Chapter 3:
Two weeks later, Andy has the day off and has decided she needs to tell Luke. She has an appointment this morning to confirm what she has finally accepted and to make sure it is healthy. Then she will go get Luke and tell him over lunch.
She arrives at the doctors office and is told to fill out paperwork. 20 minutes later her finger has been pricked, they've taken some blood and she is asked to pee in a cup.
Then she is taken to a room with a bed. She is 25, she has had yearly exams but this is just different.
The nurse lets her know what she is expected to do.
"Okay Miss McNally…"
"Andy… it's Andy…"
"Okay Andy… here is a gown for you. Everything comes off, gown goes on. Socks can stay on if you like."
"Okay… Thank you."
"The doctor will be in shortly." She says and leaves.
Andy is suddenly ready to throw up again and it is all nerves. She takes a deep breath and starts to undress. She puts the gown on and sits on the exam bed.
*knock knock*
"Come in" Andy says.
"Hello Andy, I'm Doctor Kenner. How are you today?"
"Um… nervous but okay… you?" Andy is overwhelmed and almost panicking.
The doctor chuckles. "I'm fine hun. So have you ever had an ultrasound before?"
"Nope."
"Okay… well we tested your urine and blood samples and you are indeed pregnant. I would like to do an ultrasound so we can determine how far along and just take a look. Sound okay to you?"
Andy swallows and stutters out, " uhhhh… yes… yep… fine, that sounds fine."
"It's okay to be nervous. Just try to relax. I am going to do a transvaginal ultrasound so we can check out your cervix and everything too. Are you ready?"
"Oh um, sure."
The doctor steps in the hall and asks her nurse to come in. The nurse tells andy to slide down and put her feet in the stirips.
After a few minutes Andy can hear a thumping. **thu thu _ thu thu_ thu thu _**
"Is that… its heartbeat?" she asks
"Yes, Andy that is your baby's heartbeat."
"Woah… that makes this a whole lot more real." Andy looks at the screen and sees the little heart thumping. It just looks like a fuzzy circle.
"I'll print some photos for you. You are already about 9 weeks along."
"Oh wow."
"Okay you get dressed now and then we'll move to my office to talk more and I'll answer any questions and get you started on some things to do and not do."
"Um.. okay."
Andy leaves the office 37 minutes later with a bottle of prenatal vitamins, her pictures, and an appointment to come back in 3 weeks.
Andy heads straight to 15 to grab Luke and go to lunch and tell him before she chickens out.
"Hey Luke!"
"Andy? Uh Hey. What are you doing here? I thought you had an appointment and were going to see your dad."
"Yeah… small change of plans. I came to kidnap you and take you to lunch. Let's go!" She leans forward and grabs his arm.
"Andy… No… I can't just go. I'm working."
Andy is angered. "Well I know that Luke… you gotta eat… let's go it will just be a quick one."
"Andy… look. I said no. Go have lunch with your dad. I'll see you tonight and we can have dinner together, I should be done by 6 or so."
Andy is pissed and sad at the same time. She wonders why this man never has time for her.
"You know what? Fine. I will go have lunch with someone who values my time." Andy leaves and slams the door on her way out.
Andy has tears in her eyes and she took about 4 steps and smashed into something very very solid.
"Ouch" She says and falls backwards onto her butt.
"Andy? Oh jeez, are you okay?" Sam asks, helping her up.
"I… no." Andy runs toward the locker room crying.
Sam goes after her.
"Andy… what is wrong? Talk to me. I'm here for you."
Andy sits up on the bench and he sits next to her.
"What happened?"
"I wanted to tell Luke about… the… um… ya know?"
"Yep."
"Well I came to surprise him and take him to lunch and he basically blew me off and told me to go have lunch with my dad. Obviously I can't be around my dad he would know something was off. He knows me too well. Luke just… ugh… I'm scared that I'm gonna chicken out and I'm not going to tell him and then hes gonna be 50 times madder at me. What if he leaves me? What if I have to do this… alone?" her voice trembles on the last word.
"Andy, Take a breath." She does. "I'm going to play devils advocate here… Maybe a surprise lunch wasn't the best choice. You know Callaghan. He works very hard. You can and will tell him when the time is right. Okay?"
She whispers, "Okay."
"And Andy, you won't do anything alone. You have your dad, you have your 15 family, you have me."
Andy hugs him. He wraps his strong, muscled arms around her and she feels the safest she's felt in a long time.
After a long moment of Sam just holding Andy while she cried she finally pulls back.
"Thank you, Sam. I'm so thankful I can always count on you."
He smiles and they stand up.
"Do you need a ride home? Or anywhere?" he asks.
"um…. Yeah, home would be great. I think I need a nap." She smiles.
Sam and his partner for the day, Noelle, are the ones giving her the ride. No one talks in the car and Andy feels super awkward in the back. But soon they arrive.
"Uh, Noelle… I'll be right back. I'm just gonna walk her in." Sam tells her.
"Sure… sure, take your time." Noelle says with a grin.
Andy can't tell if she is being sarcastic or not but it actually didn't sound like it.
Sam walks her inside and stops just inside her door.
"Andy. Everything is going to be fine. You are brave and courageous and you can make it with this. I know it."
"Sam, I love your confidence in me… I am struggling. I need to tell Luke tonight. I just hope he actually does what he said and calls me for dinner."
"I gotta go Andy but call or text If you need me. I'll even come over if you want."
"Thanks Sam but I gotta tell Luke. You be safe the rest of shift and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good, I missed my partner today. See you later."
Andy closes the door and does what she said and heads for a nap. Just her and her baby. She thinks, "It will always just be me and my baby… because Luke will be at work."
And with that thought, she falls into a nap filled with nightmares of being abandoned and raising a kid alone.
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