Quite The Intro

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Royal Free London- Private Patients Unit

12 weeks...

At the hospital's plush waiting room, Lexi felt... out of place. Not even the numerous nice-smelling plants or the indoors fountain of perfumed water could make her ease up. All around her were several women - most with bulging bellies - who had their partners with them.

One of the men she spotted was rubbing the bump of his woman affectionately, while to her left, two seats after Melissa, was another man who sat with his arm around his partner, rubbing her arms and kissing her on the head from time to time. It pricked at her, and she sought a distraction.

She turned to Melissa, realizing for the first time that Melissa had a shiny magazine her in hand. "What's that about?" she asked.

Melissa gave a small shrug, too engrossed in the magazine to look up, and answered saying, "Pregnancy." After a few seconds, she looked up at Lexi, adding, "It's actually for daddies-to-be. But since I'm the one going to be with you throughout this pregnancy, I figured I should know a few things."

Alexandra cracked, laughing silently - her shoulders shaking with the effort it took to stay quiet - till her chest began to hurt. "Right."

Annoyed, Melissa smacked her with the magazine. "I am not kidding."

"I know." Alexandra sighed, looking around again only to see more couples cozying up against each other. Her chest only got tighter with pain, so much that she started breathing through her mouth.

"Are you okay?" Melissa asked, her eyes bright with concern. Alexandra simply bit her lip, looking down at her feet. Melissa took her hand and squeezed. "I get that this isn't easy for you - seeing other women together with their partners and trying to hide in plain sight - but you'll be fine."

She grimaced when she realized she sucked at offering comfort and decided to change the topic. "I saw one of the ultrasound machines that has a 3D printer. We could use that- "

"Hello," a voice called out next to Alexandra, cutting Melissa off and foiling her plan. Alexandra still looked sullen, and Melissa scowled at no one in particular.

Alexandra looked up to see a tired-looking pregnant woman. She probably wasn't too far along but her bump was quite visible. "Hi," she mumbled back, forcing a little smile.

"Can I sit here?"

"Uh... yeah. Sure." Alexandra pulled her handbag unto her lap so the seat next to her was free, and watched the lady sit, wondering why she chose to sit here when there were spaces all over.

"Sorry if I inconvenienced you, but I really didn't want to play third wheel sitting next to all these couples," she explained in a whisper, and with a nervous smile, she leaned back. Alexandra felt herself smile back - genuinely this time - because she could relate. Even though she wasn't sitting next to any, she still felt... sad? Alone?

Alexandra turned to look at the lady, who looked a little younger than herself, and asked, "You're here alone?"

"Yeah..." the lady murmured, biting her lip. She glanced at the entrance of the hospital before turning to Alexandra. "You?"

"Same," she replied with a nonchalance she didn't feel. This woman understood what it was like to be alone - maybe. "Why though?"

The lady sighed and rubbed her bump, pondering the question. "Last week we had an... argument, of sorts. He hadn't known I was pregnant and working two jobs. And when he did, he went full-on crazy, asking how I could've kept it to myself."

She glanced at the entrance once more, letting out a disappointed sigh. "He talked the night club's owner - who turned out to be a friend of his - to fire me but allowed me keep my day job, then set the appointment. He was pretty mad at me so I don't think he's going to come. He's late anyway."

Alexandra nodded in understanding and asked more softly, "What's the other job?"

"Waitressing."

"At a restaurant?"

The lady scoffed. "No, they all said they didn't need a pregnant woman who'd leave as soon as she came and leave them hanging."

"Ouch," Lexi said with a wince. "Must have hurt. Sorry."

She waved it off. "I like where I'm working at. It's average but clean enough and pays the bills. They also allow you to keep your tips so..." she trailed off with a careless shrug.

"I see."

"What about you? Why are you alone?" She asked. Alexandra paused, thinking about all the answers she could give her.

'My husband doesn't trust me anymore, you know'

or

'He kicked me out so we're no longer together'

or

'He doesn't know I'm pregnant'

or

'He might not believe me'

or better yet, the simplest

'Don't you watch the news? We were plastered all over with the story of our separation - of my infidelity'

She was patiently waiting when Alexandra came back down to earth. "I'm so sorry," Alexandra murmured with a sheepish smile.

She waved it off, grinning. "The answer's that complicated?"

"Yeah, it is," she agreed, her lips parting with a heavy exhale. Lexi licked her lips and gazed ahead of her so she wouldn't see the look of sympathy or disgust that might appear on the lady's face when she connected the dots. "My husband—he doesn't know I'm pregnant with his child. We're not together anymore, but also not divorced yet."

"Oh," was all the lady could mutter. "That sucks."

"Totally."

Melissa cleared her throat noisily to get their attention. "That was quite the introduction," she said, narrowing her eyes to slits at Alexandra.

"I'm sorry," she sputtered, wondering how she had completely forgotten she was here with Melissa. "Uh... this is my bestfriend and sister-in-law, Melissa," the lady inclined her head in greeting with a polite smile, trying to figure out where she'd seen Melissa. Clueless, Lexi continued with the introduction. "Melissa that's—sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"It's Samantha," she provided warmly. "You can call me Sam."

"Nice to meet you," Melissa piped in, tossing her wavy caramel hair over her shoulder. Then it clicked to Sam just who Melissa was. She had to try hard to keep herself from fangirling over Melissa.

Lowering her voice, she asked, "Hey, aren't you Melissa Crawford, with your own fashion line that started with writing blogs?"

"Yeah," Melissa answered, looking vastly amused. "Took you long enough. I noticed you look at me weirdly when Lexi introduced us. The good weird - if that makes sense."

"No, it does not. Listen to yourself," Alexandra chimed in, making Sam giggle.

When the giggles subsided, Sam turned to Alexandra. "So, if she's the Melissa Crawford, the best friend..." she trailed off, thinking hard. And Lexi couldn't decide whether to panic or be amused. Sam snapped her fingers when it came to her. "That makes you Alexandra Robinson, Trey's wife. Today's definitely my day," she stated in a low but excited voice, the inner fangirl in her showing. Lexi and Melissa chuckled. "I'm so sorry about what happened."

Alexandra didn't like the pity that flashed in Sam's eyes for a split second, so she opted to look away. "Yeah... I don't like talking about it."

"If it's any consolation, I don't believe what they said about you, and meeting you in person only solidified it."

Alexandra turned to her with a smile. "It does make me feel a bit better. Thank you."

Sam smiled brightly. "You know, if you ever feel like talking- "

"Samantha Lockwood?" A nurse with a clipboard called out.

"Here!" she answered, raising her hand. Lexi lowered her head when people turned to looked at the bubbly blonde, so she wouldn't be noticed. Sam gathered her stuff.

"Your doctor is ready for you now," the nurse told her softly with a sweet smile on her face. Professional smile or not, that smile was calming. Sam nodded, glancing once more at the doorway, hoping Mitch - her baby daddy - would show up.

Evidently, she gave up on him coming - if the slump in her shoulders was anything to go by - then rose gingerly, accepting the bag Alexandra picked off the floor for her so she won't have to bend. She thanked her new friend and followed the nurse down a hallway.

"If she had said you could come talk to her about your feelings, I'd have reminded her that I am your bestfriend, and I'm still alive," Melissa grumbled, going back to the magazine.

Alexandra chuckled, leaning her head on Melissa's shoulder. "You know I won't let go of you just like that - unless you get rid of me, which I assure you, won't be easy." She looked up at Melissa, whispering, "You're stuck with me." Melissa rolled her eyes, a trace of a smile on her lips but said nothing. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Only a few thousand times," Melissa replied, still not making eye-contact with Alexandra because she was pretending she was still offended.

"Well, I'll say it again - I love you Mel," Lexi said smiling brightly as she nuzzled her nose in Melissa's neck.

Melissa finally smiled, planting a kiss in Lexi's hair. "Yeah Boogers, whatever you say."

* * *

Turned out Sam's boyfriend, Mitchell, did come along a few minutes after Samantha had been called - late, but better than never. She found it weird that he'd come straight to her when he could've asked those in front. It was liked he'd picked her out of the crowd. Still, she'd directed him to the nurse with the sweet smile who'd taken her to her doctor.

They came out a few minutes later, Mitchell thanking them for their help while Sam politely asked for their phone numbers so they could keep in contact - if they wanted to; mostly Alexandra's so she'd have someone to lament to about pregnancy. They agreed and spoke about having an outing - just them.

After they'd left, Alexandra recalled what Sam had said about Mitchell getting mad when he found out she was pregnant and had kept it to herself. A shiver stole down her spine. If Trey had gotten angry because he'd been told his wife had cheated, then she could only imagine his reaction to finding out his wife had had his baby without telling him...

Bad. His reaction would be bad.

She bit her lip as she considered telling him about the pregnancy. But... what if denied responsibility? What if he accused her of getting pregnant as a result of her 'infidelity'? She could stand him calling her names, but she couldn't and would not give him the chance to deny his own child. She'd rather cut a limb than subject a precious and innocent baby to that kind of treatment.

Undecided, she made to lean back on the plush and foamy seat when the same nurse from before called her name. And of course, Melissa had to book the appointment under the name Alexandra Robinson. She took a deep breath, trying to keep herself from having a panic attack. Because everybody heard the name and most looked at her- the woman who couldn't keep her legs closed - with scorn, the remaining few with pity, as she walked towards the nurse.

"Lexi I'm sorry. It just - it slipped my mind and -" Melissa rambled.

"Please, don't," she murmured, her voice breaking a bit, but she still held her head up high. She was innocent - hadn't done anything she'd been accused of. "It has already happened. But just so you know, I'm not mad at you or anything."

Melissa nodded solemnly and walked next to her in silence. The nurse directed them to an office in which they entered after a knock to announce their presence. Dr. Roberta Morris, one of the best in the obstetrics field, stood with a warm smile to greet them.

"Hello. I'm Roberta Morris, but just Roberta is fine," she said, waving them towards the seats in front of her as she took hers. Once they were settled, she spoke again saying, "Ms. Crawford, Mrs. Robinson. It's wonderful to see you both in person."

Melissa responded with a 'thank you' while Alexandra swallowed and nodded, keeping her gaze on the table. The name she had been proud to take on at the beginning of their marriage was now haunting her.

"I've been told you're expecting. Congratulations," she beamed. Lexi wondered why she was beaming still when she wasn't getting a response out of her.

She opened her mouth to say 'Why else would I be here?' but Melissa squeezed her hand as if to say 'Just play along'. She also remembered obstetrics dealt with a wide range of things - not only pregnancy - and swallowed her words. After a staring contest, which she lost, she grumbled a 'thank you'.

Roberta proceeded to take her vitals and the end she was given an 'all good'. She was healthy and hopefully, the baby would be too. That was what the ultrasound will confirm for them... as well as how far along she was with the pregnancy.

Changing into the silk smooth gown was annoying her enough, but with Melissa there she felt even more self-conscious, considering the model figure Melissa possessed.

"You know you don't have to hide your body or feel self-conscious around me. I've seen all of you," Melissa murmured quietly.

"I'm not hiding anything from you," Lexi lied, turning away.

"Uh huh," Melissa replied, hands propped on her hips as she fixed Alexandra with a 'humor me' look.

Exhaling dramatically, Alexandra conceded. "Okay, you got me. So, I'm hiding my body from you. Big deal."

Striding over, Melissa grabbed her arms, rubbing them slowly but comfortingly. "Don't ever think I'll care and hide from me. Change in body or not, you're still Alexandra, my bestfriend."

"My body isn't the same anymore. I keep putting on weight, so no, this isn't the body you knew," Lexi argued adamantly.

"You're right," Melissa agreed with a smile, leaving Alexandra stunned for a moment. She'd expected Melissa to argue to it out with her. "This isn't the body I knew. The one I knew wasn't growing a baby. This one is though - my brother's babies. And my, does pregnancy look good on you."

Alexandra blushed, murmuring, "Thanks," with a shy smile.

"Now get into that fine gown, missy, before I spank you," Melissa joked with an accompanying smirk, knowing very well her words brought back certain good memories - she wasn't going to elaborate.

Alexandra rolled her eyes, her face flaming. "Way to ruin the moment," she mumbled under her breath ducking into the changing space. "I'll get you back for it though," she swore, making Melissa chuckle.