17. Isabella
17
ISABELLA
B ella belted out the chorus of “Goodness of God” alongside Anna as they drove toward Cody. Listening to the radio when she was alone had led to the reemergence of quite a few memories already, but singing with Anna was good for Bella in a different way.
Anna was the friend Bella hadn’t known she needed. The picture-perfect blonde beauty was so down-to-earth and genuine that Bella had given in to Anna’s draw before she even realized what was happening.
If nothing else, Anna had led Bella to explore a relationship with God. She’d attended church–a place she’d greatly misunderstood–and found even more kind people who welcomed her in with open arms.
Anna’s Christian music playlist was enormous, and the songs tugged at Bella’s heart in a new and amazing way. Music had always been her solace, but these songs demanded she listen to more than the notes or words. They explained the importance of a relationship with God better than any of the sermons she’d heard so far.
As the song faded away, Bella rested her head back and closed her eyes. “I love that song.”
“Oh, yeah. The first time I heard it, I was at a women’s conference and cried like a baby in front of everyone. I was a snotty mess by the time the song was over.”
Bella laughed–a new freedom she’d come to appreciate. “I bet you weren’t the only one.”
“Not by a long shot. You sing a song like that in front of a bunch of women, and we’ll all be scrambling for the tissues.”
Bella’s heart was overflowing. She’d been faced with so many difficult situations lately, but there had been a helper everywhere she turned. It had to be God. There was no way she’d stumbled into so many coincidences.
“I love God,” Bella whispered as she stared out the window at the long road ahead.
“Good. I love God too,” Anna said.
“No, I want to be saved. I think I already am, but how do I know?”
Anna gasped. “That’s amazing! When you know, you know.”
A soft assurance covered her thoughts. It was the only thing she hadn’t questioned since the incident. “A lot of the way I feel when I think about God or study the Bible you gave me just feels familiar.”
“Eeekkk! This is amazing! We have to tell everyone. We can call Bro. Higgins when we get to the doctor’s office.”
“And maybe ask him for prayers,” Bella added. “I hope I get a good report.”
“Definitely. Don’t worry about anything before we have anything to worry about. You’ve been getting some memories back, and you’re doing great. There’s no reason you should get a bad report.”
“I know. I just feel like I’m finally on the mend…”
“And you’re afraid to backslide. I get it. Keep your chin up,” Anna said.
Bella slowly rolled her phone in her hands. She’d made friends, gotten a job, found a church. Everything was looking up. The only thing she didn’t have that she still wanted was Travis.
Travis was an absolute dream. He was attentive, sweet, and checked on her constantly. He was outrageously attractive, but he was never conceited or cocky.
If she’d been the praying kind during all the years she’d forgotten, Travis was the answer to all her prayers.
Every day they spent together brought them closer, but he hadn’t made a move yet. Maybe he was just reasonable and knew she didn’t have anything to bring to a relationship. She couldn’t even support herself yet. She was still mooching off her new friends who’d been strangers less than a month ago.
“Just call him!” Anna said, jerking Bella out of her daydreams.
“What? Call who?”
“Travis. You’re staring at your phone like it might turn into a looking glass and reveal your one true love. News flash, it’s Travis.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ha! I know you want to call him. Press the button, babe.”
“I texted him earlier to let him know I have an appointment today. He’s working at the fire station for the next two days, so he can’t just talk all the time.”
“I’m sure he can take a personal call at work when he’s not saving lives or putting out fires,” Anna said.
“I don’t want to bother him.”
Anna huffed. “He had no problem bothering me before you got your phone. I guarantee he wants to hear from you.”
Bella shoved her phone under her thigh. “I’m not calling him. And since when did you come up with the idea that women can make the first move? Did you make the first move with Dean?”
Anna glared at Bella. “No. He asked me out first.”
“And were you interested in him before he asked you out?”
Anna’s shoulders slumped. “Yes.”
Bella gasped and rested her hand on her heart. “You’re telling me you didn’t make the first move? Shame on you. We are modern women.”
“I know! I’m sorry. I have double standards.”
“How did you get his attention?” Bella asked.
Anna rolled her eyes. “I pretended to stumble in front of him.”
“You what?” Bella asked, sitting up straighter. “You fell?”
“I didn’t fall all the way. Just pretended to trip.”
“So he caught you?”
Anna slumped even farther. “Kind of. I fell right into him, but he almost dodged me altogether.”
A barking laugh erupted from Bella’s throat. “He almost let you fall?”
“Stop laughing! He said he thought I was drunk and might puke on him.”
“Oh, what a gentleman,” Bella said, trying to hide the remaining chuckles.
Anna sat up straighter. “You know what? It worked, and he finally asked me out after he realized I wasn’t plastered.”
“What a romantic story. You’ll have to tell your kids that one day.”
“Speaking of kids, Olivia and Dawson are seeing the fertility specialist tomorrow. Keep them in your prayers, please.”
“Always. I hate that she’s going through that.”
It was hard to believe Olivia struggled with infertility. They were both so good with kids, but her struggles with endometriosis continued to put roadblocks in the way of their hopes for a family.
“I know. She’s going to be a great mom one day. I just know it. Their family just might not come about in the traditional way,” Anna said.
They walked into the doctor’s office, and Bella signed in. Anna took a seat in a comfortable chair by the wall.
Bella sat beside her and leaned over. “Are you sure you’re okay to sit here and wait? You can go somewhere until I get out of here.”
Anna lifted her phone. “I’m going to respond to emails and social media comments. Trust me, I’m all set.”
Bella sat back and squirmed. “I hate inconveniencing you like this.”
“It’s fine. I can do most of my work at the firm remotely. I have plenty to keep me busy. We need to check on your Medicaid request too.”
“I’m so glad you know what you’re doing,” Bella said.
“I’m just glad we found your insurance and could at least get the policy number. I was getting worried about all these medical bills.”
Bella rested her head on Anna’s shoulder. “What would I do without you?”
“You’d be fine. I’m sure Travis would still be taking care of you.”
The mention of Travis had Bella’s stomach flipping in excitement. She’d been too busy thinking about him to worry too much about the follow-up appointment.
A nurse opened a door into the waiting area and called Bella’s name. She stood and adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder as she followed the woman into the back hallways. She stopped by the lab to have blood drawn before continuing on to an exam room.
“The doctor will be with you shortly.”
The silence in the small room allowed the worries to infiltrate her thoughts. What if she had more medical visits and procedures coming up? Would the insurance pay for it? Each visit had an enormous number tacked behind it.
Blackwater Hope House had picked up the balance on some of her bills, but Bella hated relying on charity. There were plenty of others out there in situations similar to hers, and the thought of taking money that could help others didn’t sit well with her.
The door opened and a dark-haired man stepped into the room with a female nurse carrying a tablet right on his heels.
“Miss Young?” the doctor asked.
“Yes. Isabella,” Bella said as she shook his hand.
“Can you state your date of birth, please?” the nurse asked.
Once Isabella had answered, the doctor took a seat and clasped his hands in front of him. “Miss Young, Doctor Bates sent over your records from your initial hospital stay where they performed quite a few tests. I had intended to order a follow-up MRI of your abdomen so I could make sure things were healing as they should, but your blood tests today indicate elevated pregnancy hormones. Were you aware of your pregnancy?”