As always, please read and review!
Cal and Gillian sat in the hard plastic chairs waiting for their turn to see the OB/GYN. Emily sat on the other side of her father playing with her iPhone since they had both invited her to come along with them.
Cal rubbed his fiancée's back and she started straight ahead, "Something wrong love?"
Gillian looked at him, "I don't know. I'm just afraid that the labs were wrong and I'm not pregnant. I mean after Sophie was taken away…" she trailed off with tears in her eyes, "Damn pregnancy hormones."
"Hey it's okay," said Cal rubbing her back again.
"Gillian Foster," called the receptionist brightly.
Cal and Gillian glanced at each other and stood up. Emily slowly stood up as well.
"Is it okay if my daughter goes back with us?" asked Cal.
"Is she over sixteen?" asked the receptionist. Cal nodded, "As long as it's okay with the both of you."
"Please?" Gillian asked looking at Emily. The three of them went back to the exam room. Dr. Samuel entered some time later, "Good morning Gillian," she said brightly, "So, congratulations on your pregnancy! Definitely better news than the last time I saw you."
"Most definitely but I'm also very…"
"Anxious," Dr. Samuel said. Gillian nodded, "Perfectly understandable because I assume this pregnancy was a surprise."
"A big surprise," said Cal nervously.
"Is he the father?" ventured Dr. Samuel.
Gillian nodded, "I'm sorry for not doing this when you walked in Dr. Samuel. This is my fiancée, Cal Lightman, and his daughter, Emily," said Gillian gesturing to father and daughter.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Lightman, Emily," she said shaking their hands.
"Oh you can call me Cal," he said.
"Okay Cal, Gillian, you ready to get started?" asked Dr. Samuel. The couple nodded. Emily sat down in the chair near the wall and Cal sat down next to Gillian. Dr. Samuel fired up the ultrasound machine while Gillian hiked up her blouse and shimmied her pants down slightly lower. She grabbed Cal's hand for comfort.
"Now Gillian I'm going to warn you, this gel will be a little cold," smirked the doctor.
Gillian rolled her eyes, "Oh don't try to fool me. I've heard from many women that the gel is freezing."
Dr. Samuel laughed, "That it is," she said squirting it onto Gillian's abdomen eliciting a short gasp from the expectant mother. She took the probe and started maneuvering it over Gillian's abdomen searching for the baby inside. A smile touched her lips when she located it. Dr. Samuel spun the screen so the other three could see it, "Right there," she said pointing to a blob in the center.
"Is that the baby?" asked Emily excitedly.
"Em what else would it be?" asked Cal.
"I wanted to make sure Gill's not carrying a puppy or kitten. Or worse," said Emily.
"Smart arse," said Cal. Gillian squeezed his hand and laughed.
"Is there really a baby in there Dr. Samuel?" asked Gillian.
"Yes Gillian," confirmed Dr. Samuel, "I don't know how you did it but there is indeed a baby in your womb." Cal continued to rub soothing circles on the top of Gillian's hand while Gillian stared at the small blob on the screen, "The baby's healthy and I'd say you're around eight weeks…"
"Wait eight weeks?" asked Gillian.
"Yes eight," said Dr. Samuel.
"I was pregnant before we were engaged babe," said Gillian.
"Are you suddenly thinking he isn't the father?" asked Dr. Samuel.
"No no," Gillian laughed, "Cal's definitely the father. Just surprised that's all. We only got engaged on Valentine's Day."
"Don't worry doc, they've been dating for two years," said Emily, "And I'm sure that means they've been, you know, for two years."
"Um, can we please not talk about our sex life here Emily?" asked Gillian.
"But while we're on the subject," said Cal, "Is it okay to be a little dirty in the sheets?"
"EW Dad can I at least leave the room first?" asked Emily running out the door.
"You brought it up," said Cal as Gillian's face turned bright red.
"Don't worry Gillian," chuckled Dr. Samuel, "That is a common question and it does normally come from the men. Unless complications arise in the future, as long as you both feel up to it, sexual activity is fine."
"Can we please change the subject?" asked Gillian embarrassed.
"Do you want to hear the baby's heartbeat?" asked Dr. Samuel. Cal and Gillian nodded. Dr. Samuel pressed the probe down more firmly, tapped a key twice, and a steady rhythm filled the silence of the room. Cal smiled at the familiar sound and tears welled up in Gillian's eyes. She couldn't believe she was listening to her child's heartbeat. This was actually happening. She was going to be a mother. She looked back at the screen as she let the tears escape, "That's our baby Cal!"
"Yeah it is love," he said wiping the tears away from her cheeks.
"Well Gillian, I'm going to write you a prescription for some prenatal vitamins. And make sure to get lots of rest and try to eat." Gillian raised her eyebrows at the last piece of information, "I know it is hard with the morning sickness…"
"Make that torturous all hours of the day sickness," said Gillian.
"Yes, for some women it is that. But you have to at least try to keep food down, if only small amounts," said the doctor, "Do you want sonogram printouts."
"Can we have three, two for us and one for my grossed out daughter out there?" said Cal.
"Of course Cal," she said handing him three copies, "Good luck and see you in four weeks!"
Cal and Gillian stood up to leave before Cal turned back around and said, "Dr. Samuel, how long before she begins to show?"
"Approximately six weeks. Why?" she asked.
"Just information we needed," said Cal as the expecting couple left the room. Later that night, after Emily had gone to bed, Cal and Gillian curled up together in their bed looking at the sonogram, "So we have approximately six weeks to plan and have a wedding love. You up to the challenge?"
"I guess I kind of have to be," she chuckled, "But that's only a small part of what's ahead," she said grasping the sonogram.
Cal watched her gaze at her child, their child, while his hand gently rubbed her abdomen. He could tell she found it comforting, "Mummy likes it when I rub her tummy doesn't she?"
"Are you sure about that Daddy?" she smiled turning around to face.
Cal smiled and kissed her, "You ready for the challenge love? You ready to be a Mummy?"
"Cal I've never been so ready in my life."