Chapter 23 – Seeing is Believing
The following week at the ultrasound appointment, Grace was waiting in the exam room, growing more nervous by the minute as Romano had still not arrived. She was a little anxious to begin with, and with each passing moment she couldn't help but wonder if he would actually show up. The technician came in and smiled, and was about to start when Grace interrupted. "Can we wait a few more minutes? The baby's father hasn't arrived yet."
"I'm sorry, but we're booked solid. I really need to begin." She said apologetically.
"That's okay, the sooner we start, the better. I feel like I'm going to float away." Grace joked, feeling ready to burst after drinking 8 glasses of water. She lay back as the tech poured the cold gel onto her abdomen and tried to concentrate on enjoying the moment, getting to see her baby for the first time.
As the technician put the probe onto Grace's abdomen, they both heard a commotion outside in the hall. Grace looked up and smiled, recognizing Romano's voice. He burst into the room and walked over to Grace.
"Sorry, I got held up in the ER with an MVA."
"It's okay, we haven't started yet." She smiled. "Besides, I'm used to you making an entrance."
"Nurse Ratched and her cronies out there seemed reluctant to let me come in. They threatened to call security until I told them I was County's Chief of Staff and could have them all fired with one phone call."
"How many of them did you bring to tears?"
"Just one or two." He said.
"Let's get started, shall we?" The technician said.
Grace whispered, "Thanks for coming."
He reached down to hold her hand as they watched the screen intently and Grace held her breath hoping for good news.
After a few moments, the technician spoke up. "Everything looks good. I just need to finish up my measurements, so it will just be another minute or two. Of course you can both see the heart beating here. It's a good, strong beat. Next time you'll be far enough along to determine the sex."
"I can hardly believe this, it's so incredible to see such a tiny little person moving inside me!"
"Hearing the heartbeat is one thing, but seeing it…" He said wistfully.
"Seeing it makes it real." She replied. Romano was so quiet, Grace wasn't sure what he was thinking. She turned and spoke to the technician. "It's such a relief to know the baby's healthy."
Once they were alone, Grace turned back to Romano. "Well, I'd better get dressed and you need to get back to County."
"I have a few minutes. Are you off to work or do you need a ride home?"
"I'm off for a few days. I took the EL, my car's in the shop again. That piece of shit has been way more trouble than it's worth." She said.
"That's just what you said the night we met in the parkade."
"Some things never change, I'm still on the lookout for backup transportation." She said as she stood up. She had to steady herself by holding onto the exam table after suddenly feeling woozy.
"You don't look well enough to get home on your own."
"It's just this damn morning sickness. Some days it lasts until late afternoon. Best diet I've ever been on." She joked.
"Grace, let me take you home."
"Robert, you don't have to."
"I know I don't have to. Just let me do something and stop being so stubborn."
"You say that like it's a bad thing. Okay, truth? I would love a ride home. Do you have time for me to pick up some ginger ale on the way?"
"Maybe I should bring you with me back to County? You might need an IV. How dehydrated are you?"
"I just need some sleep." She yawned.
He eyed her suspiciously, but took solace in the fact that he could get her home safely now, and come back after his shift to check on her.
When he came back much later in the day, he was concerned when it took her so long to answer the door.
"You look awful," He said, sounding worried.
"Well at least I look the way I feel. You don't have that IV with you by chance, do you?"
"Actually I do, but I really think you need to be admitted."
"I don't think I can face all their questions right now. Please, can't you just give me the IV here?" She pleaded and he knew he couldn't say no to her.
"Well, I'm not leaving until you make a drastic improvement in your condition or I will throw you over my shoulder and take you with me to the ER."
She got back into bed and he hooked up the IV.
"Ow!"
"Sorry, it's not my forte."
"Is that the sound of a surgeon finally admitting there's something a nurse can do better?" She quipped.
She finally dosed off after managing to eat a piece of toast, and Romano stayed with her. Once she was in a deeper sleep, he lay beside her and stroked her hair. He was filled with exuberance and sadness all at the same time. The woman he loved was having his child, but he could only watch from a distance, although he did take it as a positive sign that she had allowed him to help her.
Later on, he got up to check the IV and changed over to a second bag. He watched her sleeping peacefully and hoped she wouldn't have to go through more discomfort. He fell asleep thinking about how incredible it had been, seeing their baby on the ultrasound.
When Grace woke up the next morning, Romano had just finished tying off the IV. "You're still here. Is that a bad sign?"
"You look a lot better. How do you feel?"
"Much improved. I think the IV really did the trick."
"You went through two litres."
"Really? I guess I didn't realize how dehydrated I was."
"Are you hungry?"
"Not really. I've never really been one for breakfast."
As they both struggled with the awkwardness of the situation, Grace was the first to break the silence. "Listen, Robert, thank you for everything. You've been so great about all this and I'm sorry I've been so much trouble. I know you must have had to cancel patients to be with me, but don't worry, I have no intention of calling you every five minutes for pickles and ice cream. I refuse to become one of those women."
"Are you nuts?"
"Pardon?"
"I am the one who put you in this condition not to mention all the stress you've been under has probably made you feel even worse these past weeks. You aren't a burden to me, Grace."
"Well, you know I don't like admitting when I need help, let alone taking it when it's offered, even if it is for my own good. But I didn't want to risk the baby's health over my own stubborn stupidity."
"Smart move."
"I just…"
"What is it?"
"I know it freaked you out, yesterday. Seeing the baby and I just feel so guilty about all this." She turned away, "You probably blame me for not being more careful."
"You didn't do this alone, Grace and about yesterday… it's not what you think. Over the years I've seen thousands of scans, but this was different. Our baby is what you and I did right together."
She turned back and smiled and glanced down at her watch, "Well, you'd better be on your way. I'm sure you've got some interns you need to scare the pants off of."
"Gracie…"
"I'll be fine, I've got the morning talk shows, followed by the soaps, and the Blackhawks are on at 6. Besides, if I get really bored I could always read one of the thoughtful books my mother bought me for Christmas – 'Smart Women, Foolish Choices', 'How to Stop Dating Losers', oh and this one's my favorite, 'Divorced, Desperate and Dating'." She smiled, pointing to the stack of books on her coffee table.
He grinned, "Proving that mother doesn't always know best."
"I know her heart's in the right place, but believe me, it wasn't just a failed marriage I was anxious to leave behind in Detroit." As the words left her lips, she was sorry she'd mentioned the topic at all.
"Grace, I want you to come stay with me. At least until you're past the first trimester."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Robert. Let's just take things slow."
"What if something happens to you? You're here all alone and you don't have any family living in Chicago."
"You're just a pager call away."
"That's not good enough. Look it's my baby too, I want to make sure you both receive the best care possible."
"We will. I'll see to it."
"I know you will, but you don't have to do this alone. Let me be part of it. I have enough regret already. Besides, knowing who sired you, you have to expect this won't be an easy pregnancy."
She grinned, "You're probably right, Romano. Look, I'll think about it. But you're going to be late, now go. Malucci must be due for a reprimand or some intern must be running around waiting to do some scut work. You can fill me in tomorrow."
"No, later today. I'll swing by after my shift to check on you."
"But…"
"Case closed. The Rocket has spoken." He said and she conceded a smile. He leaned in to kiss her on the forehead as he was leaving, but stopped short, "You may want to think about having a shower! You smell awful!"
He stopped back at Grace's about 8. She had managed a shower, but was back to severe vomiting and had been able to keep little down since the morning.
"You need to come with me and I'm not taking no for an answer."
"The infamous Rocket Romano bachelor pad. I can only imagine."
"Well it beats living down here with the vagrants and crackheads".
"They're only around at night, most of them sleep during the day. I feel perfectly safe here."
"Which is another good reason for you to stay with me. I won't take a chance on you getting mugged, or worse."
She made another dash to the bathroom. When she emerged, looking pale and worn out, she finally conceded. "Okay, you win. I put together a few things earlier today, just in case." He smiled, knowing she did not really intend to fight him on this, although she had tried to put on a convincing show.
"Can you make it downstairs or do you want me to carry you?"
"No, I can manage. I just need a couple of plastic bags. I don't want to puke all over your Jag."
"Nice. Come on."
After a fairly short ride without need of the bags, they arrived at his building, complete with all the comforts you could imagine.
They made their way up to the penthouse, to Robert's apartment.
"The Penthouse? I'm impressed."
"I don't apologize for enjoying the fruits of my labor, Grace. I used to live in a Brownstone, but I moved here after my dog Gretel died last year."
"Oh I'm sorry, Robert. I never knew you had a dog. Look, I'm not knocking it, believe me. A girl could get used to this place pretty fast." She felt another wave of nausea rush over her, just as they went inside and she managed to spare the white carpet by bolting into a small bathroom near the front door.
He took her bag into the master bedroom and after she had recovered, she made her way around the massive suite in search of him. When she found him, she protested immediately. "I can't put you out of your own bed, Robert."
He glared at her, "Grace, you'll stay where I tell you to stay. Besides, it's big enough for two in case I need to be here with you when you're really sick."
Too tired to fight, she conceded. "You're the boss."
"Glad to see you remember something from the old days."
"This place is amazing," She commented as she made her way through each room.
"Come on, I think we should get you into bed."
"Same old Robert."
"That's right, Grace. I lured you here in between your bouts of vomiting and dehydration with the sole intention of having my way with you."
She chuckled, and was relieved they were making headway from the tension she'd felt the day she told him about the baby. She missed him and being with him, although she didn't feel quite ready to tell him just yet. Romano was thrilled he'd managed to convince her to come and stay with him and hoped he could make amends. He had no intention of blowing his chance at redemption.
She changed and crawled into bed, while Romano got her something to drink.
"God, this bed is unbelievable. All those nights at my place and you never once brought me here. How come?"
"Your place was closer. If you recall, we seemed to have a certain sense of urgency to get to the nearest bedroom."
"Hence the reason I'm in this condition and now, ironically, sex is the last thing on my mind. Mother nature has a perverse sense of humor when it comes to hormones. Nonetheless, you might not get your bed back for a while. I feel like I could sleep for a week."
After a moment she added, "Will you lay here with me for a while?"
"Sure, anything you want." He said, surprised that she had asked him to stay. "From that window, you can see County and the river." He said.
"This is a beautiful place, Robert. I'm feeling very spoiled right now."
"Good. I want you to be spoiled. You're carrying the child of the finest surgeon in the entire midwest. Only the best for you, Grace."
"Let's hope it doesn't have your ego."
"I hope she looks exactly like you, you're so beautiful."
"Robert…"
"What is it, Grace?"
She wanted to say it, to tell him, but she just couldn't. She was afraid and wondered if he was doing this out of a sense of obligation or for all the right reasons.
"Nothing. I forgot what I was going to say."