"There is nothing wrong with your body, ma'am. You are perfectly fine." the doctor assured Reyona.
The look on her face was enough to let the doctor know that she was not buying her explanation at all.
The woman leaned back in her seat and said "I am sure you trust us to take very good care of you, madam. Dr Romano also recommended me because he knew I will do what is best for you and your baby. You are in good hands, ma. I just need you to trust me."
"I do trust you, okay? That is why I asked you to do the ultrasound, so you can be sure that my baby is fine. Though I still don't want to know the gender yet, I believe what you said that the baby is fine. But I don't…" she shrugged as she unconsciously lowered her voice. "I mean this urge is just weird, you know. I think I will take the regular morning sickness that most people dread over this."
The doctor smiled and said "I doubt that, ma. Not when you have to go through it nonstop at least."
"Anything is better than this," Reyona said impassionately." The worst part is that it can start anywhere, anytime. It is just uncontrollable. Are you sure the baby is fine?" she asked again.
"I am sure, ma'am. I have to say you are going to be very pleasantly surprised when you finally allow us to show you the scan results."
"Surprised? Surprised how? You said my baby is fine." Reyona said urgently as she cupped her slightly thickened stomach.
"That is right. And you are fine too. Your symptoms might be rare, but it is not strange. I need you to take your mind off any worries on that end. You are fine."
Reyona decided to stop at a bistro after her not-so-convincing hospital visit. The doctor believed she was fine, but she doubted it.
This was just not normal.
She had even asked her mom the other day about all the symptoms she had when she was pregnant with her, Toria and even the twins, yet none of them had been like what she had been having.
She had read books she could lay her hands on and even searched online for any related cases.
They had all said that it was possible, yet none had emphasised that it was supposed to be this intense.
At first, it had started mildly and Reyona had not thought much of it as she had simply taken it as one of the signs that she was a healthy, properly functioning woman with the expected wants and needs.
But then it had increased in the past month.
The interval had grown increasingly short, and she had had to resort to means she had never used before, even before she got married.
She was so sure that something was wrong with her the first time she was rushed to the hospital because of it.
But just like today, the doctor had only sent her home with a "You are fine. Nothing is wrong."
The second time, she had demanded that an ultrasound should be carried out on her baby so that she could be sure.
The doctor had wanted to excitedly tell her the gender of the baby, but she stopped her.
"Just tell me if he or she is fine, please. That is all I need to know for now. I would like to find out the gender when I finally see my baby," Reyona had said.
As she sipped her chilled iced tea in the outdoor seating area of the bistro where she sat, she wondered if there was something else she could do about her condition.
Something apart from the method she had resorted to, of course.
She looked at her handbag on the table and pinked slightly with embarrassment at the thought of what was inside it at the moment.
Since the urge had increased its tendency to strike at the most uncomfortable time and place, she had also learned to always be ready.
She adjusted her dark shades and continued her people-watching.
"Here you go," the bistro attendant said as he placed the platter of fragrant and tantalising zucchini muffins in front of Reyona.
"Thank you," Reyona said with a smile.
"Anytime," the attendant said before heading towards the new guests who had just arrived at the closest table.
Reyona imagined people might be wondering why she had dark shades on in such a friendly and carefree environment where people easily wave at strangers and just enjoy good cheers while they pop in for whatever caught their fancy in the simple yet welcoming bistro.
It was his fault!
Before that stupid message of his, she had been very carefree with how she spent her days and even went out as often as possible.
She and Toria had even gone to historical places in Sydney, and she had lived the perfect tourist life before Toria and Tara had to leave for Aspen to work on a property that their first international client had contracted them for.
That message of his had got her looking over her shoulders when she went out, and now she had even reduced the amount of time she went out for anything and had chosen to stay indoors more.
Of course, she had told herself that it had nothing to do with him, but she knew the truth anyway.
She just had the urge that he might just pop up somewhere in Sydney one day.
Though she looked so different now with her hair and all, she doubted that would stop him from sniffing her out.
As much as she hated it, now she had resorted to using dark shades whenever she was out too.
He had her acting like a fugitive for fuck's sake!
She wished he would just sign the damn papers and let her at least leave with her pride intact.
But no, he wouldn't even do that.
He must have wanted to look her in the eyes when he finally told her just how much of a fool she had been in trusting him.
Well, she didn't need to hear it from him.
She just needed him to sign the damn papers so that their ties would finally be over.
Even as her hand went to her stomach, she shook her head firmly as she muttered "Mine. This baby is all mine."
"Uhm, excuse me, miss. Are you talking to me?"
Chills raced down Reyona's spine even as she raised her head to look at the man who was on his way into the bistro before her muttering must have stopped him.
Either that or he was…
Pleasant smile and furrowed brows, he steadily gazed at her as he said "I could have sworn that you look familiar. Have we met before, miss?"
Breathe, Reyona. Breathe.
When she did not answer him, his smile dimmed a bit, and then he turned it up another notch as he stretched his hand towards her and said "I must have been mistaken. It is not every day one gets to meet a beautiful lady like you after all. Pleasure meeting you. I am Thomas."