Chapter 2

Kate returned to the room with her sample and Dr. Park took it, leaving them alone once more. Kate sat again on the chair, and the room was silent. Sawyer watched her, unsure of what to make of her sullen mood. He wanted to make her feel better, but had no idea how.

"What're you thinkin'?" he asked, finally.

She looked at him, then down. "Nothing."

"Freckles, that's the biggest load of bull puckey I ever heard. You been sittin' here all morning lookin' down at that floor as if it were the saddest thing in the world." He paused and looked down. "Huh. Pink and blue tiles. That is sad…"

She smiled, but it melted right back into a frown. They sat in silence again, both staring at the floor.

"Do you think it'll like me?" she said finally.

He looked up again, surprised. "What?"

"The baby, Sawyer," she said, focusing on the tiny blue and pink tiles again.

"Is it gonna like you?" he said in disbelief. "You're givin' it life! I'd think it'd have at least an inkling of liking for you, sweetheart."

"But what if it doesn't? What if it hates me?" she said softly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Why're you thinkin' like that?"

She shook her head, and tears fell to the floor. "I'm not cut out to be a mother, Sawyer."

"Hey…" He got up and put an arm around her. "You're gonna be a great mother."

"I don't even know how to change a diaper," she half-laughed, half-sobbed.

"Neither do I, but we'll learn. You ain't gonna be in this alone, Freckles."

"I know. I'm just…scared."

He stared at her sympathetically, and pulled her to him in a hug. "Don't be. Hell! Think of it like an adventure of sorts."

"I'm so scared, though, Sawyer," she started sobbing against him. "I'm scared that I'm not going to know what to do with it and everything it comes with. What if I make this child hate me? What if it doesn't want me?"

He stayed silent, smoothing her hair.

"I don't know if I'm ready for this," she whispered.

"No one's ever ready for it," he assured her. He tilted her face up and wiped her tears. "But we're in this together, Freckles."

She nodded, her breathing slowly steadying.

"Whether you like it or not," he added teasingly.

She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder once again. "Sawyer…"

"Yeah, Freckles?"

"Thank you."

He smiled, thoughtfully, and kissed her head. "Y'know, you're awfully cute when you're vulnerable like this."

She laughed, and finally let go of him. "Thanks," she said sarcastically.

She got up and went to the sink, wetting a paper towel to wipe her face. Sawyer sat back down in his chair and picked up the magazine that lied beside him. Good Parenting, he read silently, scoffing aloud. They were silent, except for the flipping of pages. Kate watched him reading, and his expression changed constantly, from confused, to repulsed. She couldn't help but let out a laugh. He looked up, of course.

"What?"

"You should see your face," she smiled.

He looked down at the magazine again, then closed it and put it aside. He raised his eyebrows and sighed.

"Some of the pictures in there…Pretty gory stuff."

"It's called childbirth, Sawyer."

For a moment, she could've sworn he looked scared. But he played it off by getting up and going over to the window. With one hand, he opened it effortlessly, and with the other took out his pack of cigarettes.

"You can't smoke in here," Kate told him. "This is a doctor's office."

"Why do you think I'm by the window, shortcake?"

She shook her head at him. As if on cue, Dr. Park returned, and he immediately put the cigarettes away. He joined Kate, and grabbed her hand again. She held it firmly, and they waited for the doctor to speak.

"Congratulations," Dr. Park smiled.

Sawyer let go of Kate's hand and put his arm around her instead. She inhaled deeply, and slowly let it all out.

"Now, I want you two to understand that if for some reason you don't want to keep the child, there are services that will be provided for you."

Sawyer shook his head. "That ain't gonna be necessary, right Freckles?"

She looked at him for a moment, and nodded. "Right."

"Okay," Dr. Park smiled again. "I'm going to just give you a rundown of how the first trimester is going to be, and the restrictions. After that, you'll schedule another appointment to come back for your first sonograms."

"Okay," Kate nodded, taking hold of Sawyer's hand again.