Page 2 of Your Second Chance
Both she and the doctor laughed.
“We have all your private insurance information on file, so you can be seen here. We’ll need to see you again in about a month. I’ve also sent a prescription for anti-nausea medication to the pharmacy—it’s safe for pregnancy.”
Thank God. The tiny piece of rice growing inside me was already making me nervous, especially with work officially starting next week. I’d gone in a few times for orientation and to settle into my office and the training ground. It was a change from my last job, where everything was housed in one place.Here, the setup was different—there was a small office down the street where most of the administrative staff worked, and the training ground was its own world entirely.
The team dynamic was also a shift. With the Ravens, Iris had been in charge of me, clear and simple. The Hands were much more collaborative. While I’d primarily be heading up social media, everyone I’d met so far had been kind, eager to work, and open to new ideas. It was... refreshing.
My attention snapped back to the doctor and Luna. “Thank you.”
“The nurse at the front will give you a packet of information on the dos and don’ts for pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, and if you have any questions, there will be a number for an on-call nurse. It also talks about maternity leave after pregnancy and how to go about informing your position.”
I nodded, the words coming at me, but I was having a hard time processing them as fast as she was speaking.
“We got it.”
“And the father... Will he be present?” The doctor hesitated to ask, and my heart sank deep into the cavity of my chest.
“You’re looking at the father,” Luna said without missing a beat.
She flashed the doctor a smile, and the doctor seemed to understand what Luna was saying.
“Very well.” The doctor, who was a nice older lady, gave me a squeeze of my leg. “Welcome to London. It really is quite a child-friendly place to raise a baby. I’ve raised four here myself.”
I nodded, appreciating her trying to make me feel better, but I couldn’t. I barely knew how to get out of bed or wash my hair most days.
“There are no rules on sex, just the same if you weren’t pregnant... in case you start dating. Be safe. Use a condom.”
Ha. Dating? I’m spit-roasting a turkey inside my stomach. No one will want me while I’m pregnant. No one will want a divorced, pregnant woman living in a foreign country with no fucking mother. I’m a joke to everyone... including myself.
“Thank you, but that isn’t something I’m worried about.”
The doctor left me to get dressed, and I grabbed my clothes, quickly slipping on the sweater and jeans.
I paused, looked down, and wished Mami were here to see this. She’d have been so happy to watch her daughter have a baby. She’d have been the best abuela in the whole world.
A small tear slipped from my eye, and when my gaze met Luna’s, her face softened.
Her bright blonde hair was piled into a high pony at the top of her head, and she was wearing a yoga set since she’d come from teaching a class.
“You’ll get through this, Nove.Wewill. Together.”
I swallowed and swiped away at the wetness coming down. “I know. Thank you for coming.”
“I’ll always be here for you.” Luna rubbed my shoulder. “You’re my family, Nova Thatcher.”
Inwardly, I cringed at my maiden name. I hadn’t been a Hart for long, and legally, I never changed it back to Thatcher.
“Thanks.” I squeezed Luna back. “I’m going to meet Peter at the office. The coaches are having a preseason meeting before the first game, so I have to head over there to meet them.”
“Want me to come?” Luna asked, and I shook my head.
“It’s not far. I’ll walk there.”
“Alright, let me know if you’re craving anything in particular for dinner.”
I sighed and grabbed my bag as we walked outside. I wanted nothing for dinner, just the head of a toilet where I’d puke up all the water I’d drunk today. The clinic was a few blocks from my work, which was convenient since neither of us decided to buy acar while we were here. If we needed a car, we could rent one, but we’d heard there wasn’t much use for a car in London.
“Sounds good. Thanks again.”
