Chapter 12 Blubs
Eva
I arrived at the doctor’s office with Ellie to find Davey absent—typical, I thought.
“Oh, okay. See, we thought your support person was already here,” the receptionist said. “He asked if he could wait on the other side of the wall for privacy.”
It dawned on me that Ellie had no idea who Davey was, but I needed to tell her. I tried not to be offended or ashamed by his desire to hide this since he had tried, but it irked me that men got awards for doing the bare minimum.
“Oh, well, he’s not my partner,” I said. “He’s the father, but… he’s not my support person.”
“Oh,” she looked confused. “Well, we can only have one person back for the ultrasound.”
Ellie squeezed my hand. “I will stay here. I’m here for you, but he should be there.”
“Ellie, you’re who I want. He’s just—”
“He is making an effort and it’s his baby.”
“You came all this way—”
“And I don’t regret it. I’m still here if you need me to debrief. He’s the dad. You gotta let him be there, Eva.”
I sighed, knowing she was right.
“I will be right here,” Ellie reiterated as the nurse brought me back.
I joined Davey in an exam room where he nervously stood to greet me.
“Sit,” I groaned. “They are only letting one person back. Ellie graciously ceded her place to you. I’m sorry this is embarrassing—”
“It’s not,” Davey said. “I didn’t ask to come back here because I was embarrassed, Eva. I came back here to protect your privacy since I stick out like a sore thumb when in a suit.”
I calmed and sat by him. “Okay, fair.”
“I’m not embarrassed, but I am protective. So, I will follow your lead. You asked we keep this under wraps and I am.”
“You’re doing it, Davey. You’re getting defensive.”
Davey breathed deeply. “That is not my intent. Look, I just want to be here to support you. I swear to God, that is all I am trying to do.”
A woman in a cheery hot pink and orange pair of floral scrubs greeted us after knocking.
“Evangeline?” she asked.
“Eva is good, thanks,” I said.
“Evangeline is a beautiful name,” she remarked.
“It is,” Davey agreed.
I glared.
“Follow me and we’ll get started. The doctor will meet with you after.”
I ended up on a sonogram table slowly inserting a hypersonic dildo into my vagina. I forgot how awkward this was no matter what—but doubly so when the father of the baby you weren’t with was sitting right there.
I looked at the wall while she zoomed around. Not finding a heartbeat would hurt less if I couldn’t see the carnage. Davey furrowed his brow, confused, but said nothing. He knew better.
“Oh, look, a nice little heartbeat. We’re measuring about eight weeks and one day. Does that seem correct?”
I turned back to see the familiar flicker of a fetal heartbeat on the monitor.
“It seems right,” I murmured.
“That is wild,” Davey whispered.
I turned, seeing him transfixed. It was awe, not concern or confusion, that hit him. I smiled. Maybe he was trying? Maybe Davey could be trusted? It was that or he was a dynamite actor.
Davey
Blub-blub, blub-blub.
The sound of our baby’s heart filled the room.
Yes, our baby. No matter what the circumstances were, Eva and I did this together.
The baby’s heart chugged along. I sensed Eva’s relief above all.
She smiled, letting out the breath I sensed she’d been holding for weeks.
I knew miscarriages were hard, so I hoped we’d get good news.
The tech printed photos and sent us to meet a smiley woman named Dr. Howard.
“So, is the Zofran doing a better job?” She asked.
Eva nodded. “I think so. Not perfect, but it’s good.”
“And, Dad, is she eating better?”
She meant for me to respond.
“We’re not together,” Eva quickly jumped in. “We’re just… it’s a little complicated. He’s supportive, but we’re not like… a couple.”
“Oh, alright.” Dr. Howard noted something on our chart. “Totally fine. So, do you want him to have access to medical records or be your emergency contact? Right now, I have an Ellie Jamison on file.”
“Ellie is good for my contact,” Eva said. “And no. I don’t think that is necessary.”
The doctor didn’t skip a beat. “Will you be attending all of these appointments, Dad?”
She’d replaced my name with Dad. I wondered if doctors treated Cal—Mr. Mayor—this way. Did they call him by his first name? Or did they refer to him as Mayor Markham? Why did Eva get a name, but I was just “dad”?
“I will be doing my best to,” I agreed. “Barring an emergency, I plan to be here for Eva.”
“Good, good. We love a dad who shows up. Eva, if there is ever a matter you want to discuss 1-on-1 or a procedure we need to do where you are not comfortable with Dad in the room, let me know.”
“Will do,” Eva agreed.
“Now, we will book you in for the scan within a month. We can do the NT test for Down’s as well as a genetic screen. At twenty-nine, you’re at low risk for both, but many people opt for the peace of mind.”
“I’ll do the scan,” Eva said. “But the test probably costs a fortune here in the US, right?”
“It usually runs a couple thousand since insurance only covers it if you’re over 35.”
“This country is a mess,” Eva groaned. “Well, then let’s just—”
“Let’s have the test. I’m going to pick up the tab,” I offered.
“Davey, it’s not a fucking bar. You can’t just leave a card on file,” Eva snapped.
“I am not saying that, and you absolutely can.”
“You can,” Dr. Howard said. “We usually request you do that and then we process the cost of delivery over the next seven months, or you can pay the balance after the anatomy scan like most people do. Talk to billing on the way out.”
“This country is… odd,” Eva said. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be short. I had two pregnancies and IUI in the UK. My partner and I did it private pay, but it was through her insurance.”
The doctor’s eyebrows raised. Eva’s colorful history finally received a surprise reaction. I stifled a giggle. Our unfortunate hookup-cum-lovechild was fine, but Eva’s attempts to have a baby with a woman raised eyebrows.
“The UK. Well, why did you come back?” Dr. Howard asked.
Eva shifted uncomfortably. “We broke up. And… I took a job here.”
With my company. As my sister’s employee.
“Hope that is going well.”
“Oh, it sure is,” Eva said, flatly.
“Well, that’s all I have for you. Drop by billing and reception will schedule a follow-up.”
We did the compulsory bits—payment and scheduling an appointment.
I sent a message to hold time on my calendar for a doctor’s appointment.
Then came the awkward dance of seeing Ellie and trying to extricate myself.
I knew Eva had probably thrown me under the bus to Ellie, so I expected a cold reception. Instead, Ellie was nice.
“Well, we’re good to go. Baby is healthy,” Eva gave Ellie a look at the ultrasound photos. “She’s doing well.”
Now, it was a girl. I wasn’t sure why, but I went with it.
“Well, that’s a relief! I’m happy.” Ellie hugged Eva. “Did you get an ultrasound picture, Davey?”
“I doubt he cares,” Eva blushed nervously.
Why was she being so weird? Was it the fear of being seen? I also wanted to move this along before anyone saw us, but Ellie was sweet.
“Nonsense.”
Ellie pushed her way back to the receptionist. “Can I have those scissors for just a sec?”
Ellie cut the film into four squares, then marched back. Eva didn’t bat an eye as she took the now-separate pictures back. Women bonded differently than men.
“Here,” Eva sighed, “this should tide you over.”
I appraised the tiny beating heart before tucking the photo in my suit jacket. “Thanks. That means a lot, Eva. Look, I gotta run. Do you need me to cover for you or anything?”
“I’m good. Please, God, don’t say anything to Daphne.”
I nodded. “Okay. Well, it’s nice seeing you again, Ellie. And let me know when we can chat about the rest, Eva.”
Eva granted me the tiniest nod in the world, and I departed. Baby steps, Davey.