Page 129 of Savage King

"How are you feeling, Mrs. DeLuna. The chart says you're here for your first pregnancy exam?"

I nod eagerly. "Yes, please."

"When was your last period?"

"Uhm, about six weeks ago?" I try to calculate.

"Okay, and when did you stop taking contraceptives?"

"About three weeks ago."

Doctor Gupta tilts her head, "That doesn't seem that long ago. What makes you think you're pregnant?"

"I started getting sick." I avoid Antonio's eyes because, with everything going on, I didn't tell him that I've been throwing up consistently for the past week.

"Morning sickness is not unusual, but normally, it doesn't set in until the third month." Doctor Gupta assesses me curiously.

"I know, but the mother of a friend of mine told me that she started throwing up from the moment of conception, and that's kind of how it’s been with me."

"Interesting." Doctor Gupta nods. "I've heard stories like this before. The human body is a mysterious thing, is it not? And you were right too, as the test my esteemed colleague Doctor Brown took confirmed." She looks confused at Antonio, who coughs and turns his head at her last words, but then continues, "When was the last time you had a pap smear and breast exam?"

"Not too long ago, I had my annual like," my mind tries to remember, "I think it’s been four months?"

"That's good. Do you have any other issues or concerns?"

I shake my head.

"Good, then we may forgo the chair today," she sends a meaningful glance at Antonio. "I'll send in the nurse for samples."

"Sounds good."

"I like her," Antonio nods after she leaves the room. Shortly after, a nurse arrives to draw blood, and then we wait again for a while until Doctor Gupta returns, all smiles. "The test confirmed what Doctor Brown already told you. Congratulations, you're about two weeks pregnant."

A lightning bolt of happiness races through me. Pregnant! It was one thing hearing it from Antonio, but having it confirmed now, here with Doctor Gupta, makes it all so much more real. Jellybean is real!

Antonio grins smugly. "I told you."

I shake my head, leaving him with his illusion that he knew before I did. Please.

"Thank you, passerotta. You make me the happiest, luckiest man on Earth." He picks me up and spins me.

"Well, it wasn't all me." I try to wave him off.

"You said you were sick the moment after conception?" Doctor Gupta interrupts our happy moment.

"Yes, is that concerning?" I ask. Just like that, my happiness is replaced by worry.

"No, I don't think so. But I'd like to keep an extra eye on you, run all the blood tests, and so on, just to make sure. But in all honesty, I don't think there is any reason for concern."

"Little jellybean, you scared me," I say, rubbing my stomach.

"Jellybean?" Antonio mocks. "You better not be calling my son Jellybean."

I grin up at him, always ready for one of his challenges, but before I can say anything, Doctor Gupta inserts herself. "I think Jellybean is very appropriate at this stage. Would you like to see your Jellybean?"

Antonio is not happy that I'm onthatchair after all, but once Doctor Gupta has inserted the wand inside me and my uterus is on display on a monitor, he stops muttering and squeezes my hand.

"There," Doctor Gupta points, but I don't see anything but white and black shadows. She highlights a tiny black dot, "Meet your embryo."

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