76- The surprises just keep on coming

ebastian

I paced frantically back and forth while I waited for Rebeca to come out of the bathroom. Honestly, I'm more nervous about the result than she is, who claims for sure that she's not pregnant. I know she could be taking contraceptives, in fact, I'm sure of it, however, it's not totally safe, there's always a glitch, maybe that's the case. But a child? Right now? I don't know how I feel about it, it makes me uneasy, nervous. It's a terrifying feeling that I can't explain, it wasn't in my plans to have a baby right now, in fact, it never even crossed my mind, we didn't even talk about it, neither of us was prepared and if Rebeca hadn't lied so carelessly today, I wouldn't have connected the dots and actually raised the issue, as the person who is actively looking at her body every day, I've noticed that it looks different in a gentle way, her curves are different, and her breasts are bigger, not much, but enough for me to notice the difference, since I'm always staring at them any chance I get.

It was an eternity before Rebeca came out of the bathroom. She was pale, mumbling something and shaking her head as she held the three pregnancy tests in her hand. I approached her slowly and worriedly, and she looked up at me, looking totally lost.

\- So? - I asked.

\- I discovered that I don't know my own body. - she mumbles apathetically.

\- What does that mean? - I ask tensely.

\- It means there's a baby coming, or that's what the three tests say. - she declared in the same tone.

I felt the world come to a standstill for a moment and all sound simply disappeared, or was it just my brain that switched off for a few seconds and then restarted.

I was as unresponsive as she was and all I did was open my mouth and stare at Rebeca, who was looking at me with lost eyes.

I didn't expect this revelation today.

\- What do we do now? - is all I could manage to ask.

Rebeca's eyes fill with tears and her lip trembles, she sniffles and throws herself into my arms.

\- I don't know. I didn't expect what started out as a lie to become true so quickly and so unexpectedly. What am I going to do now? My God, I've been drinking and doing all sorts of crazy things, what if the baby is affected by this? I'm not fit to be a mother, it's already clear to me. Oh, God. - She cries while asking me things I don't know how to answer. I choose to remain silent and just comfort her at this moment. As she cries with her face buried in my chest, my mind works at a fast pace trying to think of what the next step is now that we've reached this point.

If she's worried about the child, that means we should go to a specialist and get confirmation and more information about the pregnancy.

\- What do you say we go and see a doctor? - I ask in a sweet tone.

This stops her mumbling nonsense and, sniffling, she raises her red face to me. - Do you think we should? - she asks.

\- Yes, so we can get more information, it's the best thing to do now. - I assure him, even if I don't feel that sure.

\- Okay, in that case, I'll get ready and we can go. - she stands up, wiping her face resolutely.

She's as shaken as I am, that's a fact, a child was never in the plans, especially at a time like this, just before a major conflict. I need to keep Rebecca away from all this, even though she's a hard woman to break and just as deadly as me, she's still a pregnant woman and she can't overdo it because of the child, I don't want to risk it. I can't tell you how I feel right now about this baby, I'm really confused, the only thing that feels right right now is that I have to protect Rebeca and the baby, by whatever means, no matter what, they need to be safe.

I waited for Rebeca immersed in all kinds of thoughts, looking for all possible ways to end the coming conflict quickly and effectively, but before anything else, it's important to prove that the pregnancy is real and we can only know that with a pregnancy test.

When she returned, she was still pale, but seemed a little more composed, with her bag and cell phone, she gestured for us to go and we made our way to her doctor.

When we arrived at the woman's office, Rebeca hurried over to her quickly.

\- Amelia, we have a problem. - she hurried to say before even greeting the doctor.

\- Oh, dear, what's going on? - she asks and then her gaze falls on me. - It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm Amelia Sinclair. - She says hello courteously and I return the gesture in the same way.

\- Likewise, Dr. Sinclair. Sebastian Lucian, I'm the husband of this lovely and concerned woman. - I smile while maintaining my gallant façade.

\- I can see that she looks really worried. Shall we sit down? - she calls and we do just that. - What's the matter, Rebeca? - she asks.

\- Amelia, I think I'm pregnant. - she says.

\- Oh, darling, that's great news. - she smiles.

\- But that's the problem, how can I be pregnant if I'm wearing an IUD? - she asks desperately.

The doctor smiles tenderly at Rebeca and I suspect that the two of them are closer than they appear.

\- You know there's a small chance of this happening, don't you? You seem to have been the lucky one. - I smiled.

\- I was hoping it would be safer. What am I going to do now? - he mumbles.

\- What do you think about doing a test to confirm? - he asks.

I follow the interaction in silence, most of the time I have no idea what they're talking about, so I think it's best to keep quiet and just observe everything.

\- No, I want to do an ultrasound, I don't want to wait for the result, I want to see if there really is a baby here. - she points to her belly.

\- You know this isn't the right procedure, but I'm going to make an exception for you, since we've been friends for so long and you look so distressed. - she says.

It's just as I thought, the two of you really do know each other very well. I'm reassured to know that she's in the hands of a great professional and friend.

\- Shall we get going? - Rebeca jumps up immediately and I follow.

While the two of them were talking, I sat down where instructed and waited while the doctor applied a gel to Rebeca's flat belly and wondered how there could be a baby in there, it doesn't look like there's anything there, it's not possible, it must be something at the beginning, the size of a speck, I can't believe it's bigger than that.

When she started spreading the gel with a device, something appeared on a screen, I have no idea what it is, since I only see black and white things. Is there really something there?

\- How long have you known each other? - you ask.

I was surprised by her question, but as she's friends with Rebeca, she must be curious about our relationship.

\- About six months, give or take. - I answer after a quick calculation.

\- Don't make a fuss, Amelia, do you have a baby or not? - Rebeca asked apprehensively.

\- Yes, there's a beautiful baby growing here. - she confirms.

As if that were the cue, the loud sound of a beating heart fills the room and I'm paralyzed for a moment by that sound that moves me in a strange way, generating an unknown sensation in my chest and an enormous sense of protection.

A child. Mine and Rebecca's. I... I don't know how I feel right now.

It's a surreal feeling.

Rebeca starts to cry as she stares at the screen and I squeeze her hand, trying to comfort her with my presence.

\- How many weeks? - I ask.

\- About twenty-one weeks. - she replies immediately.

I frown and try to calculate how long that is, but Rebecca interrupts my train of thought when she makes a little squeak of surprise.

\- That's not possible! You must have missed something. - Rebeca hastens to reply.

\- No, dear. As you can see, I'm right. - Amelia smiles patiently.

I don't understand Rebecca's surprise.

\- But, but, that's five months! Are you saying I've been pregnant for five months and didn't know it? - she practically shouts.