2.9 Dr. Boyfriend

"I'll pick you up at 5:30, okay?" Christian says sweetly into the phone.
"Okay, I'll be ready," Michelle answers, looking at her watch. It's 4:00 now, so that's only an hour and a half to find something that fits… impossible… and to do makeup and hair… I can't even think about getting off this couch, she thinks.

She opens her closet and stares at all of the pretty dresses that don't fit anymore. She throws piles onto the back of a chair as she pulls one after another. She finally settles on a teal maxi dress. Basically a giant blanket… perfect.

She goes into the bathroom and messes with her hair. She didn't shower this morning, so it's a complete wreck. She tries to wear it down, but she can't get a brush through it. Messy bun it is…

Now makeup, she sighs. She hasn't put makeup on in months. She hasn't needed to. Is my face fatter? Probably…

She finishes her makeup with a kiss of red lipstick just as Christian knocks on the door.

She opens it and he smiles widely. "You look beautiful," he gushes. She rests her hands on her stomach, unsure, and awkwardly accepts the compliment.
"You look really nice," she tells him. He did, after all. He was wearing a gray suit with a purple shirt. He didn't look like a doctor now. She's used to the scrubs, which make his butt look cute.

"So where are we going?" she asks. He had kept it a secret all day.

"We are going to a show," he answers confidently.

"What kind of show?"
"You'll see."

They drive for about an hour. It takes longer than it should because they have to stop at a diner and then a gas station for her to go to the bathroom. She's very uncomfortable in the car but doesn't say anything.

"Almost there," he says, noticing her fidgeting.

"Where?"

"Right… here." He says, turning off the car. She sees that they're at a bluff overlooking a small California valley.

She smirks and jokes, "I got dressed up to go here?"

"Just wait for it."
Fireworks suddenly explode above them and she sits silently, entranced by the beautiful colors against the blackest sky she's ever seen. She had forgotten that July 4th was this weekend.
"Worth it?" he asks.
"Well, we could be out here in sweats, but yeah. Christian, this is so beautiful."

She sits up straighter, obviously uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just kicks and heartburn, and all of the normal things," she insists.

He reaches over and takes her hand, intertwining their fingers. They sit in awe of the fireworks for a long time.

After about 20 minutes, he looks at her and she's shutting her eyes, breathing slowly, and obviously trying to hide something from him.
"Michelle? What's wrong? You're not okay."
"This is such a nice evening: I like you being my date, I don't want you to have to be my doctor."
"Why would I have to be your doctor?" he asks, now very concerned.

"I think I'm having contractions."

"How often?"
"Not very, that's why I didn't say anything. The first one was at the diner, then again when we got here. And I just had another, so I guess about 20 to 30 minutes apart. They're not hurting so much. It's just like cramping."
"It just sounds like Braxton Hicks contractions. Have you heard of them?"
"Yeah, they told us about it at birthing class."

"Okay, so just tell me if they get closer or if they start to really bother you."

"Yes sir," she jokes.

"For now, though," he bites his lip, "I'm going to go back to being your date."
"Good," she says. She can't help it. He's leaning over to her side of the car, so she tilts her head and gives him a quick kiss. He's surprised by it, she can tell, but happy. He reaches in for her below her ear. He pulls her head towards him and they kiss passionately.

"Let's go slow, okay?" she asks, pulling away from his minty kisses.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," he says as he pulls back. They recline their seats and she rests her head on his shoulder. He kisses her forehead like she's always belonged there.

They walk to her door holding hands. They swing their arms back and forth as they get to her steps.

"Thank you," she says to him slowly.
"Michelle?"

"Yeah?"
"I don't think I can be your doctor anymore." She looks at him confused. She pulls her hand away, expecting him to say that he's leaving forever.

He continues, "I think I'm too happy being your date… I can't be both, and I hope we can be more. I'd like to be your boyfriend. What do you think?"

She doesn't say anything; she just gives him a huge hug and a messy kiss on the lips. She laughs at the lipstick left on his face and she wipes it off for him.

"I would like that."

"Good. Can I take you out next weekend too?"

"Sure," she says happily. She sighs and looks at her belly. "Who would've thought that this would bring us together?" She stops, thinking about the future. She's thought about the present all night, but how can they have a future? She can't date anyone– she's about to have a baby!

"Christian, I…" she stutters, caught up in her worries.
"Hey," he says sweetly. He practically reads her mind. "I know you're about to have a baby, but I'm here. I'm pretty good with babies," he laughs, "it's in my job description."

She looks at him with sad eyes. "I know I'm signing up for a lot," he insists. "Don't worry about that right now. I just want to be with you. I've never met someone so special."

She's reminded of Hubbell's speech about her being special.

"That's what Hubbell said. I don't think it's fair to you that I'm bringing his child into the world. I think about him all the time. He's a huge part of my life– I know it sounds crazy because he's not really here, but I don't want to put you through that."

"Shh, I don't care. Your child needs to know about his father, I understand. I also get that you loved him and that feeling doesn't go away, hell, I'm liking the guy more and more. He had good taste in women. I'm here, and I don't want to go anywhere. I'm not the jealous type, especially to a ghost…" he laughs at his own joke.

"All right," she says, "as long as next weekend isn't such a long car ride."

"Deal," he says. They kiss once more, and they go their separate ways.

She closes the door and leans against it, hands on her head in disbelief.

What am I doing? she thinks. She smiles and spins across the room in delight.

That night, she has a recurring dream. It's the one with her holding a toddler's hand and a guy's. This time it is Christian. She knows it. He turns and she sees his smiling face that always seems to know something she doesn't. The toddler runs off and they stare into the sunset. She turns to the other side, feeling someone take hold of her other hand. It's Hubbell. She looks at him like she was caught cheating. He smiles and shushes her. The three stand looking at the sunset, Michelle in the middle. After a long time, she turns to say something to Hubbell, but he's gone. Christian wraps his arm around her shoulder and she settles into his love.