THE SPACE BETWEEN

Chapter 7

Trigger warning(s):  Language and sexual situations.

(Missi's POV)

Shannon and I were seated in a doctor's waiting room so elegant it could have passed for the lobby of a five-star hotel. The décor was soothing, and tasteful abstract paintings of expectant mothers adorned the walls. Normally I would have felt comfortable in those surroundings, but I'd suddenly recalled that the first examination had included an internal exam.

I'd tried convincing Shannon that he didn't need to go with me, but he didn't agree. It was so long ago that I'd been pregnant that it might as well have been during the Stone Age. Back then going to an obstetrician wasn't something you shared. The way things were done had changed and nowadays the father was involved in every aspect. I didn't want anyone observing me being propped up on an exam table so I could be violated with cold instruments. Being intimate with someone is one thing, but it's quite another to lie spread eagle and be pried open with something that resembles a freakish shoehorn. Unless, of course, that's something you're into.

Shannon struck up a conversation that I didn't want to have as if he'd just read my mind.

'What happens at the first appointment?'

I prefaced my reply with an eye roll worthy of honorable mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

'You'll have to wait and see.'

****

Shannon's behavior was a bit odd when we left the doctor's office. Several times I noticed him looking at me with a devious smirk on his face and an underlying vibe I couldn't decipher. When I'd asked him about it, he didn't offer anything but a grin. Chelsea called as we pulled into the garage—her timing a blessing to escape his smirk. Shannon and I went our separate ways once we were inside. I wanted privacy so I could talk at will, so I shooed Maggie out the door and followed her outside.

'Tell me how your appointment went.' Chelsea said.

'Everything is fine. My age is cause for concern, but I'm not in any extremely high-risk category.'

'You're just a tad older than most. It's not like your AARP card will arrive in the mail anytime soon.' Chelsea chuckled wildly.

'Thanks, Chels. You have a way of making me see the positive side of any situation.'

'Always happy to oblige! I'll bet your chin's had quite a workout today. There's nothing like a trip to the gynecologist to make a girl happy.'

I didn't respond, which sent Chels into a prolonged laughing spell. Once she was able to contain herself, she cleared her throat and continued.

'So, when is your due date?'

I knew my chin had reached epic pointedness by now and likely resembled the Matterhorn. I knew full well that her laughter would continue with my reply.

'My birthday.'

It sounded like Chels' phone bounced off a hard surface, no doubt the floor, and her chuckles became breathless when she started gasping for air. I was tempted to put my phone down and walk away, but I knew eventually she would step up and be the great wise one that I knew and loved.

'That's actually quite sweet Vern. Your first ah—let's call it date—was on your birthday. How old will you be this year?'

Even though the timing of events was amusing, the day had finally gotten the best of me and my eyes filled with tears.

'99' I sobbed.

'Oh, now, this is a blessing. You know my teasing is all in fun. You're like a beautiful snowflake, unique in so many ways.'