Narrated by Paige:
I'm pacing back and forth, not knowing what to do at this moment. I don't fully understand why I feel so restless. I see Lucas arrive, and my heart flutters in my chest. I suppose it's nerves that make me react this way. I greet him and ask him to sit in the living room. As I do so, my legs continue to bounce against the floor, restless, because I'm anxious, I can't deny it.
"Darling, you have me worried. Are you okay?" he asks, with his eyes wide open and an impatient gleam in them.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that..." I hesitate, biting my lower lip, I can't help it, "I'm pregnant."
I speak in a whisper and look down at my lap. My fingers twist incessantly, trying to stop my uneasiness. Lucas notices and holds my hand in his, to prevent me from making those movements that only show my anxiety. He knows I do that only when I'm very agitated. With his other hand, he places a finger under my chin and lifts my head. His smile is the first thing that greets me. And only then does the pressure in my chest relax a little.
"Congratulations, beautiful. That's excellent news. A baby is always a blessing," he assures me. His mere gaze gives me hope and eases my worries. "I'm truly happy for you, wholeheartedly. And I want you to know that whatever decision you make, regarding the baby's father and everything else, you can always count on me. No matter what happens, you call me, and I'll come running to see you and be with you. The decision is in your hands, whatever you want it to be just a friend or... something more. What I feel for you, all of my feelings, don't change upon knowing this; on the contrary, they grow stronger." His eyes are moist. The tenderness and understanding in his voice are not something you find everywhere.
This devotion stirs up all my emotions.
"You're too good for your own good," I murmur, with difficulty. I smile at him, but I'm on the verge of tears.
Instantly, his expression turns into a worried grimace. His hands cup my face, and with his thumbs, he wipes away the tears streaming down my cheeks uncontrollably.
"Oh, darling, don't cry. You have no reason to cry or be sad. Only to be happy. A baby brings that, always," he urges, with determination and a genuine desire to calm me down.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, trying to control my hormones, although it feels like an impossible mission.
He shakes his head, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his lips. He continues to caress my cheeks.
"Don't apologize, ever, for anything," he declares, with that certainty I admire so much about him. He leans in and kisses my forehead.
The butterflies in my stomach take flight with that small gesture. My body reacts so well to his presence, I feel so good when we're together, protected, sheltered. It's his mere way of being that evokes that. I know it's not just my hormones thinking for me. Lucas is like my shield, one I trust primarily, and I'm certain he won't let anything, or anyone harm me. Never.
"I heard you like children," I say, smiling, now truly happy. And a smile appears on his face too, confirming my words.
"Truth is, I have a weakness for them," he confesses, and he moves back a little. He keeps his gaze locked with mine, and I can see a sadness that wasn't there a moment ago. "In the past, I had the opportunity to be a father, but the girl didn't share the same view as me, and... well, she didn't want to continue with the pregnancy."
It's clear that it's not a topic he enjoys discussing. He lowers his gaze, and I can understand that it was something that hurt him back then and perhaps still lingers with regret.
"What do you say?" I ask, surprised. I try to avoid prying further, because it's obvious that it affects him, but I can't resist.
"That's not pleasant to hear, especially when you're so sensitive," he admits, smiling with closed lips.
He looks too endearing, and now he has piqued my curiosity, so I insist.
"Oh no, that won't do," I declare, crossing my arms and pouting. "Now you have to tell me, or I'll get angry."
I guess my childish pout convinces him, because he smiles and shakes his head before sighing and getting lost in his memories.
"A few years ago, I had a girlfriend. She wasn't faithful to me, she cheated on me. But I was deeply in love, completely devoted to her, to making her happy," he says, looking in another direction, seemingly lost in those old feelings. "One day, I found a positive pregnancy test among her things. It had two lines indicating positive. At first, I didn't know what to do with that, the feeling was overwhelming. But I took a moment to think things through, and once I fully grasped the idea, it made me happy. Despite being too young, as I had just turned twenty, I excitedly went to the nearest store to buy some things for my future child. I don't know why I reacted that way, now that I think about it again," he shakes his head, seemingly embarrassed, "but I only thought about showing her that everything would be alright, that the idea of having a baby wouldn't make me run in the opposite direction."
He pauses and takes a deep breath. I can't stop looking at him, focused on that part of his past. His words quicken my heartbeat and make me sigh. But when he lifts his head again, the sadness and disappointment in his gaze ache in my chest as well.
"What I didn't know was that she had gone to have an abortion," he confesses, and I freeze, a shiver runs through me just thinking about that possibility. "She didn't want to be a mother at such a young age, it wasn't in her plans, not in the long run. I didn't even have a chance to voice my opinion on that decision, and although I had never considered that possibility until that moment, the idea of being a father made me feel good. But it couldn't happen back then." He shrugs.
"And maybe it was for the best because after that, I caught her cheating on me. I found out she had been unfaithful on several occasions. I even started to doubt if that baby, the one she carried in her womb for a few weeks, had been mine."
He finishes his story, and I feel terrible. Out of caprice, I made him go back to that past, to that stage that made him feel so bad, which I remember with so much pain.
"I'm foolish. How could I ask you to remember something like that?" I exclaim, covering my mouth with both hands to stifle the tears that once again fill my chest.
Lucas approaches again, his face inches away from mine.
"Don't worry, you're none of those things," he smiles at me to convince me. "I wanted to tell you, and I feel good for having done it. Now you know everything about me." He winks at me, and I blush.
"Thank you for trusting me and telling me this," I express, my voice filled with emotion. I take his hands in mine. I like the feel of his touch.
"Now, tell me, how far along are you in your pregnancy?" he asks, excited. The nostalgic expression instantly turns into one of the brightest I've seen.
I feel a tingling sensation in my body as I respond.
"I don't know yet. I have a doctor's appointment in a few hours to find out," I inform him.
I touch my belly, and the truth is, I don't realize it until he lowers his gaze, following the movement of my hands, joined with his.
"You look beautiful," he declares, and I feel my cheeks burn. I can imagine that I'm blushing. "You have that glow in your eyes that only expectant mothers have. I'm sure you'll be the most gorgeous pregnant woman in the universe," he says, and I roll my eyes at his remarks. But deep down, just hearing him speak with such devotion makes my skin tingle.
When I try to respond, at least with a shy thank you, we are interrupted by my friend Tabatha's enthusiastic applause.
"They're so adorable," she exclaims, looking at both of us with a playful pout. "Sorry for interrupting, but we have to go to the doctor." She checks the time on her wrist and then glances at us, as if she genuinely didn't want to interrupt us.
"I can drive you and wait in the car," Lucas assures, looking at both of us. "Then I'll bring you back here."
He gets up from his seat, ready to accompany us.
"Hmm, after the doctor, we're going to buy some things and find a contractor to expand and remodel parts of the house," my friend explains, thoughtful. She's considering the possibility of refusing the help, it seems.
"Well, say no more. I'll be your chauffeur today," Lucas responds enthusiastically. He has already decided that it will be that way.
"Don't you have to oversee my company?" Tabatha asks, crossing her arms and raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Boss, everything is in order for the rest of the day," Lucas says, placing a hand on his forehead as if saluting.
My friend and I laugh at his behavior. In the end, we have to give in and let him be the one to drive us to our destination without complaining any further.
Upon arriving at the doctor's office, the doctor greets us and asks for the usual in these cases: the date of my last menstrual period. I tell him it was recently, and his expression shows surprise. For a moment, I feel a pang of fear for whatever it could be, but he continues speaking, not giving it much importance, and explains what could have happened.
"It's common in some cases to have menstruation during the first three months. It's not normal, but it's possible either," he informs me, and I let out a sigh, feeling somewhat relieved. "Now we'll examine the fetus to see how far along you are. I'll perform an ultrasound, but it won't be abdominal; you're still in the early stages." He looks at some papers on his clipboard.
» Although looking here, according to the blood test, you should be more than eight weeks along. That would be enough time to hear the fetal heartbeat.
He smiles at me and points to the examination table for me to take a seat. I nod and lie down as he instructs me.
"Doctor, can I record the ultrasound?" Tabatha asks, and the doctor looks at her, amused. "We're a crazy family that's excited about the baby. Everyone will want to see this moment, and if I don't bring it to them, it'll be a problem."
She lets out a nervous laugh, and the doctor joins in.
"I think it's better if I give you a CD with the ultrasound," he suggests, pointing at me before adding, "Remember, she needs to put on a gown and remove her clothes from the waist down. I don't think the family wants to see her like that."
His comment makes both of us laugh, and we can see from his expression that it was his intention to joke around.
— "Oh, of course not, I don't want to see her like that either," Tabatha exclaims and bursts into laughter. "Well, I'm glad he has such a sense of humor. If you can give me copies of the CD, that would be ideal. I need about five, please." I turn to look at her with my mouth open, unable to believe she had the audacity to ask for such a thing. My friend has no filters, definitely.
I shake my head, feeling embarrassed.
"Friend, don't be like that," I reprimand her and then look at the doctor. "It's not necessary, really."
I think my whole body is turning red with embarrassment at the things this crazy woman comes up with. But the doctor remains unfazed, looking relaxed.
"Don't worry, I can give you the copies so that the whole family can have the video. Although for the next check-up, bring a USB drive, and then you can send it to whoever you want," he says, going along with it and making my friend laugh with delight.
"Count on it, doctor. Although for the next appointment, another family member might come. We'll take turns attending the check-ups, or this room would be filled with people," she says, letting out a strange laugh as she speaks.
"I like your family, and I'll be delighted to see each companion at the upcoming check-ups. Now, let's see how the baby is doing," he says and begins the examination.
We fall silent as the doctor measures something on the screen, pressing the buttons multiple times. After a few minutes, he says to me:
"Are you ready to feel your baby's heartbeat?" he asks, with a smile on his face.
I nod, and my friend takes my hand to support me. Suddenly, we start hearing the rapid beats filling the entire room. Tears fill my eyes, and my heart races as I feel, and hear, the life within me.
After the examination, I change back into my clothes, and I hear my friend asking the doctor questions. I shake my head, and as we leave, I see them both laughing. I look at them with a furrowed brow, feeling confused.
"The doctor thought we were a couple," my friend clarifies, still laughing uncontrollably. "I told him we're just friends and that you're a single mother, for now. That's what we were laughing about. Can you imagine us as a couple?" She continues to laugh without stopping.
Beside him, the doctor is blushing.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding. It's just that the young lady asked so many questions about the baby that I assumed something that isn't true," he explains.
"Don't worry, she's involved, even more than me, in all this pregnancy stuff," I reply, smiling.
Because it's true, she's very involved with the food, vitamins, and all that. I think it's going to be a long nine months.