Chapter seventeen: Baby Girl

~~~ Through the fire, through the limit, through the wall, for a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all. Through the fire, through whatever come what may, for a chance of loving you, I'd take it all the way. Right down through the wire, even through the fire...~~~

-Nina Girado-

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I decided to go and see my doctor alone. I wanted to go myself so I told my driver to take the day off. And I stepped on the gas as soon as I reached the main road. I felt so down and disappointed with what Luke did. He said he will come with me---no, he said he'll try, but where is he?

He could at least send me a message, leave a note in front of my door or give an instruction to one of our maids to tell me that he couldn't come with me. Maybe I understand it or I'll try to understand him if he tried to do even one of those simple gestures but goodness--- he didn't!

I don't want to bother my parents or Dale 'cause I'm not sure if they also have important things to do. And of course, Jack has to send her mom to the airport, so I have no choice but to go along myself.

"Hey, what's with that kind of expression, Sam?"

I sighed, forcing a smile as the doctor noticed me sulking. She motioned me to lie down while she's preparing the things she needed for the test.

"Don't you know that your baby also feels your emotions?"

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about whether my baby would be a girl or a boy. " I lied, but I guess she knew, she just pretended to bite it as she gave me a shrugged.

"Alright." She stared at me for a while before she opened her mouth to speak. "Honestly, I wasn't about to do this test without your parents or anyone with you."

My mouth hung in midair as I waited for her to continue.

"You're only 17, still a minor and you should have someone with you, I mean someone who has an experience like your mother to guide you and further explain about this pregnancy but seeing your face and your expression, I guess I understand. And I want you to know that I'm not here to judge you, actually, I can be one of your friends if you want. You can talk to me about what you feel and everything if there's no one to listen to you, okay?"

Tears were forming around my eyes when I nodded. "Thank you, doctor Mary, I appreciate it and I promise to do it if it won't take so much of your time."

"No, sweety, it won't. You can call me anytime and I'll guide you until you give birth to your baby." She said, smiling.

"Thank you."

"No, worries, so can we now proceed?"

"Yup." I nodded.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded again, excitedly.

After taking a long deep breath, she told me to look at the monitor on my right side... and a few seconds later, I couldn't hold back my tears when I finally heard the heartbeat of my little angel.

"Ohh... here she is."

"She?" I glanced at her.

"Yes, sweetie, it's a girl."

"Oh, my..." I covered my mouth as the sobs escaped my lips. I couldn't explain what exactly I feel at that moment. Suddenly, all the sadness, disappointments and hurts disappeared. She's so tiny on the screen and I couldn't help but feel excited to hold her in my arms.

"Do you already have a name or names in your mind for your baby?"

"Honestly, I don't have a name for her yet, but I think I would name her after my mom and my mother-in-law." I paused for a second. "Cali. I'll name her Cali, short name for Cassandra Lizeth. Cassandra came from Cassidy Alexandra who is my mom and Lizeth came from Lilian Yuzeth who is my mother-in-law."

"Wow! That's a nice name, Sam. I'm also excited for your baby to come out."

"Thank you," I replied, glancing back at the monitor.

'Cali... Cassandra Lizeth Williams...'

I continued to repeat my baby's name in my head until I finished my appointment and walked to my car in the parking lot. I couldn't contain my smile. I really wanted to call Jack, but I hesitated to do it because I wanna give her time to be with her mom.

I took a long happy breath. I think I want to pamper myself today. Hmm... what am I going to do--- no, where am I going to go first? Pizza restaurant or boutique to buy new dresses?

And before I could open the door of my car and think of the answer, someone called me from behind. I turned around only to see Dean Scott, the campus president and heartthrob.

"Dean? What are you doing here?" I asked him when he's already in front of me.

"Ahm... I visited my mom, she's a resident cardiologist here," he replied with a wide a smile. Proof of how proud he is of his mother. "How about you? What are you doing here?"

And again, I couldn't hide the smile that painted on my lips as I proudly answered his question.

"I just came from my monthly pregnancy check-up."

"Oh, yeah, I remembered you mentioned it yesterday. So, how's it going?"

"Well, I found out the gender of my baby and it's a girl!"

"Wow! Congratulations, Sam."

"Thank you, I'm also congratulating myself right now, you know." We both chuckled at my corny joke.

"Anyway, were you alone when you visited your doctor?" He asked after a few moments, while his eyes looked around trying to find someone who was with me.

"Yeah, my husband has an important meeting so he couldn't come with me." I lied, looking away so that he couldn't notice the sadness that immediately showed in my eyes.

"I see, but how about your parents or your best friend---"

"They were busy!" I cut him off as I don't want to spoil my excitement.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I think I became nosy." He said scratching the back of his neck.

"It's okay." I tried to smile but then an idea came to my mind. "Uhm, are you busy--- I mean, do you have something to do after this?" I asked referring to his visit to his mother.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Ahm..." I suddenly lost for words. Am I gonna ask him? "Do you mind if I invited you for lunch?"

His smile widened and I realized what I had just asked.

"Oh, no, please don't be confused! I just want to celebrate this moment and since there's no one with me, so I hope you can come with me--- if that won't take much of time?" It sounded like a question as I became hesitant of what his answer would be.

"Sure!"

"Thanks!" I sighed in relief but then I stopped when I noticed him creased his eyebrows.

"Wait, I just thought about your husband, is it okay with him if I join you at lunch? You know, he should be the one to join you celebrating this moment."

I suddenly stopped for a few seconds, thinking if this would be okay to my 'husband'. If going out with someone to celebrate this milestone would be fine---and my answer is---YES. Actually, I know where he is at the moment, he's with his girlfriend---aghh! --- his mistress, so I think it's okay to go out and eat with Dean. Besides, all we will is eat and join me to celebrate.

"Don't worry about him, he wouldn't notice it." I smiled sarcastically and he just nodded.

"Okay, you go ahead first, I'll just follow you with my car."

"Thanks, Dean." I smiled.

He helped me by opening the door of my car.

"Be be careful, Sam." He winked at me before finally closing the door.

If there were students in the school who couldn't understand my situation, who kept on judging me and called me by different names, I thank God that Dean is not one of them. In fact, he was one of the students who understood me as I reminded him of his mom when she was the same age as me. He said he was also a fruit of teenage pregnancy and that he's not in a position to judge me or judge anyone with the same situation as me.