Chapter 16 Planning for Life
After calming her nerves, Lauren went to the lab for a blood draw. She was instructed to return for the results in forty minutes and then joined a line outside the ultrasound room.
The corridor was packed; it turned out there was a 4D ultrasound scheduled for today. Lauren stepped aside into a corner to wait for her number, forcing herself not to entertain any negative thoughts. She watched pregnant women waiting for their 4D scans with keen interest.
Lauren knew she'd have to wait until the baby was six months along for such a scan. Six months felt like a lifetime away, and at that stage, with a visible baby bump, she wondered whether she could still keep her pregnancy hidden from the Robinson family. Or would she even have any interaction with Quentin by that point?
Watching two expectant mothers sweating profusely as they took the stairs, Lauren was puzzled. Despite their cumbersome states, they deliberately chose to climb the stairs. Why?
It might have been due to Lauren's persistent gaze that the ponytailed pregnant woman looked at her with a beaming smile.
"Are you here for the 4D ultrasound as well?" the ponytailed woman asked Lauren.
Lauren shook her head and struck up a conversation. "No, I'm just here for a routine prenatal checkup. I didn't expect to bump into everyone doing the 4D."
"Oh, you're kinda out of luck then. 4D ultrasounds are time-consuming. You might have to wait a while before it's your turn."
Lauren replied with a smile, "It's okay. Hey, I gotta ask you, with that big belly of yours, why would you deliberately take the stairs?"
Blushing, the pregnant woman caressed her belly and said, "This little one is quite the rebel. During my 4D scan, he kept turning his back to the machine and even hid his hands, not cooperating with the examination at all."
As she complained with a smile, it seemed like a sweet burden.
"The doctor suggested I climb stairs to give the baby inside some movement, maybe then he'll reveal his face and hands," she continued.
"Oh, I see. Little guy, you need to be good, don't be so mischievous, and don't make Mom work so hard," Lauren said to the woman's belly.
The expectant mother chuckled, "Yeah, definitely a little troublemaker."
Lauren laughed as well, finding it amusing that a prenatal checkup could lead to such an interesting encounter. She was actually looking forward to the six-month mark when she'd have her own 4D ultrasound to get an early glimpse of her baby's face.
Thinking about it made Lauren quite excited. She could already dream about her child inside her, which showed how important the baby was to her.
After chatting for a bit, Lauren felt her mood lift considerably, and the earlier tension dissipated. Yes, even though the baby was only two months along, she believed in the resilience of its young life.
After a two-hour wait, it was finally Lauren's turn. With a mix of emotions, she entered the ultrasound room. She handed her payment slip to the doctor, who nodded at her with a pleasant smile, and Lauren approached the exam table. She removed her clothes to reveal her flat abdomen. The doctor poured a cold gel onto Lauren's belly and started to move the transducer slowly across it.
Lauren lay as still as she could, nervous. Sensing her tension, the doctor comforted her, "The baby is developing well. Although it’s just a two-centimeter embryo right now, all the indicators are healthy. You don’t need to worry.”
Lauren felt a surge of relief at the doctor's words.
"Really? That's wonderful. Thank you, doctor."
The doctor smiled and handed Lauren a tissue before going to print the report.
"For the specifics, you should ask the OB-GYN," he advised.
"Okay, thank you."
Lauren strode cheerfully back to the OB-GYN with her test results in hand. Dr. Olivia carefully reviewed the findings.
"Hmm, not bad. You just have mild anemia. Make sure to eat well and get plenty of rest, and you'll likely be fine. And remember to get some exercise."
Lauren was thoroughly relieved. Fortunately, the universe still showed her a shred of mercy, for if something were to happen to the baby, she doubted she'd have the strength to go on.
After saying goodbye to Dr. Olivia, Lauren walked out of the hospital light-footed. She exited through the western doors while Quentin was entering from the east.
Quentin saw Lauren, but she did not notice him at all and unhesitatingly caught a cab and left.
Quentin paused, furrowing his brow as he watched Lauren's retreating figure.
Why was she at the hospital? Was she sick again? Quentin couldn't help but speculate.
He scoffed at himself. Why should he care about that woman's well-being? She couldn't wait to divorce him, and once the divorce was final, they would have nothing to do with each other.
Clutching his fists, Quentin's presence seemed to chill the atmosphere, creating a vortex of cold air around him.
The reason he was at the hospital was to visit an older employee—a leader in the company's management. He hadn't expected to bump into Lauren.
Cecilia noticed Quentin stop in his tracks and halted as well. Following Quentin's gaze, he saw no familiar face.
"Quentin, is something the matter? We should head inside," Cecilia gently reminded him.
"Yeah." Quentin offered a curt response and then continued toward the hospital ward.
Back at home, Lauren found herself in a pickle. The doctor had recommended she buy some nutritional supplements to improve her health, but without a job and any source of income, her savings were nearly depleted. She was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
To ask Quentin for help was out of the question—she'd rather die than do that. And asking her family? No, that wouldn't work either. Borrowing money from Kimberly would lead to more questions than she was willing to answer. She didn't want to worry her mother or cause any more fuss.
Lauren paced her bedroom, thinking hard. Finally, she decided to look for a job. After being out of work for two years, she wondered if anyone would still be willing to ‘take her in.’
Lauren decided to find a quick-paying job to tide her over until she could start her own business after having the baby.
She booted up her computer and browsed through the local job listings online, aimlessly scanning for positions she felt qualified for. The search proved difficult; either the location was too far, or the job requirements didn't quite match her profile. Eventually, Lauren zeroed in on a few prospects that seemed to fit her needs and submitted her resumes, waiting for a response from HR.
Once done, she went downstairs to make herself dinner and realized that having a goal and a plan had not only boosted her appetite but also curbed her bouts of nausea.
The baby must be aware of her efforts and decided to give her a break, Lauren mused, internally praising her ‘angel baby’ for being so understanding and well-behaved.
