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Leah: Acknowledging the problem is the first step, right?

I chuckled, relieved the conversation was light for something that had felt so heavy over the past few hours.

Me: Yeah, I’ve heard that somewhere

Me: Do you have your first appointment scheduled yet?

Leah: Tuesday at 2. And you seriously don’t have to come to this one, especially if it interrupts your work schedule

Leah: What does your schedule even look like as a baseball player?

Me: You’re doing that on purpose

Leah: Doing what?

Leah: I’m pregnant, so you can’t call out my bits

Me: Ah, understood. During the regular season, we try to get four practice sessions in each week, then games are typically Friday or Saturday

Leah: That sounds like a shit ton of hours. Do you get the whole offseason off?

Me: Mostly, but there tend to be tournaments during the offseason, like international games. There’s one in Italy this December that I’m doing

Leah: Well, good luck with that? Sports folks probably don’t say break a leg, right?

Me: No, we don’t. Probably since leg injuries are more likely

Leah: So … you’re coming to the appointment?

Me: Yes, and could we get a late lunch or something afterward? Just so we can get to know each other better

Leah: Ehhh, that sounds like a date

Me: It’s not, I just think co-parenting will be easier if we … know each other better

Leah: That makes sense, buttttt

Leah: Ground rules: we split the bill, we don’t split an appetizer

Leah: And you don’t get to drink because I can’t

I didn’t really like the idea of splitting the bill for a meal I invited her to, but I wasn’t going to push her when she was already struggling.

Me: I can agree to those terms

Leah: See you Tuesday then

Me: See you then

The Mixed Signals

Leah

Like always, my gynecologist’s room was a tad too cold for my liking. But I had a nice paper blanket over my lap, so yay.

“Are you good?” Niall asked, leaning over to hold my hand. Between the cold and my nerves, I wanted the support. But I also knew that physical contact was going to be my undoing, so I shuffled up to the edge. He bit his lip, but didn’t say anything as he sat back.

“I’m just cold. These robes are pretty thin and I honestly forgot this”—I waved all over myself—“was gonna be a part of it.”