Fated Dinner Part 1:

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Katherine went through the next two weeks in a daze. Luckily, she had a bit of experience under her belt and was managing to do everything without screwing up too bad. Still, she couldn't shake the sense of dread hanging over her thoughts.

Why wouldn't Tom have come home?

She'd called Paul, his band mate and Paul confirmed that they had, in fact gotten back in town uninjured. So, Tom was alive, but he wasn't answering her calls and hadn't shown up. Try as she might to keep them at bay, dark thoughts keep crawling into her head.

Was Tom cheating on her? He wasn't the type, but why wouldn't he call her? Maybe he just passed out after the trip? But surely he would've woken by now and texted her at least…

In the past, when he'd suddenly stopped talking to her, it was because they were close to a break-up. However, she couldn't think of any reason for them to be at odds right now. Things were great between them. He hadn't seemed to have any issues or be unhappy with anything, and if he were why wouldn't he at least talk to her about them?

She managed to focus on her work day, which in a hospital was easier than most places. Keeping up with all the terminology and demands keep her on her toes. However, there was a notable difference to it now. Procedures that had seemed impossible on her first day were now an easy snap for her and she no longer had to lean on the nursing staff as much.

The nurses had practically been the guardian angels of the interns. They'd been around long enough to know what they were doing and could help the interns who were struggling, which honestly was all of them. However, piece by piece, day by day, she'd started to catch on and now could get through whole post-ops all on her own. The thought sent a small jolt of pride through her and she signed her name on the patient's chart.

However, when she left the hospital that day, she checked her phone to see Tom still hadn't called her back. What the actual hell?

He didn't call her the next day either, nor the next day, or even the day after that.

After the third straight week of silence she'd had enough, and started to mentally let go of him. Sadly, this was easier said then done. After all, she'd really seen a future with Tom. She'd pictured their wedding a thousand times in her head, and seen their life together in a dozen different ways, but no matter what why she saw her future, he was there with her.

Only now, he'd full on ghosted himself. She'd seen him occasionally online on f*******:, so it was clear he was still around and ignoring her on purpose, the bastard. At least her career was starting to serious look up, not that she could tell him about it.

Outwardly, she was able to keep a strong faade, but she was a wreck. She was often had waves of nausea, and felt a lot of cramps and discomfort. However, this wasn't due to her job, because she'd finally started to get her feet under her. Even Dr. Hilton had acknowledged that she was coming along nicely.

Still, she couldn't sleep and often threw up whatever she ate. Despite her attempts to remain healthy and in good shape, she was still losing weight. Slightly desperate, she moved to a high-calorie diet, eating more than she normally would and managed to slightly stabilize herself.

In a slight desperation, she'd called up her best friend, Wendy, and she'd agreed to go out to a club that night. Not that she was going to sleep with anyone or anything like that. Katherine knew the one-night stand phase of her life was over, but to go out and drink and have a good time was something she desperately needed, and Wendy was all-too willing to help her out.

"So tell me," said Wendy, sipping from her fruity drink. "How are you doing at the hospital, doctor?"

Katherine smiled at her friend's sarcastic inflection.

"Hey," she said, feeling very bubbly after her fourth drink. "I'll have you know I am a doctor. It's going good, but my resident is a complete b***h, but at least she's honest about my work. How's the glamorous life at the restaurant?"

Wendy and Katherine had worked together at a small café through her years in med school. They'd bonded quickly due to both of them having a love of anime. Wendy often brought her over for viewing nights, sadly they'd hadn't had a chance to hang out since her internship had started.

"It's going alright," said Wendy. "Gets a little slow this time of year, you know?"

"Yeah, I'll bet…"

Katherine stopped mid-speech and sprinted to the bathroom, barely making it in time to throw up into the toilet bowl. A moment or two later, Wendy came in.

"Kat?" she said carefully. "You ok, hun?"

"Yeah," said Katherine, wiping her mouth. "Just a little sick."

"That's not from the drink is it?"

"No. I've been a bit ill since Tom left town. At first it was work, but now…"

"You don't think you're… expecting?"

Katherine froze. Surely she couldn't be pregnant! There was no way. She slowly counted up the weeks in her head, and realized she was a couple days late for her period. How could she have not noticed?!

She was starting to hyperventilate and forced herself to calm down and breathe slowly. There was no reason to panic yet. She could go and get a pregnancy test and head home. She had to approach this logically. If she was pregnant it was about three and half weeks in, so most tests would show positive if she was.

Wendy, being the one of them who had drunk less, drove her to a 24-hour drugstore. Katherine shakily found the pregnancy tests.

Results in two minutes! boasted the box. Katherine sat looking at the box for a long moment. Two minutes… two measly minutes could set the course of her whole life. She and Tom had often discussed children, and both agreed they didn't really want any children, at least for a few years.

Still, things happened. A missed day of a pill was all it took, just a little carelessness.

"Come on girl," said Wendy, gently. "I'm with you here."

Katherine made the purchase and the bored cashier raised an eyebrow. Katherine had to bite her tongue to resist chewing the guy out. Despite the fact that her apartment was really only a few miles away, the drive seemed to take days and she had to keep reminding herself to take proper breaths.

Don't panic… she kept telling herself.

Then, despite her panic, one of the oddest phrases popped into her head.

Whether it was because of the drink, or because she had snapped a little at the prospect, she leaned back and said, "But Miss Scarlet, I don't know nothing about birthin' no babies!" and began to laugh hysterically.

Wendy led her inside, rubbing her back gently, and whispering encouragement to her over and over. Katherine barely heard a word she said, and went into her bathroom to take the test. As soon as she came out, Wendy started the timer on her phone.

Two long, agonizing minutes droned on in complete silence.

Finally Katherine looked down, and saw what she'd dreaded… the test was positive. Not only had that bastard left her without any reason. He'd left her a kid too.