Through Thick And Thin

“Yes, dehydrated and your labs also show that you have are slightly anemic,” the nurse went on. “Is there anything that might have happened lately that would be causing you to neglect a healthy diet?”

“Well, I don’t really cook. My boyfriend does.”

“Do you live with your boyfriend?” Nurse Hopkins asked.

Amelia shook her head.

“We spend a lot of time together but no, we don’t live together.”

“So, what about work? Are you under some kind of pressure?”

“Well, my grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. So, there’s that,” Amelia started. “And work, well, yes it has been a little more stressful than usual.”

“Well, Miss Gold, you will need to take better care of yourself because your labs revealed something else.”

“What? What did my labs show?”

“You are pregnant, Miss Gold.”

Amelia’s eyes grew wide.

“What?” she asked as she looked at the nurse. “Are you sure?”

“One hundred per cent,” Nurse Hopkins said as she looked into Amelia’s eyes.

“But we always use condoms,” Amelia said, confused.

“So there has been someone else?” Nurse Hopkins asked raising an eyebrow over the other. Amelia shook her head.

“No, never. It’s been Chad for almost two years. Just Chad,” she said.

“Two years and you were still using condoms?” the nurse asked. “That’s a little strange for people in an exclusive relationship.”

“I know but I didn’t want an IUD or anything of the sort. Plus I am not a very big fan of needles and those weird implants,” she said.

“Well, maybe the condom broke at some point?”

Amelia shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak and then quickly got quiet when she remembered that evening at her grandmother’s wake.

“There was this one time,” she started. “It was at my grandmother’s wake a few weeks ago…I think it was five, six weeks ago.”

“Well, then that must have been the golden ticket because you are about six weeks pregnant,” Nurse Hopkins said. “Congratulations, Miss Gold. You are going to become a mother.”

Amelia leaned back on the bed and sighed.

“Fuck,” she thought.

*****

It took a couple of hours at Mercy General before the nurse finally discharged Amelia. Given a choice, the nurse would have preferred to keep her there overnight for observation but Amelia wouldn’t hear of it. All she wanted was to be back home. She needed to find a way to tell Chad she was pregnant. She didn’t even know how she was supposed to start that conversation. It was not even something they had discussed.

Nurse Hopkins had made her promise she would take her supplements religiously without fail and that she would take it easy at work. Leo had offered to give her a week off since she needed complete bed rest anyway.

“Are you sure you are going to be okay?” Leo asked when he pulled up in front of her apartment building. Amelia looked at him and nodded. “Are you sure I can’t do anything?”

“You’ve done more than enough,” she said. “I can handle lying down in bed and doing nothing.”

“It is not just about lying down. You also have to eat well, healthy and remember to take your supplements, Miss Gold” Leo said. Amelia raised an eyebrow at him. “Amelia,” he quickly said, correcting himself.

“I’ll be fine, Mr. Dalton…Leo,” she said as she looked at him. “Thanks for everything.”

“I don’t want to see you at work for the next seven days. Not even on FaceTime,” Leo said. The tone in his voice made Amelia realize he was not in a position to be bargained with. “I read your chart, Miss Gold. I know you are expectant.”

“The clothes…marketing,” she sighed.

“We are going to handle it, Amelia. Ava and I are going to handle it just as well as you would have.”

“I don’t think that is entirely true.”

“Well, we employed you so we know a little too well how good you are. And if we have to sacrifice a few days for the greater good then we will do exactly that,” he added before he opened the door and climbed out of the driver’s seat. He walked around to her side and opened the door.

“Thanks,” she said as she climbed out of the car.

“I’ll walk you up, make sure you are fine,” he said in a soft voice. She shook her head but Leo looked at her as he pushed the door close. “I am not taking no for an answer, Amelia.”

She sighed in exhaustion and began walking up to the front door. They made their way to her door and when they walked in, Leo ran to one of the bedrooms and got some pillows. He propped them up behind her back and gently helped her lie down. He then pulled a blanket on her and smiled.

“You all snuggled in?” he asked as she put the phone down next to her after sending a text to Chad.

“I am. Thanks,” she said,

“Good. Then maybe I should be on my way.”

“Mr. Dalton…Leo, may I ask you a personal question?” Amelia asked as she looked up at her boss. He nodded. “I don’t mean to pry but is there a Mrs. Dalton?” He smiled.

“No, Amelia. There is no Mrs. Dalton but soon there will be a Mr. Torres-Dalton and I will be Leopold Dalton-Torres.” Amelia’s eyes grew wide and she felt her cheeks get hot.

“What are you…wait. You mean you are…” she was struggling to say it. She didn’t want to sound rude.

“You can say it. I’m gay,” Leo said. “I know it’s kind of a cliché. A man who has a career in fashion being gay.”

“No, not really. I guess I am just a little surprised,” she said. Leo reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“That’s Emilio. We were snorkeling in the Maldives last summer.”

“He is…perfect,” she smiled as she looked up at him. “I would do him in a heartbeat. No offense though.”

“None taken, I assure you,” he laughed. “So, when will Chad be here?”

Just then, they heard the front door open and close. Chad came running into the living room.

“I guess right now,” Amelia said. “Leo Dalton this is my boyfriend Chad Lucas. Chad this is my boss Leo.”

Chad shook Leo’s hand and forced a smile.

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

“Likewise,” Leo said and then looked at his watch. “I need to leave. I have to take care of a few things before the end of the day.” He began walking towards the door.

“Thanks for everything Mr. Dalton,” Amelia said. Leo stopped in his tracks and turned around. Leo,” she said with a smile and he nodded. He opened the door and walked out. Chad turned to look at Amelia.

“Are you alright?” he asked. She nodded. “But your boss brought you home, you text me that you were in hospital and…” she pressed a finger to his lips cutting him shirt.

“I’m a little tired and anemic, that’s all,” she said. “I passed out at work and Leo took me to the emergency room.”

“Are you okay?” Chad asked. He seemed more worried than ever.

“I’m fine,” she said in a soft voice. He looked into her eyes.

“I don’t know how I missed it. You were always so tired and …” he started before she pressed her finger to his lips again.

“Hey, Mister,” she started as she looked into his eyes. “When you are here with me, you are the man I love and not some medical guy.”