
The 3D image is crystal clear – even I can read it. There’s a tiny baby inside me and his heart is clearly beating. My mouth drops open and tears spring to my eyes. Unconsciously, my hand reaches out to the screen to touch my baby. He appears to be healthy to me. Unable to tear my eyes from the screen, I whisper, “Okay?”
“Everything looks fine right now, Miss Vasco. You appear to be about eight weeks pregnant,” Melissa explains. Using the keyboard, she takes various measurements and explains a lot of medical jargon. The underlying message is that she doesn’t see any abnormalities, the baby has a good heartbeat, and I am approximately eight weeks pregnant. Melissa prints several pictures for my file and duplicates for me to take home.
My little miracle baby.
After I’m dressed, the doctor returns with a prescription for my prenatal vitamins and a bag full of various pregnancy-related items. This gift bag makes everything seem so much more official and real.
And scary.
After a stop at the pharmacy to get my prescription filled, my energy is zapped and I can’t wait to get back to the condo for a nap. I forgot to ask the doctor about morning sickness so I will just look it up online later today. The project planner in me wants to make lists and check off the items as I complete each task. It’s so ingrained in me now from the years of school, an internship, and on the job.
As I’m driving to the condo, I catch a glimpse of Tucker’s truck a few cars behind me. This isn’t by chance. If he wanted to remain unseen, I would never know he was back there. I have to talk to Dominic. He has to hear me out and let me explain everything that’s happened and why. He needs to know about the baby. I don’t want him to find this out from anyone else – not even Tucker.
When I pull into the parking garage, Tucker pulls in and then parks beside me. I quickly stuff my pregnancy gift bag into my oversized purse and grab the prescription bag off the front seat. Tucker opens my door for me and I climb out of the car with a confused look on my face.
“We haven’t been able to find Harrison. Have you heard from him?” Tucker asks. So, this is his ‘hello’ now.
Giving him a disgusted look, I shake my head but never move my eyes from his.
“I have some things to do so I won’t be around anymore.” He’s trying to be indifferent, but I hear the concern in his voice. He’s been pulled off watching my every move, which also means he won’t be there to protect me if Harrison shows up. “I just thought you should know.”
My heart is breaking because I know this directive came from Dominic. Tucker must have talked to him and Dominic pulled him off watching me. Was that intentional so that Harrison has a better shot at me? The worry must be evident on my face because Tucker’s hard stare softens.
“Sophia,” he says, exasperated and unsure of how to proceed.
“Fine,” I whisper.Finethat he’s off my detail.Finethat I’m alone. I. AmFine. Or, at least, I will be eventually. The look I leave him with before walking off to the elevator tells him everything I can’t verbalize.
I let you down–but you’re letting me down, too. Guess we’re even now.
His frustration is obvious and we both know his hands are tied. He knows I’m not out of danger but he’s following orders. He’s loyal to Dominic and I’m the traitor. But I didn’t deserve what Harrison did to me and Tucker saved me. It’s all so very fucked up and I’m way too tired to deal with this shit right now. I leave him to wallow in his own annoyance. My bed is calling my name.
After a long and restful nap, I awake to my stomach rumbling. Realizing I skipped breakfast, I rise and make a soup and sandwich for a late lunch. With Tucker not following me, I have an opportunity to go to Dominic’s lake house and try to talk to him without him having advance knowledge that I’m coming. As I’m in the bathroom freshening up, the first wave of nausea slams into me like a freight train. Maybe I should look into “morning” sickness sooner rather than later.
My heart is poundingas I pull into his driveway. Nervously, I walk up to the large, double door and ring the doorbell. The chimes sound throughout the house but there are no other sounds coming from inside. Table lamps illuminate various spots throughout the house, but it doesn’t appear that anyone is actually here. I try the bell once more, just because I can’t bear to leave without seeing him, but to no avail.
Over the next two weeks, my days are spent working from the condo and my evenings are spent watching for my Dom to appear out of thin air. With saltine crackers and Sprite to help settle my stomach, I wait for any sign of him. My body has mended. The bruises have faded away to the point that only a few are still barely visible. My voice has returned to its normal tone and pitch. The only thing left to heal is my heart that is still shattered.
My daily routine has been unchanged over the past two weeks – working and waiting for Dominic. With the exception of today, when I finally feel well enough to go shopping in the middle of the day and run smack into Kayla Powers, Dominic’s mother.
