A Long Weekend Part 5

Sam is setting the table when Martin walks into the apartment. He greets her with a kiss and a hug that she returns enthusiastically.

While Martin is cooking he senses that Sam is a little wound up. They often keep each other company while one cooks. However, Sam can't seem to sit still. She is fiddling with things and seems a bit on edge.

"Sam are you o.k." asks Martin?

"Sure. Why do you ask," replies Sam?

"Well," says Martin "you seem out of sorts and kind of jumpy."

"I'm fine, but I would like to talk over dinner," say Sam.

"O.K." replies Martin as he hands Sam the bowl of rice to take to the table as he takes the stir-fry.

They sit down at the table and serve themselves. Sam takes a deep breath and blurts out "I thought for awhile this afternoon that I might be pregnant, but I took a test and I'm not."

Martin is a little stunned. "O.K." "That's good right? I mean it would be fine if you were, but especially after this weekend it seemed like it might be better to wait."

Sam smiled and said "yes it's good." "It would have been o.k. but I'd rather wait."

Martin reached across the table and took Sam's hand. "So why did you think you might be pregnant? Also, and I'm not being critical I just want to know, why you took the test before you said anything?"

"Well," replied Sam "Vivian asked me about the weekend and mentioned that looking after her brother's kids as a newlywed sent her home to check on her supply of birth control pills. Later, that made me think that I probably was due for a refill and when I was refilling the prescription I realized that I should have started a new pack of pills on Sunday night and that I should have had my period last week and didn't."

Martin nodded.

Sam continued "I took the test before you got home because I didn't want us both to worry if it was a false alarm. Plus, I didn't want to tell you at work and I didn't want to wait any longer. I wouldn't not tell you about something like this even if it was negative."

"I know you would have told me," said Martin, "but don't feel like you need to spare me any worry. We are in this together. I'm sorry I didn't notice that you had reason to think you might be pregnant. What are we going to do now?"

"Martin, I don't expect you to keep a calendar or check up on me to see if I've taken my pill or not. I've been on the pill since I was fifteen to help with bad cramps and irregular cycles. Generally taking it is second nature to me. As far as what we do now probably nothing except for using condoms as a backup since missing the first couple pills is bad. I'll call my doctor tomorrow and check in, but it's not like I've never skipped a period before even on the pill. It's probably just wedding stress and work."

"That sounds fine Sam. I just don't want you to feel birth control is all your responsibility. Do I need to go buy condoms?"

"I'm a grown-up, I handled buying condoms although at one point I wished the floor would have opened up and swallowed me whole," said Sam. She then told Martin about the clerk's comments, the elderly lady and the price check. They both had a good laugh.

That night as Sam climbed into bed next to Martin she said "I'm definitely not pregnant. I just got my period." Martin pulled her close and said "I'm glad just because you know it means everything is working like it should. Go to sleep and dream of the kids we will have when we are both ready sometime in the future." Sam sighed and fell asleep feeling loved and cherished