Okay, I'm not going to try and make excuses for my long absence from this story. I just wanted to make a quick mention of a character about to appear in this chapter. If you've read 'A Night to Remember', you will know her well. I loved the character so much, I had to bring her over to this one. Some of the details of her background have changed, but I intend to keep her the feisty woman people have read in my other fic. I hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know if I should continue. I've been writing on this story for a long time, LOL. XOXO
Chapter Thirty One
Jake walked into Naomi's office and caught her staring out the window with a depressed expression on her face. It was the same expression she'd had all week. He and Charlotte had ganged up on her the previous day and finally forced Naomi to explain what had happened over the weekend. They'd listened and tried to give her advice but as usual, Naomi was too stubborn to listen. "You know" Jake started, interrupting her silent pity party. "It's not too late to admit you made a mistake. I'm sure Sam still loves you. Just tell him you changed your mind".
The ache in Naomi's chest refused to go away; some moments, it hurt just to breathe. It had been four days since she'd kicked Sam out of her house and she hadn't seen him since. He was and would continue to be at the hospital all week. He hadn't made any attempts to call her or reach out to her. The ache in Naomi's chest only grew stronger as she thought about how much she missed him; as she thought about the child they had created growing inside her. Jake and Charlotte still had no idea about the baby; she knew if they did, they'd push even harder and shatter the lies she kept silently telling herself. But Naomi needed her delusions; she needed to believe she had made the right decision in order to keep her sanity. Pushing back the constant morning sickness she'd been experiencing, Naomi swallowed thickly. "I didn't make a mistake. And I would appreciate you skipping over a lecture this morning. I already got one from Charlotte in the kitchen".
"Fine" Jake conceded immediately. As much as he loved his friend and wanted her to be happy, he didn't have the energy to seriously push back today. He sighed. "Should we just go over our patient workload for the day"? He plopped down on the couch.
Naomi studied Jake carefully as she walked away from the window to join him. Alarm bells went off loudly inside her head. She hadn't been looking forward to a verbal battle with Jake but for him to give up so easily was a red flag. "We can in a moment. First, you're going to tell me what's wrong with you".
"Nothing" Jake answered.
"No, it's definitely something".
"I'm fine, Naomi" he insisted.
"Then prove it. Tell me what's on your mind"?
Jake didn't answer.
Naomi took a deep breath. "Jake, please let me be the same friend to you as you've been to me over the last year. I know I've probably driven you crazy with all my problems. And yet you've stuck by me and listened and counseled me when you didn't have to. Something is clearly bothering you; it's not like you to pass on a chance to lecture me. And while I feel relieved that I don't have to discuss my problems, it also makes me worry about your state of mind. I might have a hurricane of drama surrounding me but I'm observant enough to know when a friend of mine is acting out of character. Please talk to me".
Jake sat silent for a moment. Finally, he said "you women are impossible to figure out".
"Oh" Naomi said, taken aback. A small smile crept up on her face as the underlining meaning of his statement dawned on her. This was about another woman; a woman he liked. "So, you met someone"?
"Yes…I mean no. Hell, I don't know".
"Well, why don't you tell me what happened and then I can let you know if you met them or not".
"There's nothing to tell".
Naomi noticed how agitated Jake seemed; he couldn't sit still. "Let me be the judge of that".
"Naomi, stop".
"Doesn't feel so good being on the other side of an interrogation, does it" Naomi asked. "Come on, Jake. Speaking from experience, the sooner you talk the sooner you'll be left alone".
Jake ran a hand through his short curly hair and down his tired face. "Fine. A couple months back, I went to happy hour down at Jay's after to work. I was sitting at the bar minding my own business when the rudest most aggressive woman I've ever met approached me. She told me to buy her a drink".
"What did you do" Naomi asked, encouraging him to continue.
"I bought her a drink. She might've been rude but I'm still a gentleman. Plus, I figured once she got what she wanted, she'd leave me the hell alone. But she didn't. She proceeded to sit down next to me and start up a conversation. Again, I tried to be polite. I engaged in the conversation but every time I voiced my opinion, she immediately argued as to why I was wrong. I can't stand people like that; who are so pushy and arrogant that they think their opinions are fact. It felt like she was purposely trying to push my buttons; trying to get any kind of reaction out me. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I excused myself and got up and left. But do you think she took the hint? No, she followed me and tried to rile me up some more. 'You know, if you didn't want to talk to me, you could have just said so; and you didn't have to buy me a drink'" Jake imitated, in a high pitch voice.
Naomi stifled a giggle. As brash as the woman sounded, she had a point. Then again, she knew Jake. He really was a gentleman. He didn't act rude unless you left him no other choice. "So how did you respond"?
"I gave her what she wanted; the unfiltered truth. I said 'You're right. I didn't want to talk to you then and damn sure don't want to talk to you now' and proceeded to walk away. But she followed me again, talking more trash. Naomi, I swear to God I don't believe in violence but at that moment, I wanted to strangle that woman".
Naomi raised an eyebrow. She knew that feeling of being so angry she wanted to kill someone. It had happened countless times while she was married to Sam. He would say or do something so mind bogglingly stupid, she'd see red. It had always led to the most passionate, hottest, dirtiest sex. Something about being that angry was a natural aphrodisiac. It turned her on like nothing else. It was also probably how she had gotten pregnant Naomi thought. She and Sam had been in the middle of a huge argument the night they'd had sex in her washing room. She refocused her attention back on Jake. "You slept with her, didn't you"?
Jake sighed. "Yeah, I did and I have no idea why. She basically annoyed me, enraged me, used me, and then disappeared the next morning from our hotel room before I woke up. It blew my mind. Is this what single women feel like on a daily basis dealing with men"?
Naomi laughed. "Pretty much".
"But I'm not that guy. My reputation would lead you to believe otherwise but casual sex and one night stands aren't my style. I'm a flirt, not a womanizer who can't keep it in his pants".
"Jake" Naomi said softly. "We all act out of character sometimes. You shouldn't be beating yourself up over something that happened two months ago. Womanizer or not, if it didn't bother her, it shouldn't bother you. What's the real problem"?
"Last night I went back to that same bar for the first time" Jake answered, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
"And she was there" Naomi asked, trying to hide her smile.
"Yes" Jake said grudgingly.
"Let me guess, the same thing happened all over again".
"Yes. Are we done now? I don't know if you heard but men aren't into reliving the past and psychoanalyzing every single event. I've already surpassed my comfort level to accommodate you. But that's enough. We need to get to work".
If Naomi didn't know before, she knew now. "Jake, it's obvious you like this mystery woman. Why not just ask her out on a real date"?
"Because I don't like her; she's a pain in the ass".
"In other words, she challenges you and you're not used to it. Like you said, you're a flirt; it doesn't take much effort for you to charm someone. You're upset because not only is she chasing you, but you also can't seem to get a feel on how to handle her".
"You make it sound like I'm some misogynistic jerk who likes his women tamed and submissive. That's not true Naomi. I love strong women. It's one of the many qualities that drew me to you".
"I'm not accusing you of being anything. I know your character; you wouldn't dare treat a woman as a second class citizen. I'm just stating that through no fault of your own, you've never had to put forth much effort. You've always instinctively known how to allure a woman. At least it seems that way. Maybe women have played hard to get or played coy but they've never kept you on your toes. You always knew they would give in eventually. This mystery woman is not only keeping you on your toes, she sounds completely unpredictable. It's a new and frustrating experience for you. I won't say you don't like it, but you're not used to not knowing what comes next".
That wasn't entirely true, he thought. Naomi had done her fair share of keeping him on his toes. He'd walked a tightrope for months hoping she'd come around. But he supposed her unpredictability had been out of her control. Naomi couldn't help that she wasn't over Sam and Jake couldn't fault her for it. She hadn't purposely strung him along or set out to torture him.
When he really thought about it, Naomi was right. No other woman had come close to posing as much difficulty as Naomi or this new woman had. He had had it easy. Jake shrugged uncomfortably again. "Maybe".
"Just ask her out, Jake. You'll sleep better at night".
"Look, even if I wanted to, I don't have her number and I don't know where she lives. Hell, I don't even know her name".
"Seriously" Naomi laughed in disbelief. "Then next time you see her, make sure you get her name and her number".
"Who knows if there will even be a next time" Jake said, doubtfully.
"Oh, I have a feeling there will be" Naomi said as a knock sounded on the door. "Come in".
A nurse stepped in. "I'm sorry to interrupt but your first client is already here. I've placed her in exam room one".
"Wow. I can't believe the time flew so fast. Thank you Rose. I'll be there in just a few minutes".
"Thanks Rose" Jake repeated as the nurse closed the door.
Naomi stood up. "I guess we'll just have to update each other on our caseload periodically throughout the day, since we've run out time, but I'll tell you about my first patient really quickly. She's here for a routine gynecological exam. The receptionist tried to schedule her with you but for some reason she requested me".
"That's strange. Business is business but why would she come to us just for a routine checkup and then request the doctor who specializes in fertility only? Is it because she wanted a woman to examine her? She would have been better off scheduling an appointment with Addison".
Naomi swallowed thickly. Hearing Addison's name made her feel queasy all over again. Since her return from Seattle, they had been cordial but distant. She couldn't look at the woman's face without seeing the two years Sam has spent sleeping in the same bed as her. Now that denying her feelings for Sam was no longer distracting her, that betrayal seemed sharper in her mind; it hurt deeper and made her angrier than ever before. She shook her head briefly, trying to displace the overwhelming emotions.
"Nae, I didn't mean it like that" Jake started, realizing what he had said a tad too late.
She smiled thinly. "No worries. I knew what you meant. Nevertheless, she chose our practice. I should get to her now. I'll see you later".
…
"Hi, I'm Dr. Naomi Bennett" Naomi introduced herself as she walked into the exam room and skimmed the medical chart in her hands simultaneously. If she had been looking up as she entered the room, she would have recognized the patient immediately. However, it wasn't until Naomi read the patient's name – Gabriella Mendoza – that the recognition hit her. "Gabby" Naomi gasped in shock as she looked up into her old friend's eyes.
"Hey Nae; long time, no see" she smirked sarcastically. But the glisten in her eyes betrayed her. She was just as overcome to see her friend.
"I can't believe it's you; you're really here" Naomi cried happily, walking over to embrace her friend in a long hug. "I should be punching you right now. Three years of no contact is too long. How dare you join Doctors without borders and disappear off the face of the earth".
"Excuse me" Gabby argued, pushing Naomi back slightly. "Who up and moved across the country without telling me? And by the time I got back into the county and figured out where you were, you'd already moved back to Los Angeles; talk about making someone's head spin".
"Yeah, and now I've been back in California for a year now. How do you explain that"?
"I'm her now, aren't I" Gabby said softly, the joking nature suddenly leaving her voice.
"Yes, you are" Naomi said, suddenly remembering that Gabby was here as a patient. She immediately put the past aside. That was the type of friendship they had; they could go months or years without seeing each other and still feel as close as ever when they were reunited. No matter where they went in life, Naomi knew she would always be able to count on Gabby; and Gabby could count on her. She grabbed her friend's hand. "What's wrong"?
"I think….I think I'm pregnant".
Naomi's eyes bucked. What were the odds? How could a close friend of hers she hadn't seen in years be pregnant at the same times as her? She suddenly felt exposed, but tried to keep her silent panic attack in check. She focused on Gabby. "I take it you didn't plan this".
"You know I didn't Nae" Gabby sighed. "My life is too unpredictable for a child. I live in the moment. It's not unusual for me to pack up and go at a moment's notice. Now, all of a sudden I'm expected to settle down and be someone's mom? What's next? Am I supposed to tell the father about this? You know I don't do commitment, Nae. I don't even know what the definition of the word commitment is anymore. I like to keep it casual. I haven't been in a serious relationship since…." Gabby trailed off.
She still couldn't say his name Naomi realized. It has been almost twenty years since medical school and Gabby still couldn't say Daniel's name; the first and last guy to break her heart. But that wasn't what Naomi found the most interesting. What was even more intriguing was the fact Gabby's thought process had gone from having a baby to being in a relationship. Gabby was an independent woman; being a single mother wouldn't be an issue for her. So why was she so worried about telling the father? And why was she afraid she wouldn't be able to commit unless …."Who is the father" Naomi asked, curiously.
"I don't know his name" Gabby admitted. "You know me. When I want to have a little fun, I pick up a stranger at a bar. It's easy and avoids a mess. Now I've gotten myself into the biggest mess of all and my whore ways are biting me in the ass". Gabby left out the fact that she'd had more than a one night stand with this stranger; that she had seen him as recently as last night. In fact, it was last night's encounter that made her realize she'd hadn't menstruated since before she saw him last…almost two months ago.
"You're not a whore, Gabby".
"Yes, I am. No, I take that back. I'm a pregnant whore".
Naomi eyed Gabby critically; not because she was judging but because she couldn't quite understand why her friend was judging herself. She got the feeling she wasn't getting the whole story. The self-deprecation wasn't Gabby's style; Gabby was a confident and sexy Latina who took pride in her accomplishments and made no apologies for her actions. Being sexually liberated was always something she'd celebrated. What the hell was going on? She sighed. "We'll table the whore argument for a later time. How far along do you think you are"?
"About eight weeks".
'So am I' Naomi thought silently. "Well, you're a doctor too Gabby. I know you're fully aware of your other options. You know how much I disagree with abortion but it's a woman's right to choose. And you've always been the woman to do what she wants regardless of what other people think. So, why are you here? It is because despite all your worries and fears, you want to keep the baby"?
Gabby threw her hands up in frustration. "I don't Nae; I don't know what I want anymore".
Naomi embraced her. "Well, I'm here for you. We'll figure it out together, okay"?
"Okay" Gabby whispered sitting back and letting her friend hold her. It was okay, everything would be okay she tried to tell herself. But the panic she had felt ever since she took the pregnancy early that morning steadily began to rise. "No, No" she shouted, pushing Naomi away from her. "You know what? This is probably just a misunderstanding. Maybe I'm not pregnant. I only took one pregnancy test. It could have been a false positive or I could have just read it wrong. Yeah, I'm probably not pregnant at all".
"Gabriella, you need to calm down. Just breathe".
"I am calm Naomi. I'm just realizing I don't need to be here. There is no way in hell I'm pregnant. I can't be".
"Okay" Naomi said soothingly. "But you are here. And it doesn't hurt to check to make sure. Just lay back and let me do a quick ultrasound to confirm the verdict either way".
Gabby started to say 'no' and get up from the exam table. But Naomi was right. Biting her lip nervously, she reluctantly laid back on the table. She lifted her shirt. "Fine, let's just get this over with" she mumbled.
Naomi applied the cold gel and began to move the probe across Gabby's lower abdomen. It was less than two minutes before she found a heartbeat. Gabby was most definitely pregnant.
At the sound of the quick fluttering sound permeating the room, Gabby whipped her head around and looked at the monitor. "No" she exclaimed, instantly breaking down into tears.
Naomi made a few more observations and turned off the machine. "Gabby" she said calmly; "I know how overwhelming this is for you right now, but I promise you everything will be okay".
"You don't know that, Nae. You have no idea what is like to be pregnant in your mid-forties. Or what being a mother in your mid-forties is like".
"Tell that to my one year old at home" Naomi smiled.
Gabby gasped in surprise. "Your what"?
Naomi sat down on the exam table next to her friend. "Yes. I had a baby who just turned one back in December; a little boy name Isaiah. It isn't easy; believe me, it's not but I love being his mother. At this age, it makes me truly appreciate the miracle of life. Don't get me wrong; I loved being Maya's mother when I was younger; every single moment was precious. But there is something to be said about being older and having more life experience; it gives you a better perspective". Naomi paused to squeeze Gabby's hand again. "So, trust me when I say I do know what you're going through. Everything is going to be fine. And whatever decision you make, I'm here for you. We'll get through this together".
"I'm scared, Nae" Gabby whispered. "What if I wreck this child's life"?
"So, you want to keep the baby"?
Gabby nodded.
"Then there's nothing to worry about. You'll be a great mother Gabriella; your compassion and capacity to love is remarkable. It has always been one of your greatest strengths. You've just been running away from it for so long. It's time to embrace it".
Gabby nodded again but didn't say anything. She stared down at the floor. Could she really raise a child, especially by herself? Not for the first time, she wished she knew the name of the guy in the bar; the guy who she'd broken her personal rule of sleeping with a man only once for; the father of her child. She couldn't claim to know anything about him having only encountered him twice, but something about him kept her intrigued. Was it his dark smoldering eyes? Was it his rough but gentle hands? Or was it the way he had kissed and stimulated every single inch of her body? No, it wasn't any of those things. They certainly didn't hurt but what really stayed with Gabby was the way he looked at her. Somehow he was able to see past the boisterous façade she put on for the masses and see the real Gabby. Not only did he see the real her but he seemed to genuinely like the real her. It was the façade that seemed to annoy him; it was what caused them to butt heads at the bar both times. Gabby had been taken aback by that both times; most guys couldn't resist a woman coming on to them. But not this guy; he was…different. Was it possible to track him down?
"Where'd you go" Naomi asked, interrupting Gabby's thoughts.
Shaking her head, Gabby sighed. "Nowhere; just thinking. Can I really do this, Naomi"?
"Yes, you can. And you won't be alone". Naomi paused. Taking a deep breath, she decided to let her guard down to help her friend. "Can I share a secret with you"?
"Sure".
"I'm pregnant too".
"WHAT" Gabby exclaimed. She hadn't seen that one coming.
"Yes. I went eighteen years without getting pregnant and now I've managed to get knocked up twice in the last three years. So, you aren't the only one who can't keep their legs closed" Naomi teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Gabby chuckled, appreciating the camaraderie, but she could see through Naomi's act just as easily as Naomi could see through hers. There was story there; it was evident in the weariness of her eyes. "And the father is….."
"Not up for discussion" Naomi immediately barked, not even knowing the direction Gabby was going with her question.
"Message received loud and clear" Gabby said; her eyes widened with surprise at how strongly Naomi had reacted. There was definitely a long, long story there. But extending the same courtesy that had been extended to her, she didn't press.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. It's just going down that road is…complicated". The ache in her chest that never quite went away clenched tighter around Naomi's heart. Why did the love of her life have to be an idiot? Why could he have never dated Addison? She and Sam could be in romantic bliss right now if not for that huge hurdle between them. Naomi shook her head, refocused on Gabby. "Besides, this is about you. I only shared my pregnancy with you as a sign of solidarity; to reinforce that you're not going through this alone. And if you want my help, I'll be with you every step of the way".
"Of course; I just don't want your help, I desperately need it. You have no idea how much I missed you. Throughout the years, whether we've kept in contact or not, you've been one of the few people I know can depend on at any given time. I need you now more than ever".
"I need you too, Gabby" Naomi admitted, close to completely breaking down. "I can't begin to tell you how much I've missed you. These last few years have been insane. Some days, I can't believe I've lived through it".
"I'm here. We'll lean on each other each other. If I have to settle down somewhere, I might it as well do it here where I have friends and support".
"That sounds like a plan" Naomi agreed, an idea coming to her. "That reminds me. There's a…"
Naomi didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. It was abruptly cut off when the door swung wide open and Jake stepped in. "Hey Naomi; I'm sorry to barge in on your appointment but…
Jake didn't get a chance to finish his sentence either.
"It's you" Gabby gasped.
Jake took a closer look at the patient Naomi was uncharacteristically sitting next to. His eyes widened. "You"!