Chapter Seventeen

Sacha

Dr. Kapoor's waiting room was packed on Friday afternoon. I guess everyone was trying to get an appointment in before the holidays. I had no plans to celebrate, since I usually ended up working extra hours anyway. It was always just another week for me.

I checked my phone again. Gib had called to say he was close, but unexpected traffic had made him late. People were on their way out of town, making Atlanta's usual Friday afternoon rush hour even worse. Something I was used to, but he probably wasn't.

It had been a hell of a week. Several of my accounts had called in huge orders for the holidays, waiting until the last minute but still expecting quick service. I'd done my part, but some of the orders wouldn't be fulfilled and had to be backordered. The supply chain didn't always cooperate, and I was the one who took the flak from the customers. Meanwhile, in my meeting with Dan, he'd thrown me a curveball-the pregnancy wouldn't prevent me from being transferred to Alabama, but there was another option.

The regional manager based in Birmingham had announced he was retiring. The new company, in all its wisdom, had decided to split the position in two, and they had already hired the new regional manager from their own ranks. But the position of Regional Training Coordinator was a new position, which would not require as much field time as the sales rep or other management positions. If I was chosen and accepted the job, I would be responsible for recruiting new reps, training them, and following up on their progress.

I liked the idea of not being on the road as much but still wasn't excited about relocating. When I asked Dan how much time I had, his answer wasn't reassuring.

"Well, I've recommended you for the position, but it's not set in stone yet. The new manager needs to meet you and give his blessing."

"When can I meet him?"

"There's a party this weekend at an art gallery downtown. Apparently, his daughter is an artist and has some pieces in a show. I was given two tickets, but you can have them if you'd like. It might get you on his good side right away."

I'd accepted the tickets, of course. What else could I do? This might save having to drive to Birmingham for an interview. Perhaps my potential new boss would be in a good mood at his daughter's event, and the meeting would go well.

Add to that my nervousness about being with Gib again, and it was a wonder I hadn't curled up in a ball on the floor of my closet and not come out.

As the front desk called my name, Gib walked through the door. His face was flushed, but his hair was slicked back. With his beard, he still looked like a lumberjack, but an upscale one if such a thing was possible. The brown leather jacket over a white button-down shirt and dressy jeans gave him an air of the suburban dad-to-be I suspected he was trying to portray. I smiled and stood, not minding when he kissed my cheek.

"Sorry I'm late."

"No problem, I just got called."

A nurse led the way through a door near the front desk and down a long hallway. When we reached the room, she handed me a small plastic cup and pointed to the adjacent restroom.

"There's a collection box for this behind a small door. Once you've filled the cup, place it in the box. Then come back to this room."

I glanced at Gib, who shrugged and entered the examination room to wait for me. Once my task had been completed, I joined him. A nurse came in and did all the pre-exam paperwork, drew a blood sample, and took my pulse. Then it was time to disrobe and wait for the doctor.

"Turn around, Gib."

He smirked, as I knew he would. "Nothing I haven't seen, darlin'."

"I know. But this is different."

He was a gentleman and faced the door while I disrobed and donned a thin cloth gown. Then I sat back on the table, willing myself to relax.

He heard the movement and looked over his shoulder, coming to stand next to me. He took my hand and lifted it to his lips.

"I know it's too soon for them to tell us the gender, but I want to be with you when you find out. That is, if you're sure you want to know?"

I was sure. The suspense would kill me otherwise. "Yes. It will make it more real, I think."

His face changed, going dark. I hated that we couldn't talk about the baby and avoid his past pain at the same time. It stole a bit of my own happiness to see him grieve.

Dr. Kapoor burst into the room, saving us from another awkward conversation. "Are you ready? It's baby time."

I'd forgotten to warn him about the doctor's sense of humor, but his slow smile told me he got it. "Ready as we'll ever be, I guess."

"Dr. Kapoor, this is my… This is Gib. He's the father."

"Welcome, sir. Now you sit over there for a minute or in the waiting room. Ladies choice."

She looked at me questioningly. "He can stay." There was nothing he hadn't seen before. Plus, I wanted him to see how thorough Dr. Kapoor was.

When I looked back at Gib, he had retreated to a chair in the corner, looking like he didn't know what to do with himself.

Dr. Kapoor bustled about the room, pushing buttons and moving equipment into place. When the examination began, she kept us distracted by talking about the baby and the stages of development.

"He or she should be about four inches long and weigh around 2 ounces. He's becoming developed, and you may feel some movement soon."

I smiled. Hearing her talk about the baby's growth made me less nervous. "I'm looking forward to that."

Once the exam was complete, Dr. Kapoor stood up. She turned to Gib, asking, "Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"

His face lit up like she had offered him a fortune. "Yes, I would."

With my stomach exposed, she felt around with her hands then applied the stethoscope. A few moments passed, and then she nodded, beckoning him to come close. When he did, she placed the stethoscope to his ear.

His mouth dropped open, followed by a wide grin. "I hear it! Wow, that's awesome."

He looked at me, and as Dr. Kapoor withdrew, he moved to my side. He held my hand and gave it a squeeze. I used my other hand to wipe away an errant teardrop that had formed.

"See? I told you we're in good hands. I've heard the heartbeat a few times now, but it never gets old."

"I'll still worry. But I see what you mean." He turned to the doctor, who was preparing to leave. "Thank you, Doctor Kapoor."

It was just another day for her. "You're welcome. And make sure she gets plenty of rest." She wagged a finger at me. "Due to your age, we'll need to monitor your progress closely. Your bloodwork and the urine test will tell us if everything is as it should be. If not, you'll get a call."

I had no problem with that. "Yes, ma'am."

As the doctor left, Gib didn't even wait for me to get off the table before he pulled me into his arms for a long kiss.

~*~