The Bodyguard

Chapter 37 - The Scare

A few weeks later things are still going well. We’ve settled into a routine of seeing each other mostly on weekends and the odd time during the week when Gabriel is free.

I’m only four months away from graduating so I’m drowning in work. Gabriel is providing an excellent distraction, but not seeing him most of the week is definitely a good thing, if he was here more I’d never get anything done.

I’m due to go to Gabriel’s in 20 minutes so as I finish work I decide to grab a few things before heading home to meet him as arranged. I get to the feminine hygiene aisle and I realise my period must be due, I buy a box of tampons and try to work out if it’ll interfere with our weekend plans.

On the long walk home I get out my phone to check the calendar. I find my period tracker app and work out my period is 10 days late. As if on cue a wave of nausea hits me. I cannot be pregnant, there is no way I can handle this right now at such a crucial time in my life. How will Gabriel take it? Will he be angry? I’m on the pill though and I take it religiously, well most of the time. There was that night I got drunk and forgot and another time I didn’t remember until the next day, but that wouldn’t cause it to not work surely.

I’m in a state by the time Gabriel picks me up and he notices immediately.

“What’s wrong beautiful? Is everything ok?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” I lie.

Half way through the silent journey Gabriel turns to me and asks again.

“Please my love, you’re really worrying me. Please tell me what’s wrong, whatever it is I can help I’m sure.”

I burst into tears, his kindness was like a switch turning on the waterfall now coming from my eyes and I can’t find the off button.

“Baby please, I’ve never seen you like this and I’m terrified right now.”

“It’s just... I don’t know how to... my... I thought I’d taken it... it was an accident.” My incoherent thoughts come tumbling from my mouth completely jumbled.

“Take a deep breath beautiful, what accident? Are you hurt?”

“No, my period. It’s 10 days late,” I say finally getting the words out.

“Oh!” Says Gabriel, the look of complete shock clear on his face.

This is it, he’s going to be angry and leave me for being so stupid and careless, I should have told him before we were half way to his place.

“Right, ok,” he gulps. “Well... we should... have you done a test yet?”

It’s his turn to be lost for words.

“No, I only just realised this afternoon. I’ve been so busy studying that I didn’t even notice. I’m on the pill though and I swear I’ve been taking it, I wouldn’t do something like this on purpose.”

“Of course not my love, why would you even think that? It’s both of our responsibility anyway so please don’t blame yourself. We need to get you to Dr Johnson immediately, I need to know for sure before we celebrate.”

“Celebrate?”

“Yes! I can’t think of anything I’d love more than to have a child with you. It may not be ideal timing, but it’d still be over the moon.”

“Really?” I ask, his reaction shocking me to the core. It’s the opposite of how I imagined he’d be.

“Of course my love. You are it for me so the idea of you having my children is a dream come true.”

Why does he always say the right thing at the right time? Although I’m still clinging to the tiny shred of hope that I’m not pregnant, at least I know he’ll support me if I am.

We pull up in front of the cottage, but instead of getting out he makes a phone call to Dr Johnson who he tells me is his family Dr and has known him since birth.

“Hi Jenny, it’s Gabriel Parker. Is Dr Johnson available today? Yes, I know it’s a Saturday but this is pretty urgent. It’s my partner Kristen, we think she may be pregnant and I need to know for sure.”

I hear a woman’s voice replying but I can’t decipher the words.

“No, a home test won’t cut it. I want her to be seen so I can get the ball rolling and for her to have her treatment booked here, if we wait until Monday to see him she'll have to take time off her studies, which is unacceptable.”

Again the woman’s voice responds and it must be good news because a faint smile appears on Gabriel’s lips.

“Ok, I’ll bring her over now. Thanks so much Jenny and pass on my thanks to your wonderful husband.”

He turns to me after hanging up saying, “he’ll meet us there.”

He phoned the Dr at home? Is he for real? If I was Jenny I’d be so pissed at him right now for making demands and ruining my weekend.

He starts the car and drives into the village to a small surgery. I’m feeling quite sheepish when we walk in, knowing I just ruined this man’s Saturday afternoon with his wife.

The short, heavy set Dr is sitting behind his huge desk when we enter, he's wearing casual clothes which are as casual as you'd imagine a middle aged stuffy looking Doctor gets. His glasses are so thick they make his eyes look twice the size and I find myself staring as he introduces himself.

"First we need to take a urine sample to do a test and then we’ll go from there." He says handing me a cup and I head to the bathroom. Five minutes later he frowns looking at the test.

“Negative. You aren’t pregnant,” he says matter of factly.

“What?” I hear myself say in disbelief, I can't believe Gabriel made all this fuss over a false alarm.

“My period is 10 days late,” I explain.

He asks me about my lifestyle and says it’s likely it’s been delayed by stress caused by my workload and being so close to graduation. He takes some bloods to check for a few other things then lets me go.

I’m feeling numb now. I didn’t want a baby, I’m 21 and still a student! Yet seeing the excitement and subsequent disappointment on Gabriel’s face makes me feel a tiny bit of loss. It’s ridiculous I know, but I’d started to accept what I thought was inevitable and was getting used to the idea.

We spend the rest of the day relaxing in front of a movie, neither of us has the energy to discuss or deal with what just happened in the space of a few hours. The whole spectrum of emotions we both experienced over the scare has drained us and this seemed the perfect remedy. Gabriel bought a huge tub of chocolate ice cream on the way home and we eat it as we watch the comedy in silence. I’m mindful of his cream sofa and eat more carefully than usual, but still enjoying the way the sugar comforts me.

On Monday morning as I dress for my first lecture I notice my period has started. I’m angry and relieved along with frustrated at the fuss caused. I decide the only thing that will make me feel better is a pastry and hot chocolate for breakfast so I call into the bakery on my way to college. I try to refocus on my work, there is plenty of time to think about babies after I’ve graduated. Now is not the time.