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I glanced at her. She was wearing a hot-pink sundress that showed off her tan. She had a natural olive complexion, but she’d been out in the sun, and it had deepened. Her dark brown hair had some light streaks from the sun as well. It was almost as if she was glowing. Her face didn’t appear as thin as it had when I left her here.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, breaking the silence.
My voice seemed to startle her. She jumped slightly and her eyes widened.
She licked her lips, then replied, “Good. Better actually. I haven’t felt sick in the past four days. It’s been a relief not to want to throw up when I smell bacon and sausage in the mornings.”
Was that a good thing? How far along was she?
“How many, uh—how far along are you? I mean, like months or whatever.”
A small frown crinkled her forehead slightly. “I’m not sure. This will be my first doctor’s visit, but I have been reading some pregnancy information websites before I go to bed at night, and I know that you count by weeks, but the first week isn’t actually when you conceived. It’s the week of your period—or rather day one is the first day of your last period. I did the calculations, and I should be ten weeks tomorrow. That is, if I counted it right.”
If she was two months, then there were only seven more to go. At least if she’d understood the website and it was a reputable one. She probably should have seen a doctor by now. I’d had to make some calls to get her an appointment with one of the best in the area.
“My Medicaid came through,” she said, smiling. “I got the email two days ago.” Then, she paused and bit her bottom lip. “But I don’t think all doctors take it. Did you ask about this one?”
This doctor did not take Medicaid. She was one of the top OB-GYNs in Miami. However, I’d known that when I booked the appointment. I wasn’t letting just anyone take care of her while she carried my kid.
“We won’t be needing the Medicaid. I’m handling the bills,” I told her.
“But this could get expensive. I mean, it will get expensive.”
I glanced at her. “I’ve already gotten you on the insurance I have for my employees,” I told her. “You don’t need the Medicaid. Once the baby is born, I will have him or her put on my insurance. You can choose to use the Medicaid for yourself then if you want to.”
She nodded and turned to look back out the window.
“It would probably be smart to have regular checkups after the baby is born. I’ve never had that before, but I am in my thirties now.”
And there was the reminder of how irresponsible she was. As the mother of my kid, she needed to take better care of her health. I hoped like fuck they didn’t find something wrong health-wise with her today that could affect the baby’s health.
“You didn’t see a doctor before this? So, you weren’t on birth control?” I asked, feeling my annoyance creep back in.
“I went to the free clinic. They checked me and gave me birth control. But when I left Wallace, I didn’t go get them refilled. I didn’t think I’d need them …” She trailed off.
Well, maybe she hadn’t been spreading her legs for random men. Just me. I still couldn’t figure that one out. I was sixteen years older than her. She was a head turner. Men had to hit on her all the time. Why had she invited me into that motel room?
“I just assumed that a regular doctor that is getting paid does more of a checkup than the free clinic,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time I went to a regular doctor, so I don’t know what they do at those.”
I started to snap off at her and point out that if she’d let her mother help her, she’d have had all those things, just like Selena. I didn’t though. There was no need for us to get into that. Her past was not my business. Getting along with her was my goal here.
21
Liberty
The doctor’s office was nothing like what I was used to at the free clinic. The waiting room alone was fancy. Big, comfy leather sofas and chairs, elegant lamps, and side tables full of all kinds of magazines about pregnancy, babies, and parenting. There was even a little play area for toddlers.
Watching the other couples was a bit difficult. The dad would put his hand on the mom’s stomach, and they’d whisper and laugh with each other. Excitement clear on their expressions.
Another mom who was very pregnant sat over near the toddler area while she watched her twin daughters play. They couldn’t be more than two. I wondered how difficult that must be.
Liam said nothing as he sat down in one of the chairs across from the sofa I was on. We had walked in together, but our distance made a loud statement to anyone in the room that we weren’t a couple.
“Liberty,” a voice called out, and I looked over to see a nurse with a clipboard at the open door.
I stood up, and Liam did the same. He waited for me to go before he followed behind me.
“Liberty?” she asked.
