Page 24 of The Doctor

RAINE

I watchas Kade sets down his fork and looks at me from across the table. Before he can speak, my mouth blurts out. “Have you ever eaten at this table?” It looks pristine, like the rest of his house.

“Can’t say that I have,” he purses his lips and shakes his head. I hate that all I can think about is how his lips felt against mine. “I usually eat in the living room in front of the TV.” He looks in the direction of his living room and then back to the table. “Why?”

“Because it looks like it’s never been used.” I sip another spoonful of my chicken noodle soup. “How long have you lived here?”

He sits back in his seat and looks around like he’s seeing everything for the first time. “Six months. Is it that obvious?”

“No, I’m just trying to understand you better. I don’t want my baby’s dad to be a stranger.” The place does look unlived in, but I don’t mention it.

He nods as if he understands and folds his hands on top of the table. “Did you want kids before this?”

His question is unexpected, but one I’d like to know the answer from him as well.

Setting my spoon down, I scan over his face. He’s staring at me like I have all the answers to the world when in fact, I know next to nothing. “Yes, I’ve always wanted to have children one day, but my life looked a little bit different than this.” He nods for me to continue. “I thought I’d be married, or at least in a long-term relationship. Something other than my current situation.”

“How many children do you want?” He fires at me.

“Well, if all my pregnancies are going to be like this, then I think this may be my only child. Before I got sick, I thought I wanted at least two children. How about you? Did you want children?” I nonchalantly ask like I’m not dying to know the answer to my question.

“I’m like you. I always thought I’d eventually have children, but not like this.” He stabs a piece of his chicken with his fork. “How’s that soup treating you?” Nice subject change. I guess we’re done getting to know each other.

“So far, so good. I’m still a little queasy, but I think the medicine is working. It must be some miracle drug.”

“If it didn’t work, and you continued to not eat and became dehydrated, you’d have to be admitted into the hospital.”

“Stop mentioning going to the hospital,” I squeak out.

“What’s with you and hospitals? You do know that you’re going to have to have this baby in a hospital, don’t you?”

“What if I’m planning a home birth?”

Kade throws his head back and lets out a big booming laugh. “So, you’re planning on having this baby with no drugs?”

I cross my arms over my chest. “You know, one would think you’d want me to have a drug-free birth.”

“Raine, you’re tiny, and it’s possible you’ll have complications due to how narrow your vaginal canal is.”

Scooting my chair back, I stand. My heart is beating a thousand times a minute as I try to erase Kade’s words. “You are the world’s worst doctor. Stop telling me all these horrible things.”

“I promised to be honest with you.”

“There’s honest, and then there’shonest,and I don’t want to know all this.”

“Raine,” he sighs out. “Any doctor will tell you that the possibility of you having a cesarean is high and will be for each childbirth.”

I step back, ready to retreat to the comfy bed in the guest bedroom. “Okay, then, I’ve changed my mind, and this is the only child I’ll be having. I think I’m going to go lie down.”

“Don’t go,” he says, hopping out of his seat. “If I don’t say any more about my medical knowledge of your pregnancy, will you finish your dinner?”

I can’t help but scoff—his knowledge.

“I’ll eat some more of my soupifwe can go eat in front of the TV. I think Top Chef is on, and I don’t want to miss it.” I’m desperate enough that I’m willing to watch it with Kade since it’s my favorite show.

“I don’t know what this Top Chef is that you speak of, but yeah, let’s go eat in there.” Before I can pick up my bowl, Kade has our food in his hands and is striding into the living room. “Do you know what channel?” He calls over his shoulder.

“Bravo,” I say, finding Kade sitting on the floor with his legs under the table, back to the couch, and a remote in his hand.

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