Page 42 of Interference
“You’re already taking the prenatals, which is good. I want to send you for some blood tests just to make sure your health is good. I know the urgent care took some, but they only tested for illnesses, not everything we need to see. I’ll give you a slip to take to the lab for that. Do you have any questions or concerns for me?”
Emery is about to say no when I speak up.
“She’s been having trouble keeping food and drinks down. Not all the time, but sometimes she gets so nauseous that she can’t move,” I tell the woman.
“Sickness is common. Most people call it morning sickness, but it can happen at any time. Get the blood tests, and if they come back okay, I can call in a script for some medicine to help with that.”
“Will it hurt the baby?” I ask. “I read that some medicines can transfer to the baby.”
The doctor smiles at me. “No, it won’t. It is safe to use during pregnancy.”
“Thank you,” I mumble, looking down at a shocked-looking Emery.
“Anything else?” the doctor asks.
“No. Thank you,” Emery speaks up.
“Great. You can get dressed and stop at the front. They will have your lab orders and can set up your next appointment. We will see you monthly until about thirty-seven weeks. You two have a great day.”
When she leaves, I step out again, waiting for Emery to get dressed. As I do, I stare at the photo in my hands.
That’s our baby.
Emery steps out of the room, so I shove the photos in my pocket and wrap my arm around her.
After grabbing the labs and making the next appointment, I lead Emery out to my car.
“Where to next since we can’t do the blood test until you’ve fasted?” I ask her.
“I’m actually starving. Can we get some food? I’ll go in the morning for the labs,” she tells me.
“Of course. Anything sticking out to you?”
“Honestly? I really want a chili cheese dog. I know it sounds weird, and I’m not really supposed to eat processed meats like that, but the craving is strong.” She looks at me sheepishly.
“Then that’s what you get. In moderation, foods like that are fine, and the most important thing we want is for you to be eating, so let’s go.”
As I take off, Emery speaks. “When did you do all of this research? Don’t get me wrong, I knew you did some but…”
“The day you told me, I started looking into things and haven’t been able to stop. I guess when I used to mindlessly scroll socials, I now scroll parenting websites. You can learn a lot when you are focusing your energy in the right way,” I admit.
The touch of her hand on my arm has me glancing over quickly before putting my eyes back on the road. What I see is something softer. More intimate. Something that could turn into love.
“That is sweet. I didn’t realize you did all of that. I haven’t looked up as much as I should have. I feel behind.”
I shake my head. “Nope. There is no behind. I can teach you anything I know, and you will teach me the things you learn. We can take a parenting class together so we can even learn together. We definitely need to take a childbirth class together. Which reminds me, we need to decide on birth plans and all that. Are we doing a hospital birth or at home?”
“In my apartment or the hockey house? We are going to the hospital.” She laughs.
“Fair point. Do you want to try all natural or the drugs?”
She hesitates. “I don’t know.”
“That’s okay. You don’t need to know yet, but these are things we will need to decide. I’ll be the best advocate you have,” I promise her as I pull up to Ed’s Coney Dogs.
“I know you will,” she tells me.
I look over at her. “I know you might feel alone sometimes, and that this is scary. Trust me, it’s scary for me too, but all the best things in life scare me. You scare me. Hockey scares me. The future scares me, but I’m willing to face my fears and make this great.”
