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He caught her staring, and he smiled at her, his eyes lingering on hers before they dropped down to her lips and then found their way back to his newspaper. She wasn’t trying to fool anyone. They were here together because they were having a baby. Their relationship was nobody’s business but their own.
Becca glanced around the waiting area at the posters adorning the walls—some featured tips on women’s nutrition, there was a public service announcement that reminded women over thirty-five to get mammograms, and there was a watch-your-baby-grow poster addressing prenatal development and care.
Becca eyed the rendering of the three-month-old fetus. The poster said at this stage, her baby was about three inches long and had fingerprints.
Hmm. Only three inches? How could something so tiny make her feel so big already?
Becca’s attention was momentarily shanghaied by a young woman who had just entered the office. She looked to be in her late teens or maybe early twenties, and she was very pregnant. She looked as if she might go into labor any moment. Becca noticed she wasn’t wearing a ring on her left hand.
It shouldn’t matter, but lately every time she saw a pregnant woman, she found herself looking at her left ring finger and sorting her into two categories: married and single.
She knew it was none of her business, and, yes, if she knew somebody was sorting her into categories, she probably wouldn’t like it. But she wasn’t judging. She just wanted proof that she wasn’t the only one going this road alone.
Well, given the fact that Nick was here with her today, she wasn’t exactly alone. But as much as the little voice inside of her wished it were different, they weren’t a couple, either. They were certainly far from married.
After the young woman signed in, she turned and walked in Becca’s direction. Her young face looked pale and drawn, as if she were exhausted down to her bones or maybe just plain weary. She was tall and waif thin, except for the basketball-sized baby bump protruding off her middle, which was visible only from the front and side. From the back, you couldn’t even tell she was pregnant. She took a seat somewhere behind Becca, and if she wanted to continue watching her she’d have to turn around or relocate.
It was probably a good thing that she sat behind her, because Becca didn’t want to stare. It was just that when she discovered a woman in the same situation she was, she felt an automatic need to bond with her—even if it was only with a smile of solidarity or an empathetic nod.
But this one had looked away as she had passed. Refusing to make eye contact. Probably because Becca had a man with her. As if on cue, Nick shifted his weight as he rested his elbow on the chair’s armrest. His upper arm pressed against Becca’s. The feel of his body pressed against hers caused heat to prickle a little on the back of her neck.
When he didn’t immediately shift away, she gazed up at him, and he gave her a lopsided grin. The look in his eyes made her a little weak and melty on the inside, but she did her best to play it cool.
“Do you like football?” she asked.
He put down his newspaper and slanted her a glance, but his shoulder stayed right next to hers.
“I do.”
She liked the warmth of his arm on hers. It made her think about how their bodies had felt skin to skin, and a little frisson shivered its way through her.
“I was thinking about how you wanted me to show you something typically Celebration. Maybe we could go to the football game Friday night. That is, if you’re free. I know it’s a weekend, and you might have to work or you might have plans.”
She wondered if he was dating. Was there anyone else in his life?
Of course that’s when the nurse chose to open the door and call them back into the exam room.
“Think about it,” she said. “But no rush. You can let me know tomorrow.”
* * *
Even though Nick was a doctor, he still felt a little out of place in the obstetrician’s office. He wasn’t sure what Becca had told them about him—the baby’s father—the last time she’d been in for a checkup, but when she introduced him, the staff didn’t seem to bat an eye.
Either it was commonplace for some fathers to not be involved, or the staff was very professional.
That helped him breathe easier. She shouldn’t have to go this alone. Even if he wasn’t much help. Maybe having someone there for support was something. Especially since she hadn’t yet told her family. He, of all people, knew that sometimes family could be a bigger hindrance than help. Even though she hadn’t said much, it sounded as if she and her folks had their challenges. That surprised him because Becca seemed warm and together, but maybe her family was as dysfunctional as his.
