The Fighter Pilot’s Baby

They had stopped outside of a department store, and other shoppers eyed them as they passed by. Releasing her friend, Bianca stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes.

“When do you see the doctor?” Andrea wondered as they walked into the store.

“I haven’t made an appointment yet. I’m scared,” Bianca admitted reluctantly.

Andrea hugged her again, little Jay squirming between them. Bianca laughed, and gave him a tiny kiss. The rest of the shopping trip went by without drama and Andrea convinced Bianca to see her doctor as soon as possible, practically forcing Bianca to make the appointment right then and there. Caving in, Bianca called, setting up an appointment for two days later. After the shopping trip, and loaded down with bags, Bianca said goodbye to Andrea as she strapped little Jay into his car seat.

“Promise me you’ll call me and let me know what’s going on?” Andrea said before hopping into her minivan.

Bianca nodded, “I will. I can’t go through this alone, one way or another.”

They said their goodbyes and Bianca drove home feeling better than she had in awhile. Maybe it would all be okay after all.

*****

The next time Bianca told Alex she was going shopping she actually went to the doctor’s appointment. Sitting in the waiting room for her appointment, Bianca never felt so alone. She almost called Alex, only to put her phone away with a shake of her head. It was too soon, he couldn’t know until she found out if the baby was okay. Instead, she called Andrea and talked to her for fifteen minutes which calmed her nerves. Andrea even offered to come down to the doctor’s office but Bianca told her it was okay, knowing she would have to drag the baby out in the cold to meet her. Bianca considered pacing the room but stayed seated, unable to stop jiggling her foot with nerves. This time was nothing like her last initial prenatal visit. She was nauseous and exhausted, not cramping in pain. Bianca’s phone buzzed with a new message just as the nurse called her back to see the doctor. Butterflies rioted in her stomach and she wrung her hands nervously as she followed the nurse back to the exam room. Forcing memories of the last time out of her mind, Bianca put on the gown and sat down. Remembering the message on her phone Bianca pulled it out.

Alex: I’m headed to the mall, want to meet for lunch?

Bianca panicked at the message. What could she tell him? He’d want to meet her somewhere near the mall for lunch but she was a good thirty minutes away. Fighting back a panic attack, Bianca forced herself to slow her breathing. She had to think of something to keep him from getting suspicious.

Bianca: I’m not at the mall right now, I’m headed there in about an hour. Want to meet then?

She just hoped he wouldn’t ask her where she was.

*****

Alex looked at Bianca’s message with confusion. Where was she if she wasn’t at the mall? She had told him she was going Christmas shopping again today with Andrea but didn’t say where and she was acting strangely the last week. Alex was getting nervous that he was losing her again and began to panic.

Alex: Where are you? I’ll meet you somewhere closer instead?

Bianca’s return message took several minutes to come and Alex began to sweat in anticipation.

Bianca: I’m in Delaware, I wanted some tax free shopping. I’ll meet you in Philly in an hour.

Delaware? What the fu*k? Alex was almost angry enough to go there to find her. Bianca was keeping something from him, but what? Pacing the living room, Alex decided to take a different route. He scrolled through his phone for the number he wanted and then pressed send.

“Hello?” Andrea answered after the second ring.

“Andrea? Can I talk to Bianca, it’s important?” Alex began without saying hello.

“Uh, I’m not, I mean, Bianca’s not here,” Andrea stuttered, the sound of a fussy baby in the background.

“What? She told me she was going shopping with you,” Alex asked with confusion.

Where the fu*k was she? Nausea suddenly gripped Alex’s gut as he thought about the possibilities of what could be happening. He didn’t even want to think of the worst of them.

“Look, Alex, I can’t really talk right now, but I think you and Bianca need to talk.” Andrea said, the baby crying louder.

“Why? What’s going on Andrea?” Alex asked with anxiety.

“I can’t, it’s not my place to say. Please, talk to Bianca,” She muttered.

Alex said goodbye, his gut churning with worry. Where the hell was Bianca and what was she keeping from him?

*****

Bianca’s anxiety level soared when Alex didn’t text back. He knew she was lying and he was angry. Pushing that thought to the back of her mind for the moment, Bianca focused on waiting for the doctor and relaxing. After the longest twenty minutes of her life, Dr. Gabriel came in, clipboard in hand.

“So, Bianca, what’s going on with you today?” Dr. Gabriel asked. Doesn’t she read the damn forms?

“I’m pregnant again,” Bianca said without mincing words.

“Hmmm, I thought we discussed not getting pregnant again for a few months?” The doctor answered, her brows knitting with frustration.

Bianca sighed. “We did. This was not planned,” she said, anger creeping into her voice.

After taking her blood pressure and a few other vitals, the doctor got right down to the exam. She wheeled in the portable ultrasound and Bianca’s heart almost stopped, the images of her empty womb flashing through her mind.

“Relax, Bianca,” Dr. Gabriel said, patting her arm. “Worrying won’t help anything.”

Bianca took a deep breath and laid back, staring at the ceiling.

“Let’s take a look at this baby,” the doctor said, beginning the ultrasound.

Bianca took some more deep breaths but didn’t say anything. After several moments the doctor spoke.

“How far along did you say you were?” She asked Bianca.

“I think eight weeks,” Bianca answered, nerves creeping in. Was something wrong?

“Well, this definitely doesn’t look like an eight week fetus,” Dr. Gabriel answered and Bianca’s heart sank. It was happening again.

“What, what does that mean?” She asked, unable to mask her panic. Maybe it was wrong of her to not tell Alex. She suddenly wanted him there to catch her when she fell apart. Again.

“I’d say this fetus is at least ten weeks. Sometimes a miscarriage can throw off your cycles,” Dr. Gabriel replied.

Bianca’s head snapped up, the tears that began to fall on their own, dried almost instantly. “What did you say?”

“I said, you’re ten weeks pregnant. Congratulations, Bianca.”

Bianca released the breath she was holding, a smile spreading across her face. She was finally pregnant and this time her baby was okay. A sudden idea came to her about how to tell Alex. It was going to be a Merry Christmas after all.