#18 An emotional rollercoaster

I blinked a few times, trying to realize whether I had heard the doctor correctly.
"Evelyn, is everything alright?" Naomi asked, looking concerned.
"I… Yes, I'm okay. I just didn't quite expect this…" I muttered, massaging my temples.
"Aren't you in a relationship?"
"No, I'm single," I replied in a small voice.
"I know this might be a sensitive topic, but I have to ask. Did anyone force you into doing something you didn't want to?" the doctor asked, a frown forming between her eyebrows.
"Oh, no, it was consensual. It's just I had a fling with a man while I was in Greece, and we won't see each other again. Yeah, I know about protection and staff, but it seems like we weren't always that careful…" I trailed off.
Truth be told, the only time we were careful was the first night. The shower, all the nights we spent together at the hotel, the sex marathon we had on the yacht were plenty of opportunities for me to get pregnant. A blush painted my cheeks bright red as memories from these two weeks in Greece came back to my mind. Although I internally scolded myself for being so careless and reckless.
The consequences weren't the easiest or smallest to endure. Having a baby, and not to mention raising it by myself, was going to be the most challenging thing I've ever done…
"Evelyn, you know there are other ways to deal with unexpected pregnancies," Naomi said, putting an end to my reverie.
"I know, but it's not an option for me. I want to give birth to that child and raise it, even if I had to do it all by myself…"
"Darling, you know that this won't be easy, especially considering your medical history."
My eyes snapped to the doctor, realizing that this pregnancy might not only put in danger my health but the baby's too.
"What can go wrong, Dr. Sloan?" I asked, my voice stable, contrasting the turmoil that broke loose into my mind and heart.
"Many things, my dear. First of all, we must see your medication and alter it if needed. We must check your blood pressure and renal function frequently, and we must ensure that the baby is growing normally."
"Is there any chance that the baby will have the same problem as I did?" I asked, my voice breaking in the end.
"An obstetrician will be in place to give you more answers to these questions, Evelyn. But I think that your baby has an average risk of being born with a heart deformity, too."
A gasp escaped my lips, and some stray tears rolled down my cheeks. I knew firsthand how hard my childhood was, and I didn't want my baby to suffer as I did.
"I know it's scary, Evelyn, but nothing is certain yet," Naomi consoled me.
"When will it be then? We must do an ultrasound or something," I blurted out.
"Our hospital has an excellent department with obstetricians and gynecologists. We can arrange a meeting as soon as possible," the doctor suggested.
"Yes, that would be perfect. How can we do that?"
"No need to worry about that. My brother-in-law is working there, so I'll work something out with him and let you know," Dr. Sloan said with a warm smile.
"Thank you so much, Dr.," I replied, succeeding in giving her a small grin.
"It's my pleasure, Evelyn. Please remember to eat healthily and drink a lot of water. You can keep working out by taking walks to the park, but nothing too stressful, alright?"
"Yes, madam, I understand."
"It's Naomi, Evelyn," the doctor chuckled, giving me a light pat on the back.
"Thank you, Naomi," I muttered with a smile.
"And please give me a call if you notice any other unusual symptom."
"Of course, I will."
We bid our goodbyes, and I left her office.
I didn't expect to receive such news; I might not be dying, but given the circumstances, I couldn't be happy, either… We had agreed with Sebastian that what happened in Greece wouldn't be mentioned ever again. But now, I had the living proof of these two weeks full of passion and mind-blowing sex growing inside me…
Yet, I was stubborn enough to decide not to tell him a single word about the baby. He didn't want to be with me, and there was no way I'd use this baby to have him stay by my side. It'd be difficult, but I wasn't the only single mother on this planet. Besides, my parents and my friends would help me with anything I may need.
I was too lost in my thoughts, and I was mechanically walking until I bumped into something hard. And after that, I felt something hot splashing on my blouse. Glancing at my top, I saw a large, brown stain of what seemed to be coffee on my buttoned-up, white shirt.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" I heard a deep, male voice saying.
My eyes landed on a man a few years older than me. He was tall with broad shoulders and sturdy arms. His ginger-colored hair was a bit messy, and his light brown eyes looked tired. A short stubble made his square jawline more defined, adding to his lax appearance. He was wearing a pair of navy scrubs and a white coat on top, so he was obviously a doctor.
"I'm really sorry. I must look where I'm going," the man apologized once again. This time his Scottish accent was a bit more prominent.
"It's okay. I wasn't paying any attention either," I replied, grinning a bit.
"But your blouse is ruined," the man stated, frowning.
"Oh, it's fine. I'll have it cleaned."
"Are you working here?" the red-haired man asked.
"No, I was here for a check-up. I'm on my way home…"
"I hope everything turned out to be okay."
"It will be. Thank you," I replied.
"I feel a bit bad about what happened. Can I buy you a cup of coffee or maybe lunch?" the man asked, his hope evident in his voice.
I looked at the doctor, taken aback by his request. I thought about his proposition for a moment, but I didn't have any reason to disagree. He was handsome and seemed to be kind, and he was a doctor, too. But on the other hand, I was having a baby on the way…
"I'm a bit tired, so I should better go back home," I replied, with a small smile.
"We can arrange it for any other day."
I chuckled a bit and then nodded. Well, I didn't have anything to lose. "Okay, how about lunch tomorrow?" I proposed.
"Aye, braw!" the man exclaimed.
I had no idea what that meant, so I introduced myself instead. "I'm Evelyn, by the way,"
"I'm Owen. It's a pleasure to meet you. So, what time shall we meet tomorrow?"
"Around 1:00 pm; is it okay for you?"
"Aye! Shall I pick you by yer house?" Owen asked, with a huge smile plastered on his lips.
"Oh, no, I'll be at work tomorrow. I'm working at the Leclair Corp. building…" I trailed off.
"I can come and pick you up from there," the man offered.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll see you tomorrow, Owen."
"Take care, Evelyn," he said, waving his hand at me.
I chuckled and continued my way, careful not to bump into someone else. My blouse was ruined, so I tightened my French coat to hide the coffee stain.
That day would undoubtedly be engraved in my memory, not only because of Owen. That day, my whole life took a different turn, and it might be scary, but it also made me feel excited. I silently prayed for my baby to be born healthy. I promised to shower it with so much love and protect it from any harm in this world. That was the first promise I gave to my unborn child, and I intended to keep it until the moment I'd die.
I reached back to my apartment, had a shower, and cooked something for lunch. Sophie was still at work, so I had some time to myself, and I tried to clear my thoughts. My decision was made the moment Naomi broke the news to me. The only thing troubling me was the baby's health. If something was wrong, then the expenses for treatment would cost a fortune. Not that it'd be easy to raise a child as a single mother and work full time at an office. Besides, I'd have to quit my job in the next few months because otherwise, Sebastian would find out about my pregnancy.
There were so many loose ends, but first, I had to make sure that my baby was healthy and growing up well.
Once my best friend was back home, she ran straight to me, giving me a scrutinizing look.
"Hello to you, too, Sophie," I sighed with an eye roll.
"What did the doctor say?" she asked me right away.
"I'm still alive, and I'm not dying any time soon…"
"Oh, that's a relief," my best friend murmured, plopping on the sofa next to me.
"Don't worry, it's not that easy to get rid of me…"
"You bet," Sophie chuckled.
"Are you hungry? I made food…"
"I'll eat later. What's wrong with you, then?" Sophie asked, staring at me with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm just tired, and apparently, one of the medicines I take has nausea and vomiting as a side effect. The doctor replaced it with another one," I lied, looking at the cup of tea in my hands.
"She ran all the tests, didn't she?"
"There are a few more things to check. I must go back to the hospital in a few days, but it's nothing you should worry about…"
"Don't lie to me!" she warned me with a glare.
"Seriously, Sophie, you know I wouldn't lie for something like that…"
"Okay, okay…" she said in surrender.
"I also have some better news to tell you," I announced, smirking.
"I'm all ears!" my best friend exclaimed, giving me a bright smile.
"You know hospitals are full of sexy, young doctors. And I literally bumped into one hot, Scottish doctor who asked me out for lunch tomorrow!"
"Oh, my, Evelyn! That's amazing!" my best friend shrieked.
"I know, but my favorite blouse is ruined thanks to him…"
"Sweetheart, who cares about the house when you have a date with the Scottish doctor?" Sophie said, and we both burst into laughter.
What an irony; I was pregnant with my Boss' baby.
I had a date with a man who wasn't my baby's father.
My baby's father didn't want anything to do with me…
Life is one hell of a ride…