Part 303
"Well, this is the big day!"
Becca grinned. Julie was almost more excited than she was. "Wednesday? Just an ordinary day, Jules."
"You brat, don't tease! You have your checkup with Dr. Anthony this morning."
"Oh, right. I forgot." She had to think quickly to duck the stuffed puppy that Julie tossed at her.
"Did NOT. I swear, its no wonder you ended up with Nick, you're both juvenile."
"Why thank you!" Becca laughed. Tomorrow. She'd be back with Nick tomorrow and nothing was going to spoil her mood today.
Julie laughed. "Oh god, you're thinking about him, aren't you. You have that 'look' on your face."
"What look?"
"The oh god I miss him and tomorrow I can hug him and kiss him and-"
It was Becca's turn to throw something at Julie. "You're mean to me," she pouted. "Just because YOU can't-"
"Hell yes, girl, I want your husband and I've made no secret about it. If you ever leave him can I have him?" She batted her eyes prettily.
"Honey, if I ever leave him I'll wear him out first and he'll be totally useless to any other woman."
They were collapsed on the sofa in a fit of giggles when Lynne strolled though the door. "Well, I see you started the party without me."
Julie waved her off. "It's a Nick party, we figured you wouldn't mind being left out."
"Eww, too true." She laughed again at the death look they shot her.
"Lynne, did I tell you I took pictures of your room when we were over there yesterday?" Becca asked innocently. "I'm sure Kevin would-"
"You wouldn't dare!" Lynne blushed, suddenly finding it not so funny anymore.
"Chill, Lynne, Bec was just kidding."
"Can't be any worse than when Nick found out that Sarah caught me singing I Need You Tonight at the top of my lungs while cleaning the kitchen." Becca blushed, too, remembering how Nick had teased her.
"Oh god, he didn't!" Lynne squealed.
"And then there was the time Kevin told him I used to dance on my bed …"
Julie was falling out of her chair she was laughing so hard. "A geek, Bec, you're a geek!"
"Just a fan, Julie, like you guys." She sighed and whispered, "Nick calls me his fan girl…" And suddenly tears were spilling over her cheeks.
"Oh dear god, Julie, look what you've done," Lynne chastised.
"What? I did nothing, Lynne, don't blame me for this puddle of postpartum hormones."
"You two stop it," Becca laughed through her tears. "Let me get Garrett so we can get out of here."
* * * * *
"Name please?"
"Carter. Rebecca Carter." Becca smiled at the graying nurse behind the desk as she set Garrett's infant seat on the floor.
"Thank you, Dr. Anthony will be with you shortly. We need to get some information first, will you please step through that door and Jillian will be right with you."
Becca bent to retrieve Garrett, but Julie beat her to it.
"Just go back and relax, Bec, we'll take care of him for you."
Becca did as she was told and followed the nurse into the examining area.
"Let's get your weight first. Right this way."
Becca stepped up on the scale and was amazed to find her weigh within just a few pounds of her pre-pregnancy weight. "Wow, cool!" she exclaimed.
"Enjoy it," Jillian laughed, "With the next one it won’t come down quite as quickly. Trust me, I know." She chuckled, patting her own ample waistline.
"How many do you have?" Becca asked with a smile.
"Four, a nice even number."
"I can't even begin to think past this one yet," Becca said shaking her head.
"Oh honey, you will. Trust me, you will."
Becca's blood pressure was back down to normal, her blood count was good and at last she was seated on a not-soft-enough examining table, waiting for her doctor in a thin paper gown.
Not soon enough he came breezing through the door, clip board in hand.
"My star patient!" he greeted her warmly. "I see by your chart that you've been behaving yourself."
"I've had good help," she said smiling.
"All right Becca, lie back and let's see if we can get you out of town soon."
He poked and prodded, never saying a word. Every so often he would write something in her chart, mumble something and then write some more. "Well, I suppose that's it," he finally pronounced.
"What?" she asked in a meek voice.
"Go home, Becca."
"You mean-"
"Call that husband of yours and tell him to come get you." He grinned when she sat straight up and hugged him.
"Oh thank you! Thank you!"
"Don't thank me, you've been taking care of yourself, Becca. It shows. I’m sending a copy of your final chart to your doctor back in Florida. You need to call when you get back home so you can set up one more follow-up appointment."
"But I'm not sure when that's going to be," she frowned.
"It doesn't matter, there's no hurry. But I DO want you to continue to check your blood pressure periodically. I'm 99% certain it was all related to your pregnancy, but let's not take any chances. Oh, and one other thing."
Becca sat, waiting expectantly. "Yes?"
"No intercourse for six weeks."
Becca blushed and he chose to ignore it.
"Once the bleeding stops, you're clear for non-invasive stimulation, but actual penetration is off limits for six weeks. That would be …" he pulled out his calendar.
"October 25th," she said with authority.
"Excuse me?" he smiled, closing her chart.
Becca turned scarlet. "I've been crossing off the days," she said shrugging her shoulders.
"No need to be embarrassed, Becca. I think it's sweet. Nick is a very lucky man, and you tell him I said so."
"Thank you," she said shyly.
"Get dressed and I'll see you out front. I want to see that young man of yours before you take off."
Becca found them all gathered about Garrett and cooing and being generally silly. God bless Julie, she'd brought the camera and made Becca pose with Dr. Anthony and Garret before they could leave. In a rare display of emotion, the doctor hugged her tightly before letting her go.
"Have a good life, Becca. I wish you all the best."
"Thank you doctor, for everything." Her eyes were full once again, and she struggled to keep them from spilling over.
"All part of my job, Becca. And I love happy endings. You take care now." Without another word he turned and walked back into his office and out of her life, but never out of her memories or prayers.
In the parking lot downstairs, Becca handed Garrett to Lynne to get him strapped into the car. Pulling out her cell phone, she dialed the number she knew better than any other. When the connection was made, her face burst into a huge smile.
"Nick? Sweetheart, come get me, I'm coming home!"