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"I usually get over it at about eleven or eleven thirty, but not today. It went on until two o'clock. I had to call Tim, who agreed to take it for me, and I'll do his on Monday instead."
"All's well that ends well, I guess," I said and stroked her hand.
"I don't think the prof is happy when we switch seminars. He says it has a negative affect on continuity of the teaching relationship or something."
"Don't worry," I said, trying to encourage her. "The morning sickness should be over soon and then, you can finish the year out without any other issues."
"I hope so," she said. "He gave me an exasperated look when I told him today. I don't think he believes grad students should be married or having babies. No, let me amend that," she said and shook her head. "He doesn't think female grad students should be married or having babies. He never struggled with morning sickness so why should his grad students?"
"Yeah, right," I said, shaking my own head. I felt a twinge of anger build inside at the unfairness of it. Women were expected to forgo real life until after they graduated, so that marriage and family didn't interfere with their studies. Male students often didn't have to worry about the problems of pregnancy and childbirth, obviously, but female students did. My aunt never married and never had kids because she was a very ambitious surgeon and felt that both would interfere with her career. I didn't think women should have to make that trade-off unless that's what they really wanted.
Alexa wanted a family with me. We didn't think it would happen so quickly, but both of us were happy to be lucky enough to conceive. There were so many couples who couldn't. I counted my blessings and I knew Alexa did as well.
Neither of us could wait for family holidays together, the way we both had growing up.
"The semester's almost over," Alexa said with a sigh. "I can't afford to miss any more seminars, or I'll have a black mark on my record."
"Don't worry yourself about it," I said. "Even if you do have to swap again, I'm sure you'll be fine. Your students gave you a good mid-term review, so there's that."
"That was before I missed three seminars in a row. I doubt my end-of-term student review will be so good. One of my students stopped me in the hallway and asked how I was. She said students were wondering if I had dropped out or something. I had to tell her that I was pregnant and had morning sickness. She was surprised. I guess Tim told them I was sick and left it at that. They'll think I was playing hooky. So I have to make my next seminar and explain to my students why I missed class today and the other two times."
"I'm sure they'll understand."
I leaned over and kissed Alexa and she kissed me back, but I could see sadness in her eyes. She was really concerned that her morning sickness would hurt her standing in the graduate program.
"As long as your grades stay great, you have nothing to worry about. You could go anywhere in the US if you wanted. If Columbia treats you badly, you can always go somewhere else."
"I don't want to go somewhere else," she said.
"Harvard is more prestigious. Or Yale."
"I like Columbia's program and profs."
"You'll be fine."
The timer on the stove went off and Alexa jumped up. "The roast is ready. I have to make gravy. Do you want to get the plates out?"
"Your wish is my command," I said and together, we prepared our supper.
Later, after we were finished cleaning up after a delicious meal, we plopped down together in front of the flatscreen and watched an episode of a political thriller series we had become hooked on in the last couple of weeks.
"This stuff is right up your alley," I said as the bad guy plotted to overthrow the government of the United States.
"No, thank you," she said and pushed me with her shoulder. "No overthrows of governments when I'm working at the UN or whatever I end up doing. Just peace and prosperity, thanks."
I put my arm around her, and we watched the show together. She fell asleep with her head on my shoulder before the episode was even finished and I knew that pregnancy was really taking a round out of her if so. I picked her up and carried her into our bedroom, laying her down on the bed.
"I should get up and brush my teeth," she said, her eyelids droopy.
"Don't bother." I pulled the covers over her and turned off the light, returning to the living room to finish the show. Alexa was a trouper. I knew that she'd push through the nausea and fatigue and would get a great review from her students.
I'd support her no matter what.
Chapter Three
Alexa
Saturday was Luke's birthday.
