Chapter 10: Doctor's Visit

Adam POV (The next morning)

I woke up early and Elena was still sleeping next to me. I looked at her and could not help but smile. Last night meant so much to me, and it made me pay closer attention to her. I noticed that she was developing curves, more than what I was used to, and I loved it. It made me wonder the reason behind those curves, and then I glanced at her stomach. The thought of her possibly carrying my child came to mind, and I felt myself getting excited at the idea of becoming a father and having a family with the woman I loved. I kissed her forehead and proceeded to get dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, and then headed downstairs. I started the coffee pot and began making breakfast, some eggs, bacon, and toast. I wanted to treat my love with breakfast in bed. After about fifteen minutes breakfast was prepared on a tray and I carefully walked upstairs and into the bedroom, sitting beside her.

"Elena," I said.

Elena moved a little in the bed and let out a "Hmm."

"I made breakfast," I said to her.

She opened her eyes and grinned as she sat up in the bed, the sheet covering her chest. She wrapped a piece of her now frazzled curls behind her ear.

"You are so romantic," she said with a smile.

"Of course, I wanted to do something a little sweet," I said, kissing her forehead and setting the tray on her lap. Elena started eating a piece of toast and an egg, giving a thumbs up on the fact that the eggs were cooked over-medium.

"You know me so well," she said with a smile.

"I do," I said, kissing her cheek, "Do you have to go to the studio today?"

"No, tomorrow," she said, "But I am spending the day with Mom today."

"Okay," I said, "Need money?"

"No, I didn't even spend what you gave me last time," she said, "You don't always have to do that."

"It's my job to provide for you and take care of you," I said, "I love you."

"I know," Elena said, "I just don't want you to think I am with you because of your status."

"Okay," I said, "What time is your mom coming over?"

Elena looked at the clock.

"In about an hour," she said, finishing up her breakfast, "I'm going to shower and get ready."

"Okay," I said, taking the tray off of her lap. I watched Elena walk her naked body to the bathroom and shut the door. I headed back downstairs with the tray and made myself a cup of coffee left over in the pot. I was drinking my cup as Elena came downstairs wearing a vibrant pink maxi dress, her hair pulled back into a ponytail that still featured her classic curls, and her phone in her hand.

"Well you look beautiful," I said.

"Thank you," she said with a smile.

By then the doorbell rang. Elena went to open the door and it was her mother Ms. Jones.

"Good morning," Ms. Jones greeted.

"Good morning!" I said as I gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, ready to take Elena to her appointment," she said.

"Appointment?" I asked looking at Elena confused.

"Yes, whenever we spend time together it is an 'appointment'," she said, looking at her mother with a smile, "Since I'm such a busy woman now."

"Right," Ms. Jones said, "We should get going, Elena."

"Okay," Elena said, then turned to me, "I'll be back. Love you."

"Love you," I said, giving her a goodbye kiss. I watched them leave the house and get into the car, pulling away for some quality time together. I sat down on the couch with what was left of my coffee cup and looked over on the other side. I could see Elena nursing our little one, her hair in soft waves that rested just past her shoulders, glancing over at me with a smile. I leaned over to touch Elena's face and kissed her. I leaned back and came to, realizing that I was daydreaming again.

Elena POV

I was in the car with Mom on our way to the doctor's office and I stayed silent and annoyed. Mom looked over and noticed that I was upset and wanted to know why.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked.

"Nothing," I said, "I just didn't appreciate having to cover your slip up."

"My slip up?" Mom asked, annoyed, "You have an appointment, do you not?"

"Yes, but…," I said, trailing off.

"But Adam doesn't know it is a doctor's appointment," she finished.

I turned my head and looked out of the window.

"When are you going to tell him about your illness?" she asked.

"I'm not," I said.

"Why not?" she asked, "He has the right to know. What if he wants to marry you and have kids? Have you thought about that?"

I stayed silent.

"Myself personally I couldn't be with someone who felt that they couldn't tell me something that important," she said.

"I'll tell him when I'm ready," I said.

"And when is that, Elena?" Mom asked.

I was silent again. We were both silent.

"All I'm saying is that," Mom started, "Adam seems to be a good man who cares deeply about you. Don't ruin a good thing because you think he can't handle your mental illness. He doesn't deserve to be kept out of the dark."

I looked down before looking out of the window. By then we had just made it to the doctor's office. Mom parked the car and we went inside, paying my co-pay at the desk and taking a seat in the waiting room next to Mom. We didn't wait long, as Dr. Parks called my name and Mom and I followed her to her office. Mom and I sat down in the two chairs that sat in front of her desk. Dr. Parks started with the usual questions.

"How have things been Elena?" she asked.

"Things are fine," I said.

"Noticing any changes from the medication?" she asked.

"Just slight weight gain," I said.

"Ah okay," Dr. Parks said, "Any leakage from your breasts? Menstrual changes?"

"No," I said, "I haven't had a menstrual cycle in months."

"Any possibility that you could be pregnant? Are you sexually active?" she asked.

"No, and yes," I said. She was asking some personal questions, I thought.

"Are you using condoms or birth control?" she then asked.

"No, I always thought the Risperdal was like birth control," I said.

"Risperdal does affect ovulation but it shouldn't be considered as a form of birth control," Dr. Parks said, "Conception is still possible while on the medication."

"Oh," I said. Great, one more thing to worry about.

"How about the Cogentin?" Dr. Parks then asked.

"That's fine, it is helping with the side effects of the Risperdal like rigidity in my hands," I said.

"Very good," she said, and then looked at Mom, "How do you feel about Elena's progress?"

"I think she is doing well that I'm aware of," Mom started, "I always ask to make sure she is taking her medication."

"Well that's good," Dr. Parks said and then turned to me, "How are things otherwise? Anything new with you?"

"Well, I'm recording an album," I said, "So I'm pretty excited about that."

"Awesome!" she said, "How does your boyfriend feel about that? I'm assuming a boyfriend based on the previous question."

"Yes. He's very supportive," I said, "Encouraged it, really."

"How supportive has he been about your illness?" she then asked.

I hesitated to answer.

"He currently doesn't know about it yet," Mom then said.

"Why is that Elena?" Dr. Parks asked.

"Just concerned about how he would take it," I said.

"I've told Elena how important it is for him to know," Mom said.

"I'm going to tell him," I said in a borderline annoyed tone.

"Trust and honesty are both important in a relationship," Dr. Parks said, "Keep that in mind."

"Will do," I said.

"Do you have any other questions for me?" Dr. Parks asked.

"No," I said.

"Okay, I will write out your prescriptions and have you on your way," she said as she pulled out her prescription pad from her desk drawer. She proceeded to write out my prescriptions, hand me the slips, and requested that I come back in three months. Mom and I thanked her and left her office, and headed to the desk to schedule the next appointment. After that was taken care of, Mom and I got back in the car, and we were on the road back home. Well, my home. I was quiet again. I started thinking about how Dr. Parks mentioned that I could still get pregnant while on my meds.

"What's on your mind?" Mom asked.

"Just that I could still get pregnant with the meds," I said.

"Yes," Mom started, "I thought you or Adam would use protection."

"We did the first couple of times, but I guess we didn't think it was necessary," I said, "Or care."

"Well you need to start being careful," Mom said.

"I know," I said.

"I say all of this with love," she said.

By then we had made it to the drive way. Adam's car was still there, so that meant he was still home. I just looked ahead at the front door.

"Are you and Adam coming to church on Sunday?" Mom then asked.

"Church," I said. Since working on my album I hadn't been going, and I felt bad.

"Yes church," she said, "I don't want you and Adam to stray away from God."

"Oh no we wouldn't," I said, "We'll be there Sunday."

"Good," she said. I gave her a hug as I was grabbing my purse.

"I'll see you Sunday," I said, "Love you. Later."

"Later," she said as I got out of the car and closed the door. I waved at her as she pulled out of the driveway and went on her way. I unlocked the front door and walked in the house, where Adam was going through some vinyl records in the living room.

"I didn't know you had vinyl," I said.

"Yeah, some of these were my dad's, he had given them to me," he said with a smile, "Found it."

"Found what?" I asked.

Adam got up from the couch and went to the stereo that was against the wall, putting one of the records in the Victrola and turning it on. Next thing I knew Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" started playing.

"Oh okay!" I said. The old school junkie in me was pleased.

Adam came over to me and pulled me over to dance with him, lip syncing to the song.

"I'm…I'm so in love with you," he mouthed the opening line. We danced around as Al Green sang what I believed was one of the most beautiful songs that ever existed. I knew in that moment, if I didn't know before, that Adam was indeed in love with me. We stayed close when the song ended, and I led Adam to the couch, with him lying on top of me.

"Did you have a good time with your mom?" Adam asked.

"I did," I said, "Mom wants to see us in church Sunday."

"That's fine," he said, "I like going to your church."

"Awesome," I said with a grin, which softened when Adam started rubbing my stomach again. The uneasiness was settling in again.

"I know it isn't flat like when we first met," I said.

"No, this is beautiful," he said.

I grinned again as I played with his hair.

"Just another chapter in our lives together," he then said. I continued playing with his hair until I realized what he meant. Oh shit.

"One day," I said.

Adam got up from the couch and went into the kitchen to get a bottle of water from the fridge.

"So my parents are coming down to visit soon," he said, "They are excited about meeting you."

"Oh?" I said.

"Yeah, I can't wait," he said.

Adam kept going about his parents when I started playing my doctor's visit in my head, mainly the part where both Dr. Parks and Mom told me that I needed to come clean to him.

"Adam, I-," I started.

"Yeah?" he asked.

I paused, and then changed gears.

"Nothing," I said, "I can't wait to meet your family."

Adam walked from the kitchen and hugged me, kissing me on the lips. I just couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth.

Adam POV (Sunday Morning)

I was dressed in a gray suit with a light pink shirt and tie as Elena was dressed in a white dress that had soft pink flowers on it, her hair in those soft waves that I often saw in my daydreams. She picked up her bible and her purse, and we left the house, got in the car, and headed to the church. When we got there Elena's family had just gotten there. We got out of the car and walked into the sanctuary, where Ms. Jones and Alice were sitting in a pew.

"Hello everyone," Elena said.

"Hello dear daughter," Ms. Jones said, hugging Elena.

"That dress isn't becoming," Alice then said to Elena, "Makes you look fat."

Elena suddenly became self-conscious and upset at her sister's comment.

"Alice that is rude," Ms. Jones corrected Alice, "Your dress is fine, Elena."

"Where is Jason?" Elena then asked, taking the emphasis off of herself.

"Late as usual," Alice said, phone in her hand.

"How are you Adam?" Ms. Jones asked me.

"I'm fine," I said with a smile. Jason walked into the sanctuary not too long after I said that. We all sat down and caught up with each other until the service started. Sister Mary and the choir sang "I Surrender All" and the lead soloist proceeded with her solo of a song that the choir had been working on. I held Elena's hand and looked at her as she listened to the choir, moving her head to the beat. Reverend Whitaker came up and started giving the sermon.

"Church," he started, "Maybe someone here today, feels like they can't be truly honest about their past. Maybe someone here has something in the closet that they feel has to be kept a secret. Jesus accepts us, no matter what we have been through. We need to be more like Christ Jesus in that respect. We should be a light for that person, whomever it may be. Let us not judge, because that isn't our place."

I saw Elena look down for a moment, holding my hand tighter and looking over at me. I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

Reverend Whitaker ended the sermon and moved into the Benediction, and service was over. We greeted everyone and then Sister Phyllis came over and wanted to speak to Elena in private. I waited while she went to talk to her.

Elena POV

I was happy at how good church was today, and Reverend Whitaker's sermon really hit home with my particular situation about discussing my mental illness with Adam. We were getting ready to leave when Sister Phyllis asked to speak to me alone. I didn't know why, so I was nervous. She pulled me over by the piano.

"Is everything okay Sister Phyllis?" I asked, concerned.

"Oh I'm fine, I want to know if you're okay," she said, then leaned in closer, "You're not doing a great job hiding that baby bump."

"Oh no, I'm not pregnant," I said, placing my hands on my pooch.

"It's okay if you are," she said, "I wouldn't mind having that man's baby."

"Sister Phyllis!" I said, shocked.

"Hey, if I was dating a man like that…Whew Jesus," she said.

"Lord," I said, trying not to laugh.

"Does he make you happy?" she then asked me.

"Yes," I said.

"I can tell you make him happy," she started, "I have only met him a couple of times, but I notice the way he looks at you. That is a kind of love that you don't want to ruin."

"I know," I said. By then Reverend Whitaker had called her over.

"I have to get going," she said, and then she held my hands, getting closer to me, "Give that man a baby!" She then winked.

"Sister Phyllis," I said, again trying not to laugh. She smiled and went over to Reverend Whitaker. I turned to head where Adam was and saw that my family had left to go home.

"Everything okay with Sister Phyllis?" he asked.

"Yes," I said, "Everything's fine."

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Yes," I said.

We got into the car and started heading home. I had my hands on my pooch when Adam noticed me trying to cover it up.

"You're still beautiful," he said, "Ignore Alice."

"I'm just not used to this figure," I said. Stupid meds.

"Well I love it," he said, grabbing my hand. He pulled up into the driveway, his thumb rubbing the back of my hand.

"What now?" I asked.

Adam was quiet as he turned off the car and got out, walking toward my door and opening it for me. I got out and he followed me into the house, closing the door behind us. He kissed the back of my head and then my shoulders. I knew what he wanted. Hell, I wanted it. We made love, and even though I knew I should be careful going forward I still trusted that my meds would do their job and not allow conception to happen. More so, I can't allow Melissa and Dave to happen again. So no Sister Phyllis, I can't give him a baby. Not now.