Quickie:
SassyLostie - Don't you mean that kidney sort of rhymed? Gosh I really scarred ya'll. Thinking of the worst all the time now...
bonboni - You think it'll be a boy? Well, now I got people guessing the gender. One says it's a girl, other says it's a boy. What if it's twins? Or triplets? Dear god. Someone had better shoot me before I do that to Sawyer!
sivan - Aw. I scarred you too!? Grr...
LordXwee - First off...WHAT did you say? Second off...I seriously doubt that. They're too sneaky to actually just SAY that. But don't spoil meh anymore please. ) Trying to lay off them.
Well, did everyone enjoy that Tea Party? Hehehe. I knew you would...And you were all worried. I hate having to update in such long periods of time. Because you all come and review so quickly - unlike the other site I post on... And I love that. But I'm a little anal so I like to keep things on track.
!!Update!! - I had told you guys in an earlier chapter that this story would probably be 60 chapters. I'm having trouble seeing that happen, so I think it might wind up being something liek 65 chapters or so. Just figured I'd let you all know.
Enjoy!
Chapter 48
The next day, Kate hurried to get ready for her appointment in their bedroom. However, Sawyer wasn't making it easy. He was putting up a fight against staying home with Clementine.
"You don't have to come," she was saying.
"I already told you the first time: if we're gonna do this – "
"James, please. I need to get out of here," she said, brushing past him into the hallway.
"So let me go with you," he followed her down the stairs.
"I'm not letting you take Clementine with us!"
"Why not? She can wait in the waiting room."
"Alone?"
"No…" he said, trying to think of something quick. He looked around the living room and spotted Clementine sitting with her doll on the couch. "Emily will be with her."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Nice try, but a doll doesn't count."
"Oh come on. What's the harm in it, Freckles? So she learns where babies come from. Big deal."
"It is a big deal. Or at least it will be to her mother. She's only six years old."
"So? That's her problem, not ours."
"I gotta go," she said, opening the front door.
"You takin' the truck?"
"I could walk, if you need it."
"What're you, crazy?"
She smiled. "I'll be back soon."
She gave him a quick peck on the lips, and walked out the door. He stood at the doorway, watching her walk down the path.
"Pain in the ass!" he called after her.
She turned around, grinning, continuing to walk backwards.
"Love you, too!"
They waved to each other one last time, and he closed the door. Then, he turned around and saw Clementine watching him.
"It's just you and me now, sunshine."
Clementine smiled, deviously. "Can we have another tea party?"
Kate lay on the bed in the empty room, awaiting Dr. Park's arrival. Nervous butterflies filled her stomach, which she instantly looked down at. She found herself wishing Sawyer was there, wanting to have his hand to hold. But it was better that he wasn't. She certainly wouldn't have him tagging along at every appointment, so she decided she had better get used to going it alone.
A moment later, Dr. Park entered with a warming smile.
"Hello, Kate. How are you today?"
"Good, thanks," Kate smiled back.
"I can see that - you're glowing. That's a sign of a healthy pregnancy."
Kate smiled, unsure of how to respond. So instead, she changed the subject.
"Amy had mentioned on the phone you looked at the test results, and – "
"That's right," Dr. Park said, writing on her clipboard. "I'll still be monitoring, of course. But there's hardly cause for worry."
"Okay," Kate said, somewhat reassured.
"The morning sickness has stopped?"
"Almost. It's sporadic. And it doesn't last as long."
"Uh-huh. That's good. Oh, and you're gaining that baby weight already," she smiled again.
Again, Kate smiled uncertainly. Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"Okay. Let me just hook few things up here and we can get started."
"Okay."
"Where's the father today?"
"Home with his daughter."
"He has a child already?"
"Well, she's fairly recent news."
"I see. How old?"
"Six."
"Good, good," Dr. Park nodded, obviously not all too interested. "Okay, good to go. I need you to lie back, and lift your shirt up."
Kate did as she was told, with some assistance from Dr. Park.
"This might be a little cold," Dr. Park told her, squeezing the petroleum jelly onto her stomach.
Kate almost arched at the coldness of the jelly. 'A little cold' wasn't warning enough, if you asked her. She listened to the weird noises as the doctor examined. There on the screen was the fetus growing inside of her. It was bigger than last time – exceedingly so.
"There's the heartbeat," Dr. Park, smiled. "Strong and clear."
Kate smiled, astounded. There was a little person in her. Now she had two hearts to look after…
"So have you two decided on what you'd like to do yet?" Dr. Park asked, suddenly.
"Yeah," she said, after a pause.
"Well don't leave me hanging in suspense here…"
Kate laughed. "We want to keep it."
Kate walked into the house a little more than an hour later, dropping the keys to Sawyer's truck on the mantle. She followed the voices she heard to the kitchen, where she found Sawyer and Clementine playing a card game at the table. From the looks of Clementine's heaping pile of pennies, Sawyer was losing.
"Hit me," Clementine said.
"You sure about that, sunshine?"
"Just do it," Clementine sighed.
"Hey you two," Kate greeted.
"Hey yourself," Sawyer said gruffly, slapping a card down on the table.
"What're we playing?" she asked.
"Blackjack," Clementine answered. "I'm winning."
"Yeah, well, unless you got an Ace under there, you just lost."
Clementine flipped over her facedown card to reveal the Ace of hearts, and smirked.
"Unbelievable!" Sawyer cried.
Clementine giggled as Sawyer scooped the cards across the table. Kate took a seat at the table beside Clementine.
"Daddy said he'd take me for ice-cream if I win," she told Kate.
"Oh? Well, it looks like you're almost there."
"I beat him eight times in a row," she whispered, laughingly.
"She's a cheater," he broke in.
"Me?" she stared at him, innocently pointing her index finger at her chest. "I got no idea what you're talking about."
"Save it, you little hustler."
Kate laughed. "Are you saying you got conned by your daughter?"
"Ha ha."
"See? I told you you can beat any monster," she said to Clementine.
Clementine broke into a fit of giggles at Kate's joke. Sawyer, on the other hand, exhaled sharply.
"Hit or Stick?" he grumbled.
"Stick."
He dealt himself another card, making his hand equal to 20. Clementine turned hers over and revealed an Ace and a Queen – 21.
"Son of a...how in the hell do you keep doin' that?"
"You taught me how to play," Clementine said teasingly.
"You better stop lyin', little girl. You want me to tell your mommy?"
Clementine gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.
"You're going to rat her out because you're a sore loser?" Kate teased.
"I'm not a sore loser…"
"Looks that way."
"Know what? I'm done with this game," he said, slapping the deck down on the table.
"What about my ice-cream?" Clementine objected.
"You'll get it."
"Right now?"
He sighed. "Fine. Go get your shoes on."
"Okay!"
She hopped out of her seat and ran upstairs. Sawyer turned to Kate.
"I heard the heartbeat," she said before he could ask. "Dr. Park said it was strong."
His shoulders slumped. "You heard it without me?"
She laughed. "Don't worry. You'll get your chance."
"What else?"
"She just told me what to expect with the second trimester."
"Which is…?"
Before she could answer, Clementine was back and their conversation was cut short. After all, ice-cream called…