Unexpected News
"Dália..." my husband calls, touching my shoulder. I open my eyes and look at his worried face. "Love, are you okay?"
"Yes," I say, stretching. "You're home early..."
"Dália, it's nighttime already," my husband reveals, sitting on the bed next to me. He runs his hand over my forehead. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, of course, I'm feeling fine. I just felt lazy today," I reply as I get up.
"Okay, I'll order pizza for us tonight."
"Great," I agree, kissing my husband. "How was your day? By the way, how was the conversation with Rubens and Bernard yesterday? I saw you talking, but my father ended up interrupting, so I couldn't join you guys."
"The conversation was... interesting," my husband says as he gets up from the bed.
He takes off his clothes and goes to the closet to grab some shorts, then walks towards the bathroom. I get up and follow him there to hear the whole story.
"Rubens and I talked to Bernard about Lisbon," my husband continues, now naked in the shower. "Everything seemed fine until Bernard told us about an impediment."
"Impediment?" I ask, surprised, leaning against the wall and admiring my husband. "I bet they said they just moved, bought an apartment, and that's why they can't move countries."
"No," my husband denies as he steps out of the shower. He kisses me and then wraps a towel around his waist. He goes to the sink and starts combing his hair. "Dominique is pregnant."
"What?" I question, surprised, sitting on the lid of our toilet. "How come?"
"That's right," my husband says, now picking up an electric toothbrush and putting toothpaste on it. "Bernard also explained that it's a high-risk pregnancy, and she can't travel. He also mentioned that he wants to stay by her side since it's their first child. And you know what the best part is?"
"I can't even imagine..."
"Rubens said he completely understands and that the company undoubtedly understands his situation," my husband comments, grabbing dental floss. "Funny how he didn't understand my side when you were pregnant with Juan."
Carlos starts flossing his teeth as I think about Dominique and her double luck. My husband finishes the cleaning and then tosses the floss into our trash bin. He then stares at our trash for a moment before reaching for one of the boxes of pregnancy tests. Carlos holds the box and looks at me, surprised:
"But what is...?"
"False alarm," I say, running my hand through my hair, and biting my lips, showing that I'm not very happy with the result.
Carlos approaches me, kneeling in front of me:
"I have to say that I was momentarily worried, thinking you might be pregnant," my husband admits, holding my face in his hands. "Now wouldn't be the ideal time for us to have another baby. I mean, I still remember how difficult Juan's pregnancy was and everything we went through with him in the hospital. Juan is still little, still undergoing treatment, and needs our attention. We just bought this apartment..."
"I know, Carlos. Our next child will be when Juan is five years old, as we agreed," I say, looking at him as I slide my hands down his legs. "I'll make an appointment with my gynecologist and ask for a copper IUD."
"Alright," my husband agrees.
He slides his hand under my t-shirt and removes my panties slowly until they reach my knees, where I put my hand to stop him from going further.
"I'll see her tomorrow," I explain, putting my panties back in place.
"Pizza then?" my husband asks, getting up. He extends his hand towards me to help me up.
"Pizza," I confirm, holding his hand.
The next day, I called the real estate agency and let them know that I'd be arriving later due to my appointment, which I managed to get as a last-minute slot. I arrive at Dr. Lucinda's office and notice the number of pregnant women, for a moment I even thought I was in the obstetrics department. I grab a magazine and start flipping through it to pass the time. After a few hours, it's finally my turn. Lucinda looks surprised when she sees me; it's been a long time since I've been to her office. I sit there with the most cynical expression I can muster:
"Hello, Mrs. Salazar... What good winds brought you to my office?"
"Yes, I know I disappeared. But here I am to do all the tests you want and also to ask for a copper IUD implant," I say matter-of-factly.
"Okay, first, we'll do a pap smear, and I'll request a test for venereal diseases," Lucinda says, typing on her computer. "Please change your clothes and lie down."
I do as she asks. Her assistant approaches and takes blood for my other tests, and then Lucinda starts examining me, but I feel like she finished too quickly. She gets up and removes my legs from the stirrups. Lucinda leaves the room without saying a word to me, leaving me alone. Something was wrong, and I could feel it. I stare at the ceiling, trying to imagine what could be so serious that it made her practically run out of her office. I stand there alone for what feels like an eternity until my doctor returns with another device. She approaches me, looking very serious:
"I need you to spread your legs again."
"Okay," I agree, and then I position my legs once again, locked in the stirrups.
Lucinda then takes the transducer, a kind of probe, puts a condom on it, and then applies lubricant to the transducer, and inserts it into my vagina. Her ultrasound machine slowly scans the area, but no sound comes from the machine, making Lucinda's expression very closed. Then she slides it deeper, and strong beats appear on the monitor. The doctor looks at me and says very seriously:
"Congratulations, you're pregnant."
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