“I’m sorry,” I tell Brenda and smile at her. “I’ve been in a lousy mood, and it’s not fair to take it out on you. Please show them in.”
A look of relief comes over her features. “It’s okay; we all have those. I’ll show them in.”
Seconds later, a lanky man holds the door for his partner, a bird-like woman who looks like if I sneeze or make some other unexpected noise, she’ll turn and run. The man is composed, and he does most of the talking. They’ve been married for two years, and they wanted a baby from the beginning. Nothing has happened, and their friends, a couple we helped, referred them to our clinic. My heart constricts at the obvious pain in the man’s voice and the woman when she does speak.
I’m reminded of Cora and how much she too wants a baby. I wonder how far along she has gone in the process. I shake away thoughts of Cora. I don’t want to think about Cora’s belly swelling with another man’s baby.
The meeting goes well, and by the end of it, Kimberly, which is the woman’s name, looks a lot more relaxed. I’m glad that the day is over, and I can go home and relax. I turn off my computer, and as I gather my stuff, my cell phone beeps with a message. I’m surprised to see the message is from Cora.
Hey. Are you free to come by my place for coffee?
I don’t immediately answer. The message is so unexpected. The last time we were together, I got the idea that she never wanted to see me again. I try to think about what could have brought about the change and can’t imagine anything other than she possibly needs some moral support.
That doesn’t make sense either. She would go to Riley for moral support rather than the guy she slept with after an afternoon of too much alcohol.
But I can never say no to Cora, and to be honest, I’m curious. Cora strikes me as one of those people who rarely change their minds. The kind of person who sticks to their decision, however tough it gets. I reach for my phone.
Hey … sure. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.
Adrenalin rushes through me as I drive. I’m excited to see Cora. I try to tame my feelings, but by the time I park my car outside the gym, my palms are damp from nervous anticipation.
I ring her apartment bell, and she buzzes me into the building. Minutes later, I’m knocking on her front door. She opens the door and smiles. I suck in a breath as I meet her gaze and feel myself being pulled in by her big, innocent leaf-green eyes.
“Thanks for coming,” she says and stands to one side to let me enter.
“You’re welcome.”
I greedily inhale her scent as I walk past. The temptation to pull her into my arms is strong, but I control myself and coolly walk by. I sit on the couch and wait.
She sits opposite me and rubs her hands on her thighs. I know that gesture. Every gesture of hers from three years ago is seared into my brain. She’s nervous, and that makes me nervous too and worried.
“Is everything okay?” I ask her.
“Not really,” Cora says. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just blurt it out. I’m pregnant.”
I’m confused. “Congratulations! That was fast. It’s what you wanted, right?” I keep my voice casual, but inside, I’m reeling. The very thing I’ve been having nightmares about is happening. Cora is pregnant with another man’s child. Less than two hours ago, I was wondering if it has happened already, and now here she is confirming it for me.
“You don’t understand. I haven’t done the insemination thing,” Cora says.
“Then, how …” My voice fades away as it dawns on me what Cora is getting to. “Fuck.”
“Yeah. I’m pregnant with your child. If you’d like to—” she starts to say.
“No.” I shake my head. I try to think. A baby! I shake my head. “I don’t want a baby,” I say that aloud before I can take back the words.
Silence fills the room. Then Cora hisses. “I can’t believe you’d say something like that.”
I make as if to speak, but she stops me with a raise of her hand. “Don’t bother. Why am I surprised? You’ve never been anything but an asshole to me.”
I want to say that I’ve changed. That I’m not the asshole I was three years ago. But the words refuse to form in my mouth.
She grabs a cushion, and before I know what’s happening, it smacks me in the face.
“Hey, what are you doing?” My protests die in my mouth as Cora goes crazy on me. She grabs another cushion and throws it at me, hitting me square on the face.