I wiped my mouth off and leaned back against the bathroom wall after I had gotten sick for the 2nd time that day. The fourth time in three mornings. Tears sprung to my eyes as realization hit me:
‘Please, God, don’t let this be happening.’ There was a knock in the door:
“Kate, are you in there?” I heard Leighanne’s voice from the other side of the door:
“Yeah, I’m in here.” She opened up the door and saw me sitting on the bathroom floor with my knees pulled up to my chest as I silently cried. She crouched down next to me:
“Oh Kate. Are you sure?” I shrugged:
“I have to go to the doctor still but all of the signs are there. Oh God, Leigh, please tell me this isn’t happening.” She hugged me:
“Don’t worry about it. Brian and I are here for you, whatever happens and whatever you decide to do. Do you want me to make an appointment for you?” I nodded:
“Could you?”
“Of course, sweetie.” She helped me up and back into bed as she walked out to call the doctors office. A few minutes later, she reappeared in my room:
“I got you one for this afternoon. Get some rest now and I’ll wake you up before it’s time to go.” I smiled and thanked her before I rolled over and tried to get some sleep.
A few hours later, we pulled into the parking lot of the doctors office. I waited patiently in the office for my name to be called. After about fifteen minutes, a nurse came into the waiting room:
“Miss Marciano?” Leighanne squeezed my hand as I stood up:
“Right here.” The nurse smiled at me and motioned for me to follow:
“Right this way. The doctor will be in in a minute.” I sat there nervously until the doctor came in.
Fifteen minutes later the doctor was walking me out into the waiting room after telling me that he would have the results of the test later that afternoon. Leighanne and I drove home in silence. After we got inside, I went back to my room to get some more sleep.
At around 4:30, Leighanne woke me up:
“The doctor’s on the phone, honey.” I got up and walked into the kitchen to get the phone:
“Hello?”
“Miss Marciano, this is Doctor Alverson.” I fiddled with the ring on my finger, nervously:
“Yes?”
“I have the results of your test” I swallowed hard:
“Go ahead.” He finally continued:
“You’re 6 weeks pregnant.” I closed my eyes and tried to fight the tears that were threatening to fall. I swallowed hard:
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone. Brian looked up from the paper he was reading at the kitchen table:
“Is everything alright, Katie?” I shook my head and slumped into a chair, the threatening tears finally spilling over:
“No, it’s not.” Leighanne, understanding what my tears were for, sat down next to me and rubbed my back:
“Oh sweetie. We’re here for you. What are you going to do?” I sighed:
“I’m going to keep it. I can’t have an abortion. I’ve already done that two times too many.” Brian’s eyes widened as he realized what was going on:
“You’re pregnant? With Nick’s…” He trailed off. I looked up at him:
“Of course it’s Nick’s, Bri. But promise me you won’t tell him. As far as I’m concerned, this baby has no father.” Leighanne looked at me in shock:
“You have to tell him, Kate. Remember last time?” I shot her a glare:
“This is ten times different, Leighanne. I was scared shitless that time. This is different. Nick is not going to be a father to this baby. Not with the way he’s been acting. Hell, I wouldn’t even know where to find him if I wanted to tell him. He hasn’t been home in weeks.” Brian looked up sharply:
“How do you know?” “You think I don’t care? I still love him Bri. I want to know how he is. I’ve driven by his house everyday after work for the past 3 weeks since you guys split up. His car has never been there. I call him every night just to hear his voice and he’s never answered. I called his parents and they haven’t heard from him.” I stood up as I realized that I had to tell Jane. She should know that she’s having a grandchild. Even though her son won’t know. I walked out of the room to call Jane. Leslie answered on the first ring:
“Hello?” I swallowed hard. This was going to be difficult:
“Les? It’s Katelin.” She sounded surprised:
“Kate? Oh my god! I haven’t heard from you in weeks. How are you?” I smiled for the first time that day:
“I’m okay, I guess. Is your mom around? I need to talk to her about something.” Her voice saddened:
“If it’s about Nick, we haven’t heard from him. Have you?” I frowned:
“No, Les. I’m sorry. I wish that I had. I don’t even think he’s around.”
“He’s not. He went away a few weeks ago. Left his dogs with us.”
“Oh….well, can I talk to your mom?”
“Yeah. Hold on a sec.” I smiled again:
“Thanks, Leslie. I’ll see you later!”
“Bye Kate. Here’s mom.” She handed the phone to Jane:
“Katelin?”
“Hi Jane.”
“How are you?”
“Okay, I guess. How are you doing?” Her voice quivered:
“I’m alright. When are you going to come by and see us.” I sighed:
“Actually, I was thinking that I might stop by this evening to talk to you.”
“Oh Kate, I would love that. So would the girls. They really miss you. Why don’t you come over for dinner.” I smiled again:
“Okay. I’ll be over in a little bit.” We said goodbye and I hung up and walked back into the kitchen:
“Hey guys? I’m going to get ready and go over to the Carter’s for dinner, okay?” Leighanne looked up at me from her position on Brian’s lap:
“Okay. Tell them we said hi.” I smiled:
“I will. Well, I’ll see ya later.”