Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
NOVEMBER
After a grueling morning of choosing between gold or silver charger plates for the wedding reception from hell with Lincoln’s mother, I finally succumb to my unrelenting illness and call my doctor, Dr. James, for an appointment. Surprisingly, his office can squeeze me in today if I can get there within twenty minutes. I’ve been borrowing Lincoln's brand-new BMW SUV since I don’t have a car and make my way across town. He doesn’t want me ride sharing with strangers, even though I’ve used public transportation most of my life. He’s adorable like that.
I arrive at the office and check in with the receptionist, who leads me to the back. She weighs me. I’ve gained almost ten pounds since I was here last before I started college for an immunization. Ugh. I would have thought with all that throwing up, I would have lost weight. Then she leads me to an exam room. The nurse takes my vitals and draws some blood before leaving me to wait for the doctor. I don't have to wait long before Dr. James enters the room, wheeling a cart in front of him.
"Hello, November. I've run some tests, and I believe I've found the culprit for your mystery illness," he says, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Culprit?" I ask, confused.
"You're pregnant," he says, motioning for me to lift my shirt. He squirts cold gel onto my belly and runs the ultrasound wand over my lower abdomen. "About eight weeks, given the size."
"Pregnant?" I ask, still in shock.
He points to a small mark on the screen. "Yes, congratulations."
"Oh my God," I say, my heart racing. My freaking heart immediately swells up with a love and protectiveness I’ve never known. I am so happy right now, and I can’t wait to tell Lincoln this amazing news.
"I expect this is surprising news?"
"Yes," I reply, still trying to process everything.
"You're getting married soon, correct? Your mother mentioned it at bingo last week."
"Yes, but you can't tell her about this, can you?" I plead.
"Of course not, November. I'll set you up with some prenatal vitamins and pamphlets so you and your fiancé can decide what you want to do."
"Pamphlets?" I ask, confused.
"So you can make an informed decision about your options," he clarifies.
But before he can say anything else, I interrupt. "I'm keeping my baby," I say, never considering any other options. I want my baby.
I use the towel he hands me to wipe the gel off my belly and wait for my prescription. Then I get in the car and head straight for Lincoln’s office.
While we only discussed having children in the future, this is just too big and too exciting to keep to myself.
I find it weird that his secretary isn’t at her desk in front of his office door. It’s after two thirty; she should be back from lunch by now.
I’m just about to push open his partially open office door when I hear voices. At first I think he is just in a meeting, but then I realize that it’s Karen’s voice. What is he doing in a closed office with that vicious viper?
Then I hear them.
“Seriously, Lincoln, there is no way you can marry her. I mean, she doesn’t have our status, but more than that, she is not one of us,” Karen says, her haughty voice making my eye twitch.
“And what the fuck does that mean, Karen?” Lincoln asks, a little chuckle behind his voice. What the fuck is going on here?
“Do I really have to say it? “Fine. She’s different than us. She doesn’t fit the… aesthetic of our group of people.”
Then he says nothing. I can fully imagine him nodding along with the glamazon, and I hate it. Forgetting everything I had to tell him; I turn and walk away from his office and head home. I’m enraged, and tears are blinding me, which pisses me off even more.
How can I marry a man that doesn’t have my back? Will our lives just be one thing like this after another? I can’t do that. I won’t do that.