Page 207 of Say My Name

The plan belongs to the woman I was. I keep it because she got me here, even if she never could have imagined this.

Then I close the drawer and go help Dominic make room for me.

Four weeks after Colorado, Dominic gets us to my first prenatal appointment twenty-three minutes early with a black leather notebook tucked beneath his arm.

He sits beneath a framed photograph of a newborn’s feet and reads the packet from the receptionist as if it contains undisclosed financial liabilities.

“You know they’re going to make us wait,” I say.

He glances at his watch. “We have an appointment.”

“That’s adorable.”

His eyes move over my face and down my body before returning to mine. He does that constantly now, checking me as though I might develop a new symptom while he looks away. The attention leaves warmth behind.

“How are you feeling?”

“You asked me that before we left.”

“That was thirty-seven minutes ago.”

“I remain pregnant.”

His mouth twitches. “Any nausea?”

“No.”

“Cramping?”

“No.”

“Dizziness?”

“Dominic.”

He closes the packet. “I’m gathering information.”

“You’re conducting surveillance.”

“Surveillance would involve less direct questioning.”

The receptionist calls my name before I can answer. Dominic rises immediately, notebook already open.

The nurse takes my weight, checks my blood pressure, and asks the standard questions while Dominic sits beside me with his pen poised. He keeps quiet, though his pen poises over the page more than once, ready to interject.

Once the doctor enters, his restraint lasts almost four minutes.

Then she asks whether we have any questions.

Dominic glances down at the page. “Several.”

“Of course you do,” I murmur.

He begins with prenatal vitamins and folic acid, then works through exercise, travel, sleep, caffeine, genetic screening, and every symptom that should prompt an immediate call. He asks how much stress is considered excessive and whether my work schedule needs to change.

“Her work schedule?” I repeat.

The doctor looks between us. “How many hours are you working?”