Chapter 3
My belly wasn't really showing yet, but Flora still noticed something was up.
"Jane, you've been eating so well lately. Is there a little secret?" Flora asked.
I shot her a look but didn't answer.
She gave me a mischievous grin and said under her breath, "I get it, I get it."
Ever since that last call, Samuel had been MIA for more than a month.
Honestly, being a doctor was even busier than my agent's job.
S: [Sorry, I've been stuck in a training camp and just wrapped up.]
S: [When are you coming back?]
S: [I bumped into your mom at your house. I told her I was your boyfriend.]
S: [Let's talk about getting married when you're back.]
He showed up right after I started thinking about him. Not that I was waiting for him or anything.
I flipped my phone face down on the table, but I just couldn't stop sneaking glances at it.
It seemed like he finally had some free time. He dropped me a few texts every day now.
Five months went by in a flash. On the way back, Flora asked, "Jane, is your man handsome?"
*****
Then it hit me. I hadn't even video-called him once in all those five months. Just a few voice chats, tops.
Julian saw my blank stare and answered Flora for me, "Jane can't recognize faces for the life of her. If she's only met you once, forget about it."
He wasn't wrong.
I first scouted Julian when I went back to my old college for a ceremony, but I wasn't his manager. About a month after he signed with us, I bumped into him outside a bar and brought it up again.
I still remember Julian holding my business card, and he couldn't help but say, "Damn, Jane, are you messing with me?"
Once we got off the plane, I turned to Julian, saying, "You guys have a week off. Mr. Hughes said we'll start the in-person promo next week."
After saying goodbye to them, I headed straight to the hospital.
Yeah, my phone started buzzing the second I got off the plane, reminding me it was time for my checkup.
After registering, I plopped down in the waiting area and waited for my number to be called.
"Number 26, Jane, please go to Exam Room 2," the nurse called out.
I checked my ticket and followed the signs to Exam Room 2.
"So, what's up?" the doctor said casually.
The voice rang a bell, but when I looked up, the face was totally unfamiliar.
"I'm pregnant," I said, but before I could finish, the doctor glanced up at me.
He asked, "Are you seeing someone else now?"
I froze for a second, then snapped, "Aren't you supposed to be a doctor? Why are you talking nonsense?"
He stared at me for a while, then took off his glasses and walked over. His eyes were black as ink, but there was a gentle warmth in them. He asked, "Don't you recognize me?"
"Why would I?" I said, trailing off.
"Jane, it's Samuel," he said, his voice low and deliberate.
He stressed his name, like he was really trying to remind me.
Samuel. I was doomed.
My poor husband, the one I married in a whirlwind and then barely ever saw again.
I never bothered to save his name in my contacts, so it took me a second to realize who he actually was.
He looked like he was thoroughly enjoying my flustered, guilty expression, smirking at me as if he was waiting for a response that would amuse him.
Samuel was the one who took me for the checkup.
He got someone else to take over, shrugged off his white coat, and led me out of the exam room.
His hand was shaking a little as he held mine. When he noticed me looking, he turned back and said, "Jane, it's my first time being a dad, too, you know."
Alright then.
The OB-GYN chief was a friendly-looking woman, smiling as she asked, "Pregnant? How many months along are you?"
I shot a look at Samuel, and he replied, "Should be five months. She used to drink a lot before she got pregnant."
"Just beer, though," I said.
"Doesn't matter, alcohol is alcohol. Samuel, you really dropped the ball on this one," the doctor said.
"Yeah, my bad," Samuel said.
Who would've thought we got pregnant on the first try?
"Let's start with an amniocentesis and cord blood analysis to check on the baby's development," the doctor said, scribbling down the order. "She's already five months along. Aren't you going to take her home to meet the family?"
Wait, was she getting a little too nosy?
Samuel took the test slip from the doctor and replied, "She just got back from a business trip. Let's get the tests done first. If there's anything wrong, we can't keep the baby."
"Go ahead," the doctor said.
The checkup went smoothly. Samuel helped me to a waiting chair outside, then crouched down and asked softly, "Want me to take you home?"
Honestly, this guy could give any celebrity a run for their money.
I was momentarily dazzled and didn't answer right away.
"Huh?" he asked, a little confused.
"Okay," I said.
He reached out and ruffled my hair, saying, "Wait here for a sec. I'll go change."
I tried to hold it in, but couldn't help myself. I said, "Are you petting me like a dog or something?"
Samuel stopped, turned around, and, dead serious, said, "Jane, I've only ever done that to dogs."