Part 155
Sarah sat staring at the computer screen trying to decide how to do the site for Howie’s cruise. She was completely oblivious to Becca and the movie she’d chosen…’9 Months’ with Hugh Grant.
Becca had been silent since they’d gotten back thinking about how she was going to bring up her doctor’s appointment without eliciting a lecture from Sarah.
"How did you choose Dr. Johnson as your OBGYN?"
Becca’s question startled Sarah and she looked up in time to see Robin Williams as the OBGYN. "GOD! That’s a scary thought…Robin Williams as a doctor. I don’t know. I’ve been going to him since I was sixteen and he delivered Jesse."
"But how did you pick him? I mean, he’s in Orlando and you were so far
away."
Sarah leaned back. "He use to be in Jacksonville and when he moved, I just
chose to drive…then I moved there."
"Do you trust him?"
"Yeah, completely."
Sarah looked at Becca who was staring at the television again. She shook her head, ‘God, this is hard waiting for her to open up.’ She went back to working on the site.
Several minutes later, Becca asked, "What was your pregnancy with Jesse like?"
Sarah looked up again. "You know about my pregnancy. What exactly do you
want to know?"
Becca hesitated. She wanted to ask if Sarah had any complications without arousing suspicions. "I don’t know. Did you have any complications…near the end?"
Sarah took her glasses off and said, "Not really. Near the end though, my ankles started swelling and wouldn’t go down at night. They kept an eye on my blood pressure and warned me to take it easy."
Becca grew silent again continuing to stare at the television. Sarah watched her and decided it was time to say something. She reached for the remote and cut the television off.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"Becca, I made a promise to myself and to Howie that I’d stay out of your business…let YOU come to me but…"
"But that’s not you," said Becca softly. "Sarah, I need to talk to you but I don’t need a lecture."
Closing the laptop, Sarah said, "I promise…NO LECTURES. Bec, I’ve
suspected something was wrong for a while now."
"Really?"
"I’ve seen your ankles. They’re swelling and NOT going down overnight. Then you passed out yesterday. NONE of that is a good sign."
Becca hung her head as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "No, it’s
not. Sarah, at my last checkup, my blood pressure was up and the doctor
suggested I go home."
"Your health is NOT something you need to play around with."
"I know."
"I realize you want to be with Nick but what if something happens to you and the baby?"
Becca rubbed her stomach. "And what if something happens to me while I’m at home…ALONE?"
"You won’t be alone."
"Oh…are YOU gonna stay with me?"
Sarah laughed, "Yeah, right….me stay home and let D go out without me? No thanks…been there, done that…NOT gonna do it again. Jane’s gonna be around, and Sonja. There’s Nessa and Ali too."
Becca snorted, "Yeah…I can see Sonja but I’m not THAT close to Ali and Vanessa…and sure, Jane and I have reached an understanding BUT…"
Laughing still, Sarah said, "No need to explain. I understand. I have to ask. Have you told Nick?" Becca winced at that question and Sarah said, "Obviously NOT. Becca…"
"You promised no lecturing."
"Okay. But Becca, Nick needs to know."
"Sarah, Nick is terrified of all this but he’s NOT saying anything. Think about it. He’s 21 and all of a sudden, he’s gonna be a father. He’s NOT Howie or Kevin or Brian for that matter…. He’s STILL very much a little boy. Hell, look at the way he was harassing you tonight."
"But he HAS grown up, Becca. And he can’t be any help to you if you don’t tell him what’s going on," said Sarah shaking her head. "Bec, I’m here for you no matter what. I wish you’d tell Nick but if you don’t, that’s your choice."
"Thank you," said Becca. "Now, let’s change the subject. You had Jesse naturally, didn’t you?"
"Yeah, and I’m gonna try it with the twins too."
Stunned, Becca said, "You’re kidding?"
"No, I’m not. I don’t like the idea of using drugs….creeps me out."
"Is Howie gonna go with you into the delivery room?"
Sarah smiled dreamily as she thought about Howie’s response when she asked him the same thing. "Yeah…he’s been with me for EVERYTHING, Bec, and I’d NEVER dream of him NOT being with me."
"You mean he went in for your exam?" asked Becca incredulously
"Of course, he did," laughed Sarah. "Why wouldn’t he?"
"GOD…. It’s so embarrassing with a FEMALE doctor. I can’t imagine having Nick with me if a MAN was examining me."
Sarah was laughing so hard she had tears rolling. "Oh God…Bec! You kill me! Howie was there in the first place. He knows every intimate detail about me."
"But its ANOTHER man!"
"Uh…not to be crude or give too much information but Howie HAS watched me with Kevin and AJ. Having another man examine me because I’m pregnant is nothing."
Becca was blushing bright red. "I can’t imagine Nick being with me for THAT exam."
"So, is Nick gonna go into the delivery room? I mean, Bec…delivery is about the most UNDIGNIFIED thing about being pregnant. You’ve got everyone and their mother parading through the room."
"That’s what I wanted to ask you about. I really want to try natural childbirth but I just can’t see Nick as my coach. Would you…I mean, I know your mother was with you for Jesse and well, my mother…"
Sarah could see Becca struggling with this and she helped her. "I’d be HONORED to be your coach, Becca."
Relieved, Becca hugged Sarah. "Thank you, Sis!"
"Now…you listen to me! I want you to tell Nick but I’m not gonna push you to do it. Until you DO tell him, I’m gonna be watching you and if you want me to keep my mouth shut, you WILL listen to me."
Becca smiled, "Yes, Mom!"
"Now, it’s getting late. I want you to take your pregnant butt to your room and go to bed."
"But I can’t sleep without Nick."
"Learn! You need your rest and if I know those two, they’re gonna be
the WEE hours of the morning coming home."
"What about you?"
"I need to finish the site for the Lupus cruise and then I’m turning in."
"Can I help?"
"NO! GO TO BED!" ordered Sarah.
Becca gave Sarah another hug and headed to her room. Sarah followed her to the door to say good night and watched her to her room and then the door close behind her.
Billy had been standing in the hall at Nick and Becca’s room when Becca went in. Sarah spoke to him when the door was closed.
"Billy, keep a CLOSE eye on her."
"Is there a problem?"
"There could be. You come get me if you see ANYTHING that’s not right."