everything I had not to bolt from my chair.
“Daniel, I’m almost five months pregnant. Why do you think I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for the last three months?” she spat the words at me.
Al the air left my lungs as her words clicked—
Vanessa was pregnant, and she was tel ing me the baby was mine.
No!
I shook my head. This could not be happening.
Blood drained from my face, and I felt
lightheaded, the skin prickling on the back of my neck as sweat drenched my forehead. I felt nauseous, my hands trembled, and I grasped the table to keep myself from fal ing from my chair.
“Daniel. Daniel.” Vanessa snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Have you heard anything I said? I was tel ing you I have an ultrasound next week—” I put my hand up to stop her; I couldn’t register a word she was saying right now over the roaring in my ears. I stood, stil holding onto the table for support. “I have to go.”
“What? You can’t just leave. We need to talk about this, and our lunch isn’t even here yet.” She sounded desperate, begging me to sit back down, but I couldn’t deal with her right now. It was as if every unhealed wound I’d harbored inside me ripped open anew.
I could only shake my head and repeat, “I have to go.”
I started to walk away but realized I didn’t even know where she lived.
“Um...uh, we’l talk tonight, okay? I just have to go right now. Text me your address.” She nodded, appearing frustrated and confused.
Somehow, I was able to walk out of the restaurant and to my car. Thoughts came fast, and I was having a hard time keeping them at bay. Melanie was the only person in this world I ever wanted to have a child with. The thought of my flesh growing inside of another woman’s body made me sick. My head spun, and I grabbed it trying to orient myself enough to be able to get home. Flashes of Melanie infiltrated my mind, but I pushed them back.
I had to get home.
I started the car and raced from the parking lot.
There was no way I would ever make it back to the office this afternoon. I pul ed myself together enough to dial the office number.
“Montgomery Oncology,” Lisa answered on the second ring. “How can I help you?”
“Lisa, it’s...it’s Daniel,” I tried to keep my voice even, but it shook. “Something’s come up. I’m not going to make it back to the office this afternoon.”
“Daniel, what’s wrong?” Lisa sounded panicked, so I could only imagine what I must have sounded like to her.
“Just something came up. Just tel my father I’l see him tomorrow.” I hung up as soon as I got it out.
Flying through the streets, I arrived at my condo only minutes later.
I ignored my phone as it rang, only for it to beep with a message and then start right up again. Looking at the screen, I saw it was Dad.
“Shit!” I raked my hands through my hair, trying to control the emotions that were ready to explode.
He’d just keep cal ing and probably send Mom to come and check on me if I didn’t answer.
“Hey, Dad.” I choked, trying to hide the pain that was ready to crush me.
“Daniel, what the hel happened? Lisa said you left for a lunch meeting and then cal ed very upset, saying you weren’t coming back in today.” Dad was a very calm, control ed man, but I could hear the dread in his voice. He knew after everything I’d been through, it would take something drastic to keep me from work. “Where are you?
Let me come get you.”
“No, Dad. I’m fine. No.” I shook my head, trying to get the words out as I tripped over them. “I mean, no, I’m not fine, but I’l be okay, al right? I just need to be alone right now. I promise I’l explain it tomorrow at dinner, okay?” I just needed him to give me some space. I’d have to pul myself back together before I told my family of the horrible mistake I’d made.
“Daniel...” He hesitated, trying to keep me on the phone.
“Dad, I promise. I’l be there tomorrow.” I knew
“Daniel, I’m almost five months pregnant. Why do you think I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for the last three months?” she spat the words at me.
Al the air left my lungs as her words clicked—
Vanessa was pregnant, and she was tel ing me the baby was mine.
No!
I shook my head. This could not be happening.
Blood drained from my face, and I felt
lightheaded, the skin prickling on the back of my neck as sweat drenched my forehead. I felt nauseous, my hands trembled, and I grasped the table to keep myself from fal ing from my chair.
“Daniel. Daniel.” Vanessa snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Have you heard anything I said? I was tel ing you I have an ultrasound next week—” I put my hand up to stop her; I couldn’t register a word she was saying right now over the roaring in my ears. I stood, stil holding onto the table for support. “I have to go.”
“What? You can’t just leave. We need to talk about this, and our lunch isn’t even here yet.” She sounded desperate, begging me to sit back down, but I couldn’t deal with her right now. It was as if every unhealed wound I’d harbored inside me ripped open anew.
I could only shake my head and repeat, “I have to go.”
I started to walk away but realized I didn’t even know where she lived.
“Um...uh, we’l talk tonight, okay? I just have to go right now. Text me your address.” She nodded, appearing frustrated and confused.
Somehow, I was able to walk out of the restaurant and to my car. Thoughts came fast, and I was having a hard time keeping them at bay. Melanie was the only person in this world I ever wanted to have a child with. The thought of my flesh growing inside of another woman’s body made me sick. My head spun, and I grabbed it trying to orient myself enough to be able to get home. Flashes of Melanie infiltrated my mind, but I pushed them back.
I had to get home.
I started the car and raced from the parking lot.
There was no way I would ever make it back to the office this afternoon. I pul ed myself together enough to dial the office number.
“Montgomery Oncology,” Lisa answered on the second ring. “How can I help you?”
“Lisa, it’s...it’s Daniel,” I tried to keep my voice even, but it shook. “Something’s come up. I’m not going to make it back to the office this afternoon.”
“Daniel, what’s wrong?” Lisa sounded panicked, so I could only imagine what I must have sounded like to her.
“Just something came up. Just tel my father I’l see him tomorrow.” I hung up as soon as I got it out.
Flying through the streets, I arrived at my condo only minutes later.
I ignored my phone as it rang, only for it to beep with a message and then start right up again. Looking at the screen, I saw it was Dad.
“Shit!” I raked my hands through my hair, trying to control the emotions that were ready to explode.
He’d just keep cal ing and probably send Mom to come and check on me if I didn’t answer.
“Hey, Dad.” I choked, trying to hide the pain that was ready to crush me.
“Daniel, what the hel happened? Lisa said you left for a lunch meeting and then cal ed very upset, saying you weren’t coming back in today.” Dad was a very calm, control ed man, but I could hear the dread in his voice. He knew after everything I’d been through, it would take something drastic to keep me from work. “Where are you?
Let me come get you.”
“No, Dad. I’m fine. No.” I shook my head, trying to get the words out as I tripped over them. “I mean, no, I’m not fine, but I’l be okay, al right? I just need to be alone right now. I promise I’l explain it tomorrow at dinner, okay?” I just needed him to give me some space. I’d have to pul myself back together before I told my family of the horrible mistake I’d made.
“Daniel...” He hesitated, trying to keep me on the phone.
“Dad, I promise. I’l be there tomorrow.” I knew
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