Chapter 28

The thin cotton gown offered Beth little protection against the chill of the examination room. She watched the nurse prepare the area as she sat still and silent on the table. They had already taken some of her blood and urine for tests, so now she was just waiting for Dr. Selzic to come in and finish the exam. Her mind drifted madly from place to place and the millions of things she felt like she had to do when she was done. Kevin still hadn't found a place to stay, and they were running out of options. He was trying to deal with that today while she was at the doctor's office. Melanie's knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, but it was a welcome interruption.

"Beth, it's so good to see you," Dr. Selzic began, "I hope everything is well with you and with Kevin."

Beth assured her that it was and explained, as she had on the phone and to the nurse that she and Kevin would like to undergo a fertility work-up. Dr. Selzic held Beth's chart in her hand as she took a seat on the stool beside the table where Beth was still perched.

"We've already done your UA, and I went ahead and checked the icon. There were a couple of signs that tipped me off, your weight gain and the date of your last period, anyway long story short, you don't need these tests. You're already pregnant."

Beth nearly fell off the table. "Oh God, is everything ok?"

"Our lab is finishing up on your quantitative levels right now, but we can go ahead and take an ultrasound just to make sure. Lean back here on the bed, and I'll set up everything. Here's the gel. It'll be cold on your stomach."

Dr. Selzic placed the apparatus on Beth's stomach and rubbed it around until she found the spot she was looking for. "Ok, here it is. Exactly where it's supposed to be. Beth, say hello to your baby."

Beth stared in amazement at the screen. Dr. Selzic patted her hand and smiled at her.

"Beth, everything looks fine. I know that you're scared and worried because of how this is happening, but we're going to take good care of you and your baby, and there is no reason why this pregnancy shouldn't be absolutely normal."

Beth wiped her stomach clean as the doctor asked her to get dressed and meet in the office at the end of the hall. She found her clothes on a chair across the room and put them on quickly. She wanted to make sure that the bloodwork checked out. She knew that the doctor had said that everything was fine, but she was finding it hard to believe. Beth made her way down the hall and knocked on the open door. Melanie Selzic was smiling.

"Beth, come in and have a seat. Your bloodwork indicates that you are about eight weeks pregnant, and that matches your timetable, too. This looks really good. All your other levels are perfect. We'll get you started on pre-natal vitamins and schedule your check-ups once a week just to make sure everything stays ok."

Beth nodded and finally smiled a little. "I'm just shocked. I wasn't planning on this happening so soon, like this. Oh my gosh, Kevin is going to be so excited. He really wanted this to happen."

Melanie's brow wrinkled into a frown. "What about you?"

"Oh, I want a baby, too. It's just that I'm scared. I don't want anything to happen. I can't do that again. So, I was hoping to wait a little longer or adopt. I want a healthy baby. I'm just afraid that...I'm just afraid."

"Ok, I can live with that," Dr. Selzic conceded. "I think it would be worth your time if you and Kevin talked to someone about this entire situation. Obviously, you're coming in to it with different feelings, and there's nothing wrong with that, unless you let it tear you apart. You're going to need each other now. Believe me. Here's a business card. This is Gregory Kerry, he's a family psychologist and he's really easy to talk to. I'll let you discuss it with Kevin, but here's all the information you need. The secretary will make your appointment, and call me if anything feels or looks or seems weird. Seriously, I won't get mad."

Beth finally let out a small sigh of relief. She nodded, Melanie stood to give her a reassuring hug, and she went out to the lobby to set up her next appointment. She handed the receptionist her papers, scheduled for next week, and walked out to her car. As she sat behind the wheel, she closed her eyes and pressed Kevin's speed dial button. He answered and seemed a little busy but agreed to meet her for dinner at one of their favorite places in town. She made her way home and helped herself to a very long bath. Her firm was closed until after the New Year, and she was so thankful for that time. She realized that she was really absolutely going to need it.

Kevin had already ordered drinks when Beth arrived at the table. He reached over to kiss her cheek as she sat. She kissed him back and asked about his day. He filled her in on the details of his apartment search and how it was not going. He said that his next option was to check hotels. Rich businessmen did it all the time, he rationalized. Beth told him that she thought that was a pretty good idea especially if he had to start work at the end of the month. There just wouldn't be enough time to make the necessary adjustments, since there didn't seem to be anything suitable available at the time.

The waiter brought the wine, but Beth refused the pour. Kevin didn't really notice. He picked up his glass and took a long sip. There was significantly more on his mind than the apartment search. He had been given his last assignment earlier in the day, and he really wanted to do it, but he was infinitely afraid of what he might find out by doing it. Finally, he tore his thoughts from the day and looked toward his wife. She loved the wine he had chosen. It was her all-time favorite. She could finish a bottle herself, without him, as she had proven on more than one occasion, yet her glass was empty.

"You don't want wine?" he asked a little more abruptly than he had intended.

She faltered, not expecting to have to address the situation so quickly. "Um, I have a little headache. Sulfites won't do that any good."

He nodded in satisfaction and looked down at the menu in front of him. Without looking up, he asked her what she was having. She reached across the table and touched his hand. His raised his head to her.

"What?"

"Are you ready for this?"

"What is it? Are you ok? Beth, come on, tell me what happened."

She closed her eyes. "I had my check up today with Dr. Selzic." She paused.

"Is everything ok?" he asked, almost begging for information.

"Yeah, everything is absolutely fine...with me and the baby."

"Baby? There's a baby?"

She nodded. "And he or she is right where he or she is supposed to be. Everything is fine."

Kevin came around the table and pulled her into his lap. "Oh my God, Beth, that is the best news I've heard in such a long time. We're going to have a baby. I can't believe it's true."

She kissed his mouth right as the waiter appeared from the other side of the room. He apologized for interrupting them, but Kevin told him not to worry. They were celebrating the upcoming birth of their child. The waited congratulated them both and left to give them a few more moments to decide on dinner.

Beth reluctantly returned to her chair and they ordered. It wasn't until after the meals had arrived that Kevin told her about his day and his assignment.

"So, they want me to do one more interview before I go. They said they've been waiting on this one, and that they wanted me to do it all along when the opportunity came. Well, it finally came, and it's the last time I can do it for them. I told them I'd have to check with you first, though."

"Why would you have to check with me? It's your job." Then it hit her what they had asked Kevin to do. "Oh!"

"Yeah, it's Jake. They want me to go there and talk to him. I was a little unsure of how I felt about it until I realized that there are a lot of things that I want to ask him, off the record."

"Are you asking me if you should do it or are you telling me that you're doing it?"

"I guess, technically, I'm asking your opinion and your feelings while telling you that I really want to do the interview. I mean, don't you think it's time I met the guy?"

"I guess so. I'd like to go with you, though. Is that okay?"

"Sure. We'll be meeting with him on Thursday before their home playoff game. That's almost two weeks. Now that we've settled that issue, tell me more about your appointment. Did you see the baby?"

Beth smiled at Kevin and told him every single detail of the appointment earlier in the day. His eyes were fixed to her face and his smile only grew as she continued the recount. As she finished he spoke, almost pleaded with her, "Come with me. Please?"

"Kevin, don't do this now. I have to stay here. For a ton of reasons, but now I have one more, my doctor is here, and she'll get me through the first trimester. Then we'll talk about things as they come. Okay? Let's just be happy about today."

"Yeah. Today. I can't believe how wonderful this is. I love you so much, and I love this baby already because it's part of you, of us."

She glanced down at her half-eaten plate of food. Kevin had barely touched his, either. "Are you finished?"

"Yeah, don't you want any more? You're eating for two now. God, what a cliché!"

"Let's go home," she purred at him. His eyebrows raised and he quickly got their waiter's attention.

"Could we have our check please?"

A moment later they were in the parking lot realizing that they had two cars. "We'll leave mine," he said, "I drank more than I intended to, anyway." They got into Beth's vehicle and drove them back to the house. They made it to the living room where Beth collapsed on the sofa, and Kevin, a little tipsy from Beth's share of the wine, climbed on top of her and pushed her back against the pillows.

Beth noticed the look in his eyes, one she hadn't seen for a long time. "Kevin!" She exclaimed pushing him back so that she was sitting and he was leaning back on his elbows. "Are you drunk?"

"Um, well, very nearly."

"Kevin!"

"I haven't had that much to drink for a really long time. I was drinking for two," he grinned.

"How much did you actually have?"

"I had a bottle before you came, and then the one after you came, too, so that's two and I didn't eat lunch, and I drank my dinner, so yeah, I guess I am drunk. I'm sorry."

"You haven't had more than two glasses of wine or a couple of beers in an evening since..."

"I know. I guess I just wasn't thinking. I had a lot on my mind. I'm feeling quite sober now, though."

"You can take the boy away from the party..."

"Oh come on, I haven't had too much to drink in almost ten years."

"You're right. I'm sorry. Can I blame my freak out on hormones?"

"Sure, but you only get three free passes per week, though."

She pulled him back toward her and began kissing him on the neck.

"I'm still a little pissed at you for killing my buzz," he whispered in her ear.

"I'm so sorry, but I do love you."

"Shut up."

The next morning, Kevin had the worst hangover he could remember. Beth brought him coffee in bed and closed the blinds so that the morning sun didn't shine in his eyes. She handed him the mug and climbed back in the bed. He took a drink, noticed the slight tremor in his hand, and placed the mug on the stand beside him. His head was pounding, and he was pretty sure that he was going to throw up. Man, when had he become such a lightweight? Beth handed him two aspirin and a glass of water, too. He meekly smiled his thanks.

"Are you going to puke?"she asked carefully. He shrugged.

"I don't ever remember feeling like this. It's really unamusing."

She played with his hair a little. "You've never had a wine drunk, Mr. Keg Party. This is something I can definitely help you with. My version of a keg was a box of Franzia."

Kevin laughed and kissed her. She pulled back and he looked over at her.

"Could I offer you a toothbrush?"

He grabbed a pillow from his side and placed it over her head. She pushed back at him and jumped out of bed to start the shower.

"Beth, I need the trash can!" Kevin yelled into the bathroom.

She ran back into the bedroom with the can and threw it at him. He looked very green. She barely made it before he emptied the meager contents of his stomach into the receptacle. He retched about three more times before he looked up at her and grinned weakly.

"I feel a lot better."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll call in for you."

"Thanks."