“CAN MY FRIENDS COME WITH ME INTO the examining room?” November asked the nurse. Jericho had shown up, freshly showered and nervous, just before November’s name was called.
“They can come in after the doctor has finished her initial examination. You’re scheduled for an ultrasound today, right?” the nurse said with a bright smile.
“That’s what Dr. Holland told me last time,” said November.
“Good. Your friends can be with you for that. You might even get to see the sex of the baby today. Won’t that be fun?”
Part of the woman’s job description must be to be cheerful all the time, November thought as she made a face behind the nurse’s back. She let the woman lead her back to the same overly chilly room with the ducks. She undressed, put on the paper gown, and climbed up on the paper-covered table.
I wonder how many women have sat on this table in this cold room. I guess the ones with husbands out in the waiting room are happy and excited, ’cause that’s the way stuff is supposed to happen. What about girls like me? Her thoughts were interrupted by Dr. Holland, who greeted her warmly, snapped on a pair of latex gloves, and began the probing and palpating that November hated.
“Are you having any problems?” the doctor asked after her examination.
“I feel swollen. My back hurts. I’m constipated. I burp all the time. I’m always sleepy. Other than that, I’m just peachy!” November replied sarcastically. “How am I going to make it until fall? Last week I had some garlic pasta and I think I burped and farted that stuff for three days!”
The doctor laughed. “You’ll survive. Somehow we all manage to make it through this ordeal. I’m a little concerned about the swelling, however, and your blood pressure is still a little high. Did you lay off french fries like I told you?”
“For real, I did,” November told her. “I’ve had no salt at all since I was here last. My mom even checked the salt content on the toothpaste!”
The doctor frowned slightly. “Good. But I want you to drink even more fluids, increase your intake of fresh fruit and fish, and take a walk once a day. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, ma’am. I have nothing else to do all summer. I withdrew from the summer college program I had planned to attend, and I decided…I decided not to work or volunteer. So I’m just home feeling sorry for myself and watching myself swell up into a balloon.”
“Well, there’s a reason for that,” the doctor explained. “Your baby weighs about a pound, and he’s more than a foot long.”
“Footlong. That’s funny,” November mumbled, almost to herself. Then she looked up at Dr. Holland. “You said he? Are you sure it’s a boy?”
“I certainly can’t tell by examining your belly. I’m good, but I don’t have X-ray vision,” she replied with a laugh. “We’ll find out the sex of the baby in a few minutes when we do the ultrasound. Have you felt movement yet?”
“Yeah, I did—just last week,” November reported, her voice full of amazement. “Now almost every day I get a little kick or wiggle.” Unconsciously she rubbed her belly.
“You’ll feel that all the time now. You’ll find the baby has a rhythm—it will have active periods and rest periods—just like it will after it is born.”
“Really?”
“Yep. It can even get the hiccups.”
“That’s funny.”
“How’s your mom adjusting?” the doctor asked as she made notes on the chart.
“She goes back and forth between being excited and supportive, to trying to use that tough-love stuff and make me realize how hard this is going to be. She’s got more mood swings than I do!”
“So you’ll be keeping the baby?”
November looked up in surprise. “How did you find out about the Prescotts?”
Dr. Holland looked confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not trying to pry—I just need the information for our records.”
“So you didn’t get a call from a slimy lawyer guy named Grant who wanted information about my baby?”
“If I did get such a call, he would get absolutely no information from me or anyone on my staff. That is privileged and, trust me, very safe.” Dr. Holland put a hand on November’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”
November relaxed a bit as she tried to explain. “The parents of my baby’s father want to adopt the child when it’s born. They’ve got a lawyer, and they’re not playing.”
“Why would they want your baby?”
“I guess the baby would replace their son.” November shrugged.
“And you’re considering this?”
“I guess.” November looked down at the floor and wished the doctor would leave the room so she could get dressed.
“Let me offer you some advice. Don’t sign anything until you’re sure. It’s your baby and no judge will take that child from you unless you spend every weekend doing the hoochie-coochie dance down on Vine Street!”
“Not likely,” November replied with a small smile.
The doctor chuckled. “I’ve seen cases worse than that where the judge decided in the mother’s favor. So relax.”
“But what if the baby really would be better off with Josh’s parents?” November continued.
Dr. Holland seemed to be uncomfortable with the direction the discussion was taking. “Can’t help you there, my dear. I’m the doctor, not your moral counselor. You have a lot to consider. But, for the moment, there’s something else to think about. Are you ready for this ultrasound? Get dressed and meet me in the room next door.”
“Is it okay for a boy to be in the room?” November asked.
“Sure. If he can handle it, I have no problem with him being there with you. You need all the friends and support you can gather. And this part is fun!” Dr. Holland breezed out of the room.
Dana and Jericho were called in to the ultrasound room. Jericho seemed to fill the room, and his pine-scented aftershave made November feel slightly ill. But she said nothing.
He looked excited, but really out of place. When the doctor lifted November’s T-shirt to reveal her tummy, Jericho backed toward the door.
“Get it together, son,” Dr. Holland said, glancing at him. “You’ve seen more stomach in a Victoria’s Secret commercial.”
“Yeah, but not on November,” he said nervously. But he stayed.
The doctor adjusted dials as she slowly slid a monitor back and forth over November’s abdomen. The room was silent except for the beeping of the machine and Jericho’s anxious breathing. Gradually a vague figure emerged on the screen. November could see an incredibly small shadow of a person. Jericho and Dana leaned in closer to get a better view.
“Oh my God,” November whispered. “It’s got a tiny little head, and ears and legs. And are those eyebrows? Wow.”
“She looks like she’s sleeping,” said Dana. Both girls spoke softly, as if anything louder would disturb the child. Jericho’s eyes were wide.
“Did you know the baby can recognize your voice, November?” Doctor Holland said.
“For real? I better be careful what I say!”
“He’s got a big nose,” Jericho said softly. “At least I think that’s what I’m looking at.”
“Yes, that’s a nose, and those are arms,” the doctor said, pointing at the monitor.
“Josh had a big nose,” Jericho commented to no one in particular.
November had forgotten all her pains and discomforts. “Can you tell if it’s a boy or a girl, Dr. Holland?”
“Let me see,” the doctor replied as she moved the monitoring device, trying to get a clearer picture. “Hmm, I see one leg. Two legs. Aha!”
“What? I can’t tell from the picture,” November said, trying to turn her body so she could see the screen better. “Is something wrong?”
“I didn’t mean to alarm you. Nothing’s wrong. I just got a clear picture. Here—take a look.”
November stared at the grainy image on the screen. “It’s a girl, Dana,” she said with wonder. “Look at that—it’s a little girl.”
“Josh woulda been freaking out right about now, man,” Jericho said, shaking his head. “He’d be jumpin’ around like a little boy, boastin’ about what a man he is. Jeez, I wish he could see this.” His voice broke. “November, I gotta go!” November and Dana looked at each other in alarm as Jericho fled the room.